Applying for Funding APEC Project Management Unit APEC

Applying for Funding APEC Project Management Unit APEC Secretariat May 2021, SOM 2 New Zealand Copyright © 2018 APEC Secretariat Copyright © 2017 APEC Secretariat

AGENDA This session covers: Introduction to APEC Projects Funding Information Project Approval Process Concept Notes - Quality and Tips Forms and Resources

Projects A Set of Actions Implementation Development Quality Why does Development APEC have projects? Projects Outcomes Implementation Framework Assess Objectives Projects Quality

APEC Projects 1 to translate APEC Policy objectives into actions and outcomes 2 to progress the ECOTECH Agenda

Capacity Building …a process to enable member economies to obtain, share, strengthen, maintain and develop knowledge, abilities, skills and technical know-how to improve their policies and regulations or their institutional structures or processes

Capacity Building APEC is conducting the second workshop on green energy smart farm development in Jakarta, Indonesia. A two-day Skills Training Workshop for Women-led Entrepreneurs was organized in Manila, Philippines

Projects Outputs Events: workshops seminars training research work Information Products: summary reports guidelines recommendation reports online tools APEC publications

Projects Overview APEC-FUNDED SELF-FUNDED Guidebook on APEC Projects A competitive, merits-based selection process Make a pitch through Concept Note 2 funding rounds a year

Projects Overview APEC-FUNDED SELF-FUNDED Average of 100 projects funded a year Typical funding amount: $120, 000 Generally 15 -20 months to complete Average approval rate (5 years) 49%

RAASR 15 Funding Sources HUMAN SECURITY DIGITAL INNOVATION INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC REFORM & SUPPLY CHAIN GROWTH CONNECTIVITY GPA ENERGY EFFICIENCY TILF MICRO, SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ASF GENERAL FTAAP & GVC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN REMOTE AREAS MARINE DEBRIS MANAGEMENT & INNOVATION CONNECTIVITY WOMEN & ECONOMY

Funding Priorities MARINE DEBRIS FTAAP & GVCs SUPPLY CHAIN CONNECTIVITY 1 3 CONNECTIVITY HUMAN SECURTIY 2 IERG GPA Incoming and outgoing host priority themes RAASR ASF General TILF The Manila Framework on ECOTECH The Osaka Action Agenda ENERGY EFFICIENCY MSME WOMEN & ECONOMY IN REMOTE AREAS DIGITAL INNOVATION S P E C I F I C P R I O R I T I E S

PROJECT SESSION 1, 2021 Fund Availability

Project Session Dates 2021 Concept Notes 1 22 Mar 5 April 6 May Internal Submission > Final Submission > In-Principal Approval (6 weeks) 2 28 June 12 July 12 August

Project Session Dates 2021 Project Proposals 1 3 June 10 June 5 August onwards Internal Submission > Final Submission > BMC’s Approval (+9 weeks) 2 9 September 16 September 25 November onwards

Key Players Program Director Program Executive Proposing Forum PROJECT OVERSEER PMU Project Management Unit RAF Responsible APEC Forum/Fora BMC Budget Management Committee

The Responsible APEC Fora (RAF) • RAASR Sub-Fund SOM • General Project Account • ASF General Fund • Marine Debris Sub-Fund OFWG • Energy Efficiency Sub-Fund CTI • TILF • FTAAP and GVCs Sub-Fund • Supply Chain Connectivity Sub-Fund EC EWG • MSME Sub-Fund SCE • Connectivity Sub-Fund • Human Security Sub-Fund • Digital Innovation • Innovative Development, Economic Reform and Growth Sub-Fund • Economic Development in Remote • Women and the Areas Sub-Fund Economy Sub. Fund SME DESG PPWE

Approval Process Concept Notes Stage 1 Preparation & Submission Stage 2 Eligibility Assessment & Scoring 1. PO prepares CN. 2. PO socializes CN in Fora and secures co-sponsoring economies. 3. PO submits CN to PD at the Internal Submission Deadline. PD circulates to Fora for endorsement. 4. PO submits endorsed CN by Final Submission Deadline. 1. Secretariat sorts CNs and allocates to Senior Officials/Fora for eligibility checks and scoring, depending on the funding source. 2. Senior Officials/Fora checks eligibility criteria and provide scoring. Scored CNs are sent back to Secretariat. 3. Secretariat averages scores for eligible CNs and recommends to BMC that the highest scoring CNs be funded in-principle. 4. BMC approves CNs in principle.

Approval Process Project Proposal Stage 3 Quality Assessment 1. PO develops full PP and submits to PD by the deadline. PD circulates to fora for endorsement and comments. 2. PO revises and submits endorsed PP by Final Submission Deadline. 3. Secretariat assesses PPs for quality. PO revises PP until it reaches satisfactory quality. 4. Secretariat recommends PPs to BMC for final approval 5. BMC approves PPs. PROJECT WORK STARTS!

CONCEPT NOTE Purpose RELEVANCE BENEFITS PROGRAM LOGIC Project is relevant to APEC goals and Forum strategies Project benefits the APEC region Project reflects a causal chain between outputs, outcomes, and the overall objectives

Scoring Template

Scoring Template Supports the Priorities of the APEC Fund you apply: (20 points) How well the project addresses the priorities of the fund Quality Appears Strong: (15 points) • Relevance: why the project is proposed; • Impact: what the project seeks to change; • Effectiveness: how a project will reach its objectives; • Sustainability: whether the benefits are likely to continue after the project is completed; • Efficiency: how the outputs (services, goods) measure against the inputs (cost of resources). Supports My Economy’s Priorities: (10 points) How well the project aligns with the APEC priorities of your economy. Supports Capacity Building: (10 points) How well the project supports Capacity Building of the rest of the region, especially developing economies. Supports Cross Fora Collaboration and Benefits to Multiple Economies: (5 points) Whethere is broad support, including cross fora collaboration, and how the project benefit multiple members and the region as a whole.

CONCEPT NOTE Getting Started TEMPLATE CO-SPONSORS 3 -PAGE MAX NON-TECHNICAL Make sure you download the most current version Get the minimum number of cosponsoring economies Be clear and concise Write for the general audience, not the experts

CONCEPT NOTE Getting Started

Concept Note: the template PCD Summary Budget

CONCEPT NOTE Cover Page 1. Project Completion Date • • Session 1: December of following year Session 2: June of the second following year 2. Project Summary • • State the issue What, where, when, and with whom 3. Total Amount Sought • • APEC funding + Self-Funding = Total Value Use the Budget section of Project Proposal Template

Concept Note: the template (2019) Relevance Objective Alignment Methodology

CONCEPT NOTE Question 1: Relevance 1. How does the project benefit the APEC region? 2. How does the project fit the Eligibility Criteria and Funding Priorities for the specified funding account? 3. How will the project Build Capacity for APEC economies? • ASF Projects must benefit developing economies

CONCEPT NOTE Question 1: Relevance 1. How does the project benefit the APEC region? (Example) Rapidly growing connectivity and digital transformation expose economies around the world to increased risk cyber threats. As economies seek to address this, it is vital to ensure they approach cybersecurity in ways that are agile, scalable, adaptable, support trade, and strengthen overall cybersecurity. Several economies in the region have developed or are in the process of developing cybersecurity approaches, including cybersecurity-specific laws and regulations, and more will likely begin to expand such work soon. This project aims to assist economies in understanding and developing risk-based approaches to cybersecurity through information-sharing on “lessons learned” from implementations, and the benefits of using globally-relevant standards, state-of-art practices, and associated principles. (SCSC, 2019)

CONCEPT NOTE Question 1: Relevance 2. How does the project fit the Eligibility Criteria and Funding Priorities for the specified funding account? (Example) “This project falls under the General Project Account (GPA) fund, and supports directly the GPA’s 2019 funding priorities of: (1) Improving Connectivity and Deepening Regional Economic Integration (integration 4. 0) and (iii) Digital Society. Aligning cybersecurity policies and standards promotes interoperability, access to best in class products and services, and economic growth in today’s digital world. ”

CONCEPT NOTE Question 1: Relevance 3. How will the project Build Capacity for APEC economies? (Example) “Human trafficking is a global problem that affects every APEC economy. Each APEC economy can benefit from the identification and discussion of best practices and educational resources for training law enforcement, the transportation industry, and members of the public on identifying and reporting suspected cases of human trafficking. While developing economies often have fewer resources to devote to combating human trafficking, their contributions to the development of best practices and resources are critical in creating effective solutions. This project would ensure that input is sought from APEC developing economies (including Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam), and incorporated into the development of best practices and resources that the economies can implement to combat human trafficking across all modes of transportation. ”

CONCEPT NOTE Question 1: Objective To enhance the capacity of developing economies so that they are equipped with the knowledge of available mechanism and tools in order to improve competition in markets OBJECTIVE OUTCOMES • Seminar • Recommendations for actions • Summary Report OUTPUTS • Knowledge gained • Recommendations disseminated to economies for further actions BUDGET Objective: the overarching goal, purpose, or intention of your project.

CONCEPT NOTE Question 2: Alignment 1. How does project align with APEC’s current priorities? • Link to specific APEC priority goals, leaders’ statements, ministerial statements, APEC strategies, APEC initiatives. • Connect to previous or planned activities, in any work plans approved by Leaders, Ministers, and Committees 2. How does project align with Fora‘s work plan? • Describe elements of committee/fora’s work plans that the project aligns with

CONCEPT NOTE Question 2: Alignment 1. How does project align with APEC’s current priorities? (Example) “This project will be implemented under the 3 rd REI CBNI, which is recognised as the continuity from the 2 nd CBNI outlined in the Beijing Roadmap for APEC’s Contribution to the realisation of FTAAP adopted in November 2014. APEC Ministers also welcomed the implementation of the 3 rd CBNI in 2018. Furthermore this project is in line with the Chair’s Era Kone’s Statement of APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2018, which reiterated the importance of APEC’s regional economic integration agenda (para 13 th) and is also consistent with “Integration 4. 0” as one of the APEC Chile 2019 priorities. ” (CTI, 2019)

CONCEPT NOTE Question 2: Alignment 2. How does project align with Fora‘s work plan? (Example) “ [The project aligns with the] work plan/strategic plan of CTI and IEG as follows: (1) The proposed project is in line with the Action Plan Framework for the 3 rd REI CBNI which was welcomed at 2018 APEC Ministerial Meeting. The Framework is an important pillar under CTI 2019 work, and (2) IEG and CTI have intersessionally endorsed IEG work plan for Investment Aspect of Next Generation Trade and Investment Issues (work plan on NGe. TIs/Work Plan) at IEG 2 in 2017. Hence [the project] has selected “competition policy” as its priority matter. ”

CONCEPT NOTE Question 3: Methodology How will you turn your idea into an actual project? • • Be concise – an outline only essential details - primary Clear and logical Backbone gets developed into 12 -page Project Proposal

CONCEPT NOTE Question 3: Methodology 1. Work Plan • • • Lay out the project’s Outputs Provide general timeline Other important tasks: contract, research, survey, event agenda, participant list, workshop, report 2. Beneficiaries • How will it benefit many APEC economies? • Focus on direct beneficiaries who directly use outputs

CONCEPT NOTE Question 3: Methodology 1. Work Plan Date Tasks March 2019 To submit the Concept Note to CTI for intersessional endorsement. May 2019 To submit the Proposal to CTI for intersessional endorsement. May – August 2019 To develop the agenda and logistical plan for the workshop. To invite speakers and participants from relevant ministries or agencies, academia and international organisations among APEC economies. May 2019 To brief about the workshop preparation at CTI 2 and relevant meetings. August 2019 To organise one day workshop in Puerto Varas at the margin of SOM 3. To present a brief about the outcomes of the workshop at CTI 3 and relevant meetings. October 2019 To submit the minutes of the workshop to CTI for intersessional endorsement. To submit the completion report to CTI for intersessional endorsement.

CONCEPT NOTE Question 3: Methodology 2. Beneficiaries • How will it benefit many APEC economies? • Focus on direct beneficiaries who directly use outputs (Example) “The proposed project is supposed to have trade policy-makers and negotiators from relevant ministries and agencies (including officials of competition authorities and development agencies) in APEC economies as speakers and beneficiaries, in the view of their professional technical knowledge and understanding of FTAs/EPAs negotiations and competition policy. ”

CONCEPT NOTE Question 3: Methodology 3. Evaluation – setting indicators • Measurable and achievable • Quantitative and qualitative • Measures project’s Outputs ‒ Participation rates, number of economies, number of speakers, number of Best Practices/Recommendations • Measure project’s Outcomes ‒ Survey analysis (ex-ante and ex-post), feedback mechanism • Gender indicators

CONCEPT NOTE Question 3: Methodology 3. Evaluation – setting indicators (Example) “An evaluation questionnaire will be prepared and distributed at the end of workshop to all participants, as well as the speakers, moderators and experts. It is to assess the effectiveness of the workshop with regard to the relevance on the topics, presentations by speakers, overall impact and suggestions for further improvement and/or activities for future projects. The results of the evaluation will be presented on the project completion report, which will be provided to CTI. The proposed project will ensure participants’ and speakers’ gender balance. ” (CTI, 2019)

CONCEPT NOTE Question 3: Methodology 4. Linkages • Previous work in and outside APEC ‒ Is this a follow-up phase? ‒ How does this project build on previous accomplishments? ‒ How is this project not duplicating? • Cross Fora Collaboration ‒ Early engagement ‒ Examples: steering committee, agenda development, speaker engagement, etc.

CONCEPT NOTE Question 3: Methodology 4. Linkages (Example) “Work on cybersecurity standards is a new area for APEC most relevant to the scope of the SCSC. This workshop also has relevance to APEC TEL work, as it complements the Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap and the APEC Framework for Securing the Digital Economy. Project organizers will encourage participation of delegates from both the SCSC and APEC TEL, and will share information across fora. The U. S. will also strive to include industry stakeholders and non-APEC ASEAN cybersecurity regulators and standards development agencies in the workshop to promote regulatory cooperation. ” (SCSC, 2019)

CONCEPT NOTE Budget Developing a Budget • • • Use the Budget section of Project Proposal template for calculations Consider location, event time, event days Understand the non-allowable expenses (p. 36) Be accurate • • • Realistic estimates Cost efficient is good project value Once approved, CN budget becomes the ceiling

Links to Project Proposal and Implementation Avoid approval delays and design amendment 01. 02. 03. 04. Repetition of Subject Matter Large Scope vs. Narrow Focus Ambitious Outputs Multiple Events

Repetition of Subject Matter ? Has this been discussed before ? How is my angle different ? How is my project building off from previous work

Large Scope vs. Narrow Focus ? Which are your targeted industries? ? Who are you targeted participant groups? ? Can I cover all areas of discussion?

Ambitious Outputs ? How much time do I have? ? Have I considered risks in the project timeline? 2 to 3 outputs is the norm

Multiple Events ? How are the agendas related? ? Are the same participants expected to travel multiple times? One event is strongly suggested

A Sound Budget Plan Capacity Building (Travel for Participants) is focus 01. 02. Ensure Balanced Allocation of Budget Propose Costs at Reasonable Levels

CONCEPT NOTE Tips to Improve PROJECT DATABASE DO RESEARCH Research previous projects in and outside of APEC, APEC priorities, fora strategies and funding criteria, and project costs

CONCEPT NOTE Tips to Improve STYLE Write in a language that is clear and easily understood by non-technical audience. Always use specific and fact -based statements. Make sure project title delivers the project theme.

CONCEPT NOTE Tips to Improve CONSULT Socialize project idea in the workgroup. Engage your economy’s representative. Advocate your economy’s RAF

FORMS & RESOURCES Guides Project Overseer through phases of implementation Our ‘rulebook’ to applying and implementing APEC projects THE GUIDEBOOK PROJECT WEBSITE Download template, CN & PP development materials PO TOOLKIT Contact your PD or PE, or ask PMU questions PROJECT DATABASE Research all past and current APEC projects CONTACT US

FORMS & RESOURCES Available at: http: //www. apec. org/Projects/Forms-and-Resources. aspx

ANY QUESTIONS?