PRETORIA, South Africa, March 2, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
The 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review announced a £1.3bn Prosperity Fund over the next 5 years to promote the economic reform and development needed for growth in partner countries. Our priorities will include improving the business climate, competitiveness and operation of markets, energy and financial sector reform, and increasing the ability of partner countries to tackle corruption. As well as contributing to a reduction in poverty in recipient countries, we expect these reforms to create opportunities for international business including UK companies.
The role of the Fund is also set out in the UK aid strategy, Tackling Global Challenges in the National Interest.
The Prosperity Fund will form a small but integral element of the UK’s total Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment of 0.7% of GNI. It will primarily be focused on ODA eligible middle income countries, contributing to poverty reduction and complementing DFID’s work in poorer countries. In this way, the Fund will contribute towards meeting the new Sustainable Development Goals. ODA spend under the Fund will be fully consistent with OECD DAC criteria.
The Foreign Commonwealth Office’s programme funds seek to create real, measurable outcomes in support of the FCO’s policy goals. Since 2011, the Prosperity Fund has supported the FCO’s Prosperity Priority on opening markets, ensuring access to resources, and promoting sustainable global growth, mainly in the emerging powers.
Southern Africa Prosperity Fund Objectives
The Southern Africa Prosperity Fund, administered through the British High Commission, Pretoria, seeks ambitious proposals to boost inclusive growth and sustainable economic development through interventions in power, infrastructure, cities, skills and transparency in priority countries in the SADC region. Projects addressing a particular objective should focus on at least one of the countries identified; multi-country projects are strongly encouraged. Successful project bids will deliver high-impact, value-for-money activities for around £100k or more. Projects should be able to commence in May 2016 and be completed by the end of March 2017.
Power (Angola, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia)
Proposals to facilitate increased electricity generation and improved distribution are welcomed. Interventions of particular interest could include opportunities to increase access to on- and off- grid energy; lower barriers for electricity market reform; expand independent power procurement; encourage development of gas infrastructure; and map donor support in the renewable sector.
Infrastructure (Angola, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania)
Proposals to unlock trade and growth potential currently constrained by poor transport and ICT infrastructure are welcomed. Interventions should help identify ways to expedite investment in fundamental and advanced infrastructure, including through use of expertise to help regional governments and bodies prepare and close on projects, i.e. through use of Public-Private Partnership tools. Proposals which support adoption of new regulatory frameworks in ICT are also welcomed.
Cities (Angola, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa)
Proposals to support sustainable and efficient urban planning are welcomed. Interventions to support local governments in developing policies and human capital are of particular interest, including those which partner UK experts with regional authorities.
• Skills (Angola, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia)
Project proposals should support the development of local skills and capacity in the areas of power, infrastructure and cities. Proposals should provide local partners – including in government and industry – with the opportunity to benefit from UK expertise in higher education, professional services and technical training. Opportunities to form partnerships between UK and Southern African institutions to develop skills would be desirable, particularly in the oil and gas, financial services, ICT and urban planning sectors.
Transparency (Angola, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia)
Proposals promoting transparency among business and the public sector are also invited. Opportunities to build on existing initiatives in Southern Africa would be welcome, as would opportunities to develop programmes in partnership with UK expertise in public procurement, commercial compliance, enforcement, regulatory and legal reforms and open government initiatives.
Southern Africa Bidding Timeline
Thank you to those partners who submitted a concept bid through our recent Call for Project Bids for the UK Prosperity Fund in Southern Africa.
Due to the large number of bids, and ongoing preparations for the new Prosperity Fund, our sift has been extended beyond the original target date of Monday 29 February. We apologise for the delay and any inconvenience caused.
We recognise that the outcome of this process is important to our partners, and we will communicate outcomes as soon as we can.
Thank you again for your interest in partnering with the UK Prosperity Fund, and thank you in advance for your forbearance.
Monday 18 January 2016 Call for bids released
Monday 15 February 2016 Concept bids due to Southern Africa Prosperity Fund Team
TBC Invitations for full bids issued for successful concept bids
TBC Full bids due
TBC Decisions announced
Monday 2 May 2016 Projects commence
