Partnership Block Grant
There are 9 projects to be implemented under the Call for Proposals "Strengthening Croatian-Swiss Partnerships for Local Social and Economic Growth and Development".
On the basis of the Framework Agreement (signed on 30 June 2015) and the project agreement between Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Ministry of Regional Development and Funds of the European Union (signed on 30 May 2017) the agreement between GOfCNGOs and the National Coordination Unit (Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds) on implementing the “Partnership Block Grant” has been singed on March 28th 2018.On May 17th 2018, the 1st Steering Committee Meeting was held. The Steering Committee of the “Partnership Block Grant” adopted the documentation of the Call for Proposals.
On June 29th 2018, GOfNGOs launched the Call for Proposals "Strengthening Croatian-Swiss Partnerships for Local Social and Economic Growth and Development". Total amount of allocation of the Call is 13.200.000,00 kunas.
The overall goal of the Call is to improve local economic and social development in Croatia through cooperation and partnership between Croatian and Swiss institutions, local governments and civil society organisations.
Specific objectives were: to contribute to sustainable local development and improving the quality of life through knowledge and experience exchange; to empower partnerships of Croatian and Swiss institutions, local governments and civil society organisations; to contribute to improving the capacities for governing local economic and social development.
The planned duration of project implementation is 12 – 20 months from the date of signing the contract.
Two groups of activities (i.e. two lots) were announced to be supported. The first lot is focused on cooperation between the two countries in the areas important for sustainable development of local communities, and the other on the cooperation between the two countries in the area of road safety.
On July 10th GOfCNGO carried out an informative workshop for potential applicants where the documentation was presented in detail. Also, potential applicants were informed on the criteria for assessment and selection of projects and the use of indicators that will be used in project monitoring and assessment of their results and effects. The EA provided permanent assistance to potential applicants: information and advice over the phone and e-mail and published questions and answers on the website.
After the application deadline (1st October), the EA started to carry out the evaluation procedure. The Committee for Administrative Compliance and Eligibility Check was established and checked completeness and formal adequacy of each individual application. GOfCNGOs received 26 project proposals of which 25 project proposals were sent to the quality evaluation procedure.
GOfCNGOs carried out the selection procedure for external experts – the members of Evaluation Committee and established the Project Proposal Evaluation Committee in November. The task of the Evaluation Committee was to evaluate project proposals against the criteria adopted by the Steering Committee. By the end of 2018, project proposals were in the procedure of the quality evaluation.
An implementation workshop was held in Zagreb on 06.05.2019. for projects that were contracted. The workshop ensured the discussion on the synergy of projects in implementation. Almost all participants were engaged in cooperation and in the discussion; their suggestions for ensuring the synergy are: announcing the news and events of similar projects and activities on web pages and newsletters, sharing the news of related activities on social networks, mutually organized conferences and cooperation in public events, organization of study visits to look at projects in implementation.
There are 8 projects that are signed within the Partnership Block Grant, and that have started implementing their project activities, with an additional contract from the reserve list to be signed in July 2019.