Contracting Authority: European Commission
Sustainable Water Integrated Management (SWIM) - Demonstration Projects
Open Call for Proposals
Guidelines
for grant applicants
Budget line 19.080101 "European Neighbourhood and Partnership (ENP) financial co-operation with Mediterranean countries"
Reference: EuropeAid/131046/C/ACT/Multi
Deadline for submission of proposals: 14 June 2011
NOTICE
This is an open Call for Proposals, where all documents are submitted at one stage (Concept Note and full proposal). However, in the first instance, only the Concept Notes will be evaluated. Thereafter, for the applicants whose Concept Notes have been pre-selected, evaluation of the full proposal will be carried out. Further to the evaluation of the full proposals, an eligibility check will be performed for those which are provisionally selected. This check will be undertaken on the basis of the supporting documents requested by the Contracting Authority and the signed "Declaration by the Applicant" sent together with the application.
The contracting authority reserves the right not to undertake the evaluation of concept notes whenever considered justified (for example when a less than expected number of applications are received) and to go straight to the evaluation of the corresponding full applications.
Although eligibility checks on provisionally selected applicants are not indicated until the end of the procedure, the evaluation committee may decide to carry out these checks at any prior stage. In accordance with the rules of good administrative practice, the evaluation committee may exclude an applicant at any stage of the evaluation process whenever it is obvious that the latter does not meet the eligibility criteria.
Any change in the composition of the Partnership (i.e. change applicant and/or partner(s)) during the procedure is a cause of automatic rejection.
These guidelines are published in English and in French. In the event of a discrepancy between the two versions, the English version takes precedence.
Table of contents
1. Sustainable Water Integrated Management
1.1 Background 4
1.2 Objectives of the programme and priority issues 10
1.3 Financial allocation provided by the contracting authority 16
2. Rules FOR thIS call for proposalS 18
2.1 Eligibility criteria 18
2.1.1 Eligibility of applicants: who may apply? 18
2.1.2 Partnerships and eligibility of partners 19
2.1.3 Eligible actions: actions for which an application may be made 19
2.1.4 Eligibility of costs: costs which may be taken into consideration for the grant 21
2.2 How to apply and the procedures to follow 22
Open Call for Proposals 23
2.2.1 Application form 23
2.2.2 Where and how to send the Applications 23
2.2.3 Deadline for submission of Applications 24
2.2.4 Further information for the Application 25
2.3 Evaluation and selection of applications 26
2.4 Submission of supporting documents for provisionally selected applications 29
2.5 Notification of the Contracting Authority’s decision 30
2.5.1 Content of the decision 31
2.5.2 Indicative time table 31
2.6 Conditions applicable to implementation of the action following the Contracting Authority's decision to award a grant 31
2.7 Early warning system and central exclusion database…………………….………………..32
3. LIST OF annexes 33
Project Cycle Management Guidelines 33
1. Sustainable Water Integrated management (SWIM);
1.1 Background
1.1.1 THE SWIM PROGRAMME
Following the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conferences on Environment (Cairo, 2006) and on Water (Dead Sea, 2008), the European Commission has launched a new Regional Programme on Water called "Sustainable Water Integrated Management" (SWIM) to be implemented under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), in accordance with the Regional Indicative Programme 2007-2010 and has been included in the AAP 2009 and AAP 2010.
The overall objective of the SWIM programme, emanating from the above-mentioned Euro-Mediterranean initiatives, is to actively promote the extensive dissemination of sustainable water management policies and practices in the region in the context of increasing water scarcity, combined pressure on water resources from a wide range of users, and desertification processes, in connection with climate change. This regional programme is intended to support building consensus and sustainable co-operation links among the countries concerned on water issues of common concern.
The SWIM Programme will be implemented through the two components below:
Ø Component A: SWIM - Support mechanism (EURO 6.708.500; Service Contract N.255-560, ongoing since December 2010). This horizontal component will take care of the overall coordination of the different programme activities and contribute to ensuring awareness raising on water scarcity and environmental challenges; policy dialogue; capacity building and environmental mainstreaming; dissemination of information, and liaison with Horizon 2020, the draft Strategy on Water for the Mediterranean and other relevant initiatives. It will also assist Partner Countries in developing and updating their water management strategies and plans complementing other ongoing projects.
Technical assistance tasks will also include support to the beneficiaries of demonstration projects, overseeing of the activities/results and overall programme reporting to the Commission.
Ø Component B: SWIM - Demonstration projects[1]. With a total budget of EUR 15.000.000 is the subject of the present Call for Proposals.
The demonstration projects will address sustainable integrated water management and de-pollution of the Mediterranean, within the areas of intervention set in the draft Strategy for Water in the Mediterranean and the Horizon 2020 Initiative.
1.1.2 THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION
Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria, and Tunisia belong to the Mediterranean region, which is among the most arid regions of the world. The natural water supply is unevenly distributed in both geographic location and across the seasons. Demographic growth and economic development vary in the sub-regions, shaping water demand and pressures while water ecosystems are rich and vulnerable. Agriculture accounts for 64% of water use (varying from 50% to 90% in some countries). Important rivers, lakes and aquifers are often shared among two or more countries of the region.
During the second half of the 20th century, water demand, i.e. the amount of resource abstraction (95% of total demand, including losses during transport and use) plus unconventional production practices (desalination, wastewater reuse), has increased twofold.
The Mediterranean region groups together 60% of the world's population that is « poor » in water (with less than 1000 m3 water/inhabitant/year). The resources are already overexploited in many places and the growing water demand is going to remain very high with the rise in the demographic rate in the south and the east, the development of tourism, industry and the approach to irrigating land. Climate change has already a significant impact and its expected impact over the medium term on water resources and the irregularity of precipitations, represent a supplementary constraint.
Climate change. Predictions covering the entire Mediterranean Region suggest reductions in rainfall of up to 35% by 2071-2100, reducing inland water flows and water yields. Following current trends, a tendency to a more extreme climate with more uneven distributions is projected. A 46% increase in 'significantly drier than normal' years is expected, along with an exponential increase in drought probability. Across the region, climate change is expected to severely reduce water availability, by up to 60% in places in the coming century. Water shortages are likely to worsen and in some places become critical. These figures show that in a number of places across the Mediterranean Region all economic activities will have to adapt to the evolution of water availability and water management systems will need to be put in place. The expected impacts of climate change will also be exacerbated by the projected increasing economic development and growing population.
Water Management. Access to good quality water in sufficient quantity is fundamental to the daily lives of every human being and to most economic activities. With increasing population growth, environmental degradation and impacts of climate change, it is no longer possible to meet water demand by increasing supply, as there is little potential for developing new resources or increasing current ones.
Water is an extremely valuable resource in Mediterranean region. The majority of the territory has an arid or semi-arid climate and water scarcity and competition for limited water resources has been highlighted as a major regional issue.
The key environmental problems in the Mediterranean region, such as environmental protection (including biodiversity conservation, nature protection, land degradation, and the sustainable management of natural resources) and climate and global changes, have been underlined in the EC strategic documents and have been well depicted in various reports and documents prepared by Donor Agencies, IFI's and UN Agencies.
The seriousness of water and environmental issues has been widely recognized by the countries of the region that have responded with national and regional initiatives and reforms to improve performance. Cooperation between the EU and ENPI South Countries in the field of the environment and water has both intensified and encompassed a structured political process engaging all countries as key factors in tackling the increasing economic, environmental and security challenges as well as the implementation of concrete projects.
The EU policy in the Mediterranean region is guided by the European Neighbourhood Policy and its Action Plans. In the area of environment, the Euro-Mediterranean Partners have committed to increase efforts to substantially reduce the pollution of the Mediterranean by 2020 in the “Horizon 2020 Initiative” (H2020). The initiative aims to tackle the main sources of pollution, wastewater, municipal waste and industrial pollution, by 2020.
Another important initiative is represented by the Mediterranean component of the EU Water Initiative (Med-EUWI), whose objective is to contribute to the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development targets for water and sanitation through the adoption of IWRM policies and measures at national and regional level.
At international level, Mediterranean countries committed to implement the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development, launched by the Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development established under the United Nations Environmental Programme Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP). In 2008, the parties to the Barcelona Convention signed a Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean, identifying adaptation to climate change as a priority. The Marrakesh Declaration, adopted by the Barcelona Convention in November 2009, highlights the need for urgent action to counter the serious impacts of climate change on ecosystems and resources.
On 13 July 2008, the European and Mediterranean Heads of State and of Government created the Union for the Mediterranean. The intention was to give a new impetus to collaboration in the region, based on the progress achieved in the Barcelona Process. Removing pollution from the Mediterranean is among the priorities identified during the Paris Summit on the Mediterranean; the importance of water was acknowledged. As such, they deserve both exceptional and coordinated efforts from authorities at all levels, and also from the private sector, particularly financial institutions, in particular through the Horizon 2020 Initiative, launched at the Ministerial Meeting in Cairo in 2006.
In compliance with the mandate given to it by the Heads of State, the ministerial conference on Water that met in Jordan, on 22 December 2008, decided on the fundamental guidelines for a new Strategy for Water in the Mediterranean (SWM) and its subsequent Action Plan. The main priority areas of this new Strategy had been identified during the preparatory Euro-Mediterranean and South Eastern European Water Directors Conferences in 2007 and 2008: Water Governance, Water and Climate Change, Water Financing, and Water Demand Management. The participants at the Joint Egyptian-Dutch Water Conference "Towards the new Long Term Strategy for Water in the Mediterranean" (Cairo, November 2009) recognised that climate change presents an additional pressure in the Mediterranean region and highlighted the need to adapt to increasing climate variability and change through better water management and water services. This requires significant additional efforts within water management and the areas of spatial planning and energy management. However, in spite of the consensus reached on the content of the Strategy, due to the lack of political agreement among the parties, the 4th Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Water held in April 2010 in Barcelona failed to adopt a finalised version of the SWM (here in after draft Strategy). At the time of writing the draft Strategy has still not been adopted.
Taking into account this context the European Commission has launched a new Regional Programme called "Sustainable Water Integrated Management" (SWIM Programme) to be implemented under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI). This project will support the concrete measures that would arise from the draft SWM if eventually adopted but is not conditional on its adoption to pursue concrete improvements at regional level.
Current state of affairs in the relevant sector
Each ENPI South country has established its own system of water and environmental management, developed own legislation and institutions in charge of policy development and management and has identified national interest to be promoted in discussions with other countries of the region.
Many ENPI South countries have placed their institutions responsible for water management at the highest administrative level. In the sanitation and drinking water sector it can be stated that, in general, local authorities in larger countries have a more prominent role, while smaller countries have chosen either a national level management (i.e. Jordan) or a combined solution. The tendency is to manage water supply and sanitation close to its delivery location.
The analysis of the legal framework in water management shows that all countries are devoted to the principles of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). With some exceptions all countries provide for an up-dated legislation or are in the process of carrying out comprehensive revisions to existing laws. Those countries that have chosen a sectoral approach to water legislation are now moving towards a coherent unified water law. In most of the countries, while the legal basis for water management provides for sound management foundations, the practical implementation still faces significant challenges and it will take some more time until all the demanding requirements of integrated water resource management are met by the institutional set-up in practice as well as the prevailing management practices. In addition, many ENPI South countries still suffer from lack of effective operational strategies and fragmentation of responsibilities between authorities. They demonstrate weak monitoring and assessment at the national, local and trans-boundary levels, limited technical, management and implementation capabilities to effectively address water challenges, and financial constraints to implement policies.
Co-ordination among sectors is most often done through an inter-ministerial council. The involvement of additional stakeholders and interest groups is still not well developed. In most cases the responsible national authority is also in charge of co-ordination. Since all countries are on their way towards more integrated approaches to water management it can be expected that all countries will favour joint councils or commissions for co-ordination in the near future.