PRELIMINARY STAGE: CHOOSE YOUR PARTNERS  Grants will be awarded only to organisations from Balkan countries working together on projects (e.g. NGO coalitions). One NGO should be selected as a leader NGO, and all partners must agree on this.  STAGE ONE: PREPARATION OF THE PROPOSAL  (Submission deadline February 15, 2001)  One representative from one leading NGO must saerve project manager for the whole project. The cooperating partners must agree on who is selected as project manager. All partners must agree that the project manager has the responsibility for managing the preparation of the grant for the project.  The REC Head Office provides you with the standard guidelines for writing a cooperative project proposal.. The guidelines are available at www.rec.org under "NGO support", as well as through our REC country network. NGOs should carefully follow these guidelines. The Statement of Cooperation (Appendix A) - attached to this call - should be filled out, signed and stamped by partners and the original should be mailed together with the proposal. Project proposals will be due at the REC Head Office and the copies in the REC country offices involved in the project by February 15, 2001.Proposals must be sent by mail ONLY.  (REC addresses are available on the Guidelines). Note: Proposals sent by e-mail or fax are not eligible. "February 15, 2001" is arrival deadline for proposals, and  not a postmarked deadline.  EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT PROPOSALS  (March 2, 2001)  The evaluation of proposals is a competitive process. Proposals will be prescreened to make sure that all necessary documents are present. The proposals, which successfully pass the screening phase, will be judged and evaluated by an independent panel of experts. The Grants Assistant will contact you to obtain any missing documentation. REC will be involving independent experts during the evaluation of the proposals.  Criteria for choosing projects include:  Feasibility. Will the partners be able to accomplish the goals with the amount of money requested? Is the implementation plan realistic?  Regional relevance. Contribution to Stability Pact and REReP;   NGO representation. Does the applying coalition represent a large group of SEE NGOs?  Degree of cooperation. How will the NGOs share the responsibilities for implementing the project?  Environmental Impact. Will the project result in concrete improvements of the environmental situation in the region and in the different countries?  Full criteria are listed in the project proposal guidelines available on the REC web.  Unsupported proposals will receive a letter informing them of the decision. WINNERS MEETING AND PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION  (March 23, 2001)  Grant winners will be notified and invited to the REC Head Office in Szentendre for the Winners Meeting. At this meeting, you (and depending on availability of funds, your partner/ partners) will present your joint project to the other grantees. You will also meet your Grant Officer and Financial Assistant from REC Head Office who will work closely with you as you implement your project. Together, you will agree on the terms of your contract: your schedule for providing progress and financial reports; and our schedule for providing you with funding based upon your progress in implementing the project.  Grant winners should expect the first grant installments soon after the Award Agreement is signed.

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