Danube Regional Project Regional Grants

The main goal of the Danube Regional Project (DRP) is to facilitate a regional approach to the reduction of point and non-point sources of nutrient and toxic substances pollution in the Danube River Basin. The first round of Regional Grants started in 2004; the projects supported are currently being implemented and expected to finish by October 2006. A second round of granting was launched in 2005; projects suppored under this call are also being implemented at this time and are expected to finish by March 2007. Scope A regional approach implies cross-border NGO cooperation and multi-stakeholder involvement. NGOs are encouraged to cooperate and work in partnership with NGOs in neighbouring countries (e.g. within the same Danube sub-basin) in addressing cross-border and regional environmental problems related to nutrient- and toxic-substances reduction. In addition, they are encouraged to involve other stakeholders, such as local authorities, water-related institutions, the industrial sector and the agricultural community. Pragmatic approaches are needed to address these complex issues, and it is hoped that individual grants will go to projects that will serve as demonstrations and have multiplier effects in the Danube River Basin. The grant programme will also help to develop awareness and action within the NGO community, itself. Grants Announcements The application and selection processes for both rounds of granting are now closed, but you may download the full announcements for your information: Grants announcement - Round one (DOC - 515 KB). Grants announcement - Round two (DOC - 796 KB). Proposal Evaluation Process Concept Paper Phase (both rounds) For each round of granting, selection committees - comprised of REC NGO Support Programme granting staff, a UNDP-GEF Danube Regional Project representative and a Danube Environmental Forum representative - independently reviewed and scored each concept paper submitted against the criteria below. Scores were submitted and aggregated, and papers ranked in order from highest score to lowest; and comments were collected from relevant REC Country Offices. In each round, a meeting of the selection committee was then held to discuss each concept paper and grant it a status: accepted to the full proposal development stage, accepted with conditions, or rejected. Evaluation criteria applied during concept paper selection: Relevance: Does the identified action address a regional/cross-border problem related to the grant’s scope as stated in the announcement? Impact of NGO activities: What does the project intend to improve or change? Are goals and objectives within the grant's scope? Approach: Are the methodology and tools proposed appropriate/ realistic for addressing and solving the problem? To what extent are the NGOs using the suggested tools and approaches? Regional NGO cooperation: is cross-border or regional NGO cooperation feasible, and are the partners committed? Involvement of other stakeholders: are the stakeholders identified and willing to cooperate with the NGO in addressing the environmental problem? NGO capacity: are the NGOs qualified (previous project management experience/annual budgets)? Full Proposal Phase (both rounds) As with the concept paper phase, selection committees - similar in composition to those at the conceprt paper phase, but with the addition of two external experts - independently reviewed and scored each full proposal submitted against the criteria below. Scores were submitted and aggregated, and proposals ranked in order from highest score to lowest; and comments were once again collected from relevant REC Country Offices. The selection committees for each round of granting then met and decided whether or not each project should be supported and, if so, with what ammount and under which conditions. Evaluation criteria applied during full proposal selection: Environmental impact measurable results leading directly or indirectly to nutrient-pollution reduction; process- and stress-reduction indicators are clearly defined. NGO approach/methodology feasible and effective methods are used; trans-boundary perspective/watershed approaches are applied. Cooperation feasible regional/cross-border cooperation is demonstrated; multiple stakeholders are involved. Proposal quality feasible and realistic action plan; cost-effective budget. Staff capability Staff experience and competence on the issue in all NGOs involved.

Introduction to the Danube Regional Project Grants Programme Selected Projects: Round one Round two Publications: Bringing NGOs into the flow - First round of regional grants for the Danube Regional Project (PDF - 2.3 MB) Bringing NGOs into the flow - Second round of regional grants for the Danube Regional Project (PDF - 1 MB) News: Danube NGOs Get USD 636,000 to Reduce Danube Pollution (Press release - March 7, 2006) Contents of this page: Scope Grants announcements Evaluation Process   A part of the: