Final

Norwegian Trust Fund for Private Sector and Infrastructure

FY11-12Call for Proposals (Round 8)

Private Sector Engagement in Clean Energy

SCOPE OF ALLOCATION

The Norwegian Trust Fund for Private Sector and Infrastructure (NTF-PSI) is allocating an indicative amount of $ 5.8 million for fiscal year 2012(FY12)[1]to activities supporting analytical work, operational pilots and/or capacity building to promote clean energy technologies and increase private sector engagement in this sector[2].

Objectives

The combination of concern over global warming and the need for energy as a necessary ingredient for economic growth requires a new policy focus toward the energy sector in many countries. Cleaner energy will play a key role in the energy transition required for a low carbon future.Enhancing access to sustainable energy requires concerted efforts over the long term by a wide range of actors in industry, finance, government, and international organizations, but is still being addressed with short-term financing and policy frameworks that are not aligned with the scale of the challenge.

The specific objective of this call is therefore to explore ways and means to mobilize joint action by investors and governments for enhanced access to reliable, affordable modern clean energy technologies and services in developing countries.

The Call for Proposals will prioritize activities supporting analytical work, operational pilots and/or capacity building to promote clean energy technologies and increase private sector engagement, in particular where the private sector contributes to developing the analytical underpinning to scale up actions and finance. Proposals should preferably target the following areas:

  • Activities to enhance access to reliable, affordable modern clean energy technologies and services in developing countries,through a possible phased sectoral approach to low emission development, based on increased use of renewable energy and enhanced energy efficiency.
  • Activities aimed at developing a potential results-based system for support to clean energy and energy efficiency, including approaches to how official development assistance can be used to leverage private sector financing.
  • Activities to support development of economic and financial incentives to attract the private sector to invest into clean energy solutions, through the design of the cooperation between the public and private sector as well the required changes in the broader policy and regulatory environment.

PROCESS

There will be two parallel selection processes; one for World Bank staff and one for IFC and relevant FPD staff as follows:

World Bank Process: / IFC Process:
1 / A Technical Panel will review and rank the proposals in accordance with the selection criteria listed below. / IFC staff and FPD staff working on IFC-WB projects will follow the PDS approval process.
2 / A joint Bank/IFC Committee will review all proposals in accordance with the overall NTF-PSI specific priorities and requirements listed below and in annex I.
3 / The joint Committee’s suggested allocations will be sent to the Vice President for SDN, FPD and IFC for approval on a non-objection basis.
4 / The recommended allocations will be sent for Norway’s revision and final approval.
SELECTION CRITERIA

Therelevant Technical Panel or IFC Business Line committees will assess and rate the proposals according to their relevance to the objectives and priorities described above and the following criteria:

  • Demonstration of NTF-PSI value added; rationale for grant funding versus Bank support.
  • Innovation. The proposal pioneers innovative aspects of clean energy.
  • Strategic fit. Consistency with World Bank Group strategic directions on clean energy and private sector development. Consistency with country strategies and local priorities.
  • Sustainability and replicability. Potential to become part of WBG strategies, dialogue, and lending. Where relevant, consider partnering up with national and regionalinstitutions and environments.
  • Attention to dissemination and knowledge management.In-country dissemination where relevant is encouraged, as well as short (2-4 page) knowledge briefs/dissemination notes for wider distribution. Task teams may also be requested to present progress and findings of their activities to the donor and other relevant audiences (including via video-conference).
  • Overall quality of the proposal. The proposal is technically sound and realistic. Outputs, outcomes and impacts are clearly defined, with adequate indicators/targets for development impact.
  • Realistic budget.Costs are commensurate with work-plan.
  • Demonstration of efforts to promote cross-sectoral collaboration.
  • Collaboration between IFC and the Bank. All teams are strongly encouraged to seek collaboration and/or peer reviewing from colleagues in the sister institution.
  • Potential for collaboration with Norwegian expertise where appropriate.

SPECIFIC GUIDELINES AND ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

In order to be considered, the proposals must meet the following criteria:

  1. Proposals from World Bank staff must be submitted to the NTF-PSI Secretariat() by January 26, 2011 at 5.00 pm (Washington, DC time) using the template in annex II.
    Proposals from IFC and relevant FPD staff must have an approved PDS-ER and a complete NTF-PSI proposal (see annex II) by February 24, 2011.
  2. Receive endorsement by the relevant Sector Manager and Country Director (s). Email endorsementsmust be submitted with the proposal by the above mentioned deadlines.For IFC staff, review and approval by Country Representative, Regional Director, and Business Line Leader as stipulated for the PDS-ER.
  3. Be managed by a TFLAP accredited Task Team Leader (applies also to IFC Team Leaders)[3]
  4. Follow the general guidelines of the NTF-PSI as per annex I.
  5. Fit with the prioritized area (clean energy technologies and private sector engagement in the sector).
  6. Finance activities in eligible country(ies); The NTF-PSI is limited to financing activities in countries included in the bottom three categories in the OECD/DAC ODA list.[4]
  7. Show demonstrated Bank Group commitment: TTLs must indicate adequate BB commitment to execute activities (i.e. cover staff expenses).
  8. Have all expenditures within the eligible expenditure categories of the NTF-PSI: Project preparation work will not be funded, nor components which could be funded as part of ongoing operations. Funds cannot be used for staff salaries, staff travel or grants. ETC expenditures must be approved on case by case basis if not explicitly mentioned in the proposal. See page 11 of the Administrative Agreement for a complete list of allowable expense categories[5].
  9. Activities must be completed no later than June 30, 2013.

ESTIMATED TIMETABLE

Jan 26, 2011Deadline for submission of proposals for World Bank staff

Feb 24, 2011Deadline for approval of PDS-ER and a complete NTF-PSI proposal for IFC and FPD staff

Mar 10, 2011Joint Bank/IFC Committeemeets to agree on short list

Mid Mar, 2011Final approval by VP’s

Mar 21, 2011Proposals submitted for Donor’s approval

May 2, 2011Approval by Norway

July 1, 2011Funds received from Norway and transferred to each selected proposal

CONTACTS

For questions on this call for proposal, please contact the NTF-PSI Secretariat at

For general information in the NTF-PSI, including examples of previously funded activities, visit

Annex I: NTF-PSI General Guidelines

Major areas of importance to Norway in the NTF-PSI in general:

•Cross-cutting initiatives which support private sector development across all sectors;

•Assistance to poorest countries: approximately 50% of the funds must be allocated for Africa;

•Activities which further poverty reduction;

•Projects which have a positive environmental impact;

•Initiatives that can be mainstreamed effectively into the Bank Group’s country, sector and thematic work programs;

•Activities that engage Norway’s special expertise and knowledge (the energy sector broadly, and oil and gas in particular);

•Innovative, catalytic assistance efforts emphasizing strategic partnership and promoting cooperation, including with UN agencies and other external institutions.

Usage of NTF-PSI funds

•The NTF-PSI is un-tied and can cover consultant costs, publications, workshops, and related expenses. Staff related expenses must be covered by BB funds. The funds from the Norwegian TF should not be used to replace or duplicate activities for which BB and other TF funding is available.

•TTLs are required tosubmit a progress report on an annual basis, as well as a project completion report once the activity is finished.

•For further information on the NTF-PSI, please visit

Annex II: PROPOSAL TEMPLATE

  1. OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED ACTIVITY

  • Title of Proposed Activity

  • Task Team Leader (must be TFLAP accredited)

  • Managerendorsing the proposal (endorsement email must be submitted with the proposal)

  • Country manager/regional director(s) endorsing the proposal (endorsement email must be submitted with the proposal)

  • Country/ies of proposed activity

  • Percentage of NTF-PSI grant to be earmarked for Africa over lifetime of activity[6]

  • Total NTF-PSI grant amount projected over life time of activity

  • NTF-PSI grant amount projected for FY12

  • Duration of proposed activity
    (max to June 30, 2013)

  1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACVITIVY

Provide a brief description with context and rationale for the activity.
  1. OUTPUTS OF THE ACTIVITY[7]

List all expected outputs of the proposed activity in the below table. Indicators for each of the outputs, i.e. amounts, delivery of workshops, completion of report, etc, must be listed.

List of outputs / Indicators
(include estimated time-frame)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
  1. DISSEMINIATION OF OUTPUTS

Describe all dissemination efforts and applicable target groups planned for each of the deliverables listed in (3) above.

Outputs / Dissemination Plans
(include est. time-frame) / Target groups
(add names of applicable target groups under each column)
WBG staff / Local partners/ stakeholders / Donors / Others
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
  1. EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE PROPOSED ACTIVITY

  1. List all expected outcomesof the proposed activity in the below table[8]. Indicators for each of the outcomes must also be listed. See footnote 7and 8for further details.

List of outcomes / Indicators
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
  1. Explain as applicable how the listed outcomes will involve increased collaboration between (i) various units in the WBG, (ii) the WBG and external stakeholders and (iii) between the World Bank Group and Norwegian expertise

  1. IMPACTS/ DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES OF THE PROPOSED ACTIVITY

List all expected impacts (broader results from program outcomes listed in (5) above). See footnote 8 for further details

List of development objectives / Indicators
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
  1. REPLICATION OF THE ACTIVITY

Describe the likelihood of replication of the activity across the World Bank Group and/or outside of the institution. Explain exactly which elements of the activity trigger replication.

  1. BUDGET TABLE

Outputs
(as per table 3) / Expense categories[9] / Expected Expenditures
(in USD thousand)
FY12 / FY13 /
Total over lifetime of activity
List outputs for the entire activity
Total costs for entire activity per FY
Of which Bank Budget*
Of which other TFs/funding (specify)
Of which NTF-PSI
Relist only the outputs that are funded by the NTF-PSI grant

* Required to demonstrate WBG commitment to activity – must be at least be sufficient to cover supervision costs of the activity

1

[1] The donor makes the contribution pledge in Norwegian Kroner; the mentioned USD amount is therefore an indicative amount only.

[2] Support to multi-donor programs will not be approved in this round. Estimated 20-25 new freestanding activities will be approved in this round. The mentioned amount available covers the first budget year of funding of the new activities only -the donor provides refreshed funding annually.

[3]IFC TTLs must be TFLAP accredited unless the IFC equivalent has been launched in due time and is approved for use by IFC TTLs in managing child accounts under NTF-PSI hierarchy

[4] See

[5] See

[6] Includes North-African countries

[7] For definitions of outputs, outcomes and impacts, see Visit for examples of project results chains

[8]Outcomes:Uptake, adoption and use of project outputs by the project beneficiaries. Outcomes can be defined at various levels depending on the circumstances (e.g. CAS and project levels).

[9]Allowable expense categories under the NTF-PSI are : fees and costs for temporary staff, STCs and ETC (ETC’s only if mentioned in the proposal), contractual services, media (including video and electronic media), workshops costs (including costs associated with presenters, participants, publicity and reporting), travel expenses (including travel for Bank staff, consultants, STCs and ETCs) and associated overhead (including translations, minor expendables, information technology and communication services).