Diplomatic Influence & Value Fund - Reuniting Europe

The Reuniting Europe programme supports partner countries with the reforms necessary for EU accession or closer partnership with the EU.

Why does enlargement matter?

EU enlargement has been a major success, helping reunite a continent divided by the cold war and helping us respond to the opportunities and challenges of globalisation. It is strongly in our interest to maintain the momentum of the enlargement process, including the accession negotiations with Turkey and Croatia, and progress on bringing peace and stability to the Western Balkans. We also want to ensure that we share our prosperity and stability with our wider neighbourhood.

The programme

Reuniting Europe helps deliver our vision of building an effective and globally competitive EU in a secure neighbourhood.  

It does this by supporting EU enlargement and by helping European partner countries to implement the reforms necessary for EU accession. It focuses, in particular, on stable institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the respect for and protection of minorities.

Programme objectives

• support political reforms and undertake political advocacy
• to increase political transparency and good governance
• to build capacity in public administration
• to strengthen reforms in the justice sector and promote human rights
  

Further details of the rationale behind the selection of these objectives and guidelines on the kinds of projects sought are contained in the Diplomatic Influence and Values (DIV) Fund 2011/12 [PDF 226 KB, opens in a new window], which includes a full break-down of the revised Programme indicators.

All project bids will need to contribute to the achievement of at least 1 of the specific indicators developed for each programme objective.

Where we work

We currently work in 8 target countries:

• Albania
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
  
• Croatia
• Kosovo
• Macedonia
• Montenegro
• Serbia
• Turkey 

Programme operating principles

The programme will:

• be 100% ODA-able (meeting the OECD criteria on Official Development Assistance)
• focus on building capacity and efficiency in organisational structures and processes for policy-making, and in establishing the regulatory framework for effective policy implementation
• focus on fields where the UK has specific expertise to offer or is better equipped than other potential partners to meet the local need
• pursue harmonisation with other donors through, where appropriate, co-funding arrangements or projects to pump-prime, pilot or underpin the sustainability of larger-scale projects led by other donors which support the UK’s objectives
• encourage the development of projects using New Member State expertise
• operate in areas that avoid duplication and maximise complementarity with the work of other UK government funding sources
• support UK objectives in each country/region and facilitate FCO action, enhancing the UK’s diplomatic effort.

Bidding process

Project Officers are responsible for developing project ideas and managing the projects.  A list of all Project Officers for the programme is in Overseas Post contact details [PDF 57 KB, new window].

When the London Programme Team issue a call for bids, Project Officers at overseas posts will ask implementers to draw up a concept bid. Concept bids should be submitted on Part A of the Project Proposal Form (DOC 126 KB, new window). A guidance note on how to complete the bidding form is also attached here. Overseas posts will then do an initial sift and make recommendations to the London Programme Team. If the London Programme Team approve the recommendations, they will commission a full bid. This is part B of the Project Proposal Form.

Full project bids will then be appraised by a selection of functional and geographic experts. This will take form as a country selection committee. Recommendations from the country selection committee will then be examined and approved by members of the Reuniting Europe board, which consists of representatives of the FCO, other relevant government departments and other donor organisations.

Bidding timetable 2011/12

Bidding process

The initial bidding process for funds in 2011/12 has been completed. If you are interested in running a project in future years, please get in touch with our Projects Officers at the relevant overseas post (see contact list above) to begin discussions regarding your project proposals.

How to contact the London Programme Team

If you have read the website and bidding guidelines and would like some further advice or guidance in advance of the next call for bids or about the programme in general, please contact the Programme Administrator.

Address:

WH203
Main Building
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
SW1A 2AH

Frequently asked questions:

• projects should be at a minimum of £20,000
• projects spanning 3 financial years are permitted
• we regret that we are unable to fund academic courses or research, or English language courses
• the Reuniting Europe Programme is one of many programmes of the wider Diplomatic Influence and Values Fund.