A CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS
for industrial problems and energy conservation
The REC conducted a needs assessment in August 1994. This assessment revealed that Central and Eastern European NGOs are interested in industrial pollution, so ECU 125,000 has been earmarked to support projects in this field.
The REC invites project proposals from registered, non-profit, non-governmental, environmental organizations from: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, FYR Macedonia, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia. Requests for funding from the REC must not exceed ECU 20,000 per project. For this topic, the following exchange rates are in effect: ECU 1 = HUF 158.45, USD 1.33, and DEM 1.82.
One of the REC's highest priorities is promoting Regionwide cooperation among NGOs. Therefore, ECU 60,000 has been set aside for cooperative projects of at least two NGOs from two different countries. If NGOs need help identifying potential partners they should contact the REC Earmarked Grants Team by 1 June 1995 with a brief outline of their project idea and the required partners.
Scope
This earmarked category covers:
- Industrial pollution sources (including air, water, and land pollution):
- identifying pollution sources and evaluating their impact;
- addressing industrial waste (hazardous waste) management problems, including problems with incinerators, industrial wastewater releases, and waste deposit sites;
- expressing environmental damage in monetary terms, using economic measures that build environmental values into decision-making; enforcing the polluter pays principle;
- promoting legislative procedures in industrial waste management, such as compulsory EIA and public hearings in cases of waste deposit sites, incinerators, problems of (illegal, hazardous) waste import, illegal waste deposits, etc.; increasing public control over such problems;
- raising public awareness of industrial pollution problems and of the economic benefits of clean technologies and environmentally sound practices.
- Energy problems:
- identifying alternative energy-producing systems against current, polluting systems;
- identifying the harmful effects of current energy production and presenting alternative solutions;
- identifying and promoting energy-saving technologies and measures for industries and households;
- identifying problems with nuclear power stations, with special emphasis on nuclear waste management (handling, transporting, and depositing), and risk assessment of active (or planned) nuclear power stations;
- establishing alternative energy-producing systems;
- identifying partners and developing realistic action plans to develop the energy industry in an environmentally friendly way;
- organizing educational or public awareness programs on these topics.
Limitations
- Problems related to communal waste (wastewater) management, selective waste collection, as well as public transport and traffic are better addressed under the next earmarked topic, "Urban and Community Problems." Similarly, public health problems caused by communal waste (wastewater) management, traffic or transport are outside the scope of this call for proposals.
- Since Environmental Education will not be a separate topic this year, all educational and public awareness raising programs are welcomed under this call for proposals.
Approach
Projects should approach these issues by one or more of the following methods:
- educating the public and raising public awareness;
- promoting the exchange of information between decision makers and the public; promoting intersectorial negotiation and understanding;
- implementing concrete, result-oriented actions with high model value;
- lobbying authorities to promote alternative solutions and/or involving local people in decision making;
- facilitating the implementation of economic and legal instruments or incentives.
Proposal Preparation
NOTE: New Financial Regulations in Effect: Only officially stamped invoices written in the name of the NGO or the Regional Environmental Center are accepted for reimbursement. For full information contact the Earmarked Grants Team.
Proposals must be completed in accordance with criteria in the Earmarked Grants Program Proposal Guidelines, this Call for Project Proposals, and the REC's new financial regulations (April 1995). These are available from the Earmarked Grants Team.
Proposal Evaluation
All the general evaluation criteria described in the Earmarked Grants Program Proposal Guidelines and outlined in the REC's new financial regulations apply to this call for project proposals.
Specific Evaluation Criteria for Industrial Problems
Priority is given to:
- concrete and tangible result-oriented project proposals, rather than those without immediate relevance;
- projects addressing transboundary problems, and those involving cooperation between NGOs in Central and Eastern Europe;
- projects which are feasible, realistic and appropriate for the actual conditions of the project site.
NOTE: REC Earmarked Grants do not fund research as a dominant part of projects. This includes data collection and sampling.
Deadline
Proposals for consideration under "Industrial Problems and Energy Conservation" must be received at the REC Head Office (if delivered by hand) or postmarked not later than 3 July 1995.
THE BULLETIN * SPRING 1995