1. Support to Integrated Rural Development in the Most Vulnerable Districts of the Central and Uva Provinces of Sri Lanka
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
EuropeAid/152029/DD/ACT/LK
Information session 13 July 2016

2. Background, Objectives
Call part of Multiannual Indicative Programme
EUR 30 (29.750) million – out of total EUR 210 million allocated to the Call – for Provinces lagging behind
To be implemented within the framework of a Financing Agreement with the Government of Sri Lanka
Objectives
Global: Contribute to reducing inequality through progress in human development level in rural regions of SL
Specific: Promotion of integrated, sustainable, climate-resilient, inclusive socio-economic development for rural and estate communities

3. See section 2.1.4 ‘Type of activities’
Lots
Lot 1: Improved livelihoods and increased household income levels (local businesses, rural infrastructures, job creation/diversification)
Lot 2: Improved health and nutrition of esp. women/ children (WatSan, small infrastructures, awareness, nutrition)
Priority Area: Good Governance (coordination, participation, planning, capacity building, transparency, gender…)
See section ‘Type of activities’ 3

4. See section 2.1.4: Initiatives expected to…
Cross cutting
Gender: GAP II as crucial reference for guidance and choice of indicators
Good governance: integrated part of Lot 1 and Lot 2
Environmental sustainability, climate resilience, people with disabilities
To the extent possible align indicators with EU Result Framework
See section 2.1.4: Initiatives expected to…

5. Financial Allocation per Lot
Improved livelihoods and increased income levels
EUR
LOT 2
Improved health and nutrition (esp women/children
EUR
Minimum amount
EUR
Maximum amount
EUR
Minimum percentage
55%
Maximum percentage
90%
The balance from sources other than EU Budget/EDF
If the allocation indicated for a specific lot cannot be used due to insufficient quality of number of proposals received, the Contracting Authority reserves the right to reallocate the remaining funds to another lot.
/2 =
See section 1.3 Indicative allocation of funds by lot

6. Location
No less than 2 districts in any or both of the two Provinces mentioned in Specific Objective
See section 2.1.4: Location

7. SELECTION MECHANISM – Open Call
1st stage – Concept note
Opening Session + 1st Administrative Check
2nd stage – Full proposal
Not Accepted
Accepted
Evaluation of the
Concept Notes
Not Accepted
Evaluation of the Full Proposals
Accepted
Not Accepted
Accepted
Eligibility Check
Importance of Concept Note stage
Not Accepted
Accepted
Signature of the Grant Contracts
Estimated duration of the entire process: 6 months

8. Timeline
Launch
20 June 2016
Information session
13 July 2016 at 10 am
Last questions
Not later than 21 days before 30 September 2016
Submission deadline
30 September 2016 at 12:30 Brussels time
Tentative award notification
End of October 2016
Tentative contract signature
End November 2016/beginning December 2016

9. DURATION:
The initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than 36 months nor exceed 48 months.

10. Actors Applicant (coordinator) Co-applicants Affiliated entities OR
Associates
Contractors
Sub-grantees
Satisfy eligibility criteria
Costs incurred are eligible
Do not have to satisfy eligibility criteria
Associates can receive per diems and travel costs

11. Number of applications
The lead applicant:
* no more than 1 application per lot
* may not be awarded more than 1 grant under this call
* may not be a co-applicant/affiliated entity in another application of the same lot at the same time
The co-applicant/affiliated entity:
* may submit more than 1 application per lot
* may be awarded more than 1 grant per lot
* may not be the lead applicant/affiliated entity in another application at the same time

12. Eligibility
* Read carefully eligibility criteria in the guidelines; including the footnotes!
* Note that the lead applicant must act with at least one Sri Lankan co-applicant;
* Pay attention to the Declaration by the Lead Applicant: the lead applicant must declare that the lead applicant, the co-applicants and the affiliated entities are not in any of the situations of exclusion!

13. Eligibility: Non-profit-making
Supporting documents:
for example Constitution of the association, specifying clearly the non-profit making status, certified by an attorney at law or a public notary

14. Sub-granting (= Financial support to third parties)
Sub-granting may be the main objective of the action, so no threshold applies!
Crucial: 6 criteria/conditions should be explained in detail in the proposal, maintaining the headings/titles as explained in the guidelines page 15 and 16. Without these, financial support to third parties will not be possible!
Explain implementation: support to third parties which does not follow the six criteria/conditions will be declared ineligible!

15. PADOR
27 June 2016: simplification of PADOR Registration: number of fields to be completed reduced and duplicate or inactive profiles were archived. Lighter, user-friendly and shared- interface with PROSPECT.
Registration in PADOR mandatory for applicants, co- applicants and affiliated entities! Don't forget the Legal Entity File! Update regularly!
In case of problems, with PADOR: don't contact the Delegation, but check the manual or use the online IT support of PADOR.

16. The Concept Note
* Provides full information: evaluation will be based solely on the information provided.
* Pay attention to the Evaluation Grid of the Concept note (see page 23 of the Guidelines). Important: scores of relevance will be transferred to the evaluation grid of the full application, unless the evaluation committee decides otherwise. 16 16

17. Budget for the Action (Full Proposal)
The budget for the action is an estimate, but it should be a realistic estimate and not an artificial inflated budget. As it is an estimate, changes in the budget during implementation are normal and acceptable: grant beneficiaries have a flexibility of 25% at the level of the budget heading.
Is the correct template used? Pay attention to the footnotes of the budget template, they are very important. Complete all three parts of the budget template. Pay attention to Annex K!

18. ESTIMATED BUDGET

19. Eligibility of cost

20. Ineligible costs

21. Estimated budget - Headings

22. Simplified Cost Option
Unit costs, lump sums or flat-rates
Simplification of the financial management

23. Simplified Cost Option - types

24. Simplified Cost Option - Conditions

25. Taxes (Annex J)
- This Call for Proposals is covered by a Financing Agreement signed between the EU and the Government of Sri Lanka: in principle, taxes should not be paid.
- The European Union will sign a Tax Framework Agreement with the Government of Sri Lanka. There is an agreement on the content of the Tax Framework Agreement (see annex J), but the formal signing of the documents needs to be finalised.
- But: no concrete information yet how the Tax Framework Agreement will be implemented in our projects.
- What if GoSL fails to exempt the tax? Tax eligible cost provided that grant beneficiary can provide certain documents.

26. Q & A DELEGATION-SRI-LANKA-INTEGRATED-RURAL-DEVELOPMENT@eeas.europa.eu
Deadline for Questions: Not later than 21 days before 30 September 2016
Questions together with the answers published on the website as indicated in paragraph of the guidelines.

27. Recommendations
1. Consider both technical proposal and formal requirements/budget as equally important. Most rejections or complaints concern formal requirements!
2. Read the guidelines (and annexes) carefully
3. Fill in the checklist carefully
4. Register/update in PADOR a.s.a.p.

28. 4. Check regularly the prospect website for updates
5. Submission deadlines! Prospect will automatically block your submission if you send your proposal after the deadline.