Concept note
In preparation for an intake meeting with the project officer
for the second call of the Sustainable Entrepreneurship and
Food Security Facility (FDOV)
General information
Prior to applying for Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Food Security Facility (FDOV), call 2 it is possible
to have an informal intake with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl) on your project idea.
During this intake the partnership constellation and the project idea can be discussed in order to
facilitate organisations in preparing good FDOV applications. Intakes are open for organisations that
anticipate to become a formal partner in a project .
The intake is not a formal part of the assessment procedure FDOV. Doing an intake is completely
voluntary and no rights can be derived from the intake.
Intakes with RVO.nl can be requested from July 1st, 2014 until October 20th, 2014, provided RVO.nl
staff is available. In order to request an intake meeting it is required to prepare a Concept Note using
this format. Send the Concept Note to the mailbox: intake@rvo.nl after which RVO.nl will contact you to
make an appointment.
The information in the Concept Note will only be used in relation to the second call of the Sustainable
Entrepreneurship and Food Security (FDOV).
The formats to be used for the actual application for FDOV funding can be found at:
http://english.rvo/fdov
How to use this format:
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The shaded boxes contain explanatory information on specific sections of the Concept Note.
Please delete these boxes from the Concept, leaving your own text.
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The Concept Note has to be written in English
The format of the Concept Note is mandatory. A complete Concept Note should not exceed 7
pages.
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Please indicate if some of the requested information is not (yet) available or unsure.
Refer to the Policy Rules FDOV, call 2 which is available at http://english.rvo.nl/fdov
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1 General information
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Please fill out the table below.
Project name:
Applicant:
Partners:
Project location(s):
[country(ies) and region(s)]
Theme(s):
2 Project
2.1 Context and problem analysis
Insert your text here…
Describe briefly the project context and what problem the partners wish to address (impact/outcome
level).
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What is the context of the project (e.g. social/economic/institutional/environmental)
How is the local population, including most vulnerable groups, affected by the problem.
What is the magnitude of the problem?
Rationale
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A sound understanding of the context, the problem, and the underlying causes is
crucial in developing a good intervention strategy.
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The problem relates to the FDOV (sub)-themes: FS: 1) Improved local and regional
qualitative good and affordable food and nutrition, 2) Improved market efficiency and
sustainability of food chains for national and regional markets, SE: 3) Inclusive
business with impact on low income groups, both employees, producers and
entrepreneurs, 4) improving female entrepreneurship.
2.2 Project objective
Insert your text here…
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Describe in a few sentences the overall objective of the project. Include what long-term outcome and
impact the project is aiming at. Where possible quantify.
Rationale
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The project has to contribute to achieving sustainable and inclusive economic Growth by
improvement of food security and private sector development in developing countries,
involving Small and Medium Enterprises. This relates for instance to job creation (direct
and indirect), economic growth, self-reliance, food security, disaster risk reduction,
climate adaptation, ecosystem resilience, availability of natural resources.
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The project should align to local policies and Dutch policy on Developmental Cooperation.
2.3 Intervention
Insert your text here…
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Describe briefly the intervention the partnership wants to implement.
The intervention should be based on a Theory of Change. The Theory of change describes
qualitatively what changes (on macro level) are required to be able to achieve the project objective.
The intervention logically follows the Theory of Change.
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Describe if the intervention will be based on a business case and/or activities focussed on the
enabling environment (e.g. behavioural change, capacity building, organisational strengthening,
institutional change, laws and regulation).
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Describe the economic necessity if the project is focussed on more than one country
Describe to what extend the project will focus on the position of women
How does the intervention include sustainability (Financial, Institutional, Environmental, Technical,
and Social sustainability)
Rationale:
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The interventions, forming the intervention strategy should be based on a Theory of
Change.
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A PPP should be a logical solution to the problem.
Sustainability of the intervention is highly valued and therefore a threshold criterion in
FDOV2.
2.4 Results
Insert your text here…
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Provide a brief overview of the project results (both at output and outcome level). The results should
be as specific and time-bound as possible.
Rationale:
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The project should lead to concrete, tangible results.
3 Partnership
3.1 Background of the Applicant and Partners
Insert your text here…
Describe the applicant/partner. Answer the following questions for the applicant/partner:
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In which category does the applicant/partner belong: company, NGO, government department or
knowledge institution?
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What is the applicants/partners core activity?
What is the size of the organisation (FTE) and when was it established? Is it a multinational
company or a (local) SME?
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For companies: Who are the owners?
For companies: does the company has a formalized ICSR policy?
For local government: how is the arrangement ensured (full partner, MOU/LOI)
For government: what role is foreseen for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Embassy
Rationale:
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PPP aims to support cooperation between already existing organisations and companies.
3.2 Partners interest, role and expertise
Insert your text here…
Describe the applicants/partners interest to participate in the project, its role within the project and its
expertise that will assure successful execution of its role.
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What will be the role(s) of the applicant/partner within the project?
What is the interest of the applicant/partner in participating in the PPP and the project? What does
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the applicant/partner gain from this participation?
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What and how will be the contribution of the applicant/partner to the project (both in-cash and inkind).
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What is the expertise of the applicant/partner on:
o
Cooperation in PPPs. Do the partners have previous experience of cooperating in public private
partnerships?
o
The project theme FS: 1) Improved local and regional qualitative goof affordable food and
nutrition, 2) Improved market efficiency and sustainability of food chains for national and
regional markets, SE: 3) Inclusive business with impact on low income groups, both
employees, producers and entrepreneurs, 4) improving female entrepreneurship.
o
Development cooperation.
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The local context (project target country and region).
o
M&E, project management, governance and financial and administrative management.
Rationale:
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The core business of the partners should match with the proposed project activities.
The commitment of a partner is reflected in how it will contribute to the project.
A partnership should have sufficient expertise at its disposal (on cooperation, the theme
and the context in which the project will be carried out).
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A good partnership is complementary and efficient.
4 Budget
4.1 Technical Assistance (TA)
Insert your text here…
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Briefly describe the Technical Assistance that will be implemented during the project. This includes,
for instance, project management, training, activities inducing behavioural change, ICSRcertification, M&E cost etc.
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Which partner will provide for which element of Technical Assistance?
Rationale:
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An overview of Technical Assistance is needed to assess the project budget.
4.2 Hardware
Insert your text here…
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Briefly describe the Hardware the project wants to purchase.
Who will be the owner of the hardware during and after the project?
Rationale:
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An overview of all hardware is needed to assess the project's budget.
The technology on which the hardware is based should be commercially proven.
The hardware capacity should be in line with the actual and short term demand.
4.3 Project budget
EXPENSES
Budget item
1.
Amount (€)
Technical Assistance
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2.
Hardware
3.
Monitoring and evaluation (≥ 2% of total project budget)
TOTAL EXPENSES (1+2+3)
CONTRIBUTIONS
Organisation
4.
PPP-subsidy
5.
Applicant
6.
Partner 1
7.
Partner 2
8.
Partner 3
9.
Partner 4
10
TOTAL PARTNERSHIP (5+6+7+8+9)
1
Organisation
type1
Amount in-cash Amount in-kind
(€)
(€)
Comp/NGO/Pub
l/KI
Comp/NGO/Pub
l/KI
Comp/NGO/Pub
l/KI
Comp/NGO/Pub
l/KI
Comp/NGO/Pub
l/KI
Comp = company, NGO = Non-Governmental Organization, Pub = Public partner/Government, KI = Knowledge Institute.
Insert your text here…
Please fill out the table above as far as possible, more information can be found below. In the case the
budget is unknown, or cannot be specified please estimate the project budget.
When applying for FDOV funding, RVO.nl will assess the financial capacity of the project partners using
the Key standards table in Appendix 3 to the application (http://english.rvo.nl/fdov). If you like to get
specific advise on this during the intake meeting, it is possible to fill-out Appendix 3 and send it,
together with this intake form, to RVO.nl. Note this will NOT be part of the formal application.
Notes to the various items in the project budget:
1. Technical Assistance
Project management
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This includes the cost for time spent by the project partners and consultants on activities such as
organizing meetings, drafting business plans, reporting and the like.
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Travel and accommodation costs are also included.
Experts
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costs for consultants, engineers, external experts
Training/sensitisation/education
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Cost related to capacity building, behavioural change, but also marketing etc.
Certification
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Cost for certification of quality or ICSR (e.g. ISO-certification, environmental certification);.
Other Technical Assistance
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I.e. legal costs as well as costs for permits, engineers and architects may be included here.
2. Hardware
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Capital goods: these include all investments in tangible, goods used for production.
Infrastructure: cost of creating new or improving existing infrastructure. (Purchases of land or
existing buildings are not eligible for subsidy.)
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All hardware must be DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), excluding VAT, unless partners can prove they are
not exempted.
3. Monitoring & Evaluation
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A minimum of 2% of the total project budget is required to cover Monitoring and Evaluation costs of
the project. This also includes the execution of a baseline study. The output and outcome of projects
with a total budget above € 5,000,000 needs to be evaluated by an independent external party (not
a project partner)
4. PPP subsidy
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The FDOV subsidy is up to 50% of the total project budget for projects.
5-9. Contribution partners
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The project partners should contribute at least 50% of the project budget (not direct or indirectly
coming from subsidies or contributions by MoFA).
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At least half of the own contribution should come from companies (25% of the project budget). This
can be in cash or in-kind. Minimal 10% of the FDOV budget eligible for subsidy should come in-cash
from companies.
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In-kind contributions of local public/governmental bodies are not regarded as ‘own contribution’.
All project partners should demonstrate they are able to finance their own contribution and can prefinance activities if necessary.
9. Project revenues
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Net income generated by the project’s business case or other activities.
10. Other contributions
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If there are other financial contributions to the project, then explain what the source of this
contribution is.
The following costs are not to be included in the FDOV budget:
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Project cost incurred before the start date of the project, as specified in the Administrative decision.
Costs for compiling and dispatching of the FDOV application.
Financing costs and interest costs.
Costs for purchasing, renting or leasing land.
Costs for purchasing, renting or leasing existing buildings.
Research and development (R&D) costs.
Operational costs, excluding project operational costs for maintenance of project delivered products,
not being regular business activities.
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Sales tax and VAT that can be reimbursed
Cost of inflation and costs incurred by currency fluctuations
In-kind contributions of local governmental bodies.
In cash and in-kind contributions by public project partners consisting of activities coinciding with
primary tasks of government.
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Costs made by third parties, i.e. parties outside the FDOV partnership, which is not paid for by the
project partners.
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