Appel à projets – République de Bulgarie عودة إلى الفرص

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria through the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Tunisia announces a procedure for the acceptance and selection of proposals for projects to be implemented with a grant through the Official Development Assistance of the Republic of Bulgaria, with an initial implementation period in 2022.

Priority Areas for Project Implementation on the territory of Tunisia:

• Support to address the health, economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic (including through “Team Europe” initiative)
• Capacity building in support of security and development
• Providing quality and inclusive education.

Objectives and Scope of the Projects:

• Repair, reconstruction, or equipment of state or municipal educational or health infrastructure
• Organization of seminars, forums, and other events for exchange of experience in building democratic institutions and strengthening the non-governmental sector
• Projects in the field of environment protection
• Organizing advanced training courses for state and local administration employees

Target Groups:

• Pupils and students (including people with special needs and disadvantages)
• Teachers and administrative staff of schools and universities
• Doctors and employees in medical institutions
• Employees of the state and local administration
• Freelance journalists, analysts, and political experts
• Activists in the field of environmental protection

Outputs/Results:

• Promoting Bulgaria’s reputation and international prestige
• Improving the quality of health and education
• Contributing to good governance and sustainable economic development
• Protection of the environment and natural resources
• Improving the quality of life.

Eligible Project Budget:

• Minimal amount of the project is 5 000 BGN (1 Euro – 1.95583 BGN).
• Recommended maximum amount of the project is:
  • for projects with main purpose to deliver goods and /or services – up to 33000 BGN;
  • for projects with main purpose to carry out repairs and /or construction activities – up to 33 000 BGN (1 Euro – 1.95583 BGN).
• Co-financing of project activities provided by the applicant will be considered an advantage in the evaluation, selection and approval of the projects.

Implementation Deadlines and Duration of the Projects:

• Project proposals must contain an indicative start date for the implementation of the project after March 1, 2022 and no later than November 30, 2022.
• Projects must be completed no later than December 31, 2024.

Eligible Candidates:

• Primary and secondary budget spenders – legal entities of Tunisia
• International and local non-governmental organizations
• Municipalities and their associations
• Educational, health and social institutions
• International humanitarian organisations

No natural or legal person can apply for whom there are circumstances under Art. 23, para. 3-8 (ANNEX 1) of Decree No. 234 of the Council of Ministers of 01.08.2011 on the policy of the Republic of Bulgaria on participation in international development cooperation.

Eligible Activities and Project Costs:

• The costs of project implementation must meet all of the conditions below:
  • be lawful and comply with the principles of responsibility, economy, efficiency, effectiveness and transparency;
  • be executed only against the necessary supporting documents – invoices or other documents of equivalent probative value, testifying the expenditures incurred;
  • be within the budget limits of the project;
  • not be funded by another project, program or any other financial scheme, related to or originating from the national budget, the EU budget or any other donor.
• Compulsory Activities to be provided in the Project:
  • provision of an audit report issued by an independent financial auditor;
  • activities to ensure publicity and visibility of the financial assistance provided, in accordance with the Publicity and Visibility Guidelines of the Bulgarian Development Aid, worth 3 to 5% of the total project value, but not exceeding 5 000 BGN.
• Examples of Activities Eligible for Funding:
  • Development of new or updating existing training modules
  • Organization and conduct of trainings for the employees of the Tunisian administration
  • Conducting trainings on specific topics in Bulgarian institutions for exchange of good practices and improvement of the qualification of employees from the Tunisian administration
  • Organization and conduct of seminars, forums, conferences (subject to the measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic)
  • Development of research and strategies
  • Activities to raise awareness of citizens’ rights
  • Activities to promote multicultural dialogue and to curb racism, xenophobia, hate speech, discrimination, and intolerance in society
  • Activities to improve dialogue between NGOs and local, regional, and national authorities
  • Supply of equipment and materials intended for state or municipal property sites – schools, hospitals, kindergartens, nursing homes, etc.
  • Construction works for improving state or municipal schools, hospitals, kindergartens, nursing homes, etc.

Additional Information:

Applicants shall be informed of the results of the procedure for evaluation, selection and approval of the project proposals within 14 working days of the completion of the individual stages of the procedure. The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Tunisia has no obligation to inform applicants about the grounds for approval or rejection of the submitted project proposals.

——————————————- ANNEX 1  ——————————————-

Decree No 234 of the Council of Ministers of 01.08.2011 on the policy of the Republic of Bulgaria regarding its participation in international development cooperation (excerpts)

Article 23(3) A legal person seeking to apply for the provision of development aid must not:

1. be declared bankrupt;
2. be in liquidation proceedings or in a similar procedure under the national laws and regulations;
3. be in open insolvency proceedings or must not have entered into an out-of-court settlement with its creditors within the meaning of Article 740 of the Commerce Act, and if the applicant is a non-resident – it must not be in a similar procedure under the national laws and regulations, including if its activities are under the court’s control or it has ceased its activities;
4. be disqualified from practicing a particular profession or activity under the law of the State in which the offense was committed;
5. have any monetary debts owed to the State or a municipality within the meaning of Article 162, paragraph 2 of the Tax and Social Insurance Procedure Code established by an act of a competent authority which has entered into force, unless rescheduling or deferral of the debts has been allowed, or monetary debts relating to the payment of social insurance contributions or taxes under the legal provisions of the State in which it is established;
6. have any outstanding private debts owed to the State listed in Article 3, paragraph 7 of the National Revenue Agency Act.

(4) A legal person seeking to apply for the provision of development aid must not have a member of the management body that:

1. has been convicted by a final sentence for indictable offense;
2. has not fulfilled his/her/its obligations relating to the payment of social insurance contributions or taxes in accordance with the applicable law;
3. has provided deliberately false documents when providing information requested as a condition for financing development aid activities or has not provided such information;
4. has been disqualified from practicing a particular profession or activity under the law of the State in which the offense was committed;
5. is a legal person for which any of the circumstances under paragraph 3 exist;
6. has any outstanding private debts owed to the State listed in Article 3, paragraph 7 of the National Revenue Agency Act.

(6) Where the members of the management bodies are legal persons, the requirements of paragraph 5 shall apply to their representatives in the relevant management bodies.

(7) Persons seeking to apply for the provision of development aid must not:

1. have a member of a management or supervisory body, as well as such person ad interim, including a procurator or a commercial agent who has “close links”, within the meaning of § 1, item 1 of the Supplementary Provision of the Conflict of Interest Prevention and Ascertainment Act, with the agency administering the relevant project or with senior employees in his/her organisation;

1. have entered into a contract with a person under Article 21 or 22 of the Conflict of Interest Prevention and Ascertainment Act.