Grants to improve the Capacity of Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (Moldova)

Objectives

• The objective of this competition is to continue supporting the business environment on both banks through business associations and support organizations. Through enhanced public-private dialogue and partnerships between BPOs on both banks of the Dniester, the main objectives will be to promote a business environment that is more in line with modern conditions, as well as to support and further develop SMEs, especially those focused on trade and export. In addition, this competition aims to exchange knowledge and successful experiences between the two banks, as well as to facilitate women’s access to economic resources. This competition consists of two lots.
  • Lot 1: Trade and Export Promotion through the Development of Institutional Capacity Development of Business Support Organisations
  • Lot 2: Women Economic Empowerment through Business Support Organisations

Funding Information

• The implementation period for initiatives for lots 1 and 2 is up to 12 months each, but not less than 10 months.
• The maximum amount that applicants may request in their proposals shall not exceed US$40,000.00 each.
• Own contribution to the implemented initiatives must be at least 10% (calculated on the basis of the requested grant amount). Co-financing from applicants and partners is accepted only as a financial contribution.

Eligible Expenses

• Costs for experts, consultants, trainers and IT support.
• Costs for service providers when providing services to both implementing organizations and beneficiary companies.
• Educational expenses.
• Transportation costs (rental of vehicles, fuel, transportation for participants, etc.).
• Marketing and advertising materials costs.
• Expenses for the purchase of consumables and other materials necessary for the implementation of the project.
• Costs of events (food, accommodation, information and educational campaigns, reproduction, printing, interpretation and translation, etc.).
• Administrative costs (staff salaries, communications, rent and utilities, postal and banking services) should not exceed 25% of the proposed project budget and must be clearly justified.
• Equipment acquisition costs must be clearly justified and strictly related to the purpose and activities of the project, making up no more than 20% of the total budget.

Ineligible Expenses

• Expenses incurred prior to signing the contract (including expenses related to project submission).
• Fines and penalties.
• Activities that are already funded under another program.
• Individual sponsorship for participation in master classes, seminars and conferences.
• Individual scholarships.
• Covering the actual costs of the organization, unless they have a clear connection with the project objectives.
• Expenses on the purchase or production of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, ammunition, luxury goods and other goods prohibited by UN regulations, including those related to the organization of gambling;
• Losses due to exchange rate differences.

Proposal Selection Criteria

• Impact on the sector. Successful projects will have an increased impact on the intended sectors of the economy on both banks, which will solve critical issues for doing business in the respective areas and will have a positive impact on a significant number of MSMEs. Contribution to national, regional and local strategies should be demonstrated through impact. Applicants must describe how to involve different stakeholders in the project activities. Also, the project must have an extensive impact and include local organizations, local administration, local and central authorities, as well as the academic environment. Priority will be given to projects in the field of energy efficiency, technology and labor productivity on both banks.
• A trust-building approach should be applied so that the activities provided for in the project proposal allow businesses on both sides to cooperate and benefit from interaction on both sides that is supported in areas of common interest. Confidence-building between the business communities on both shores must be ensured through regular business-to-business activities, where entrepreneurs and organizations will benefit from mutually beneficial relationships that represent their interests. Clear roles of partners must be described in the project proposal.
• The relevance of the proposed project refers to how it contributes to improving the institutional capacity in terms of public-private dialogue. The selected measures correspond to the core competence (status) of the organization and the capabilities of the personnel involved.
• The implementation logic and the development method will be evaluated based on the correlation between the proposed activities and the expected results, but also based on the feasibility of the action plan. The risks identified for achieving the grant’s objectives are relevant, and the mitigation measures undertaken are well defined. The relevance of the project budget must be well justified, with clearly defined expenses. Co-financing and partners’ contributions will be taken into account when evaluating the funding request.
• Innovation refers to how the project will have multiplier or spillover effects in other areas. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider the use of innovative approaches, digital solutions and the green economy, to establish public-private platforms and networks in the circular economy and other priority areas to promote the green transition.
• Financial sustainability. Applicants must ensure that the measures proposed for implementation will continue to function effectively after the end of the project by presenting a sustainability plan. Also, the proposal must demonstrate whether and to what extent this project is based on or complements other initiatives implemented by the applicant or other parties in the same field, as well as the ways to prevent overlapping of activities. To ensure sustainability, it will work with business associations and business development service providers to enable them to provide improved, knowledge-based services to companies on both shores.

Application Requirements

• Interested organizations will submit a package of documents, which will include:
  • Application form (Annex 1 Lot 1, Annex 1 Lot 2)
  • The project budget (Annex 2).
  • Copy of registration certificate for each partner organization
  • Copy of the statute for each partner organization
  • The partnership agreement , signed by all business support organizations, outlining the role of each partner
  • The CVs of the basic staff who will be involved in the implementation of the project. The CVs of the experts to be contracted and their written consent regarding participation in the project.

For more information, visit United Nations Development Programme.