Grants on Feasibility Studies for IMC or CBC Projects (Armenia)

Deadline: 5-Jan-24

The Project “Democratic Development, Decentralisation and Good Governance in Armenia – Phase II” funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation and implemented by the Council of Europe is announcing a call for proposals to co-fund the development of feasibility studies into inter-municipal co-operation (IMC), or cross-border co-operation (CBC).

The purpose of the Project “Democratic Development, Decentralisation and Good Governance in Armenia – Phase II” is to support the adoption of revised legislative framework for local self-government in line with European standards to reflect the new territorial-administrative map of Armenia and develop the capacities of local authorities of newly enlarged communities to ensure they can assume new responsibilities and competences. It also seeks to further raise awareness of good governance principles and promote cross-border co-operation, intermunicipal co-operation and economic development at local level.

In particular, by the end of the project, the Armenian communities will benefit from enhanced management, and Armenian citizens will benefit from more inclusive, effective, efficient and resilient institutional structures, improved delivery of public services in areas such as waste management, culture, tourism or public transportation, and increased opportunities for economic development at local level.

The main project partner is the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia.

General Objectives

• The grants will fund projects designed to develop feasibility studies into inter-municipal co-operation, or crossborder co-operation.
• Grant awards will be made to successful applicant projects, which effectively and clearly meet the criteria for the grant, across the following types of projects:
  • Feasibility studies on specific inter-municipal cooperation projects to support the establishment of intercommunity arrangements for shared service delivery;
  • Feasibility studies on specific cross-border cooperation projects, for example, in economic development, or shared municipal services/infrastructural initiatives.

Further to the general objective, preference will be given to:

• Projects/actions relevant to the communities’ needs;
• Projects/actions focused on inter-municipal or cross-border co-operation;
• Projects/actions targeting youth, women and disadvantaged / poor people.

Funding Information

• The indicative available budget under this call for proposals is EUR 80,000 (eighty thousand Euros). The Council of Europe intends to award up to 10 grants of a maximum amount of EUR 8,000 (eight thousand Euros) each.

Implementation Period

• The implementation period of the projects should start on 1 February 2024 and shall not extend beyond 31 July 2024.
• Reporting requirements shall be completed on 31 August 2024 at the latest.

Target Stakeholders

• Projects should target in particular the following key stakeholders:
  • Local authorities of consolidated communities,
  • Municipal staff,
  • Women, youth, disadvantaged/people living in poverty,
  • Community residents at large

Eligibility Criteria

• In order to be eligible for a grant, an applicant must:
  • be local authority of a consolidated community from Armenia;
  • have sufficient operational and professional capacity, including human resources (staff), to carry out activities described in its project proposal;
  • indicate an official bank account in Armenian Drams, in which the grantee can securely deposit the funds for the grant.
• Multiple applications for the same grant type are not allowed and shall lead to the exclusion of all applications concerned.

Ineligible

• Applicants shall be excluded from the grant award procedure where they or, in the case of legal persons, their owner(s) or executive officer(s):
  • have been sentenced by final judgment on one or more of the following charges: participation in a criminal organisation, corruption, fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, terrorist offences or offences linked to terrorist activities, child labour or trafficking in human beings;
  • are in a situation of bankruptcy, liquidation, termination of activity, insolvency or arrangement with creditors or any like situation arising from a procedure of the same kind, or are subject to a procedure of the same kind;
  • have received a judgement with res judicata force, finding an offence that affects their professional integrity or constitutes a serious professional misconduct;
  • do not comply with their obligations as regards payment of social security contributions, taxes and dues, according to the statutory provisions of the country where they are established;
  • are an entity created to circumvent tax, social or other legal obligations (empty shell company), have ever created or are in the process of creation of such an entity;
  • have been involved in mismanagement of the Council of Europe funds or public funds.
• The following types of action will not be considered:
  • Projects/actions providing financial support to third parties (re-granting schemes);
  • Projects/actions concerning only or mainly individual scholarships for studies or training courses;
  • Projects/actions supporting political parties.

For more information, visit Council of Europe.