Partners Albania has opened the Call for Proposals as part of the sub-granting scheme of the project “TWIST – ToWards a new socIal entrepreneurShip model in confiscaTed assets in Albania”. 

Find below some frequently asked questions and respective answers with regard to this Call.

Question 1: How much is the project’s grant financial allocation?

Answer 1: Please refer to the Guidelines for Applicants, section: 1.3. FINANCIAL ALLOCATION PROVIDED BY THE SUB-GRANTING AUTHORITY

Question 2: Is international expertise allowed to be included in the budget proposal for this project?

Answer 2: All costs that are necessary for the implementation of the action and are not listed under the category of ineligible costs, in the Guidelines for Applicants, may be included in Annex 1.4. Budget form.

For eligible and ineligible costs, please refer to section 2.1.3. Eligibility of Costs: Costs that can be included in the Guidelines for Applicants.

Question 3: Is the labour force (number of employees of the social enterprise) an indicative factor for the evaluation of project proposals?

Answer 3: No, the number of employees of the social enterprise is not a criterion for the evaluation of project proposals. All project proposals will be evaluated based on the criteria mentioned in section 2.3. EVALUATION AND SELECTION OF APPLICATIONS in the Guidelines for Applicants.

Question 4: Can one organization apply at both lots, LOT 1, and LOT 2 within this Call for Proposals?

Answer 4: Referring to section 1.2.1: Number of Sub-Grants Per Applicant and Co-Applicant in the Guidelines for Applicants:

NUMBER OF SUB-GRANTS PER APPLICANT AND CO-APPLICANT

Due to the specifications of the call, the Contracting Authority will accept the following:

– The Lead applicant may not submit more than one (1) application under this Call for Proposals.

– The Lead applicant may not be a co-applicant in another application under this Call for Proposals.

– The Co-applicant may be a co-applicant in more than one (1) application under this Call for Proposals.

– The co-applicant may be awarded more than one (1) grant under this Call for Proposals.

Question 5: Can an NPO apply in cooperation with another NPO? Is an added value to this Call for Proposals the co-applications?

Answer 5: Referring to Section 2.1.1, The Eligibility of Applicants in the Guidelines for Applicants, “The Applicant may act alone or in partnership with a Co-applicant. Potential Co-applicant/s must satisfy all the eligibility criteria applicable to the applicant. Their costs are eligible or not in the same way as those incurred by the lead applicant. (See section 2.1.3. The Eligibility of Costs).”

The evaluation of project proposals will be done only based on the criteria mentioned in section 2.3. EVALUATION AND SELECTION OF APPLICATIONS of the Guidelines for Applicants.

Question 6: Is an international organization eligible to apply as a co-applicant for this Call for Proposals?

Answer 6: Referring to the Guidelines for Applicants, Section 2.1.1, The Eligibility of Applicants, “Potential Co-applicant/s must satisfy all the eligibility criteria applicable to the applicant”.

For the eligibility criteria applicable, please see section 2.1.1. The Eligibility of Applicants in the Guidelines for Applicants

Question 7: Is providing financial support to third parties (financing of 2 (two) start-ups) allowed under this Call for Proposals?

Answer 7: Referring to the Guidelines of Applicants, section 2.1.1 Non-Eligible Actions, financial support for third parties is not allowed under this Call for Proposals.

Question 8: The supporting documents required with the application form should all be originals or certified copies?

Answer 8: Please refer to section 2.2. HOW TO APPLY AND THE PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW in the Guidelines for Applicants, under Supporting Documents.

All applications will be submitted entirely ONLINE, according to the instructions provided in section 2.2.1. Where and how to send Applications in the Guidelines for Applicants

Question 9: Are start-up businesses eligible to apply for this Call for Proposals?

Answer 9: Only entities fulfilling the criteria listed under section 2.1.1. The Eligibility of Applicants, may submit a project proposal under this Call for proposals.

Question 10:  Regarding LOT 1 applications, is an already established social enterprise operating in confiscated assets eligible to apply even though her activities are being implemented at another location other than Durres, where the newly confiscated assets are provided?

Answer 10: Referring to section 1.2. SPECIFICATIONS OF THE CALL FOR PROPOSALS in the Guidelines for Applicants, for LOT 1 APPLICATIONS “NPOs that have already established a social enterprise in a confiscated asset, may also apply under this LOT to extend and expand their activity in this asset.”

Question 11: Regarding the Documents issued by the Court and the Prosecution institutions, can we submit only one of them?

Answer 11: Applicants should submit all documents listed in section 2.2. HOW TO APPLY AND THE PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW in the Guidelines for Applicants, under Supporting Documents.

Question 12: Our organization is a new organization established in 2022. As a result, our organization can’t provide the financial statements for the latest two years. Are we eligible to apply for this grant?

Answer 12: Referring to section 2.2. HOW TO APPLY AND THE PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW in the Guidelines for Applicants, under Supporting Documents, the Supporting Documents submitted with the application (applicant and co-applicant, if any) should include among other documents the “Latest two (2) financial statements2 of the organization (Copy)”.

Question 13: Regarding Financial Statements, which year are you refereeing to, 2021 and 2022? Or 2020 and 2021?

Answer 13: Since the deadline for submitting project proposals under this Call for proposals is February 24, 2023, you can include in the supporting documents the Financial Statements for the years 2020 and 2021.

Question 14: We understand that VAT is not eligible under this Call for Proposal. Where should we send our claim for reimbursement, to the donor?

Answer 14: All applications for VAT reimbursement should follow Instruction no. 34, dated 02.12.2019 “On a modification of Instruction no. 6, dated 30.01.2015 “On the added Value in the Republic of Albania”.

Question 15: For applications under LOT 2, can we budget a cost for “rent”, or the working space expenses should be covered by the organization?

Answer 15: Please refer to section 2.1.3. Eligibility of Costs: Costs that can be included in the Guidelines for Applicants, for all eligible and ineligible costs under this Call for proposals. Only ‘eligible costs’ can be covered by a grant.

Question 16: Should the agreement with the municipality be presented at the application moment or if we are announced as a winner? Our organization has a cooperation agreement with the Prefecture. Is it mandatory to sign an agreement with the respective municipality? 

Answer 16: Referring to section 2.2. HOW TO APPLY AND THE PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW, Supporting Documents, all applicants should submit with the application among other documents “The cooperation agreement with the respective municipality/ies where the project will be implemented”. It is mandatory.

Question 17: Can Agricultural Cooperative Associations (ACC) apply under this Call for Proposals?

Answer 17: Referring to the Guidelines of Applicants, section 1.2: Specification of the Call for Proposals, and section 2.1.1. The Eligibility of Applicants, in order to be eligible for a sub-grant, the applicant must: “Be a civil society organization, registered as an NPO, according to the Albanian legislation for non-profit organizations[1]”.

Question 18: Should the Social Enterprise generate income?

Answer 18: Yes, social enterprises supported through this Call for Proposals must generate income through their economic activity.

Question 19: Regarding Budget lines 8 and 10, should we include them while preparing the budget, are these eligible costs?

Answer 19. The budget of the action should be prepared according to the instructions and the criteria in section 2.1.3. Eligibility of Costs: Costs that can be included in the Guidelines for Applicants and the clarifications provided in Annex 1.3. Budget Form. It is not mandatory for applicants to include costs for all budget lines provided in Annex 1.3. Budget of the action.

Indirect costs

The indirect costs incurred in carrying out the action are eligible, but the total must not exceed 7 % of the estimated total eligible direct costs. Indirect costs are eligible and should be proven that they do not include costs assigned to another budget heading. The lead applicant may be asked to justify the percentage requested before the grant contract is signed.

Contingency reserve

The budget may include a contingency reserve not exceeding 5 % of the estimated direct eligible costs. It can only be used with the prior written authorization of the contracting authority.

Question 20. Is there a limit in the budget for the materials/supplies needed for establishing social enterprises?

Answer 20. There is no limit set. All applicants should provide clarification of the budget items and justification of the estimated costs for each of the corresponding items or heading in Annex 1.3. Budget Form, worksheet no. 2, “Justification of the estimated costs”. At the contracting phase, the Sub-Granting Authority decides whether to accept the proposed amounts or rates on the basis of the provisional budget submitted by the applicant, based on the information provided and by analyzing factual data of grants carried out by the applicant or of similar projects.

Question 21. What share of the budget can be allocated to the project coordinator?

Answer 21. The budget of the Action should be prepared according to the instructions and criteria in section 2.1.3. Eligibility of Costs: Costs that can be included in the Guidelines for Applicants and the clarifications provided in Annex 1.3. Budget of the Action.

There is not a % (percentage) set on the estimated costs for the project coordinator. All applicants should provide clarification of the budget items and justification of the estimated costs for each of the corresponding items or heading in Annex 1.3. Budget Form, worksheet no. 2, “Justification of the estimated costs”. At the contracting phase, the Sub-Granting Authority decides whether to accept the proposed amounts or rates on the basis of the provisional budget submitted by the applicant, based on the information provided and by analyzing factual data of grants carried out by the applicant or of similar projects.

Question 22. The organization “Vlora DMO” has been registered since 2015 but has not implemented any project so far. Is this a condition for this Call for Proposal? We have filed the tax declarations and we have no tax obligations. Are we eligible to apply for TWIST Call for Proposals?

Answer 22. Please refer to section 2.1. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA and section 2.2. HOW TO APPLY AND THE PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW in the Guidelines for Applicants regarding the eligibility of applicants and the supporting documents to be submitted with the application.

Evaluation of applications and the capacity of the applicant and co-applicant (if any) to implement the project proposal, will be done based on the evaluation criteria and the scoring system presented in section 2.3. EVALUATION AND SELECTION OF APPLICATIONS in the Guidelines for Applicants.

[1] Law no. 8788, date 7.5.2001 on “Non for-Profit Organisations”, amended.