The World Bank
announces the Second Round of the
Matched Small Grants Program
in the Caspian Region
THE WORLD BANK
WB
Matched Small Grants Program
Caspian
Environment Programme
Government House, Room # 108
40 Uzeir Hadjibeyov Street,
1st Floor, Entrance #3
Baku
370016, Azerbaijan
Phone: (994-12) 93-80-03, 97-17-85
Fax: (994-12) 97-17-86
msgp@caspian.in-baku.com
http://www.caspianenvironment.org/msgp/
WHAT
IS THE MATCHED SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM?
The Matched Small Grants Program (MSGP), funded
by the Global Environmental Facility and executed by the World Bank, is a
component of the Priority Investment Portfolio Project (PIPP). The PIPP is one of several projects being
implemented under the Caspian Environment Program (CEP), which was launched in
April 1995 at the initiative of the Caspian littoral states. The overall goal
of the CEP is to promote the sustainable development and management of the
Caspian environment, a major and unique ecosystem under threat from pollution
and loss of biodiversity.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE
MSGP?
The purpose of the MSGP is to advance
small-scale investment or pilot projects to address urgent environmental
problems in the Caspian region. With this program small-scale priority projects
can be implemented quickly, in order to take curative or preventive actions;
the MSGP also helps to develop the capacity for further actions to improve the
Caspian environment.
WHAT WILL BE FINANCED UNDER
THE MSGP?
Under the MSGP small-scale investment, small
scale or pilot projects will be financed that will produce tangible, practical
results. Grants may be requested in the amount of US$ 10,000 up to US$
100,000. At least 100% matching of the grant amount is mandatory
for grants up to $50,000; at least 200% matching is mandatory for grants over
$50,000. The total project budgets would therefore range from US$20,000 to
US$300,000 or more, if additional resources are identified by the
beneficiary. Projects eligible under
the program may address the following areas:
·
Decline in
commercial fish stocks, including sturgeon
·
Degradation of
coastal landscapes and damage to coastal habitats
·
Damage to coastal
infrastructure and amenities
·
Threats to
biodiversity
·
Overall decline
in environmental quality
·
Decline in human
health
·
Introduced
species
·
Contamination
from offshore oil and gas activities
WHO CAN APPLY?
Any governmental, private sector, or
non-governmental organization from the Caspian region is eligible to apply for
grants. The region is defined to include: Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia,
and Turkmenistan. In general the Caspian Region is defined as coastal regions
and 100 km inland of the sea, but also includes the major tributaries. Proposals
from municipal and regional government bodies are encouraged. Applications from
public-private partners or NGOs in partnership with government or private
sector are also eligible.
HOW CAN I
APPLY?
Prospective grantees will fill out an application
form that is available on request from the MSGP office, or from the Caspian
Environment Program web page (please see contact information on the cover
page). The MSGP staff (Kamran Abdullayev
and Ayada Iskenderova) are available to provide advice to prospective grantees,
and welcomes the opportunity to discuss potential projects before application.
Assistance for completing the applications forms will be provided upon request.
The deadline for submission of applications for the second grant
round is August 9, 2002.
HOW DOES THE SELECTION
PROCESS WORK?
All proposals will be evaluated by a committee of
representatives from each Caspian littoral state, the CEP, and the World Bank.
Preference will be given to those projects that address transboundary
environmental issues and make tangible
environmental improvements, and/or create substantial innovation in
solution of environmental problems in the Caspian region. Projects should help to address priority
problems identified in the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and National
Caspian Action Plans (NCAPs).
Information about these documents is available from the MSGP staff at
the PCU, and on the CEP website.
The second grant selection meeting will be held in
late September 2002, and awards will be announced in late October/early
November. All applicants will be informed concerning the results of the
evaluation process within two weeks of the grant selection meeting. During December Award Agreements with
successful applicants will be signed.
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR SELECTION?
Successful
proposals will demonstrate:
·
Positive environmental effect on the Caspian Sea
ecosystem to be gained as a result of project;
·
Efficiency in achieving tangible results with
verifiable indicators;
·
Ability to match grant funds of $50,000 or less
at 100% of amount of grant, up to 50% of which can be “in kind” goods and
services; 200% matching is required for grants over $50,000, and up to half of
the matching may be provided “in kind.”
·
Positive environmental and/or biodiversity
effects of the project;
·
An activity that can be replicated on a larger
scale and/or in different communities or countries;
·
A realistic plan describing how maintenance and
operational expenses (if applicable) will be financed after the grant period;
·
A clear timeline describing the implementation
of the project month by month, with a completion date not later than December
2003.