Deadline: 15 February 2019
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion (MFTP) has launched a call for development projects, subsidised by a 90% Government grant, to be implemented by CVO-registered non-governmental organisations in North and Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, preferably where Malta has diplomatic representation.
Objectives
The main area/s or activity of the proposed project should address at least one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) originating from the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Priorities
Projects should:
- be located in a country in North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, or in the Middle East, as a means of promoting stability and prosperity in Malta’s immediate neighbourhood and beyond. In this regard, the Ministry will give preference to projects implemented in countries where Malta has diplomatic and consular representation on the ground1 , as a means of further maximising the effectiveness of the projects by virtue of existing channels;
- be in line with Malta’s ODA Implementation Plan , including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the European Consensus on Development;
- be partnered with registered organisation/s in the country where the project will be implemented;
- involve the community of the area thus making an active partner in project design and implementation;
- be sustainable, innovative and create a multiplier effect;
- be in line with the cultural and developmental objectives of selected countries;
- promote gender equality.
Budget Information
- The fund for 2019 will be of €500,000, which will be distributed among successful applicants. Any unutilised funds resulting from a shortage of successful applications will be allocated to other ODA-eligible expenditure.
- The period of implementation should commence upon signature of the Grant Agreement and shall be concluded within twelve (12) calendar months.
- The co-financing grant awarded by the Ministry shall be set at 90% of the ODA eligible project costs, which shall not exceed €75,000 of Ministerial co-financing per project. The grant shall be given to projects selected by the ODA Project Proposals Selection Board, according to their ranking of marks given and subject to availability of allocated funds, meaning that lower-ranking selected projects may still not be awarded ODA funds if the allocation is exhausted by the upperranking selected projects.
- The Ministerial co-financing grant will be provided upon signature of the Grant Agreement.
- The Ministerial co-financing grant will be allocated to quality projects deemed eligible by the ODA Project Proposals Selection Board, according to established selection criteria, and subsequent selection outcome ranking list issued by the Ministry.
- The Ministry reserves the right not to allocate all the funds available, should projects fall under the established quality benchmark. The decision and ranking of the ODA Project Proposals Selection Board is final.
- NGOs/VOs should allocate 3% of the Ministry’s co-financing grant (90%) for promoting the project minimally five (5) times, during implementation and at closure, highlighting achieved results and giving due credit to the Ministry’s cofinancing assistance. The Ministry’s logo and the following wording ‘Project 90% co-financed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion’ must be invariably included on all promotional material, in social media messages, on the NGOs/VOs websites, and in all publicity/promotional measures, as applicable. The Ministry’s logo shall be provided to all successful applicants at project start.
- NGO/VO representatives can utilise up to 5% of the Ministry’s co-financing grant (90%) on travel expenses (flights, accommodation and subsistence, and travel insurance), for the purpose of project monitoring and/or implementation in thecountry where the project is carried out, as well as for freight expenses. Accommodation and subsistence should not exceed Class B of ‘Per Diem Allowance for Overseas Duty Travel’ issued by the Ministry for Finance. For countries that are not included in this list, please send an email at the address given on the website. NGOs/VOs are requested to apply good governance in their procurement of goods, services, and works throughout project implementation, to ensure transparency, fairness, equality, and value-for-money of public funds.
- While applicants are encouraged to think in terms of multi-annual phased engagement, budget allocations will only be considered on an annual basis, with renewal of projects subject to annual re-evaluation.
Eligibility Criteria
- NGOs/VOs should:
- have sufficient technical (human resources and expertise) and financial capacity to cover their co-financing share of project costs (10%). Previous experience in projects of similar scope and nature is to be proven;
- take appropriate measures to ensure protection and safety of participants directly involved in the project;
- be enrolled and in compliance with the Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations (CVO).
- Ministerial co-financing will not be awarded to NGOs/VOs that:
- have outstanding reporting and/or financial issues with the Ministry by the submission deadline of the new call;
- are bankrupt or being wound up, are having their affairs administered by the courts, have entered into an arrangement with creditors, have suspended business activities, are the subject of proceedings concerning those matters, or are in any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure provided for in national legislation or regulations;
- have been convicted of an offence concerning their professional conduct by a judgement which has the force of res judicata;
- have been guilty of grave professional misconduct proven by any means;
- have not fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions, or the payment of taxes, in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which they are established, or those of the country where the project is to be performed;
- have been the subject of a judgement, which has the force of res judicata for fraud, corruption, and/or involvement in a criminal organisation;
- following another procurement procedure or grant award procedure financed by the Government or the European Commission, have been declared to be in breach of contract for failure to comply with their contractual obligations;
- by the date of signature of the Grant Agreement, are subject to a conflict of interest. Applicants are to declare any conflict of interest at the time of application;
- by the date of signature of the Grant Agreement, are guilty of misrepresentation in supplying the information required by the Ministry as a condition of participation in the granting of ODA funds, or fail to supply the required information.
- the Ministry’s co-financing grant will be disqualified and recouped (full or partial, as deemed appropriate) if the NGO/VO:
- is found to be receiving funds for the same activities in the project from other sources. For this reason, applicants will be asked to submit a signed declaration that they are not receiving any other funding sources for the same activities of their projects;
- does not honour the proposal commitments and the conditions laid down in these Guidelines, Declaration, and the Grant Agreement including reporting obligations.
How to Apply
All applications must be invariably submitted through the VO Funding portal, which is administered by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS).
For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2sVuYhu