Deadline: 31-Jul-24
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria through the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Bosnia and Herzegovina announces a procedure for the acceptance and selection of proposals for projects to be implemented with a grant through the Official Development Assistance of the Republic of Bulgaria, with an initial implementation period in 2025.
Priority Areas for Project Implementation on the territory of Bosna and Herzegovina:
- Provision of inclusive and quality education including and by improving the educational infrastructure proportionately in cities in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and Brčko County;
- Promotion of sustainable economic development and entrepreneurship.
Funding Information
- Minimal amount of the project is 20 000 BGN.
- Recommended maximum amount of the project is:
- for projects with main purpose to deliver goods and/or services – up to 150 000 BGN;
- for projects with main purpose to carry out repairs and/or construction activities – up to 300 000 BGN;
- for projects with main purpose to carry out so called “soft components of ODA: /conferences, seminars, study visits, colloquiums and so on/ – up to 30 000 BGN and term – up to 9 months.
Duration of the Projects
- Project proposals must include an indicative start date for project implementation after January 15, 2025 and no later than November 30, 2025.
- Projects must be completed no later than December 31, 2027.
Outputs/Results
- Improving the quality of education and building modern educational infrastructure;
- Raising awareness of children’s rights and their protection;
- Providing а healthy and safe environment for children, incl. children with disabilities;
- Promoting reconciliation processes in BiH and eliminating all forms of discrimination, hate speech and xenophobia;
- Affirmation of Bulgaria’s reputation and international prestige as a predictable and accountable partner of BiH.
Target Groups
- Pupils and students from educational institutions/schools and kindergartens;
- Children with special needs and disadvantaged children.
- Organizations dealing with economic development and entrepreneurship.
Eligible Activities
- Development of new/updating existing training modules
- Capacity building activities /organizing and conducting trainings in areas of interest of the administration/institutions of the partner country
- Conducting trainings on specific topics in Bulgarian institutions to exchange good practices and increase the qualification of employees from the administration of the partner country
- Organization and holding of seminars, forums, conferences
- Research and strategy development
- Activities to raise awareness of citizens’ rights
- Activities to promote multicultural dialogue and to limit racism, xenophobia, hate speech, discrimination and intolerance in society
- Activities to improve dialogue between non-governmental organizations and local, regional and national authorities
- Activities related to improving the quality of social infrastructure (educational/health) ex.: Delivery of equipment and materials for state or municipal property – schools, hospitals, kindergardens, homes for elderly, etc.; Construction and repair works to improve the condition of state or municipal property – schools, hospitals, kindergartens, homes for elderly, etc.
- Compulsory Activities to be provided in the Project:
- provision of an audit report issued by an independent financial auditor
- activities to ensure publicity and visibility of the financial assistance provided, in accordance with the Publicity and Visibility Guidelines of the Bulgarian Development Aid, worth 3 to 5% from the total value of the grant for the project, but not exceeding 5 000 BGN.
Eligibility Criteria
- Primary and secondary budget spenders – legal entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
- Municipalities and their associations;
- Educational, health and social institutions;
- International humanitarian organisations;
- Others
- International and local non-governmental organizations;
- Others (depending on country specificity).
Ineligible
- As ineligible candidates in the procedure for 2024 will be considered:
- Individuals and legal entities for whom there are circumstances under Art. 23, para. 3-8 of Resolution No. 234 of the Council of Ministers of 01.08.2011 on the policy of the Republic of Bulgaria on participation in international development cooperation
- Beneficiaries whose projects from previous years have not been completed within the term of the contract/annex and without final reports approved by the MFA by 30 June 2024.
- In the event that a candidate under the current procedure for 2025 implements a project under a previous financial cycle of the Development Cooperation Program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, a condition for consideration of the project proposal will be the successful completion of the project within the term of the contract/annex, but not later than 30 June 2024 and approval of the final reports by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.
- Beneficiaries who have not submitted interim reports on projects from previous years within the term of the contract/annex.
- Current beneficiaries who have not reimbursed due funds from previous projects financed under the Development Cooperation Program.
- Applicants without a sustainable project history of less than 2 years.
- Applicants with a registration period of less than 2 years.
- Applicants who have received first payment in the end of 2022 and still carrying out the project in 2024 and have no approved an interim report till the announce of the company for receiving the project proposals for 2025.
- Applicants may not submit more than one project proposal under this call for proposals. In the event that an applicant submits more than one project proposal, all of their submitted project proposals will be excluded from subsequent evaluation.
For more information, visit Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.