European Union Ministry of Agriculture Contracting Authority Ministry

European Union Ministry of Agriculture Contracting Authority: Ministry of Agriculture of Lebanon Forestry Actions in Lebanon Budget line ENPI/2010/021 -837 Agriculture and Rural Development Programme Reference: Europe. Aid/135 -358/M/ACT/LB Information Session January 21, 2014 Ministry of Agriculture - Beirut 1

Forestry Actions in Lebanon I. III. IV. V. VI. Objectives and priorities of the call for proposals Key features of the call for proposals Eligible Applicants Number of applications and grants per applicant Budget and eligibility costs Submission of the full proposal 2

Forestry Actions in Lebanon I. Objectives and priorities of the programme The global objective: To promote actions aiming at fostering forestation and reforestation activities in Lebanon in line with the goals of the 40 million trees programme. Specific objectives: 1. Plan and implement sustainable forestation and reforestation actions by fostering the joint participation of Non-State Actors and Lebanese Local Authorities (Municipalities); 2. Actively contribute to the goals and implementation of the 40 million trees programme by setting “pilot” replicable examples of good practice for joint forestation/reforestation actions; 3. Promote rural and local development and create opportunities for improved socio-economic livelihoods and poverty reduction through sustainable forestry management. 3

Forestry Actions in Lebanon Priorities of the programme • Contribute to improving the technical and scientific knowledge of Non State Actors and Municipalities on the forest opportunities and challenges, with actions falling under the mandate, statutory responsibilities, competence and expertise of Municipalities; • Strengthening the capacity of Municipalities for: – planning, design, procurement, implementation, financial management, and monitoring and supervision of forestation and rural and local development projects; – playing a more active role in the context of national programmes relating to forestry, such as the 40 million trees programme; – providing innovative services related to forestation and environmental protection and aiming at increasing efficiency in delivering such services; – increasing the role and recognition of Municipalities in regional development, and in the implementation and management of development projects; – fighting poverty, creating employment opportunities and leading to youth and women inclusion. • Enhance cooperation between Non State Actors and Municipalities in terms of exchange of experiences; 4

Forestry Actions in Lebanon II. Key features of the call for proposals Deadline for submission of Application: March 21, 2014 at 1: 00 pm Size of Actions: Total Cost € Grant Amount Minimum Co-financing Minimum 100. 000 80. 000 20. 000 Maximum 500. 000 400. 000 100. 000 Minimum EU contribution: 60% of eligible costs Maximum EU contribution: 80% of eligible costs Duration of the grant contract: Between 42 and 48 months Actions must last for a minimum of 36 months from the date of completing plantation of seedlings on a site. 5

Forestry Actions in Lebanon III. Eligibility of Applicants Applicant • Be a Non-State Actor (NSA), registered for at least three years at the time of the submission of the application; • Be a non-profit making legal person; • Be established in a Member State of the European Union or Lebanon; • Be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the co-applicant(s) and affiliated entity(ies), not acting as an intermediary; • Having managed projects in Lebanon and/or in the Middle East/North African region. • Sign a Memorandum of Understanding with each Co-Applicant (Appendix 2 to Guidelines for Applicants Gf. A); 6

Forestry Actions in Lebanon Co-Applicant • Be a local authority (Municipality); • Be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the applicant, not acting as an intermediary. • Sign “Mandate” (part B, section 4); • Sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Applicant (Appendix 2 to Gf. A); 7

Forestry Actions in Lebanon Affiliated Entities • Legal entities having a capital or legal link with the applicant or the co-applicant can be considered as affiliated entities, example: an international NGO with HQ in Europe and the country office • Participate in designing and implementing the action, all related costs are eligible • Eligibility: Same criteria as applicant and co-applicants • Sign “Affiliated entity(ies) statement” (Part B, section 5) 8

Forestry Actions in Lebanon Associates Other organisations may be involved in the action. Such associates play a real role in the action but may not receive funding from the grant, with the exception of per diem or travel costs. - Associates do not have to meet the eligibility criteria. - Associates must be mentioned in Part B section 6. Contractors The grant beneficiaries and their affiliated entities are permitted to award contracts. Associates or affiliated entity(ies) cannot be also contractors in the project. Contractors are subject to the procurement rules set out in Annex IV to the standard grant contract. 9

Forestry Actions in Lebanon IV. Number of applications and grants per applicants • The applicant may not submit more than two (2) applications. • The applicant may not be awarded more than two (2) grants. • The applicant may not be a co-applicant in another application at the same time. • A co-applicant may not be the applicant or an affiliated entity in another application at the same time. • A co-applicant may not participate in more than one (1) application. • A co-applicant may not be awarded more than one (1) grant. • The affiliated entity(ies) may not take part in more than one (1) application. 10

Forestry Actions in Lebanon - An application can include a maximum of 4 different sites. - An application must cover at least one site which must have a minimum size of 100 dunums. - In case of an application including more than one site, the minimum size of each individual site cannot be below 50 dunums. Each site proposed forestation/reforestation must: • be on state-owned or communal land; • have sufficient availability of water for irrigation; • be protected from fire and grazing; • be located on the territory of the co-applicant(s) Municipality(ies). 11

Forestry Actions in Lebanon Proposals will have to combine: 1. Planting forest in line with the objectives and provisions of the “ 40 millions trees Programme”. 2. Establishing examples of good practices at scientific, technical and governance level. 3. Creating pre-conditions for engaging wider surfaces forestation through future contributions/donations. 4. Building the capacity of Co-applicant Municipalities. 5. Promoting social inclusion and enhancing the capacity and participation of local communities and civil society organizations. N. B. At least 25% of the total budget for the action must be allocated to activities falling under point 4 and 5 above. 12

Forestry Actions in Lebanon All Proposals must be accompanied by Memoranda of Understanding (Mo. U, see Appendix 2 to the Gf. A) signed jointly by the Applicant and the Co-applicant : 1. Detailing the terms of their cooperation under the action; and 2. Defining the respective roles and responsibilities. There must be a separate Mo. U for each Co-applicant (i. e: a proposal involving one applicant NGO and 3 Municipalities must be accompanied by 3 Mo. Us). 13

Forestry Actions in Lebanon V. Budget and eligibility costs • Budget has to respect the format provided in the call for proposals (Annex B); • Must cover the full cost of the action (EU Grant + co-financing by Applicant and Co-applicant(s); • Subheadings may be created but no new headings; • Must be submitted in Euros; • Must be filled in all parts (including Justification and Expected Sources of Funding). 14

Forestry Actions in Lebanon Eligibility of the costs Direct Costs ü ü ü ü ü Incurred during the implementation of the action Must be indicated in the budget of the action Must be necessary for the implementation of the action Must be identifiable and verifiable Must comply with the requirements of applicable tax and social legislation Must be reasonable, justified and comply with the requirements of sound financial management, in particular regarding economy and efficiency Cost of staff assigned to the Action Travel and subsistence costs Purchase or rental costs for equipment and supplies 15

Forestry Actions in Lebanon ü Costs of consumables ü Costs entailed by contracts awarded by the Beneficiary(ies) for the purposes of the Action ü Costs deriving directly from the requirements of the Contract (dissemination of information, evaluation specific to the Action, audits, translation, reproduction, insurance, etc. ) ü Duties, taxes and charges, including VAT, paid and not recoverable by the beneficiaries, unless otherwise provided in the Special Conditions ü Overheads, in the case of an operating grant 16

Forestry Actions in Lebanon Contingencies ü Maximum 5% of direct costs ü Can be used only with the prior written authorization of the Contracting Authority Eligible Indirect Costs (overheads) ü Maximum 7% of estimated total eligible direct costs 17

Forestry Actions in Lebanon Ineligible costs Х Debts and debt service charges (interest) Х Provisions for losses or potential future liabilities Х Costs declared by the beneficiary and financed by another action or work programme Х Purchases of land or buildings, except where necessary for the direct implementation of the action, in which case ownership must be transferred to the final beneficiaries and/or local partners, at the latest by the end of the action Х Currency exchange losses Х Credit to third parties 18

Forestry Actions in Lebanon Some examples of Co-Financing - Salaries of own staff of Applicant and /or Co-applicant(s); - Use of facilities/equipment of Applicant and /or Co-applicant(s): ● use of offices, office materials, etc. , ● use of meeting rooms, ● use of equipment, ● use of machineries for planting/irrigation & maintenance/sites protection, ● use of vehicles; - Direct contributions to the action in terms of: ● events’ organization (workshops, seminars for visibility, etc. ), ● provision of services such as: water for irrigation, sites’ surveillance, transport to sites of local community members on planting days, etc. ; - Materials for planting or for protecting seedlings and/or the planting sites; - Cash. 19

Forestry Actions in Lebanon VI. Submission of Applications Deadline: March 21, 2014 at 1: 00 pm - Applicants must apply in English; - Applications must be submitted in one original and 4 copies in A 4 size, each bound. - The complete application form (Part A: concept note and Part B: full application form), budget and logical framework must also be supplied in electronic format (CD-Rom) in a separate and single file. - The Checklist (Section 7 of Part B the grant application form) and the Declaration by the applicant (Section 8 of Part B of the grant application form) must be stapled separately and enclosed in the envelope. If an applicant sends two different applications each one has to be submitted separately. 20

Forestry Actions in Lebanon The outer envelope must bear ü Reference number of the call Europe. Aid/135 -358/M/ACT/LB ü Title of the call “Forestry Actions in Lebanon” ü Full name and address of the applicant ü The words "Not to be opened before the opening session" and " "ﻳﻤﻨﻊ ﻓﺘﺢ ﻫﺬﺍ ﺍﻟﻤﻐﻠﻒ ﻗﺒﻞ ﺟﻠﺴﺔ ﻓﺾ ﺍﻟﻌﺮﻭﺽ 21

Forestry Actions in Lebanon DATE TIME* Deadline for requesting any clarifications from the Contracting Authority 25 February 2014 02: 00 p. m. Last date on which clarifications are issued by the Contracting Authority 11 March 2014 - Deadline for submission of Application Form 21 March 2014 01: 00 p. m. Information to applicants on opening, administrative checks and concept note evaluation (Step 1) 14 April 2014 - Information to applicants on the evaluation of the Full Application Form (Step 2) 9 May 2014 - Notification of award (after the eligibility check) (Step 3) 30 May 2014 - Contract signature 30 June 2014 - Indicative Timetable 22

Forestry Actions in Lebanon • READ carefully the guidelines for applicant. • READ carefully the instructions for drafting the Concept Note and Full application under each section. • Give special attention to the criteria listed in the Evaluation Grid. • Before sending proposal: CHECK criteria listed in No. 7 of the Application Form. 23

Forestry Actions in Lebanon • READ carefully the guidelines for applicant. • READ carefully the instructions for drafting the Concept Note and Full application under each section. • Give special attention to the criteria listed in the Evaluation Grid. • Before sending proposal: CHECK criteria listed in No. 7 of the Application Form. 24

Forestry Actions in Lebanon Please remember to send in writing any further questions you may have to the following e-mail addresses: CMohanna@agriculture. gov. lb and marcomanetti@libero. it 25

European Union Ministry of Agriculture Thank you 26