Deadline: 10 October 2019
The Embassy of Finland in Windhoek has announced a call for project proposals for its Fund for Local Cooperation (FLC).
As a development policy instrument, the FLC supports the goals and principles of the Finnish development policy and priority areas. The latter are:
- Rights and status of women and girls
- The growth of developing countries’ economies to generate more jobs, livelihoods and well-being
- Democratic and better functioning societies
- Food security, access to water and energy, as well as sustainable use of natural resources.
Additionally, the projects should be implemented with the human rights-based approach, meaning, for example, that there is a zero-tolerance for all kinds of discrimination and racism. Finnish FLC grants have a comparative advantage to address sensitive issues related to human rights, democracy, and good governance.
The Embassy also values projects that are in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the UN.
Eligibility Criteria
- The size of the Embassy’s FLC portfolio is dependent on the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland’s annual budget. The support is intended for projects only, meaning that the FLC is not meant for core funding.
- Among the candidates, the Embassy will likely choose 4 – 8 best proposals. Selected projects will receive a grant between EUR 10 000 – 100 000. The projects must be implemented within one or two years.
- Based on the FLC strategic plan for 2020 – 2022, the following thematic areas have been selected for the 2020 call for proposals:
- Leave no one behind: Fair, equal and inclusive Namibia
- Democracy advocacy, free media, and fight against corruption
- Promotion of the rights of LGBT+ communities
- Empowerment of the vulnerable groups of people and persons with disabilities
- Dynamic and thriving Namibia
- Promotion of youth employment, job creation, and livelihood opportunities
- Promotion of innovations, startups, and youth entrepreneurship
- Finnish-Namibian private sector engagement
- Climate resilient and sustainable Namibia
- Promotion of carbon neutral society and the circular economy
- Promotion of sustainable livelihoods and community based approaches
- Leave no one behind: Fair, equal and inclusive Namibia
- Projects funded from the FLC should focus to address one or more of the above-mentioned areas.
Selection Criteria
Project selection will be based on the following criteria:
- Alignment with Finland’s development policy, the UN’s SDGs and the above mentioned thematic areas
- Clearly defined project outputs and targeted outcomes supported by adequate indicators, baseline data and risk assessment
- Realistically planned project activities that contribute to the desired outputs
- Project budget that is in line with the activities
- Experience and management capabilities of the applicant
Eligible partners for the FLC include local non-governmental organisations, science and technology communities, universities and other educational and research institutions, independent media, public bodies and cultural institutions (museums, libraries, theatres, etc.), chambers of commerce and commercial associations, organisations engaged in the promotion of export and investment, businesses, cooperatives, interest groups of companies and employees, foundations or religious communities.
FLC funding cannot be granted:
- to the Government, ministries or municipalities of the Republic of Namibia
- to an unregistered association or organization
- to support the activities of a political party
- for basic research
- for single cultural events
- for charity
- for humanitarian aid
- in the form of a grant, scholarship or assistance for the applicant’s personal use
- for purchasing land
- to a fund
- for building the capital of microcredit systems (however, development projects and training are possible).
The FLC managed by the Embassy finances only projects in Namibia. The fund is not operational in Angola.
How to Apply
- Interested applicants must download the application form and send it at the address given on the website.
- To accompany the form, the following attachments are required:
- Organization’s latest annual report accompanied with full financial statements
- The CVs of the project manager and project coordinator or any other relevant key persons
- Project budget in Namibian dollars
For more information, please visit https://finlandabroad.fi/web/nam/current-affairs/-/asset_publisher/h5w4iTUJhNne/content/call-for-proposals-for-the-fund-for-local-cooperation-is-open/384951