Canada-East Europe travel grants--CIDA

PARTNERSHIPS FOR TOMORROW PROGRAM

The Partnerships for Tomorrow Program (PTP), funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and administered by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC), is a travel fund mechanism designed to contribute to the democratic and economic reform process in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

The PTP supports small projects that aim to strengthen partnerships and linkages as well as professional and institutional capacity within the context of reform.

The PTP will cover the cost of international airfare for Canadian and CEE country travellers. For NGOs/NGIs (Non-governmental Organizations/Non-governmental Institutions) and youth (age 19-30), larger funds will be considered to cover accommodation, per diem, communication costs, local transportation and the production of marketing materials.

Funds will be awarded based on a set of criteria that will enable recipients to participate actively in the following types of activities:

- Workshops and conferences;

- Sector specific training;

- Professional exchanges;

- Study tours;

- Institutional linkages; and,

- Short-term consultancies

 *ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA*

 All applications will be screened to ensure that they meet the following eligibility criteria:

 a. Proposals must be received by ACCC at least one month prior to the start date of the proposed activities;

 b. Travellers must be Canadian citizens or citizens of one of the 28 CEE countries;

 c. Travellers may be individuals representing legally recognized private sector firms, NGOs/NGIs from CEE contries or from Canada, in addition to CEE public sector and government institutions;

 d. A letter of invitation from the host organization in one of the CEE countries (for Canadian applicants) or in Canada (for citizens of the CEE countries) must be submitted with the proposal. Please see the attached sample Letter of Invitation;

 e. CEE travellers must have the support of a Canadian Contractor. A Letter of Support for CEE travellers must be submitted with the proposal. Please see the attached sample Letter of Support for CEE applicants;

 f. The larger funds of up to $10,000 will be limited to travellers from NGOs/NGIs, and youth (19 to 30 years old);

 g. Travellers currently receiving funding from another CIDA Central Eastern Europe Branch source are ineligible for funding from the PTP;

 h. Employees of Canadian government departments and Canadian Members of Parliament are not eligible for funding as Travellers;

 i. Long-term activities (longer than 12 weeks) are not eligible for funding from the PTP;

 j. Add-on activities to already completed CIDA-funded projects are not eligible for funding; and

 k. Exploratory, fact-finding and needs assessment missions are not eligible for funding.

 l. Cultural activities are not eligible for funding.

 *Within the context of the PTP, the following CEE countries are eligible for funding: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

 *PROPOSAL GUIDELINES*

 1. The proposal must include a completed application form (including Letter of Support) and a detailed budget before it can be considered.

 2. Travellers will be required to complete the proposed activities within 12 weeks of approval. A financial and narrative report, including all original receipts relaed to the activity, must be submitted at the conclusion of funded activities.

 3. The Canadian Contractor of approved activities will be issued 50% of the approved travel fund upon the receipt of the signature page of Letter of Agreement, with the remaining 50% issued upon completion of the proposed activities and the submission of the financial and narrative report.

 EVALUATION CRITERIA

 PTP activities must focus on the transfer of knowledge, skills and awareness between project participants.

Proposals will be assessed on demonstrated and clear links between the project activities and the reform process in the CEE countries.

 The travellers should aim to meet the overall objectives of the PTP program.

These objectives are:

 (1) to support new and ongoing partnerships between Canadian and CEE country partners while strengthening professional and institutional capacity in the CEE countries to further the reform process within each country; and,

 (2) to strengthen the expertise, capacity and awareness of Canadians through participation in reform process of CEE countries.

 (3) Gender equity is encouraged. It is expected that over the life of the PTP, 50% of the successful travellers will be women. Proposals placing a particular emphasis on activities linked to integrating gender issues in reform activities are encouraged (i.e. women's access to capital, technology, education, information etc.).

 (4) Other considerations:

A maximum of one travel allocation per traveller per fiscal year (April 1- March 31).

In a fiscal year, the total amount allotted to any organization or any individual associated with that organization, should be no more than $10,000.

Travel must be based on the least expensive fare, i.e. APEX, excursion or charter. Business class or full-fare economy travel are ineligible for funding under the PTP.

Contacts should be made to "Branka Gudelj" at BGUDELJ@accc.ca ACCC in Canada's website is: http://ptp.accc.ca/