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Call for proposals “Fighting Impunity for Grave Human Rights Violations and Other International Crimes Committed in the Armed Conflict”

The deadline for submission of the project proposals concepts is September 30, 2019 and the results of the concepts review will be announced by October 11, 2019.

1.BACKGROUND

1.1. About UNDP Civil Society for Enhanced Democracy and Human Rights in Ukraine Project

The project “Civil Society for Enhanced Democracy and Human Rights in Ukraine” (2017-2022) funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by UNDP Ukraine builds upon the achievements of the previous Democratization and Human Rights Programme (2013-2016). It is a nation-scale 5-year initiative which runs from 1st April 2017 until 31st March 2022. The overall aim for CSDR is to enhance the institutional capacity of civil society actors in the region in the areas of democracy and human rights to strengthen their impact on the reform processes in the country through better coordination and networking and to contribute to more inclusive, democratic and rights-based governance.

CSDR is to be implemented through three main components:

1.       Strengthening CSOs as guardians of democracy and good governance;

2.       Supporting human rights actors to promote and defend human rights in Ukraine;

3.       Enhancing civic youth engagement and youth participation in decision-making at all levels.

The present Call for Proposals (CfP) is administrated by UNDP in partnership with International Renaissance Foundation and is aimed to address theme two, which broadly encompasses the issues of human rights defence and promotion in Ukraine.

2. OBJECTIVE OF THE COMPETITION:

Support to the activities of the civil society organizations in monitoring and documenting mass violations of human rights and other international crimes (as defined in Articles 7 and 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court) in order to:

- Ensure the unbiased information of national and international institutions about the facts of mass violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed in the context of the armed conflict, on Ukrainian territory and in areas uncontrolled by the Ukrainian Government;

- Assistance to the investigation of mass violations of human rights and international humanitarian law at the national and international levels;

- Protection and restoration of the violated rights, ensuring the inevitability of punishment for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

3. PRIORITIES AND TASKS OF THE COMPETITION:

- Development of the capacity of civil society organizations in documenting and analysing the information (evidence based) on mass violations of human rights and other international crimes;

- Development and implementation of advocacy efforts for the protection and restoration of violated rights, conducting educational and information campaigns on human rights and international humanitarian legislation targeting both the authorized actors responsible for the protection of human rights, and the citizens;

- Building effective cooperation with national and international investigative bodies of the crimes committed in the context of the armed conflict on Ukrainian territory and in areas uncontrolled by the Ukrainian Government;

- Promoting the harmonization of Ukrainian legislation with international human rights and international humanitarian legislation with;

- Analysis and evaluation of the state's activities in documenting and investigating human rights violations, war crimes, crimes against humanity; development and dissemination of recommendations to the state authorities on optimization of investigations.

- Increase the capacities of the State authorities to establish the effective system in situations related to the armed conflict.

3. PARTICIPANTS OF THE COMPETITION:

Non-profit organizations, in particular charitable organizations, public associations (including public organizations and unions) that are officially registered in Ukraine and have experience in human rights activities.

The contest does not provide grants to profit organizations, political parties, state authorities, local governments, religious communities and private (physical) individuals and entrepreneurs.

3.1. Eligible organizations

The parameters that will determine whether an NGO is eligible to be considered for funding by UNDP will be based on the Capacity Assessment Checklist CACHE (Annex 5).

4. COMPETITION STAGES:

I – Preparation of project proposals concepts according to the following structure:

purpose, main goals and objectives

§  preliminary list of measures to achieve the goals,

§  expected results,

§  partners,

§  the implementation timeframe,

§  estimated total budget without details.

Project concepts are to be submitted in an arbitrary form, no more than 2 А4 pages in total.

The deadline for submission of the project proposals concepts is September 30, 2019.

II – Submission of the project proposals

 Based on the results of the review and preliminary evaluation of the concepts, the selected organizations will be invited to submit finalized project proposals. The winners are to be chosen on the basis of the evaluation results of the project proposals by the Evaluation Committee, which will be composed of the representatives of the United Nations Development Programme and the International Renaissance Foundation. The results of the concepts review will be announced by October 11, 2019.

UNDP and IRF will conclude grant agreements with those finalists that will be recommended for funding.

The deadline for submission of the project proposals is October 25, 2019.

5. BUDGET AND ALLOWED EXPENSES:

Eligible costs must:

·         be necessary for caring out project activities;

·         comply with the principles of sound financial management, in particular value for and cost-effectiveness;

·         be properly recorded, identifiable and verifiable, and backed by original supporting documents.

UNDP grant may only be used to cover the following costs:

·         Staff salaries and expert fees;

·         Purchase of consultative services provided that these are essential for project goals and objectives;

·         Renting, catering and other services envisaged by the project activities;

·         Printing and copying;

·         Utility services;

·         Consumables and supplies;

·         Travel costs (provided that travel complies with internal  UNDP regulations).

The following costs are ineligible:

·         Costs of project proposal preparation;

·         Debts reconciliation;

·         International travel;

·         Reimbursement of expenses related to exchange rate fluctuations;

·         Currency exchange losses;

·         Creation and registration of the organization;

·         Direct fiscal support to state authorities;

·         Political activity;

·         Religious propaganda;

·         Activities leading to direct or indirect discrimination of any social strata;

·         Projects aimed at gaining profit from activities;

·         Construction or repair work;

·         Purchase of vehicles and / or luxury goods and related services;

·         Purchase of goods for distribution in the form of humanitarian aid, gifts.

6. FINANCIAL CONDITIONS AND TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION:

The total budget of the competition is 3 200 000 UAH.

The maximum budget of the project proposal should not exceed 700 000 UAH.

The maximum timeframe for the project implementation is 12 months.

The contribution from the implementing organization or from other sources will be considered and will regarded as an advantage for the applicant. This contribution could be made both financially and in non-financial form (for example, remuneration of the personnel of the organization, provision of its office or equipment for project tasks, etc.).

7. CONCEPTS SUBMISSION PROCEDURE:

Concepts of the project proposals are submitted in Ukrainian and sent by e-mail to the addresses:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   specifying in the subject line, the title of the competition  “Overruling Impunity for Massive Human Rights Violations and Other International Crimes Committed in the Armed Conflict”.

Contact persons:

Liana Moroz, Programme manager “Human Rights and Justice, International Renaissance Foundation

Oksana Kosenko, Civil Society Officer “Civil society for enhanced democracy and human rights in Ukraine”, UNDP

8. SELECTION PROCESS

8.1. Assessment procedures

After the deadline for stage II – Submission of the project proposals  has passed, UNDP specialists will check the proposals against the criteria. At this stage, the Programme can request additional information from the applicants at its own discretion.

To ensure full transparency and equity of the process, UNDP forms a Selection Committee (SC) that will appraise the proposals that have made it through the first stage. SC is a temporary authorized body that is responsible for considering, selecting and recommending proposals for funding. The Selection Committee may decide to request additional independent expert opinion during the selection process.

8.2. Criteria for the assessment of proposals

The proposals shall be assessed by the SC in accordance to the following criteria:

·         Quality and responsiveness of the project proposal to the broad themes highlighted in item 2 of this CFP;

·         Demonstrated ability of the proposed team to cope with the scope of works described in the project proposal;

·         Demonstrated sustainability considerations of the project;

·         Quality of the proposed networks (including scope of partners proposed for implementation and already existing networks linked to the lead applicant.

9. REPORTING, MONITORING AND EVALUATION

9.1. Monitoring and evaluation, frameworks for OD plan implementation

The Grantee is responsible for monitoring project implementation and evaluating its results. UNDP will monitor the project through Grantee reports, site visits, meetings with project personnel and stakeholders, and participation in project events.

9.2. Reporting

The Grantee shall submit the following reports according to UNDP format:

·         Interim reports, including description of activities, results, and agreed monitoring indicators, as well as financial reports – depending on the length of the project proposed (to be specified in the relevant agreement);

·         Brief reports on demand occasionally requested by UNDP DHRP in cases when information on Programme implementation is required in between reporting periods;

·         A Completion report, including a summary of activities and results as well as financial report for total duration of an agreement.

More details are available in the attachment enclosed