1. Civil Society Dialogue – EU-Turkish Chambers Forum
EU-TURKEY CHAMBERS PARTNERSHIP
GRANT SCHEME
Information Days
April 2008
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

2. Context “Civil Society Development Programme” financed by the EU
between
TCDP I- 10 Partnerships between EU&Turkish Chambers
TCDP II- 11 Partnerships between EU&Turkish Chambers
“EU-Turkish Chambers Partnership Grant Scheme” financed
by the EU in 2008 under NP 2006
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

3. Overall Objective promoting the integration of EU and
“to strengthen the dialogue and cooperation
between the Turkish Chambers and their
counterparts in the EU as members of civil
society”;
promoting the integration of EU and
Turkish business communities
facilitating the effective
implementation of business-related acquis in
Turkey.
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

4. Specific Objectives
To obtain adequate knowledge on core Chamber issues (management, services, communication)
To increase understanding of EU business practices in Turkey, and vice versa Turkish business practise in the EU
To foster opportunities for trade and investment
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

5. Implementing Structures
Beneficiary Institution
(Implementing Authority)
responsible for the technical
implementation
TOBB
EUROCHAMBRES
Direct Grant Beneficiary
Informing and training of potential applicants
Monitoring of the grants
Central Finance
and Contracts Unit
Contracting Authority - responsible for, evaluation of proposals, contracting, financing and all payments procedures
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

6. Programme Region Turkey EU member-states (27 states)
Applicants from
Turkey
Partners from
EU member-states (27 states)
Candidate countries (Turkey, Croatia, FYROM)
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

7. Programme Budget and Grant Amount
Total financial Allocation
EUR
Total Project Costs – no restrictions concerning
the total cost of the action
Grant amounts
Minimum EUR
Maximum EUR
No more than 90% of the eligible costs
No less than 50% of the eligible costs
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

8. Project Co-financing
Cash co-financing of project activities is obligatory – minimum 10% of total eligible costs:
Co-financing may be provided by:
Applicant
Partners
Associates
Co-financing from other EU programmes is forbidden
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

9. Applicant, Partners, Associates
Project is designed and implemented by the Applicant and Project Partners
There are strict requirements to type of organisations that may participate in the project as Applicants and Partners and their technical and financial capacity should be proven.
Associates support the project implementation:
Associates may not receive funding from the grant ;
Any organisation may be an associate (except political parties and organisations)
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

10. Subcontractors
Neither partners nor associates, and are subject to the procurement rules set out in Annex IV to the standard grant contract.
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

11. Lead Applicant Responsibilities
Application stage
Lead Applicant is responsible for the submission of the Application
Implementation stage
Lead Applicant is responsible for
signature of the Contract, thus has legal responsibility
technical & financial management
Project may have only one Lead applicant!
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

12. Partners Responsibilities
Application stage
Support Lead applicant in the preparation of project proposal
Implementation stage
Implement project activities in co-operation with the Lead applicant
Partners may receive funding from the project budget
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

13. Partners Responsibilities (2)
Project must have at least one European partner which is a local/regional/national chamber or union of chambers established in the EU member-states or Candidate countries represented by EUROCHAMBRES .
There is no limit on the maximum number of project partners, but it should be manageable!
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

14. Location of Applicant and Partner Organisations
Applicant should be
located in Turkey.
At least one European partner located in:
EU member-states
Candidate countries
All activities should take place in Turkey and EU or
Candidate countries.
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

15. Requirements to Applicant and Partner Organisations
be chambers including chambers of commerce and industry, chambers of commerce, chambers of industry, chamber of maritime commerce and commodity exchanges,
be nationals of the Republic of Turkey and member organisation of TOBB ( preferably from less developed regions,
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

16. Requirements to Applicant and Partner Organisations (2)
have at least one eligible partner organisation which is a local/regional/national chamber or union of chambers established in the EU member-states or the Candidate countries represented by EUROCHAMBRES ( 3])
be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with their partners, not acting as an intermediary.
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

17. Requirements to Applicant and Partner Organisations (3)
Registration according to the Turkish law (European for European partners)
No debts to social security or tax authorities
Technical and financial capacity to implement project activities
Not falling in any of the situations which are listed in Section of the Practical Guide to Contract Procedures for EC External Actions (available from the following Internet address:
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

18. Number of proposals per Applicant
One Applicant may submit only one proposal and
may be awarded only one grant under the present call for proposals
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

19. Priority Themes
Capacity building at the chambers to better serve to the companies (diversification of chamber services such as export orientation, new marketing methods, branding, trade facilitation, adopting product portfolio to market needs, promotion of products, promoting web-presence of companies, Research & Development; improving the quality of existing services, etc.),
Support to local/regional investment promotion activities,
Raising awareness to address environmental issues for industries,
Cluster development,
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

20. Vocational training and education, Support to women entrepreneurship,
Priority Themes (2)
Vocational training and education,
Support to women entrepreneurship,
Raising awareness within companies for intellectual property rights.
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

21. Important Issues
Only environmentally friendly technologies and projects environmentally compatible will be supported.
Equal opportunity of access to activities and benefits accruing from the projects and gender related indicators.
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

22. Ineligible activities
individual sponsorships;
individual scholarships;
one-off actions;
actions already receiving funding;
projects consisting solely of research actions, development of strategies, plans or other similar documents;
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

23. Ineligible activities (2)
commercial activities;
actions which are ideologically biased or partisan in nature;
grant making activities or loans to other organisations or individuals;
infrastructure projects or projects essentially focused on the purchase of equipment;
only the exchange activities.
projects that are implemented in TCDP I and TCDP II.
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

24. Advice: Plan longer projects!
Duration of Project
Duration of an action can not be shorter
than 8 months nor exceed 12 months.
Advice: Plan longer projects!
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

25. See Guidelines for Applicants Section 2.1.4
Eligible Costs
Costs that are necessary for the implementation of the activities
Costs that are going to be incurred during the project implementation period
Costs that are done in compliance with the principles of value for money and cost-effectiveness and
Costs that are identifiable and verifiable with documentary proofs
See Guidelines for Applicants Section 2.1.4
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

26. Eligible Costs (2)
Staff and experts - corresponding to actual salaries plus social security charges and other remuneration‑related costs;
Travel and subsistence costs
Cost of purchasing equipment and services, provided they correspond to market rates – supplies not more than 15% of the total eligible project cost
Cost of consumables and supplies;
Subcontracting expenditure (e.g. publications)
Other direct cost for dissemination of information, translation, printing, insurance, financial service;
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

27. Contingency Reserve- no more than 5% of direct eligible costs and
can only be used with the prior written authorisation of the CFCU and can not be requested as lump sum during project implementation.
Administrative cost – no more than 7% of the total eligible direct costs
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

28. Ineligible Costs debts and provisions for losses or debts;
salaries of government officials;
project preparation costs;
interest owed;
items already financed in another framework;
purchases of land or buildings;
purchases of used equipment;
currency exchange losses;
taxes, including VAT;
credits to third parties;
costs already incurred;
costs above market prices or above rates normally borne by the Beneficiary and/or his partners;
non project related expenditures.
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

29. Costs of associates are ineligible, except travel & subsistence costs!
Ineligible Costs (2)
Contributions in kind – voluntary labour, equipment and premises owned by partners, etc.
Costs of associates are ineligible, except travel & subsistence costs!
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

30. Application, Selection and Evaluation Process
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

31. Practical Details Get Guidelines & application form: distributed today
internet:
TOBB & EUROCHAMBRES offices
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

32. Application Form has 3 compulsory parts:
Grant Application Form (which includes guidance for concept note, Checklist and Declaration by the Applicant)
Budget (signed by the legally authorised representative of the Applicant)
Logical Framework +
CVs of project coordinator and other key experts
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

33. Additional documents
If the project involves any training activities/ vocational courses, the training curricula for the respective trainings prepared according to template,
If there will be procurement of machinery and equipment that has a unit cost of more than € , proforma invoice for the relevant equipment.
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

34. Requirements to the Application form
Prepare Application in English language
Application should be typed
Application format has to be respected - do not delete and change any text within the standard application form and its annexes!
No supplementary annexes should be sent.
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

35. Request for Clarifications
Questions in written form prior to 12 May 2008, indicating clearly the Ref. No. CFCU/ TR to CFCU:
address:
Fax:
Questions and answers will be published on the internet at ,
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

36. Submission of application
One original and 2 copies + electronic format of the Application form and supporting documents has to be
delivered by mail, courier or by hand in CFCU ANKARA
before 2 June 2008, at
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

37. Selection and Award- 4 stages
Administrative compliance check to verify that Application is complete and in accordance with the formal requirements (by 1 assessor)
Concept Note evaluation – 2 assessors evaluate concept notes independently (only proposals that passed administrative compliance check are evaluated)
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

38. Concept Note Evaluation Criteria
Scores
1. Relevance of the action
Sub-score 15
1.1 Relevance of the problems to needs and constraints of the country/region to be addressed in general, and to those of the target groups and final beneficiaries in particular
1.2 Relevance to the priorities and objectives mentioned in the Guidelines 5
5(x2)*
2. Effectiveness and Feasibility of the action 25
2.1 Assessment of the problem identification and analysis
2.2 Assessment of the proposed activities (practicality and consistency in relation to the objectives, purpose and expected results).
2.3 Assessment of the role and involvement of all stakeholders and proposed partners.
3. Sustainability of the action 10
3.1 Assessment of the identification of the main assumptions and risks, before the start up and throughout the implementation period.
3.2 Assessment of the identification of long-term sustainable impact on the target groups and final beneficiaries.
TOTAL SCORE 50
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

39. Selection and Award (2)
Technical evaluation of applications– 2 assessors evaluate applications independently (only proposals that passed concept note stage are evaluated)
Eligibility check to verify that Applicant, partners, actions are eligible by 1 assessor/evaluator (only proposals that passed technical evaluation stage are checked).
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

40. Technical Evaluation Criteria
1. Financial and operational capacity (of the applicant and partners) 20
>12
2. Relevance (to programme objectives and local needs) 25
>20
3. Methodology (adequacy of proposed activities)
4. Sustainability (expected impact) 15
5. Budget and cost-effectiveness
Total
100
>65
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

41. Verification of Eligibility
The statutes or articles of association of the applicant organisation and of each partner organisation;
Copy of the applicant’s latest accounts;
Legal entity sheet duly completed and signed by the applicant;
A financial identification form;
A decision of the Applicant’s and Partner(s)’ Managing Body to implement the Project with an indication of the person(s) nominated to sign documents;
Notarised document with the name(s) of the person(s) empowered to represent the applicant and Partner(s) & sample of signature(s);
A copy of Applicant’s tax registration or a document indicating the tax number from the relevant tax authority;
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

42. Verification of Eligibility (2)
Evidence on the fulfilment of obligations related to the social security contributions and payment of taxes as per the submission date.
Two Declarations duly completed and signed by the applicant.
Authorisation or other licenses necessary for the implementation of the project, if required by the Law.
If the supporting documents are not provided within 10 calendar days from the receipt of the letter sent by the Contracting Authority, the application may be rejected!
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

43. From Notification to Project Start
Evaluation Committee recommends the projects for support on the basis of the results of the eligibility check
Successful applicants are notified after getting the ECD approval
Contract Signature & Project Start
Contract signature by lead applicant with CFCU
The day following the date of signature = Project Start
No activities should start
before the contract signature!
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008

44. YOUR ATTENTION AND GOOD LUCK!
THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ATTENTION AND GOOD LUCK!
CFCU - 2 Nisan 2008