Operational Criteria for the submission of proposals to the EU Trust Fund for Colombia

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1 Operational Criteria for the submission of proposals to the EU Trust Fund for Colombia Potential EU Trust Fund partners shall submit proposals (concept notes and action documents) directly to the following functional mailbox: DELEGATION-COLOMBIA- In accordance with the Constitutive Agreement of the Fund, only the Member States which are donors to the Fund, the Government of Colombia or the European Commission in charge of its management can submit projects to the Fund. The Colombian Government has been designated as European Union (EU) Trust Fund Partner and any proposed action will be presented by the Trust Fund Manager to the Government for endorsement, before it is presented to the Operational Committee. The EU Trust Fund Manager will directly liaise with DEVCO Headquarters for the evaluation of the concept notes/action fiches and will contact applicants in case of questions. Before submitting concept notes or action documents, EU Trust Fund partners should also take into account key documents published in the EUTF website: Firstly, priority will be given to the concept notes which meet as many as possible of the following strategic criteria: 1. Alignment with the government post-conflict plan As established in the Constitutive Agreement of the EU Trust Fund, the overall objective of the Fund is to support the implementation of the provisions established in the Peace Agreement between the Government of Colombia and the FARC. Actions should therefore be aligned with the Government Post-Conflict Framework plan. 2. Relevance of the action How relevant is the proposal to the priorities of the EU Trust Fund for Colombia? 1

2 Priorities have been established in the EU Trust Fund Strategy, which was adopted by the first Trust Fund Board on 12 th December 2016, in response to needs expressed by the Colombian Government for the post-conflict in the short- and medium-term. 1. Support comprehensive agricultural policy and stimulate economic activity and productivity in remote rural areas Focusing on areas such as design of territorial plans, alternative crops development, associative processes, rural credit, improved trade, infrastructure development, professional training for ex-fighters, women empowerment projects, etc. 2. Reinforce the State presence and restore the social fabric in remote and conflict affected areas Provide capacity building of local leaders and institutions on the basis of EU experience in regional governance to help strengthening governance. Reinforce citizen's participation in democratic processes, through capacity building on democratic governance (including for ex-farc members), anti-corruption and transparency measures, and increase participation of women in local governance structures. In particular, to the extent possible, actions should try to cover some of the following aspects: In terms of geographical concentration, actions should concentrate on the most conflict-affected areas. In order to maximise the impact and effectiveness of the EU Trust Fund actions, priority areas will be established in coordination with the Colombian government. Actions should promote or build upon strategic partnerships at local level (involving for instance the State, local authorities or other non-state actors). Actions should be in line with the sustainable development goals and in particular, they should foster the promotion and protection of human rights, gender equality and green growth as crosscutting issues. Actions should seek to secure early peace dividends to most vulnerable population and contribute to set up foundation stones in the peace building process, without losing sight of mid and long-term challenges. Within its overall objectives, the Fund should also be responsive to specific EU political priorities in Colombia as they may arise. For example, through actions which have a strategic relevance for the post-conflict and where no other actors can have the same legitimacy, recognition or impact as the EU and its Member States. When necessary in the context of the above interventions, demining can also be proposed, provided that no other donor or instrument is available. 2

3 3. Added value of the action Does the proposed action provide for specific European added value to the Colombian post-conflict? In particular, to the extent possible, actions should try to cover some of the following aspects: Leverage European capacities and knowledge, especially those already built up in the area of peacebuilding, human rights, humanitarian action and/or local development in Colombia or similar contexts over the last 15 years. Provide European expertise in the areas of rural development where the EU has a recognised leadership such as cooperatives, rural credit, reduction of regional disparities, renewable energy, denominations of origin, bio and fair trade production, rural tourism, etc. Involve several EU MS in one project, be it as implementing partners, or for the expertise they can provide, etc. Promote an approach that includes different stakeholders and joint work between European and Colombian Actors (including non-governmental organizations and the private sector), which may be particularly important in light of the size and nature of challenges in rural areas. Involve the private sector in order to ensure the sustainability of the action. For example engaging companies (Colombian and/or European) able to work with producers in conflict-affected areas, bring investment to the territories and possibly leverage funds, etc. Possible agreements between producers and companies could arise from the project(s). Promote innovative solutions introducing European technology such as biotechnology, ecological procedures, etc. Once the concept note has been approved by the Operational Committee, an action document can be presented to the EU Trust Fund Manager. The assessment of this action document will be done upon the previous criteria (alignment, relevance and added value) and the following technical criteria: 4. Design of the action How coherent is the overall design of the action? In particular, does it reflect the analysis of the problems involved, taking into account external factors, risks and assumptions? Is the action feasible and consistent in relation to the objectives and expected results? 3

4 o Are the activities proposed appropriate, practical, and consistent with the objectives and expected results? Are the relevant stakeholders (including beneficiaries and target groups) clearly defined and strategically chosen? Have their needs been defined and does the proposal address them appropriately? Have the Fund's cross-cutting issues (gender, environmental sustainability, Human Rights, transparency, resilience) been appropriately incorporated into the project design? Is the proposed timeframe realistic for the implementation of the action? Does the action foresee a monitoring system? Is an evaluation planned? 5. Complementarity of the action Is the EUTF the most appropriate funding mechanism, considering the existence of other international Trust Funds supporting the post-conflict in Colombia (United Nations, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank)? Is the action linked with and does it build upon good practices and trust building generated by development and/or humanitarian actors having worked/working in the conflict affected areas? Have potential links with projects implemented or financed by European stakeholders been considered (e.g. Member States, technical bodies, European Commission, NGOs, etc.)? 6. Sustainability of the action Is the action engaging and strengthening local non-governmental and/or governmental capacities? Is the action likely to have tangible effects or a medium-term impact on its target groups? Is the proposal likely to have multiplier effects? (Including scope for replication, extension and information sharing.) Is the proposed action able to create the conditions to be socially, economically and institutionally sustainable? o socially (will the activities allow for social cohesion, social inclusion and social accountability?) 4

5 o economically (will the relevant stakeholders have the necessary means and resources to maintain or expand the benefits obtained by the action?) o institutionally (will structures allowing the activities to continue be in place at the end of the action? Will there be local ownership of the results of the action?) 7. Budget and cost-effectiveness of the action1. Co-funded projects (by the implementing partner, the Member State concerned and/or the Government) will be preferred. Co-financing could be provided in the form of financial support, technical assistance, staff provision, etc. Is the ratio between the estimated costs and the expected results satisfactory? How do estimated costs compare with benchmarks from similar programs or activities? 8. EU visibility Does the action include adequate elements to ensure strong EU visibility where and as adequate? After a first screening of the action document by the Trust Fund Manager, the latter will be submitted to DEVCO's Quality Support Group for evaluation. If accepted and after receiving the Government's endorsement on the action, the action document will be submitted to the Operational Committee. 1 Projects will follow the Financial Rules applicable to General Budget of the European Union in its External Action. 5