| Overview : The Russian Innovative Solutions Challenge Fund (RCF) has been created under the Russia-UNDP Partnership as the instrument to facilitate sharing of Russian know-how and solutions via engaging Russian institutions in development cooperation that would address development challenges identified in UNDP programme countries. Under the first Call for Proposals, the RCF aims to identify smart solutions for the transformation of vocational education systems in order to contribute to the achievement of SDGs in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Tajikistan. The eligible applicants for the RCF funding include private sector entities (commercial companies), universities and institutes registered in the Russian Federation. The applicants are required to engage local partners in UNDP programme countries listed above to assure viability in local conditions and to promote sustainability and scalability of the solution. Background information, guidelines, terms of reference, application form, budget template, criteria for selection and evaluation details can be found in the documents attached. Locality: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Tajikistan Title of the Call for Proposals: Smart solutions for the transformation of vocational education systems Expected contract start date: August 2021 Expected contract length: up to 5 months Estimated prize: Ranging between US$20,000 and US$40,000, the applicants provide financial or in-kind co-funding of at least 20% of the total cost of the project. The applicants must submit their proposals using the application form in Annex 3 and 4. The application documents should be sent to procurement.irh@undp.org under the title "UNDPIRH-CFP-202103 Russian Challenge Fund" by 6 p.m. Thursday 1 July, 2021, Istanbul / Moscow time | 
