O P E N   C A L L   F O R   T E N D E R S

  Cooperative projects over the past two years have addressed a wide range of topics.

  In Latvia and Estonia, for example, NGOs from each country worked together with their local park administrations to develop a common protection strategy for a cross-border wetland.

  As a direct result of this project, an agreement between the governments of the two countries on the management of transboundary protected areas is expected to be signed in autumn this year.

  In Hungary and Poland, NGOs were able to conduct a high profile awareness-raising campaign targeting sustainable consumption patterns and genetically modified organisms. A project in Slovakia and the Czech Republic worked to protect shared forests and biodiversity.

  These are but a few of the multi-country projects supported in the past by the REC. This year, NGOs should again reach out to partners in other countries to find common ground for environmental projects. REC Local Office and Grants Department staff can help NGOs find partners.

  For example, in past years, NGOs have proposed projects to address a problem in one country with expertise from an NGO in another country.

  One NGO wished to organise a tree-planting campaign in a specific city. They requested REC funds, and help for planting trees from NGOs in a number of countries throughout the region. Although more than one country was to be involved in the project, it was not supported because the problem only dealt with one country.

  The application is a two-part process.

  In the first part, NGOs find a partner and prepare a project outline. The most promising project outlines, or concept papers, are awarded a small start-up grant. Project partners must use these funds to meet together to prepare the full project proposal.

  The full text of the call for tender is available from Local Offices, REC Head Office or the web: http://www.rec.org. For further information, please contact the REC Grants Department: Christy Duijvelaar.