British Embassy Zagreb invites bids for Impact Fund 2024 to 2025
British Embassy Zagreb invites organisations to submit project proposals by 10 June 2024 for activities strengthening relationships between the UK and Croatia.
BEZ Call for Bids 2024/2025 IMPACT FUND
The British Embassy in Zagreb is inviting organisations to submit project proposals for potential funding from our Impact Fund. As the name suggests, the purpose of the fund is to achieve impact, so we’re looking for projects that are focused on making a real difference in the highlighted priority areas. Project proposals which strengthen and nurture relationships between Croatian and UK-based organisations and individuals are particularly welcome.
Themes
This year, the call will focus on organisations, projects and activities, which link to the following thematic areas:
Democratic resilience and civic participation: Building stronger societies for a stronger Europe
Projects which promote and defend the UK and Croatia’s shared values of liberal democracy, tolerance, and the rule of law in the context of domestic and global political and socio-economic challenges. We will prioritise projects in the following areas:
- defending against threats to liberal democracy in Europe, e.g. countering disinformation, supporting effective journalism and promoting factual, inclusive public discourse and narratives
- strengthening civic education and media literacy (especially social media), to build trust in and understanding of democratic processes and institutions
- strengthening inter-community understanding, both domestically and regionally within southeastern Europe, and promoting tolerance
- enhancing opportunities for civic participation, particularly for young people, women, and minority ethnic groups
Special emphasis should be placed on activities which generate change, with wider social impact.
Innovation, Science and Technology: Strengthening connections and partnership in tech, research, higher education and innovation between the UK and Croatia
Projects which nurture long-term innovation, science and technology, and education partnerships, with a special emphasis on UK-Croatia cooperation in these areas. We especially encourage projects in the following areas:
- establishing new connections and partnerships between researchers and institutions in the UK and Croatia
- build on existing partnership and research to deepen cooperation further, eg supporting Horizon bids
- joint initiatives between the UK and Croatia in areas of AI, quantum technologies, semiconductors, telecoms, and engineering biology
- building expertise and capacity on commercialisation of innovations and bringing together businesses and science between the UK and Croatia
- values-based governance and regulation of new and emerging technologies, with a special emphasis on AI
- initiate and support exchanges, joint studies and programmes between UK and Croatian higher education
Projects, which support trade and investment links between the UK and Croatia:
- addressing barriers to market access between the UK and Croatia
- promoting opportunities for and partnerships between UK and Croatian companies and industry
- connecting Croatian companies to UK business, venture capital and tech ecosystems
Energy: Diversification and building towards net zero emissions
Projects which promote energy diversification and transition from fossil-based systems of energy production and consumption — including oil, natural gas and coal — to green and renewable energy sources like offshore wind, hydrogen, nuclear and geothermal.
Applicants in this strand are encouraged to propose projects in the following areas:
- exchanges between the UK and Croatia on the design and implementation of new regulatory policy in net zero technology
- establishing commercial and research connections between the UK and Croatia in net zero technology
- building multilateral collaboration for tackling climate change
- establishing regional net zero collaboration networks in Central Europe
- facilitating grassroots-level knowledge exchanges between the UK and Croatian organisations working on energy efficiency, diversification or renewable energy
Activity bid guidance
The British Embassy aims to support projects with activities taking place between 1 July 2024 and 15 February 2025, with no expectation of continued funding beyond the stated period.
Maximum project budget limit: 13,500 Euros.
Project bids will be assessed against the following criteria:
- alignment with thematic priorities and likelihood of achieving a real-world impact
- outcomes that are achievable within the funding period and offer value for money
- activity design that includes clear evaluation procedures and measures of impact
- activity design that includes risk and financial accountability procedures
- the organisation’s safeguarding policies ensure protection of beneficiaries, especially vulnerable individuals and children
Bidding process
- proposals must be submitted using the online application form
- all proposals must be received by 11:59pm on 10 June 2024. Late proposals will not be considered
- successful bidders will be notified by the end of June
Further questions
Question regarding the bidding process can be sent to [email protected] by the end of May.
Additional information and documentation
All project implementers will be expected to sign a standard contract or grant agreement with the Embassy provided by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
The terms of the contract or agreement are not negotiable.
All projects are expected to have achieved 85% spend by end December 2024. Proposed budgets must reflect this requirement.
In view of the any possible epidemiological situation all events/activities must adhere to Croatia’s National Civil Protection Directorate guidelines at the time activities are implemented.