Deadline: 31-Jul-24
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria through the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 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 Vietnam:
- Inclusive and quality education;
- Promoting gender equality and child protection;
- Affordable and quality healthcare;
- Enhancing economic connectivity, sustainable economic development and implementation of EU standards;
- “Team Europe”:
- under Initiative 1 – ” Climate-responsive digital circular economy”;
- under Initiative 2 – ” Responsible entrepreneurship and enhanced skills for decent employment”;
- EU Global Gateway Strategy: Digital sector, Climate and Energy, Transport, Health, Education and Research.
Objectives and Scope of the Projects
- SDG 3 “Good Health and Well-being” – Providing quality healthcare and prevention through procurement and modernisation of medical equipment, development of the administrative capacity of the healthcare sector, increasing preparedness for public health emergencies, exchange of good practices in the field of healthcare, disease prevention, incl. of zoonotic diseases;
- SDG 4 “Quality Education” – Creating conditions for quality, inclusive and accessible education by planning and modernizing training programs; improvement of teaching methods; development of textbooks and aids; promotion of international relations and exchanges between educational institutions; improving access to education by supporting educational institutions in remote regions; support/scholarships for children from vulnerable families; increasing the qualifications of teachers by conducting seminars and trainings; provision of equipment for educational institutions;
- SDG 5 “Gender Equality” and SDG 8 “Decent Work and Economic Growth” – Encouraging the establishment of mechanisms and creating conditions for equal participation of women in economic, social and cultural life, e.g. through micro-projects for decent work; improving women’s and children’s access to health care; supporting women and children assistance centres; support for vulnerable groups (migrant women in large cities of Vietnam, women in remote regions, women from ethnic minorities) by supporting programs to acquire professional and social skills; protecting and guaranteeing children’s rights by strengthening the capacity of institutions/centres to support the needs of children and adolescents;
- SDG 8 “Decent Work and Economic Growth” – Creating sustainable models for Vietnamese entrepreneurs, incl. women entrepreneurs, to stimulate trade connectivity with the EU by holding information exchange seminars on the possibilities of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement; development of business manuals; creation of Internet portals; creation of business plans; providing support on specific issues, such as harmonization of customs standards, phytosanitary control, etc.;
- SDG 13 “Climate Action” – Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in Vietnam; integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning; Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
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 75 000 BGN;
- for projects with main purpose to carry out repairs and /or construction activities up to 100 000 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
- Strengthening the international contribution and image of the Republic of Bulgaria, expanding opportunities for knowledge transfer and exchange of good practices between Bulgaria and Vietnam in the context of the relations of traditional friendship and cooperation;
- Strengthening the principles of good governance to achieve sustainable and inclusive economic and social development;
- Building sustainable capacity for quality healthcare and preventing the spread of infectious diseases;
- Increasing prosperity through raising professional qualification and building significant public infrastructure in the fields of education and healthcare;
- Adoption and implementation of good practices and European standards in the fields of empowerment of women and protection of the rights of children.
- Adoption and implementation of good practices and European standards in the field of inclusive 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.
Target Groups
- State and local institutions in Vietnam;
- Educational institutions – higher education institutions, kindergartens, schools, etc.;
- Healthcare institutions – hospitals, clinics;
- Social institutions – centres for disadvantaged/vulnerable people, day care centres, etc., registered in Vietnam according to the relevant national legislation;
- Non-governmental organisations, registered in Vietnam according to the relevant national legislation.
Eligibility Criteria
- Primary and secondary budget spenders – legal entities of Vietnam;
- International and local non-governmental organizations, registered in Vietnam according to its national legislation;
- Municipalities and their associations;
- Educational, healthcare and social institutions;
- International humanitarian organisations.
Ineligible
- As ineligible candidates in the procedure for 2025 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.