Call for bids
The British Embassy in San Jose is now accepting project and activity proposals for the 2020/2021 financial year (15 May 2020 - 28 February 2021).
Thematic areas
This year, the British Embassy is seeking to support projects and activities in Costa Rica and Nicaragua that focus on the following thematic areas:
- human rights and democracy - for example: strengthened democratic governance and rule of law; increased equality and non-discrimination for women and disadvantaged groups and strengthened freedom of the press
- inclusive and green growth - for example: fostering economic inclusion; improving the business environment; supporting green growth and resilience to climate change
We are looking for projects and activities that deliver real, measurable outcomes in support of development in the country and are particularly interested in proposals aimed at the following outcomes:
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Increased accountability and transparency, demonstrated, for example, through improved Transparency or Integrity Index scores or stronger mechanisms for checks and balances in institutional frameworks, leading to greater alignment of policies and practices with international standards
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Reforms and implementation of policies aimed at promoting conditions for open markets, green growth and mitigation to climate change, such as, but not limited to: promoting competitiveness, streamlining processes to facilitate trade, reducing the potential for illicit trade; and facilitating the transition to decarbonisation
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Greater economic inclusion through entrepreneurship and innovation, especially for women entrepreneurs and other vulnerable groups such as migrants
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Decrease in reported gender-based violence, discrimination and harassment towards women, members of the LGBT community and other marginalised groups
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Reduction in reported harassment of and violence against journalists; improved enabling environment in which freedom of the press is protected and respected
Kindly note separate guidance for activity bids and project bids
Activity bid guidance
- activities are one-off interventions (not a fully developed project) that take place at a specific time in the financial year between 15 May 2020 and 28 February 2021, with no expectation of continued funding beyond the initial activity or period
- maximum activity budget limit: $10,000 (please note that in the past, most bids approved in this category were typically between $5,000 and $6,000)
Activity bids will be assessed against the following criteria:
- alignment with the above-mentioned thematic priorities and outcomes
- outcomes that are achievable within the funding period
- activity design that includes clear evaluation procedures
- activity design that includes risk and financial accountability procedures
- the organisation's safeguarding policies ensure protection of beneficiaries
- overall value for money
Project bid guidance
- projects are funded for a single financial year running from 15 May 2020 to 28 February 2021, with no expectation of continued funding beyond this period
- minimum project budget limit: $10,000
- maximum project budget limit: $20,000
Project bids will be assessed against the following criteria:
- alignment with the above mentioned thematic priorities and outcomes
- outcomes are achievable within the funding period
- project design includes clear monitoring and evaluation procedures
- project design includes risk and financial accountability procedures
- evidence of sustainability - demonstrating that project benefits continue after the funding ends
- the organisation's safeguarding policies ensure protection of beneficiaries
- overall value for money
- administration costs for delivering a project should not exceed 10% of the total project budget
Things not covered by funding
- purchase of capital equipment
- communications strategies or campaigns
