European Commission has issued a call seeking concept notes at first stage followed by full grant proposals from innovative pilot projects in India to promote integrated action at municipality level to reduce poverty and support inclusive and sustainable economic development in that country.
Program Objectives
The specific objectives are to
- promote integrated action at municipal level addressing basic services, such as water, sanitation and solid waste management;
- empower urban local bodies to effectively execute government programmes and achieve tangible results for urban poor communities;
- contribute to local economic development.
In view of the relative limited resources made available under this call, the aim is to support at least 4-5 innovative pilot projects. In that context special attention should be paid to solutions which can be implemented by the urban local bodies themselves.
Potential Strategies which could be Promoted
- Improving the governance capacity of urban local bodies to implement integrated water strategies by creation of low cost alternative wastewater management systems in the cities/towns.
- Improving basic services on water and sanitation that benefit the urban poor through some innovative interventions to help improve health indicators.
- Using low cost techniques for treatment of municipal solid waste.
- Convergence of interventions with existing government programmes such as the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and the City Sanitation Plans.
- Increase accountability to Local Authorities wards beneficiary communities through ward committees;
- Promoting e-governance systems.
- Develop direct and effective interaction between LAs and/or LA associations in order to strengthen transfer of knowledge and best practice between the EU and India.
- Encourage public private partnerships in the implementation of city plans.
Priority Population Groups and Geographical Locations
Poor, vulnerable, marginalised and/or socially excluded urban population groups are relevant to this call. Within these populations those suffering the highest levels of poverty and socio-economic exclusion are priority targets.
In terms of geographical focus, this call for proposals proposes focus on smaller cities in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh to complement the EU’s intervention on governance through the State Partnership Programmes.
In addition, smaller cities in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh which have developed City Sanitation Plans under the Ministry of Urban Development guidance are targeted by this call.
Other Conditions
All actions should be based on an initiative emanating from Indian urban local bodies and should ensure their direct involvement during all stages of the implementation of the action. Partnerships are encouraged and in order to maximise the contribution of both the main applicant and partner/s, a clear description per organisation of its role, contribution to the project implementation and value addition is requested. For actions presented by a European entity, partnership with Indian urban local bodies is obligatory.
All actions shall be non for profit making. All Indian registered organisations, main applicant and partner/s, must comply with the Indian legislation for receiving foreign funding.
Financial Allocation
The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals from the 2011 budget is EUR 4,000,000.
Last date for submission of concept notes is November 18, 2011
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