Embassy of Finland calls for proposals on the following topics in 2022/2023 supporting resilience of the Ukrainian society
Education & Training (project such as, but not limited to):
- Providing support to teachers and children to tackle the challenges of the learning loss and/or to enhance their psycho-social wellbeing
- Enhancing access to safe learning space and/or quality online learning material
- Organising children’s clubs with educational elements
- Implementing education/training programs and introducing tools for health and social work professionals to deal with psycho-social and health trauma of the victims of sexual violence/ PTSD
Environmental and drinking water safety (projects such as, but not limited to):
- Promoting the safety of the environment
- Promoting access to safe drinking water
In addition, the Embassy would like to see proposals that manifest strong emphasis on mobilization and implementation of self-help groups and voluntary work to implement the proposed projects.
The Applicants are asked to fill in the Application form and Annex1, Annex2 in English. Please note that a maximum length of the Application is 5 pages (font size 12 pt) + Annexes.
Deadline for submitting the project proposal is August, 31, 2022, at 17:00 (GMT/UTC +2) to the e-mail address: PYM.KIO@formin.fi, please indicate on the subject line "LCF" and the name of your organization
What is Finnish Local Cooperation Fund?
The Fund for Local Cooperation is administered by the Embassy of Finland in Kyiv and is aimed at supporting local (Ukrainian) civil society organizations (CSOs).
In some cases also other types of organizations can be considered eligible, including educational and research institutions, independent media, and cultural organizations.
Please note that public state organizations are not eligible for the support, but can be partners of CSOs with their own funding/in-kind contribution.
The project needs to be in line with the goals and principles of the official development policy of Finland that aims at poverty reduction, implementation of fundamental rights and promoting sustainable development globally.
The total amount to be disbursed to the selected projects is 500 000 EUR, of which 5-10 % will be reserved for the Embassy’s monitoring activities of the funded projects. Maximum 5 projects will be chosen to receive financing from the FLC in 2022. The amount per an individual project can vary depending on the proposal, but should not be under 80 000 EUR. The Embassy does not provide funding for projects where the Finnish FLC is the sole source of funding.
It should be noted that an independent auditing of the project is required on completion of the project activities. Therefore, the applicant should include the auditing costs in the project budget.
The project proposed must have the potential for real and measurable/verifiable results.
The Embassy seeks to fund at least one project promoting the rights of the priority groups in the Finnish development policy (so-called vulnerable groups) such as persons with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, other minorities or indigenous peoples.
Embassy would like to encourage eligible actors to form strategic collaboration with other civil society organizations, local authorities and private sector aiming at enhancing sustainability and effectiveness of the project.
The maximum project duration is 24 months.
Restrictions on the use of FLCs funding cannot be granted:
- to an unregistered association or organisation
- to support the activities of a political party
- for basic research
- for single cultural events (that have no permanent impact)
- for charity
- for humanitarian aid
- in the form of a grant, scholarship or assistance for the applicant’s personal use
- for purchasing land and real estate
Selection criteria
The Embassy of Finland underlines the importance of preparing a high-quality project proposal.
The capacity and professionalism should be reflected in the quality and clarity of the proposal.
The most important selection criteria are relevance and quality of the proposal.
When selecting among the applications for funding, the Embassy also takes a geographical balance of activities within Ukraine into consideration.
CSO can be funded maximum for two subsequent years.
The following criteria will be used to assess the proposals:
The applicant is eligible for the LCF
- The project is in line with the Finnish development policy goals and principles and particularly thematic focus for the FLC 2022 as specified in the call
- One or several of the Finnish development policy cross-cutting objectives are addressed: gender equality, non-discrimination (focus on persons with disabilities), climate resilience, low emission development
- The project's main purpose, activities and expected results are clearly articulated
- The project's objectives are realistic and clearly defined
- There are indicators specified to measure the project results
- Budget is realistic and transparent. Overbudgeting will be seen negatively in the assessment process
- The beneficiaries of the project and their needs are defined
- A comprehensive risk analysis is in place and risk mitigation measures defined
- The expected long-term effects of the project is explicated
- Sustainability of the activities is considered
- Applicant’s project management experience and capacity
Submitting your project proposals:
The file size (Application +Annexes) should not exceed 5 Mb.
Application and annexes are required to be submitted in a Word or PDF format only.
Unloadable files will not be considered.
Links to the files to be downloaded will not be considered.
Only applications sent to PYM.KIO@formin.fi will be considered.
One applicant can send only one project proposal. If the application will be sent, for any reasons, more than once before the deadline, only the latest application will be considered while all previous versions will be deleted.
Results of the first round of the assessment of the proposals can be expected by the end of September 2022.
Shortlisted candidates may be requested to provide additional information.
Results of the second round will be expected by the beginning of October 2022.
Applicants selected to the final round will be contacted for an interview after which the final decision will be made.
Selected projects will be contacted for discussions before entering into agreement.
Please make sure that your contact information is correct.
Selection process schedule is a subject to force majeure reasons that may cause delays.
An online Q&A session will be organized by the Embassy on 4 August 2022 at 1 pm.
Details of Q&A session will be announced on Embassy's facebook page in mid July.
For more information please contact: PYM.KIO(at) formin.fi
Additional information:
The Embassy of Finland reserves the right to accept or reject any project proposal based on their preferences and on changes in the situation within the country.
Project agreement between the Embassy of Finland and the organization must be signed by an authorized representative of the receiving organization. The signing will take place in Kyiv at the Embassy of Finland unless otherwise agreed.
The recipient of the LCF is responsible for fulfilling the activities in line with the grant agreement and take care of an appropriate financial administration.
At the end of the project, the organization shall provide the Embassy with full narrative and financial reports of the implementation of the project, in accordance with the project plan and the agreement.
Project budget should be calculated in UAH and in Euros.
The agreement will be made in English and the support from the Embassy will be specified in Euros.
The funding will be provided in the equivalent amount in UAH according to the Embassy's exchange rate at the time of the payment.
Payment of the grant is typically provided in two (or more instalments in case of a two-year project): first after signing of the agreement (max 80%), second after interim report (in case of a project over 12 months) and last instalment after adequate final reporting has been received by the Embassy (min 10%).
The Embassy reserves a right to audit or evaluate any of the projects it has funded at any time. The organization responsible for the project shall provide all necessary documentation available for evaluation / verification of the project costs.
Source: finlandabroad.fi gurt.org.ua.