| Overview : UPDATE: We will be hosting an online webinar on the underlined dates to provide clarifications and answer any questions you might have about the Polish
Challenge Fund. 27 July 2022 15:00 – 16:30 CET. Information on the upcoming webinar and links to register are posted on the Zoom website. After registration, you will receive a notification
with a link to join the webinar. A recording will be published on the Polish Challenge Fund website: www.polishchallengefund.org ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The objective of the Polish Challenge Fund is to facilitate the transfer of the Polish know-how and innovative solutions that would address development challenges identified by UNDP Country Offices in Republic of Moldova and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. The eligible Applicants include Polish private sector entities, research institutes and universities. The Applicants are required to engage local partners to assure viability in local conditions, and to promote sustainability and scalability of the solution. All of the call background, criteria for selection and evaluation details can be found in the call for proposals and its attachments. Locality: Republic of Moldova Development Challenges: Challenge 1 – Green Technologies & Affordable Energy Sources: Introducing and/or improving the current state of green technologies and other smart solutions in the energy sector, which have a positive and immediate impact on local communities and industries, in the field of energy efficiency, ensuring the energy affordability, and mitigating the impacts of energy poverty for local communities in the Republic of Moldova and refugees from Ukraine. Examples: Development of partnerships and strategies to collaborate to overcome barriers and energy poverty, e.g. through peer-to-peer networks partners develop and implement strategies for clean and/or affordable energy deployment, development of the renewable and green technologies for the provision of energies to the residential networks, neighborhoods or towns, etc. Installations of green and affordable technologies for immediate help to the local communities and/or refugees, e.g. solar rooftops, new types of sources of the solid fuels (briquettes), etc.
Introduction of new types of localized energy plants and energy sources, i.e. installation of heat pumps for the low-income households, etc. Leverage new energy-saving technologies, e.g. interior lighting improvements, rooftop unit replacements and retrofits, and the use of energy management systems, etc. Green technologies for energy efficiency in public buildings (e.g. managing energy efficiency, consumption and costs by intelligent motion detectors and monitoring systems);
Challenge 2 – Digital Innovations & New Solutions for ICT Sector: Introducing and/or developing digital public services and digital public goods, including the use of open-source tools and technologies to improve and support the public service delivery, increasing people’s engagement, enhancing transparency, accountability, and inclusion and, ultimately making life better for local communities in the Republic of Moldova and refugees from Ukraine. Examples: Present new concepts, tools and techniques, to support strategies, capabilities and action planning in the areas of innovation and digital government, e.g. data mapping and surveys for local governments, to integrate use of big data into statistical works and to overcome challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine; Mentor, source funding, test, and scale digital solutions and tools for immediate help with the long-term impact to the local communities and refugees, e.g. development and/or introduction of interactive platforms and apps for sharing the information and provision of the jobs on market, health services, social care and education, etc. Engagement of the local and refugee talents from the digital and ICT sectors for public good, e.g. establishment and/or development of digital labs and platforms for effective digital transformation, etc. Development of the capacities and creation of new job opportunities for all, including vulnerable groups and capacity developers, e.g. hackathons and events to map the data and track the impact of people mobility, energy poverty, etc. Introduction of technologies, and policies to fight the gender-based violence and human trafficking of refugees, e.g. introduction of multi-functional mobile application safeguards women against domestic violence, etc.
Challenge 3 – Markets, Employment, and Other Support: Encouragement of economic growth and mitigation of negative impacts of economic decline in the sectors of agriculture, market, employment, and other. Examples: Use of modern technologies and/or introduction of innovations in agriculture and food productions, e.g. innovative cultivation technologies and process management tools for introducing plants to cultivation according to new cultivation technology, etc. Development of knowledge and technologies that will make modern agriculture and farming more sustainable, resilient, and productive, e.g. opening of new markets and value-chains, introduction of new fertilizers and feeding systems, etc. Introducing new methods and technologies for fresh food sector, e.g. technologies that can help prompt sustainable and effective packaging toward fresh food options, etc.
Encouragement of economic growth by supporting small and medium-sized businesses that invest in research and development, create new job opportunities, or enhance capacity building, etc. Mentoring and support to the local companies to boost the economic development and avoid the losses caused by the economic decline, i.e. establishment of partnerships for employment and production of new goods, capacity building and introduction of new skills, etc.
Expected contract start date: October 15, 2022 Expected contract length: 7-9 months Estimated prize: Ranging between US$20,000 and US$40,000, the Applicants provide co-funding of at least 20% of the total cost of the Project. The Applicants must submit their proposals using the templates for the Application Form (in Annex 3) and Budget Breakdown Form (in Annex 4). The Application should be sent to procurement.irh@undp.org by Thursday 15 September 2022 at 11:59 PM CET under the title "UNDPIRH-CFP-202205 Polish Challenge Fund" |
