About small scale projects

Small Scale Projects (hereafter “SSP”) under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic (hereafter “MFA CZ”) represent one of principal instruments of bilateral development cooperation of the Czech Republic. Such projects are carried out in cooperation with embassies of the Czech Republic by local stakeholders directly in developing countries. Financial funds of the Czech Republic contribute in this way to fulfil developing needs and to create positive change straight in location.

In terms of areas of support MFA CZ aims to support local projects with high impact in developing countries such as projects to promote good health and well-being, eradication poverty and hunger, education, gender equality, environment and climate, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, etc.  SSP should tackle and be linked to one or more of the 17 Sustainable development goals (SDGs) defined by the United Nations.

Who can apply

• The financial contribution is intended for projects implemented in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka (not in India!)
• Implementing partner should be a local subject with legal subjectivity in the country of the project implementation. Implementing partner must be eligible to sign contract with MFA CZ that establishes jurisdiction of Czech laws and Czech courts.  
• Implementing organization should be a non-governmental organization (NGO), a non-profit organization, a civic society organization (CSO), a social business or a foundation.
• Funding cannot be claimed by an individual, political party, university or state institution. Funding is allocated to non-political and non-governmental group.

Information on time framework, budget and visibility

• The project must be implemented from April 2024 (after the contract is signed) to September 2024.
• The proposed budget of the financial contribution for must be from 200 000 CZK to 500 000 CZK. Co-financing from other sources is arbitrary and desirable. In the identification form in the row "Local currency" please state the amount in USD only. The Czech crowns sections must be left blank as they will be completed by the Czech Embassy in Delhi according to the valid exchange rate. Applications with wrong currency will be eliminated.
• The project should be effective and economical, for which reason all receipts must be documented. Total cost of salary/fee, subsistence allowance, accommodation, travel cost and eventual insurance and vaccination of the experts must not exceed 25 % of the project´s total costs,
• SSP does not include the payment of the implementing partner´s administrative costs.
• Each organization may apply for a funding of several projects, but only one project of the applicant may be supported from the funds of the Development Cooperation of the Czech Republic.
• Tangible assets of the project must be marked with a logo of the Czech development cooperation. In the case of project´s intangible assets, it is always necessary to mention the financial support of the Development Cooperation of the Czech Republic.

How to apply

The application for a SSP grant must include:

• The filled identification form in either Czech or English, signed and stamped by the organization.
•  A verified copy of a document (in English or translated into English) certifying that the applicant has legal subjectivity in the country of implementation.
•  A verified letter issued by management or board of the implementing partner in Czech or English stating that the person mentioned and signed on the identification form has the legal right to sign the contract with MFA CZ. 

Evaluation criteria for the selection of MLP:

• Formalities of the project: compliance with the outline of the identification form, completeness, quality, professional level, clarity and comprehensibility of the data and information provided
• Relevance of the project: consistency with the development strategy of the partner country and the priorities of the Development Cooperation Strategy of the Czech Republic, clear explanation of the development problems to be addressed by the project and clear identification of the target group 
• Project effectiveness: clear explanation of the proposed solution to the development problem, adequacy of the defined objectives and outputs, realistic logical structure of the project
• Cost-effectiveness and efficiency of the project: sufficient specification of the individual budget items, compliance with the limit of funding (200-500 thousand CZK) and a maximum of 25% share of costs for salaries/honoraria, per diems, accommodation, travel, etc., co-financing rate
• Sustainability of the project: likelihood of achieving and maintaining long-term positive benefits of the project for the target group, potential for the presentation of the Czech Development Aid

The application must be delivered both in hard (by post) and soft copy (by email) to the diplomatic staff of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi by October 1, 2023. Applications received after this date will not be evaluated. The applications must be send to the following address:
 

Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi
MLP 2024
50-M, Niti Marg, Chanakyapuri
New Delhi - 110 021
India
 

The soft copy of the application must be sent in both PDF file (signed and stamped) and in an Excel file to the e-mail address newdelhi@embassy.mzv.cz and in copy to adam_podhola@mzv.cz. In the email please include a short annotation (max. 80 words) of the project proposal with indication of which Sustainable Development Goals your project will be contributing to. Please do not include any other irrelevant documents such as annual reports, letters of intent or information about previous projects. Please try to compress the files before sending it to us.

Important deadlines

All questions regarding the Small Scale Projects should be sent by e-mail to the address newdelhi@embassy.mzv.cz  and in copy to adam_podhola@mzv.cz. In the subject of the email please write "MLP2024".

All communications must be conducted in electronic form via e-mail. Due to high amount of received applications, the Embassy cannot answer to all applicants individually. In terms of results, they will be published on the website of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi (https://www.mzv.cz/newdelhi/en/index.html) in January 2024.