This is a publication of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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1 Order of the Minister for European Affairs and International Cooperation no. DJZ/BR/ of 1 December 2010 adopting administrative rules containing general provisions for grants awarded for development cooperation activities (Standard Framework for Development Cooperation) The Minister for European Affairs and International Cooperation, Having regard to article 6 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Grants Decree and article 4.8 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Grant Regulations 2006, Orders: Article 1 The general provisions appended as an annexe to this Order apply to grants awarded under article 4.8 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Grant Regulations Article 2 This Order will enter into force on the day after the date of publication of the Government Gazette in which it appears and will lapse on 31 December 2015, with the proviso that it will continue to apply to grants awarded prior to that date. This Order, and its accompanying annexe, will be published in the Government Gazette. H.P.M. Knapen Minister for European Affairs and International Cooperation 1

2 ANNEXE Background This Order contains general provisions for awarding grants to activities of civil society organisations 1 that aim for structural poverty reduction in developing countries. 2 There are two objectives. First, to provide a single framework within which a flexible response can be made to current worldwide developments, and, if necessary, an extra commitment to new policy priorities. Second, to streamline the various, separate grant programmes for civil society organisations by awarding grants, where possible, in accordance with a procedure based on the principles and criteria set out in this Standard Framework. 3 The Framework is based on article 4.8 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Grant Regulations 2006, which provides a basis for awarding grants for activities geared to structural poverty reduction in developing countries, additional to grants provided within the framework of the co-financing system (MFS). Grants can be awarded for activities that fall within one or more of the MFS themes, including research. Grants may only be awarded subject to articles 6 and 7, paragraph 2 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Grants Decree, i.e. on the basis of a specific call for proposals. Under article 4.9 of the Grant Regulations, the Standard Framework need not apply to the award of grants on behalf of the Minister by a Dutch mission abroad (an exception that already exists for the MFS) and for grants under 125,000. These grants need not therefore be subject to a specific call for proposals. Within the Standard Framework, various calls for proposals may be issued, for reasons of policy, by theme, country or region. In response, Dutch and international civil society organisations will be able to submit grant applications, competing on the basis of quality. The general administrative rules of the Standard Framework will always apply when issuing such calls for proposals and when assessing applications. The Minister decides on the priorities for issuing calls for proposals. The first grants will be awarded on the basis of the Standard Framework procedure as of Criteria have been set within the Framework which applicants must meet in order to be eligible for a grant. These criteria will always be used in assessing grant applications submitted in response to individual calls for proposals by theme, country or region within the standard grants policy framework. Apart from these criteria, specific criteria may also be set for each call for proposals. Objective The overarching policy objective of the standard grants policy framework is to contribute to structural poverty reduction in developing countries. Key principles The Standard Framework is in line with the policy principles underpinning the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cooperation with civil society organisations worldwide, as outlined in the 1 Within the context of these administrative rules, civil society organisations are understood to mean private, non-profit organisations engaged in results-driven activities with a view to permanently reducing poverty in developing countries. 2 The countries listed in the most recent OECD/DAC List of Recipients of Development Assistance (see 3 Maatschappelijke Organisaties: Samenwerken, Maatwerk, Meerwarde, Policy memorandum on civil society organisations, p April 2009, Parliamentary Papers II 2008/2009, , no 1. 2

3 policy memorandum, Maatschappelijke Organisaties: Samenwerken, Maatwerk en Meerwaarde 4 of 14 April In modernising cooperation with civil society organisations, the main aim is to achieve a sharper focus on structural change to civil society for development, seeking customised solutions, joining forces with other partners, raising the effectiveness of development cooperation and combating fragmentation. The aim is also to respond more effectively to local problems, focus more sharply on the partner countries and ensure more transparent accountability to all parties concerned. Civil society organisations can provide considerable strategic added value, and are interesting partners. Where the aim of activities is to influence international policy or promote internationally sensitive themes, civil society organisations that operate globally most certainly have a role to play. Here, cooperation, customisation and added value are the key principles, i.e.: preventing fragmentation by encouraging cooperation between civil society organisations; creating added value by encouraging innovative initiatives with actors outside civil society and the development cooperation sector; and customising the role and methods of the organisation to the context in which it is working. For whom are grants intended? Grants awarded under the Standard Framework are intended for programmes of independent Dutch and/or international non-profit civil society organisations 5 with legal personality, that contribute through results-driven activities to structural poverty reduction in developing countries. Not eligible The following are not eligible for grants under the Standard Framework: international organisations governed by public international law; local and central government organisations; local civil society organisations that do not operate across borders; activities which already receive a contribution directly from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs budget; activities of a local civil society organisation which already receive a contribution from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs budget; organisations already receiving core funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs budget extending into the grant period to which the call for proposals refers. Criteria A number of set criteria apply to all grants awarded within the Standard Framework. They include a number of criteria containing an element which requires further specification in administrative rules for each call for proposals. Additional criteria may also be formulated for individual calls for proposals. Set criteria 4 Parliamentary Papers II 2008/2009, , no. 1 5 Dutch civil society organisations are established in the Netherlands under Dutch law, and have their registered office in the Netherlands. International organisations are established elsewhere, in accordance with the law applicable in the country of establishment, and have their registered office in a country other than the Netherlands. International organisations work across borders, i.e. in more than one country. See Criteria, under Set criteria. 3

4 Programmes are eligible for funding if they are run by independent Dutch and/or international non-profit civil society organisations which have legal personality, operate across borders (i.e. in more than one country), contribute through resultsdriven activities at local, regional, national or international level to structural poverty reduction in developing countries by cooperating with non-profit civil society organisations in these countries, and which aim to build local capacity with a view to enabling the local civil society organisations to operate independently (each call for proposals should specify whether it applies to Dutch and/or international civil society organisations). Applications must be for programme grants. Grants will not awarded in the form of core funding. The objective of the activities for which a grant is being applied for must relate to structural poverty reduction in developing countries. The amount being applied for may be no more than 75% of the annual income of the applicant organisation 6 or cover no more than 50% of the costs of the programme for which a grant has been requested (in the latter case, funding of the other 50% must be guaranteed by the applicant and/or other donors or parties). (The percentage to derive from own income or own contribution must be specified for each call for A percentage of the spending within the programme for which funding is being requested must be done in partner countries. 7 This percentage is, in principle, 60%. This obligation may be waived if it is considered to be inappropriate for a specific call for proposals (to be specified for each call for The programme for which a grant is requested must not involve initiatives aimed wholly or partly at proselytisation. The programme for which a grant is requested must not relate to funding of commercial services, investment or commercial activities. From the start of the grant period, the gross salary of employees of the applicant organisation (including members of its management and board) may be no greater than the salary of a director-general employed by Dutch central government. This amount is equal to a gross full-time salary in scale 19 as specified in the Civil Servants Pay Decree (BBRA). 8 This norm applies solely to calls for proposals applying only to Dutch organisations. The size of the grant (minimum/maximum is to be specified for each call for The duration of the programme (minimum/maximum to be specified for each call for Criteria for assessing the substance and quality of proposals Proposals will be assessed according to criteria set in advance. These criteria will in any event cover the areas listed below. A criterion may be waived if it is considered to be inappropriate for a specific call for proposals. 1. Quality and efficiency of the applicant organisation Financial and administrative management Track record 6 The rest of the organisation s income must derive from sources other than grants awarded by the Minister or contributions from organisations provided out of a grant received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs budget. 7 See 8 The BBRA can be found on the website of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. november-2008.html 4

5 Planning, monitoring and evaluation systems 2. Quality of the programme Relevance to development: contribution to structural poverty reduction in developing countries Degree to which the proposed activities target a specific theme or themes, or a specific country or region (to be specified depending on the subject of the call for proposals) Countries in which activities will be implemented Degree to which the proposals have been formulated in terms of operational objectives, results envisaged, planned activities and resources and a clear link has been made between the goals to be achieved and the resources needed The envisaged results have been expressed in SMART terms (Specific, Measurable, Acceptable, Realistic and Time-bound) Sustainability of the activities: whether they will produce a lasting effect Application and assessment procedures Under the standard grant policy framework, specific administrative rules will be laid down and published for the application and assessment procedures applicable to each call for proposals. The applications will be assessed with due regard for the relevant regulations and in accordance with the norms set down in these administrative rules and in the administrative rules laid down for the specific call for proposals. In the event of any divergence of interpretation between the Dutch and English texts, the Dutch texts shall prevail. Divergence of interpretation due to the use of the English translation are at the applicants risk'. 5