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Cross-border Cooperation in the Carpathian Euroregion

Mission:

The mission of the Carpathian Foundation is to strengthen the capacity of civic organizations and local self-governments to address community and regional needs. The Carpathian Foundation funds and assists efforts in the strengthening of local democracy, the development of civil societies, and in promoting inter-ethnic, trans-frontier and cross-sector cooperation.

The geographical scope of the Foundation's policies cover the bordering areas of Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine:
Hungary:	Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Hajdú-Bihar, Heves, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg counties
Poland:	Subcarpathian region
Romania:	Bihor, Botosani, Maramures, Salaj, Suceava, Satu Mare, Harghita counties
Slovakia:	Košice and Prešov region
Ukraine:	Černivska, Ivano-Frankivska, Lvivska, Zakarpatská oblasť (region)

The mission of the Cross-border Cooperation Program

The Call for Proposals intends to identify and motivate locally initiated projects, which promote cross-border, regional and community economic development in the Carpathian Euroregion. We seek to enhance partnerships on both sides of the national borders.

The objectives of the Program:
·        promote cooperation between border regions and communities within the Carpathian Euroregion that are tackling common problems
·        develop and implement cross-border strategies and projects
·        stimulate the build-up of joint institutions and organizations promoting long-term cross-border cooperation
·        contribute to confidence building amongst different ethnic groups through the sharing of experiences and promotion of best practices
·        foster cooperation and networking amongst NGOs, local governments and their partnership with businesses on an inter-regional level
·        identify specific economic and ethnic values within the Carpathian Euroregion communities
The grant program provides support up to 10,000 USD to projects, which demonstrate efforts in promoting effective cross-border cooperation.

Criteria for grant eligibility

The applicants must be registered non-profit NGOs or local self-governments located in the geographical areas described above. Educational and research institutions as well as national NGOs and international organizations located outside the described areas can participate as cooperating partners in the project but can not be the grant recipient.
The applicants should have a well-proven record of activity in the areas targeted by the program, as well as relevant experience of cross-border cooperation. Newly established or occasional associations should have objectives corresponding to the objectives of the program.
Project duration should be no longer than 9 months from the date that the grant contract is signed. Project period shall be from April 2002 to December 2002 or shorter within this period. 
Proposals from previous CBC grantees can not be considered. The already granted organization could be partners in the new proposals.

No support will be given for:
·        charitable activities of general humanitarian nature
·        purchasing of land and/or buildings
·        purchasing capital equipment (including computer, printer, office furniture, etc.)
·        construction or renovation of real property
·        re-granting, gifts, sponsorship
·        conferences (except when they are part of a project planning, monitoring or evaluation process or when they encourage exchange of experience between CF projects)
·        scholarships
·        research projects (except when research is an integral part of project planning)
·        cultural activities

Proposal evaluation
The project appraisal process has the following steps:
·        The country directors of the Carpathian Foundation review all applications, which fulfill the technical and administrative requirements and prepare them for the appraisal process. The Grant Committee of the Carpathian Foundation is selecting those projects, which meet the criteria of the Program, and submits them for the Board of Director’s decision.
·        The Board of Directors of the Carpathian Foundation makes final selection of projects to be awarded.

Project evaluation criteria
Practical criteria
·        relevant presentation and convincing analysis to the situation of given region
·        clear description of objectives and methods proposed for execution of the project
·        innovative nature and cost-effectiveness of the project
·        coherent set of tasks with clearly defined operational objectives and measurable results
·        detailed budget, which clearly explains how funds will be used and identifies funds available from other sources.
Quality of project
·        stimulate cross-border community economic development
·        encourage cross-border partnership and network
·        brings new, innovative approach to cross-border cooperation
·        clear description of methods to be used in order to evaluate the success of the project
·        tangible results of the project and follow up
Partners
·        involvement of organizations from more than one country (NGOs, local self-governments, businesses)
·        clear indicators of local support for the project; capacity of all partners to implement the project
·        clear identification and distribution of the roles and responsibilities between each of the participating organizations and countries and their shares on the total budget
·        participation of all the partners from the very outset (i.e. from the stage of project design)
·        evidence of cross-sector cooperation: government, NGO, private sector 

Priority will be given to initiatives in which:
·        more than two countries are involved into the project
·        the project can serve as a demonstration project
·        the project will have a long term impact and can be sustained after the finish of support from the CF
·        other donors shows strong interest in co-financing at least 25% of the total budget of project
·        inter-ethnic component is highlighted 

How to apply for a grant
The applicant organization should prepare and submit project proposal in English to the Carpathian Foundation Country Office in two copies and in the electronic version (via e-mail if possible or on a diskette). The electronic version should be saved in “RTF” format.
The proposal should describe:
·        the name, legal status and brief history or background of the applicant
·        CVs of leadership
·        present situation and specifics of the region
·        the problem or issue to be addressed
·        proposed project goals
·        proposed project methodology
·        project description (max. 7 pages), which should include: background information about the targeted area (relevant data, and information)
·        expected impact or results of the project
·        proposed project partners
·        an organizational and staffing plan indicating how the groups and individuals working on the project will divide roles, responsibilities and decision making
·        proposed budget with breakdown by tasks
·        proposed evaluation and measurement of project success and follow up
Whenever conditions allow, the activities of the project should be described in blocks that will permit that the CF without damaging the whole project would support only certain activities within a project. Further information can be obtained from CF Country Directors.
The proposals should include a written statement(s) of the involved organization(s) and their participation and role in the project.
The projects have to be prepared according the Guide of the Carpathian Foundation, which is available at the CF offices.
The deadline for project proposals is January 31, 2002 at 4 p.m., which means, that this time the project proposals have to be at the Carpathian Foundation country office. The Board of Directors of the Carpathian Foundation will make the final decision and announce winners in March 25Th, 2002.
The potential applicants should consult their projects with the CF Country Director in advance to insure the well-chosen topics of the project and project proposals prepared according the CF criteria and requirements.
Projects not fulfilling the criteria of the program and prepared in a different way, than it is described in the Guide, will be rejected.

How payments will be made?
Project activities may begin only after signing of a Grants Agreement between the grantee and the CF. Costs incurred before both parties signed the contract will not be reimbursed.
The grant can only be used in the framework of the project for which the application has been made. It can cover only project expenses taking place in the geographical area of the project.
Wherever possible the grantee must open a separate bank account, which will record only those expenditures made in the implementation of the project. This will allow the CF to perform a regular budgetary control and to ensure transparency of the financing of the project. Payments from the CF will be made in 2 installments. The first installment is payable upon signing the Grant Agreement. The second installment will be paid upon submission and approval of a project status report consisting of the detailed description of activities and a financial statement including all supporting documents. During the entire implementation stage of the project, the grantee is expected to cooperate closely with the respective CF Country Director responsible for supervising the project.

Contacts:
CF – FDEC - Romania
Oradea, 3700
Sucevei Street, no. 14, II nd floor, room 217
Phone/fax 059 419758
E-mail: cfro@rdsor.ro
www.carpathianfoundation.org