Granturi și Finanțări

• Is your organisation experienced in boosting the concepts of integrity, transparency and accountability at national level?
• Do you have a strong network and coverage in all the regions of Moldova (North, Centre, South and UTA Gagauzia)?
• Are you one of the CSOs that has general knowledge and an assessment of the anti-corruption issues, challenges, sectors and processes susceptible to corruption in partnership with other CSOs?
• Do you have experience in organizing public awareness campaigns, providing coaching and trainings to local organisations, men and women, youth, older persons, persons with disabilities and other social groups in order to encourage their engagement in the decision-making processes and transparency at national level?
• Are you familiar with innovative and digital solutions aimed to identify and monitor corruption risks and helping to raise awareness?
• Can you contribute to the increase of the role of citizens and of the anti-corruption agencies in monitoring the processes of the high risk of corruption sectors by building and improving the needed tools?
• Are you ready to empower women and men, representatives of various ethnic groups, groups with special needs and engage them in solving the above-mentioned issues in cooperation with other CSOs?

GENERAL INFORMATION

As support to the Moldovan Government’s commitments of improving the effectiveness of the state and civil society measures in combatting and preventing corruption in the Republic of Moldova, GIZ is implementing the project “Strengthen the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Mechanisms in the Republic of Moldova”, co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The measure is jointly funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union and it shall be focused on strengthening the state institutions tasked with preventing and combating corruption; building and developing partner capacity through initial and in-service training, including organisational and process advice; promoting learning and exchange of information with Germany and other European countries; raising awareness and strengthening civil society, especially at local level; organise supporting activities in regions and sectors which are at high risk of corruption.

Many CSOs are also experienced in mass mobilisation and raising in people the awareness of unjust policies, in showing governments or businesses the strength that lies in their number, and in putting pressure on government and business to implement reforms. All these skills can be harnessed while working in the field of anti-corruption.

In order to develop zero tolerance against corruption among Moldovan citizens, the project aims at engaging the Civil Society Organisations and grass root organisations, including at local level, in  various areas such as participation and monitoring of the decision-making process and of anti-corruption strategies, awareness-raising including on anti-corruption education, cooperation with anti-corruption bodies and prevention of corruption including facilitation of citizens’ complaint mechanisms and use of a new innovative approach and digitalisation process.

The overall objective of the EU-BMZ funded “Strengthen the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Mechanisms in the Republic of Moldova” Project is to contribute to the prevention and fight against corruption.

The project shall work on two main pathways:

1. Raising awareness of citizens
2. Strengthening of anti-corruption mechanisms

For achieving the overall objective purpose, the selected CSO shall apply a holistic capacity development approach for supporting the development of:

1. The necessary capacities of citizens related to improvement of transparency and accountability of the decision-making processes;
2. The necessary institutional capacity of local CSOs in order to ensure that they can effectively apply their knowledge within the respective decision-making processes; and
3. The adequate networking conditions and functional mechanisms for coordination and communication between CSOs and different actors across different institutional levels.

The potential grant beneficiaries are expected to develop and submit concepts that would contribute to the overall project goals as mentioned above, both as a s separate entity or as part of a consortium partnership.

After the selection process described below, GIZ will award grants to one CSO or consortium of CSOs at national level that will fulfil the tasks listed under “Roles and tasks of the selected CSO”.

The proposed projects are to be fully implemented nationwide in the Republic of Moldova. Overall, the proposed projects shall be finalised not later than 12 months since the signing of the grant agreement.

The final amount of the grant awarded to the selected CSO(s) shall be determined based on reviewing the proposed results and activities, the number of targeted population and active local CSOs, Local initiative Groups and Local Transparency Councils involved.

Potential beneficiaries

We are looking for a public association(s), preferably a consortium, with a substantial experience in the implementation of measures for raising the awareness of citizens, with the capacity to network and/or cooperate with other civil society organisations at local, regional and national levels, and experience in development and implementation of innovative anti-corruption measures and actions and digital solutions. The potential applicants must also:

• be able to act, according to their statutes/regulations, in the fields addressed by the project;
• be independent from the government and other public authorities as well as political parties, and,
• be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the project with their partners, not acting as an intermediary.

Applications from consortiums/partnerships between two or more organisations are strongly encouraged, if these shall strengthen the cooperation and networking of Moldovan CSOs, and therefore contribute to the public awareness of the Moldovan citizens, consolidate the civil society, develop new approaches in the corruption preventing and fighting measures. All consortium/partnership organisations shall have the same requirements as listed above.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1. Raising public awareness among citizens on strengthening the rule of law, anti-corruption and integrity.
2. Development and piloting of innovative, digital solutions for preventing corruption and enhancing integrity.

ROLES AND TASKS OF THE SELECTED CSO

The selected organisations shall receive granted in order to ensure the following, according to the specific objective one - “Raising public awareness among citizens on strengthening the rule of law anti-corruption and integrity”:

• Carry out nationwide public awareness campaigns as well as targeted local awareness actions. The awareness actions will address but not limit to parents' associations, schools, universities, farmers, farmers’ associations, Local Public Authorities and mayors, but also medical institutions’ staff and other personnel of the responsible state institutions;
• Public awareness campaigns on implementation of the anti-corruption sectorial action plans, esp. those from the selected high-risk sectors (education, healthcare, agriculture and social assistance sectors);

The selected organisations will be granted in order to ensure the following under the specific objective two - “Development and piloting of innovative, digital solutions for preventing corruption and enhancing integrity”:

• Make use of the existing Corruption Radar application^[1] aiming to organise participatory platforms and targeted surveys;
• Development of innovative solutions aimed at increasing the level of citizens’ activity, especially at local level in the field of education, healthcare, subsidies in agriculture, social assistance and coordination of the relevant awareness-raising campaign, establishing sample mechanisms in pilot regions;
• Facilitate citizens' complaint mechanisms and raising awareness campaigns through modern technologies and innovative approaches (including through IT applications where possible and relevant) that would improve citizens' and youth engagement and foster the collaboration with central institutions;
• Provide support in the improvement of the public procurement functions at municipal level for increasing integrity and transparency via the development of the relevant policy and co-governance with strong local CSOs.

The applicants are strongly encouraged to include activities aimed at raising awareness on/addressing corruption risks as well as in emergency situations (COVID, energy shortage, refugees, etc.)

EXPECTED RESULTS

In line with the Project’s indicators, the following results are to be achieved for the specific objective one and two:

1. Citizens’ perception of media reporting about cases of corruption and anti-corruption measures as timely, objective and complete is increased.
2. Citizens’ perception of the investigation and prosecution processes of the anti-corruption agencies (esp. of the National Anti-Corruption Centre, Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, Prosecutor's Office on Organised Crime and Special Causes, Criminal Assets Recovery Agency, National Integrity Authority) as just, fair and impartial is increased.
3. Awareness of the civil servants and other state representatives about the asset declaration and of the conflict of interests’ obligation is increased.
4. The number of citizens’ complaints against corrupt practices filed at the relevant specialized anti-corruption bodies and courts is increased.
5. For each of the sectors with high risk of corruption (education, health, social assistance and agri-food), the recommendations have been agreed and published for extending the “National Integrity and Anti-Corruption Strategy” (2021-2024).
6. The key problems from selected high-risk sectors - health, education, social assistance, agri-food and other sectors were identified and publicly discussed with civil society and business representatives/associations and addressed by anti-corruption measures.
7. Targeted educational activities in the selected high-risk sectors were implemented.
8. Citizens’ complaint and referral mechanisms (through innovative and digital solutions) have been established in at least two high risk sectors and two focal regions and are fully functioning.
9. Contribution in the implementation of priorities of Sectoral Action Plan on Education, Health, Social Assistance and Agri-food is supported through public awareness and innovative and digital solutions.

SELECTION PROCESS

The selection process shall consist of two phases:

• Submission, Evaluation and Shortlisting of concept proposals, containing innovative ideas and approaches with regard to the implementation of the main objectives of the call. During the first phase, the priority will be given to the quality of the concepts and the innovative ideas and approaches that are tailored to the main objectives of the call and methods of their implementation. Only shortlisted concept proposals will be carried forward to the second phase. Please, see below the
• Submission and Evaluation of full proposals (including action plans, expected results, budget, etc). During the second phase of the evaluation process, based on the shortlisted concept proposals, the evaluation committee is entitled to recommend the merger of proposals thus aiming to create a synergy between the proposed innovative ideas and approaches and the specific capacity and expertise to implement similar projects.

The selection of proposals shall commence upon completion of the submission procedure. Extension of the deadline could be considered, but it’s not guaranteed, thus all applicants are encouraged to fit in the proposed deadlines. Selection will be based on principles of merit, transparency, equality and rational use of funds. Priority shall be given and may be recommended to a consortium of applicants (2 or more organisations).

At the first phase, the applicants will be shortlisted based on the following minimum eligibility criteria:

Only those applications that meet all formal requirements and eligibility criteria specified above will be evaluated based on the award criteria. The other proposals will be excluded from further procedures.

The organisations to be awarded with a grant will be selected from the shortlisted applicants following the evaluation of the project proposals, based on the following award criteria:

APPLICATION PROCESS

Phase 1

The applicant organisation shall submit a Concept Note which should including:

• Objectives
• Methodology
• Expected results

The presentation and description of these compartments in an innovative and creative way will be highly appreciated. The Concept Note will be no more than 2 pages A4.

Only the shortlisted Concepts, considering the initial recommendations of the Selection Committee, will be eligible for the Second phase.

Phase 2

The full proposal should include:

• Estimated budget (Annex 1);
• Proposal (Annex 2);
• Profile of the organisation (Annex 2(a)) and qualifications of the project team (CVs of team members) including resumés of the project coordinator and involved staff of partner organisations, if applicable;
• The consortium/partnerships: Partnership agreement(s) signed with all organisations involved, indicating their roles in the implementation of the Proposal,
• Copy of the registration certificate (1-year-old validity) issued by the Agency of Public Services (by both, main applicant and partner organisation);
• Financial reports/statements for the last 3 years;
• Upon submission of the project proposal the applicant shall demonstrate that there are no financial debts (unpaid taxes and fines) to the public authorities.

The proposal (Annex 2) shall not exceed 10 pages.

For the cost estimation, the maximum budget shall not exceed the amounts listed above. The proposed budget will have to consider the limits set for the following budget lines:

• Staff – up to 20% of direct costs
• Procurement of goods – up to 20% of direct costs
• Administrative costs – up to 7 % of direct costs

Costs for the procurement of equipment are eligible if these are directly contributing to the empowerment of citizens to participate at the decision-making processes only and are of sustainable nature.  

In case of applications submitted by two or more organisations in partnership, the Annex 2(a) “Profile of the organisation” shall be filled in by each organisation. Applications should be submitted in English language. Interested organisations may submit one application only.  

^[1]Details about the functions and operational applicability will be presented during the mandatory Information Session carried out before the application.