Call for Project Proposals for ASA-Kommunal 2015 (ASA-Kommunal: an instrument to support development cooperation between municipalities in Germany and municipalities in countries of the Global South.) Dear Sir or Madam, We cordially invite you to submit project proposals for ASA-Kommunal 2015 by 15 July 2014. The objectives of ASA-Kommunal Since 2013 the ASA Programme has been implementing its new component ASA- Kommunal in cooperation with the Service Agency Communities in One World. This component leverages synergies between ASA (a learning and training programme for development) and the Service Agency Communities in One World (a competence centre for municipal development cooperation). To achieve this, ASA-Kommunal does various things. First of all it offers municipalities an instrument (which combines human resources with other specific inputs) to support the work they perform in partnership with municipalities in other countries. Secondly, it provides ASA participants with wider access to projects and opportunities to get involved in local development cooperation. Thirdly, it enables participating municipalities to deepen their relationships with their partners, receive support for their development project work and recruit young multipliers for municipal engagement. The ASA-Kommunal projects will run for three or six months. They will enable ASA participants to improve their understanding of global relationships and local development issues, and develop organisational and decision-making skills in the international context. At the same time they will allow the ASA participants to support the partner municipalities in their respective projects by making skilled contributions to achieving the objectives of the partnerships. Once the ASA participants have completed their project internships they will continue their commitment to sustainable global development in Germany, and will conduct a global learning activity in the German municipality. The programmes involved in ASA-Kommunal Like the Service Agency, the ASA Programme (a learning and training programme for development) has been part of Engagement Global since January 2012. It enables students and young professionals who wish to act as multipliers for global sustainable development to develop their capacities for dealing with global issues. The core of the programme is the ASA learning cycle. This is provided for some 250 scholarship holders every year, and combines training seminars with a phase of practical experience abroad. To find out more about ASA, please visit: http://www.asaprogramm.de/en/about/overview/sub-programs.html. The Service Agency is Germany s competence centre for local development cooperation. It focuses on the following future-oriented themes: municipal partnerships, migration and development at the local level, fair trade and fair public procurement. The Service Agency supports municipal actors in their development-related activities by offering training, networking, information and advisory services. It also provides targeted financial and human resources support for international municipal relations. ASA-Kommunal is one of the new instruments for delivering human resources and other inputs to support partnership work. To
find out more about the Service Agency please visit: http://www.service-einewelt.de/en/home/index.html. How does ASA-Kommunal work? ASA-Kommunal projects can be proposed in either of two forms: Basic Programme In the basic programme, two participants from Germany spend three months working in the partner municipality in a country in Africa, Asia, Latin America or Southeast Europe. The participants take part in ASA preparation and evaluation seminars lasting several days, during which they improve their understanding of global issues and familiarise themselves with methods of development education work. Before they travel to the partner municipality, they familiarise themselves with the way of working in the German municipality. After they return they conduct a global learning activity in the German municipality. South-North Programme The South-North programme is an expanded version of the basic programme. Two participants from Germany (participants from the North) and two participants from the partner municipality (participants from the South) work together as a team. They first spend three months together in Germany, then three months in the partner municipality. This is designed to facilitate two-way exchange within the partnership, and foster South-North peer-to-peer dialogue on solutions and development needs in both the South and in the North. The participants from the South and the North take part together in ASA seminars in April and June. At these events the South-North teams are supported in their joint learning process. After they return the participants from Germany conduct a global learning activity in the German municipality. For the project phase in Germany, the German municipality or organisation involved in implementation will incur costs: the municipality/organisation will provide 2,000 per participant from the South, i.e. 4,000 for each South-North project. 1. Who proposes ASA-Kommunal projects and who implements them? Two municipalities (one each from the North and the South) that maintain a partnership with each other are eligible to submit a proposal. The ASA-Kommunal measures will take place within the framework of a project jointly run by the two partner municipalities. The project need not be implemented by the municipal administration alone; it may also be implemented by local NGOs, institutions and organisations on behalf of the municipalities. Nevertheless, monitoring and acceptance of the project results will remain the responsibility of the municipality submitting the proposal. 2. Which countries can be considered for ASA-Kommunal project proposals? Basically any DAC country can be proposed for an ASA-Kommunal project. However, there are a few exceptions: No country for which the Federal Foreign Office has issued a travel advisory can be considered for an ASA project. This is to protect the young participants from exposure to unnecessary risks. The list of countries to which this applies is continuously
updated, and can be consulted on the website of the Federal Foreign Office. In a few cases travel advisories relate only to specific parts of countries. The ASA Programme is also bound by the safety restrictions that apply to weltwärts assignments. Consequently, we cannot at present accept any project proposals for countries or parts of countries for which weltwärts assignments are not possible. To access the list of countries to which this applies, please click here: http://weltwaerts.de/wohin-geht-es-mitweltwaerts.html 3. Which development issues should the projects address? Thematic areas can be selected from the broad range of local government tasks associated with services of general interest or good local governance. The programme is also open to innovative approaches, particularly where links are established to the topics of fair trade or migration and development. When submitting proposals for the South-North Programme, a joint project topic should be selected for the three-month project phase in Germany (April June 2015) and the threemonth project phase in the partner municipality (to begin between July and December 2015) that is relevant to both municipalities. 4. What tasks can the ASA participants perform in the projects? ASA participants are highly motivated and capable of performing complex tasks for a project that are limited to three months. These might include e.g. research and analysis assignments, preparatory conceptual work/planning or organising a measure, or supporting ongoing activities etc. However, please note that the participants are still in a phase of learning and do not possess professional expertise or years of international experience. Participants in the Basic Programme will implement the projects in teams of two. In the South-North Programme the participants from Germany and the participants from the partner municipalities will work together as a team of four in both project phases. In the South-North Programme the tasks should be designed such that in both phases the participants from the North and the South are able to work together as a team and learn from each other. In other words, a one-sided exchange of experience from North to South should be avoided. Since the participants from the South will usually be unable to speak German, in the South- North Programme the tasks for the project phase in Germany should be designed accordingly. In both the Basic Programme and the South-North Programme the participants will require local mentors who are available to provide supervision and organisational support (technical and organisational briefing, visa procurement, finding accommodation, local orientation etc.). 5. What does the global learning activity involve? Through the global learning activity the participants transfer the experience they have gained in the project placement and the ASA seminars. The aim is to make people in Germany more aware of global and development-issues, enable them to understand and experience for themselves how they are part of a web of global dependencies, and show them how they can act responsibly. The participants are free to choose the form and context of the activity (e.g. street theatre in a pedestrianised zone to raise awareness of fair trade, public campaigns on twinning arrangements/climate partnerships, project day in schools, presentation, exhibition...). It is important that the German municipality develops ideas for the global learning activity together with the participants, and supports them in carrying out the activity in the municipality.
After their stay in the project, ASA will offer the participants an opportunity to take part in the municipal workshop training measures. This will familiarise the participants with methods for performing their global learning activity in the German municipality, and continuing their engagement in local development cooperation. 6. Who are the ASA participants from Germany? How will they be recruited, selected and, prepared? The ASA Programme is designed for students of any subject, and young professionals who have completed their professional training, who are aged between 21 and 30 and are resident in Germany. ASA will recruit for the projects committed applicants from a very wide range of professional and subject backgrounds who are highly motivated to get involved in their municipality. Ideally the participants should be from the German municipality submitting the proposal, or have strong links to it. If this is not the case, it should be ensured that the participants are able to spend time in the municipality beforehand and familiarise themselves with the work assignments there. The municipalities themselves may propose candidates. The applicants will be put through the ASA application and selection procedures, and will be jointly selected by ASA and the Service Agency. As well as aptitude (specialised knowledge and language skills relevant to the project), a key criterion for selection will be a strong motivation to serve as a multiplier in development education later on. Training seminars conducted prior to the outward journey will ensure that participants have realistic expectations of their work in the project. The seminars will also impart key methods and skills for the project internship and subsequent activity as a multiplier. 7. In the South-North Programme, how will the participants from the partner municipality in the Global South be recruited, selected and, prepared? The participants from the South will be recruited and selected by the partner municipality; the selection made will be discussed and agreed on with ASA and the Service and Agency. The participants should also be students or young professionals, live in the partner municipality and be aged between 21 and 35. As well as aptitude (specialised knowledge plus language proficiency relevant to the project, and a willingness to acquire a basic grasp of German), a key criterion for selection should be a high level of motivation and an availability to take part in both the project phase in Germany and the project phase in the home country. The participants from the South must apply for a 90-day visa for Germany in good time (longer stays are possible). The participants from the South will take part in the ASA training seminars in April and June together with the participants from the North; this will support their joint learning process and teamwork. 8. What financial support will the participants receive from the ASA Programme? What additional costs will be incurred by the municipalities, the organisations implementing the projects and the ASA participants? The participants from Germany will be provided with health, accident and liability insurance cover for their three-month stay in the project country, plus a grant totalling on average 2,000 for travel and accommodation costs. Since this scholarship will cover only a part of the travel and accommodation costs, the participants will meet the remaining travel and accommodation costs themselves. In the South-North Programme the participants from Germany will also receive a grant totalling 450 for the three-month project phase in Germany.
For the participants from the partner municipality in the South-North Programme, the German municipality (or the organisation involved in implementation) will receive a grant of 1,730 per participant from the South (total amount for 3 months). This grant will, however, cover only a part of the costs incurred for the participants from the South during the project phase in Germany (outward and return journeys made by the participants from the South coming to Germany, accommodation, living costs, travel costs in Germany); any costs incurred over and above this amount must be met by the municipality or implementing organisation (imputed costs incurred per participant from the South are approximately 2,000, of which 300 per month is accounted for purely by living costs), and these should be listed in the project proposal. In addition, the ASA Programme will take out health, accident and liability insurance for the participants from the South and assume the costs of 270 per participant from the South (total amount for 3 months). The ASA Programme will also pay for the journeys made by the participants from the South to the ASA seminars in April and June 2015, in accordance with the ASA guidelines for travel expenses (railcard price). For further information please refer to the attached document entitled Important notes on financing a project under the South-North Programme. In both the Basic Programme and the South-North Programme, no additional costs should be incurred by the participants for project implementation itself. Consequently, any costs possibly incurred through implementation of the project, such as material costs, or local travel costs for the participants in cases where extensive travel is necessary, should be met by the municipalities or organisations involved in implementation. How to propose a project: Can ASA provide your partnership project with meaningful support? Then please complete the attached project proposal form by 15 September 2014 and return it to the contact persons at the Service Agency and ASA, whose contact details you will find below. Once you have submitted your project proposal you will receive feedback from us, and you will be invited to revise your proposal by 15 September 2014. We would also be glad to advise you on this. The final project proposal plus the Declaration of Cooperation must be signed by the legitimate representatives of both partner municipalities, or their deputies, and submitted to the ASA Programme by 15 October 2014.. Projects will be selected by the ASA Programme and the Service Agency in October. For further details on the time frame of the Basic Programme and the South-North Programme, please refer to the attached schedule. Please submit your proposal and direct any queries you may have to: Service Agency: Anne Klanke, Tel.: +49 (0)228-720717-412, E-mail: anne.klanke@engagement-global.de ASA Programme: Cornelia Hufeisen, Tel.: +49 (0)30-25482-351, E-mail: cornelia.hufeisen@engagement-global.de
ASA-Kommunal 2015: Time Schedule Dates Basic Programme Additional elements in the South- North Programme 15 July 2014 Deadline for submission of project proposal 15 September 2014 Deadline for submission of revised project proposal and declaration of cooperation End of October 2014 Projects will be selected by the ASA Programme and the November 2014 Service Agency (SKEW). The partner municipalities will be informed as to whether their project has been selected, and briefed on the rest of the procedure. 20 November 2014 The ASA-Kommunal projects will be published on the ASA website and the online application procedure will be launched. The ASA Programme and the German partner municipalities will help advertise the projects in order to recruit suitable applicants. 10 January 2015 Deadline for submission of applications by candidates from Germany. February 2015 March 2015 April to June 2015 Between July and December 2015 Between October 2015 and June 2016 January to March 2016 The ASA Programme and the Service Agency will select the ASA-Kommunal participants from Germany in accordance with the selection procedure. Before the final decision is taken, the project partners in Germany will be able to discuss questions with preselected candidates by telephone. The participants from Germany will be informed that their application has been successful, and provided with information concerning their participation. The ASA Programme will notify the municipalities involved which participants have been selected. The ASA-Kommunal participants together with other ASA participants will take part in the two compulsory ASA seminars prior to the project internship in the Global South. They will also get in touch with their contact persons in the municipalities, and may complete a guest traineeship in the German municipality. Beginning of the three-month project phase in the partner municipality The ASA-Kommunal participants from Germany will conduct their global learning activities in the German municipalities. To help them plan and implement their activities, they will be able to take part in training measures conducted by the municipal workshop in autumn 2015, ASA seminar for ASA-Kommunal participants from Germany: review of the stay in the host country, preparation and networking for future engagement The partner municipality from the Global South will recruit suitable candidates for the project from within that municipality (participants from the South), and select the participants by early January. The partner municipality from the Global South will select the participants from the South in agreement with ASA. The ASA Programme will send the participants a confirmation and information concerning their participation, and notify the corresponding embassies. Conclusion of the financing agreement with the ASA programme for the project phase in Germany. The three-month project phase in Germany (North phase) will take place. The participants from the South will work alongside the participants from Germany in the German municipality, and take part in the ASA seminars together with them. In this setting the participants will receive pedagogical support for their learning process during the North phase. The participants from the South and the North will work together in the partner municipality (South phase). July/August: proof to be furnished that the ASA grant for the participants from the South has been used for the designated purpose
Important Notes on Financing a South-North Project under ASA-Kommunal 2015 (ASA-Kommunal: an instrument to support development cooperation between municipalities in Germany and municipalities in countries of the Global South) 1. The German municipality (or organisation involved in implementation) will receive a grant of 1,730 per participant from the South (total amount for 3 months) under ASA- Kommunal. The ASA Programme will also take out health, accident and liability insurance for the participants from the South and assume the costs of 270 per participant from the South (total amount for 3 months). Furthermore, the ASA Programme will pay for the journeys made by the participants from the South to the ASA seminars in April and June 2015, in accordance with the ASA guidelines for travel expenses (German Bahncard price). 2. All costs incurred by the participants from the South during their stay in Germany must be met by the municipalities running the project (or the organisations involved in implementing it). The aforementioned grant of 1,730 per participant from the South will cover only a part of the costs. (Costs will be incurred inter alia for outward and return journeys made by the participants from the South coming to Germany, accommodation, living costs and travel costs in Germany. Other costs may for instance be incurred for project materials, a language course or public relations work.) The municipalities running the project (or organisations involved in implementing it) should therefore be ready to provide approximately 2,000 for EACH participant from the South from their own funds or by means of sponsoring, i.e. usually 4,000 per South-North project. 3. In February 2015 the ASA Programme will enter into a financing agreement with the German municipality (or organisation involved in implementation), defining which items the ASA grant will be used for. Once the project phase in Germany has been completed, accounts and original vouchers must be submitted in order to prove that the money has been used for the designated purpose. Any amendments to the financing agreement must be made in writing. 4. The participants from the South must be paid at least 350 per month for living costs; accommodation and transport costs (e.g. monthly season ticket for the project location and trips made within the project, if relevant railcard etc.) for the participants from the South must also be financed in addition to this. The living costs must be disbursed to the participants from the South on a fixed day of the month, either in cash or into an account held in their name. Depending on their date of entry into the country, this should be the 1st or the 15th of each month. 5. Proof of disbursement of the living costs to the participants from the South must be provided in all cases, regardless of whether this item is being funded from the ASA budget or another source of financing. This also applies to the costs incurred by the participants from the South for accommodation and travel to Germany. 6. For the three-month project phase in their own country the participants from the South will receive a grant totalling 450.