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British Embassy Asunción: call for bids 2019/2020

The British Embassy in Asunción is now accepting project proposals for the 2019/2020 financial year (26 August 2019 – 20 December 2019).

From:
British Embassy Asunción
Published
2 July 2019
Last updated
15 July 2019 — See all updates

The British Embassy in Asunción is now accepting project proposals for the 2019/2020 financial year (26 August 2019 – 20 December 2019). Deadline for submission of proposals is Friday 19 July 2019 (until midnight, Paraguay time).

Call for bids

This year, the British Embassy will run a competitive bidding process seeking to support projects and activities up to USD 8,000 that deliver real and measurable outcomes in support of development in Paraguay. All expenditures must qualify as Official Development Assistance (ODA), as defined by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and have the promotion of economic development and welfare of the people of Paraguay as the main objective. We are particularly interested in projects proposals focused on the following thematic areas of work:

Inclusive economic growth and improvement of business environment

Projects aiming to support inclusive economic growth and development for rural and urban disadvantaged groups; increasing accountability and transparency in key economic sectors or government institutions; supporting reforms and implementation of policies aimed at promoting conditions for open markets, such as, but not limited to promoting competitiveness, streamlining processes to facilitate trade, increasing sustainability and innovation, tackling corruption and bureaucracy, reducing the potential for illicit trade, economic crime and money laundry.

Human Rights

Strengthening freedom of press and safety of journalists, media workers and strengthening their legal rights; increasing participation of women in politics for positions of leadership and influence; increasing equality and non-discrimination, reducing violence against women, LGBT+, Afro-Paraguayan community, indigenous people and other disadvantaged groups; raising awareness and promoting gender equality; strengthening democratic governance and rule of law.

Note: Strengthening freedom of press is FCO’s global priority this year.

Education

In particular, promoting girls education; capacity building programs for the improvement of educational system; access to formal education or opportunities for extracurricular education, including but not limited to: technology, language learning, sciences, and civic participation.

Who may bid? Eligibility criteria

In order to be eligible, your organisation or agency must be a legal entity, not-for-profit or commercial company, a registered non-governmental (NGO) or governmental organisation, academia, research institutions, and must demonstrate:

  • proof of legal registration

  • previous experience in delivering and managing projects

  • preferably previous experience working with international agencies/organisations

How to bid

Proposals should be sent by email using the attached forms to BE-Asuncion.Enquiries@fco.gov.uk. In the subject line of the email, please indicate “Project Bid_NAME OF ORGANISATION_” and include the project title.

Project bid guidance

  • projects are funded under a reimbursement scheme for a single financial year running from 26 August 2019 to 20 December 2019, with no expectations of continued funding beyond this period
  • minimum project budget USD 5,000
  • maximum project budget USD 8,000
  • please note that proposals near minimum and maximum can be considered
  • each institution may submit up to a maximum of 2 proposals

Project assessment

Project bids will be assessed against the following criteria:

  • alignment with the above mentioned thematic areas

  • achievable outcomes within the funding period and sustainability after the funding ends

  • clear project design which includes monitoring and evaluation procedures

  • identified risks and planned mitigation

  • the organisation’s safeguarding policies that ensure protection of beneficiaries

  • demonstrated value for money in the Activity Based Budget (ABB)

Process

  • ensure that the Activity Based Budget (ABB) is in the same currency as the bank account where funds reimbursements are to be received. Utilize the Excel template provided below

  • proposals must be received by midnight on 19 July 2019 (until midnight, Paraguay time). All proposals received in a different format or means to the one requested and/or submitted after the set date and time will not be considered

  • proposals selected for further consideration and due diligence information will be notified by 6 August 2019

  • the British Embassy in Asuncion aims to sign grant agreements with successful implementers between 12 and 20 August 2019

  • due to the high number of bids we receive, we are unable to provide detailed feedback to unsuccessful bids

Indicative timetable

Dates Activities
2 July 2019 Call for bids announcement
10 July 2019 Online Q&A Session
19 July 2019 Deadline for implementers to submit Project Proposal Forms and Activity Based Budget
22 – 31 July 2019 Proposals reviewed by the British Embassy Asuncion’s Projects Board.
6 August Outcome of successful bid notified to implementers

Additional information and documentation

All implementers will be expected to sign a standard FCO contract or grant agreement with the Embassy. The terms of the contract or agreement are not negotiable.

Published 2 July 2019
Last updated 15 July 2019 + show all updates

  1. We changed process requirements to allow proposals in Spanish

  2. First published.