The Strategic Programme Fund Low Carbon High Growth (SPF LCHG) is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office programme promoting a low carbon, high growth, global economy. This is done through projects supporting the following outcomes:

• A visible and accelerated shift in investment initiated in the major economies towards low carbon,
  
• Political conditions created for an equitable post-2012 agreement at the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) in Copenhagen in December 2009 of sufficient ambition to avoid dangerous climate change,
  
• Risks to UK and EU energy security managed through more diverse and reliable external sources of supply and more efficient global consumption,
  
• Increased international commitment to an open, stable and equitable low carbon global economy delivering higher standards of living.

How to apply

1. Look at the SPF LCHG Strategy to make sure your project idea is in line with the SPF LCHG Programme objectives.

Projects eligible for SPF LCHG funding in Poland should meet one of the following SPF LCHG programme indicators:

1. Governments develop or adopt policy or institutional frameworks that enable the transition to a low carbon economy.
   
2. Key, targeted constituencies recognise a stable climate as essential for their country‘s prosperity and/or security, or as a pre-condition for achieving global justice, and mobilise political support for the adoption and implementation of ambitious targets.
   
3. Governments develop or adopt policy or legislative/regulatory mechanisms that support the development, ratification and implementation of post 2012 framework commitments. 
   
4. Strategies adopted and/or implemented that enable better functioning global energy markets including through:, improving internal energy infrastructure; or encouraging diversification of energy supplies to the EU.

2. E-mail outline of your project idea, including project purpose and its likely impact, to agnieszka.tomaszewska@fco.gov.uk , Climate Change and Energy Projects Co-ordinator, putting “Idea for SPF LCHG project” in the e-mail subject.

Within two weeks time you will be informed whether your project idea:

• meets Embassy projects selection criteria,
  
• is eligible for SPF LCHG funding,
  
• can be developed into SPF LCHG project concept bid. You also will be informed about the bidding dates.

3. Once your initial project idea has been approved by the Embassy, you will be asked to fill in part A of the bidding form , which is the project concept stage. Attached guidelines should help you to clarify what information is needed in each part of the bidding form. If in doubt, contact Climate Change and Energy Projects Co-ordinator for explanation.

Your project proposal should: 

• outline impact. We want to know what changes the project will make, 
  
• demonstrate that governments (central or local) have been consulted and are supportive or if they have not, the bid should explain how the project has sufficient buy-in from the necessary stakeholders to deliver the expected outcomes,
  
• demonstrate that local partnerships are already established,
  
• describe local context so that it is easy to understand why the project can contribute to developing low carbon economy,
  
• demonstrate that the project would have sustainable outcomes,
  
• clearly  explain the project’s fit to the SPF LCHG strategy

Experience has shown that the best way to do this is to change policy or legislation, to build capacity in a sustainable way, to improve accountability or performance measurement or to demonstrate an innovative approach which others subsequently adopt. This can also be achieved when SPF LCHG funding is used to leverage co-funding from other donors.

SPF LCHG bidding process is highly competitive, it is therefore necessary to make sure your project bid:

• is prepared in a highly professional manner,
  
• contains all necessary data,
  
• is well drafted in English,
  
• is clear and comprehensive.

4. The completed form should be then sent to agnieszka.tomaszewska@fco.gov.uk , who will provide you with feedback. A separate meeting to discuss your project concept bid may be scheduled.

5. If your project concept bid has been put together satisfactorily, it is assessed by the Embassy Climate Change and Energy Projects Selection Board. The Board decides whether your project bid can be submitted to the SPF LCHG Team in London in the next bidding round.

If the Board is not satisfied with the quality of your bid, but agrees that the scope of your project is good, you will be asked to re-design your project proposal. A list of comments and advice will be provided.

Once approved by the Embassy Climate Change and Energy Projects Selection Board, your project concept bid is submitted to SPF LCHG Team based in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London and takes part in a global competition.

6. SPF LCHG Team will review your project concept bid and come back to the Embassy Climate Change and Energy Projects Co-ordinator with comments on your bid. If your project concept bid has been approved by the SPF LCHG Team, the Embassy Climate Change and Energy Projects Co-ordinator will provide you with feedback to help you to develop an SPF LCHG project full bid proposal .

At this stage you will be asked to include all necessary amendments in the part A of the bidding form as well as fill in its part B. You will also need to complete Annex A - Activity Based Budget (Excel), which provides information on how you plan to use project funds. Both documents should be sent to agnieszka.tomaszewska@fco.gov.uk.

Your project proposal will be further assessed by the Embassy Climate Change and Energy Projects Selection Board to ensure it offers value for money and is well designed. Once approved, your project proposal along with Annex A is sent to the SPF LCHG Team in London in the earliest possible bidding round for SPF LCHG full bid proposals.

7. If SPF LCHG Board recommends your project full bid proposal for funding, the Embassy Climate Change and Energy Projects Co-ordinator will inform you about funds transfer procedures, project reporting periods and will draw up the project contract.

8. Once the contract is signed, the Embassy Climate Change and Energy Projects Co-ordinator will monitor your project throughout its lifespan to ensure it is implemented according to the plan and agreed budget and that project purpose is being achieved.

Please be aware:

• Application process, since project concept stage until contract signing, may take up to six months,
  
• We strongly advise you to contact the Embassy Climate Change and Energy Projects Co-ordinator with your project idea throughout the year and not wait until the SPF LCHG bidding round dates are announced. This will ensure you have enough time and guidelines to put together your project bid,
  
• Project proposals focusing purely on seminars and workshops will not be relevant unless they lead to a specific and measurable action; we are looking for practical interventions that will lead to a real and timely difference in decision-making,
  
• Requests to commission reports, which are not translated into action plans with the relevant decision-makers will not be approved,
  
• Projects focusing on raising awareness amongst the general public and media will not be approved.
  
• One-off events, commercial undertakings and investments in infrastructure are not suitable for SPF LCHG programme,
  
• Co-operation with governments and official bodies are more likely to result in high impact, transformational outcomes, which outlive the duration of the project,
  
• Proposals might identify opportunities for sharing UK best practice,recommended.
  
• Projects can be at the regional or state level within a country, provided that replicability is built into the proposal and sufficient impact is likely,
  
• Proposals must make clear that they are adding value to, and not duplicating other donor activity,
  
• Proposals should include any publicity, dissemination and outreach activities in the budget from the outset. Any media work should be directly related to the project proposal.
  
• SPF LCHG project usually lasts 1-3 financial years. FCO financial year lasts since 1 April until 31 March the following year. Project funds, if not used, cannot be transferred to the next financial year,
  
• Recommended minimum value of SPF LCHG project is estimated at £30,000, Administrative costs should be no more than 10% of the overall budget,
  
• Project funds are transferred to project implementing organisations on a quarterly basis, once activities have been completed. Pre-payments are not possible. Securing some co-funding for day-to-day expenditures is therefore recommended.
  
• Project implementing organisations will submit quarterly progress reports for the duration of the project, and a project completion form within three months of the project conclusion.