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News
Published on
2021 Nov 16Call for projects to strengthen CHM websites 2021
Introduction
Political context and goals
Adopted during COP12 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Decision XII/2 para. 15-17 encourages parties to continue to develop their national Information Exchange Centers (CHMs) and to assist developing country Parties. This request was reiterated in Decision XIV/25 paragraph 3. These decisions will enable the achievement of the Aichi Target 19 (By 2020, the knowledge, scientific base and technologies associated with biological diversity, its values, functioning, status and trends, and the consequences of its depletion, are improved, widely shared and transferred, and applied). In addition, the development of CHMs also contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Objectives (SDGs)...
In order to implement its work programme for the years 2019-2023 and Decision XIV/25, the Belgian CHM partnership within the CeBIOS program, financed by the Belgian Cooperation (DGD,) within the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (IRSNB) decided to launch a call to support partner countries in significantly improving their national CHM network.
The objectives of this initiative are to lead to CHM websites:
- officially recognized by national authorities;
- operational, both in their format and in their content;
- up to date with appropriate data and information;
- containing comprehensive information and relevant national documents;
- allowing links to appropriate national and international sites.
Technical context and needs of CHMs in the south
The digital world has evolved considerably since the beginnings of the Belgian CHM partnership. Online tools are different, as is the social use of the internet. Across the world, focal points need to adapt to these changes in order to make the most of the benefits of emerging technologies for their CHM work.
Since 1999, the Belgian CHM has supported its partners in developing their CHM. From 2006 to 2018, CHM courses focused on the European Commission's 'CHM Portal Toolkit' (PTK).
Starting in 2019, CHM courses will focus on the new content management tool called 'Bioland'. This tool is developed by the CBD Secretariat. It is easy to use and freely available. It allows the integration of data from the CBD and its protocols as well as from other data providers relevant to national CHMs. Several users can simultaneously contribute to the content of the site via a web interface (the only constraint being to have a user profile and a password).
During several workshops (2007 in Brussels, 2012 in Cotonou and 2013 in Marrakech), the CHM partners identified several constraints in carrying out their tasks at the national level. These workshops allowed CHM partners to share best practices in order to overcome problems. The main constraints are: the lack of time to manage the sites, an irregular and problematic Internet connection, the lack of computer skills of some of the actors supposed to contribute to the website, a lack of interaction between the focal point and the other actors; finally, a lack of support by governments due to lack of budget.
Eligible activities
This call for proposals is not intended to address all the constraints identified by the CHM focal points. Its main objective is the development of a section “Monitoring the implementation of the national biodiversity strategy and the action plan” and/or improving the content of the website.
The following activities are possible:
- data collection and acquisition;
- assistance in digitizing important documents or data;
- creation of thematic sections, such as a section for children, a section on ABS and the Nagoya Protocol, a section on water or pollution, a section on eco-tourism, etc.;
- translation of the site into local language (s);
- development of a communication plan and a strategy for the CHM;
- organization of CHM management committee meetings (Only if there is a national strategy for the CHM or if there is a mention of the CHM and the CHM committee in the National Biodiversity Strategy; may be funded for a maximum of 2 years);
- inform and raise awareness among policy makers and other biodiversity actors (on the CHM and the CHM site);
- organization of a follow-up workshop on site management by a national CHM website manager (only in countries where national training has been given by Belgian tutors since 2015).
What won't be funded:
- training by Belgian tutors (such as continuing education at national level or the training of new employees);
- workshops, if their objectives are not directly related to the improvement of the CHM website;
- publication and printing of written materials other than pamphlets and brochures promoting the CHM.
Deliverables
The deliverables expected at the end of the projects are:
- A project carried out according to the terms of the contract
- A comprehensive narrative report including, among others, the list of required indicators (free format)
- A financial report using the template provided by CEBIOS (Excel)
- An updated CHM website, more functional and officially recognized by the country's authorities (if this was not the case before the project).
Eligible countries and partners
Eligible are:
the National Focal Points of the Information Exchange Centers (CHM) of Belgium's partner countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Burundi, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mali, Morocco, Liberia, Mali, Mali, Morocco, Morocco, Niger, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Niger, France, Mali, Morocco, Niger, France, Mali, Morocco, Niger, France, Mali, Morocco, Niger, France, Mali, Morocco, Niger, France,
Important: partners who did not submit reports and/or supporting documents on time for their projects from the 2020 call or earlier are not eligible for this 2021 call.
Type of support
For this call, it is possible to submit projects of a maximum of 4.5 months (end of projects on 1 June 2022).
The IRSNB will finance the selected projects at the rate of 80% of their estimated costs. The remaining 20% must be provided by the partner.
The maximum amount allocated by the Belgian NFP is 8,000 euros for an 8-month project.
Projects
80% of the requested budget will be paid at the start of the project and the remaining 20% at the end of the project. The 2nd installment will only be paid after receiving the scanned reports and supporting documents. Narrative and financial reports must be sent no later than January 1, 2021. Any overrun of the initial budget will not be accepted, so no reimbursement in excess of the budget granted initially will be possible.
Estimated number of supported projects
5 to 8 projects can be financed. This number will depend on the size and quality of all the projects submitted.
Project promoter and partners
The official promoter of the project is the National Focal Point of the Information Exchange Center, in agreement and consultation with the supervisory authority. An approval letter from the supervisory authority must be attached to the file.
South-South cooperation is eligible under this call, as long as it is clear which activities will be implemented in which country.
Collaboration or subcontracting with another local partner is possible. In this case, this collaboration or subcontracting must be clearly indicated in the tender file.
Preparing an application and submitting instructions
Alternatively, and only if the email does not work properly, a letter can be sent to the postal address indicated at the end of the document.
Projects must be submitted using the available template.
To prepare the budget, it is mandatory to use the budget template and to read the vademecum carefully. You need to submit the budget in the proposal (text format) and also send it in a separate Excel file.
Reporting
An activity report (= narrative) and a financial report must be sent to IRSNB at the end of the 4.5-month projects.
At the end of the project, good quality scans of all supporting documents for expenses must be sent to IRSNB by email, in accordance with the official instructions of the Belgian Development Cooperation and in accordance with the criteria set out in the CeBios Vademecum. Any expenses not justified by an eligible part will be at the partner's expense. The original supporting documents must be kept by the partner for a period of 10 years in the event of an audit by CEBios or the DGD.
The costs of sending reports (narrative and financial), material produced as part of the project and possibly original supporting documents in the event of an audit by carrier must be included in the project budget in advance.
The project reporting deadline is June 1, 2022.
Financial reports should be submitted using the standard Excel file provided by CEBIOS.
Indicative dates for the consideration of proposals and the implementation of projects
Projects
| November 15 2021 |
Distribution of the call for proposals via the website of the Belgian Information Exchange Center |
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December 11 2021 |
Deadline for submitting projects |
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December 23 2021 |
The beneficiaries of the selected projects are contacted |
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January 12 - May 15, 2022 |
Timing of 4.5-month projects |
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June 1, 2022 |
Activity reports and financial reports are submitted |
Contacts
The following persons will be responsible for the evaluation and monitoring of projects, with the support of experts (DGD and others):
- Han DE KOEIJER, CHM Focal Point for Belgium
- Anne-Julie ROCHETTE, GTI and MRV manager at CeBios
- Sandra MEEHAN, assistant at the CBD Secretariat.
In order for each of these persons to be informed at all times of the evolution of a file, it is requested to use only the generic email address cbd-chm@naturalsciences.be. If you did not receive an email confirming receipt of your project within three days after sending, you can contact Han de Koeijer directly.