Proposal phase for IKI projects

An IKI project enters the implementation phase after the detailed proposal is approved. To ensure that the financial resources can be provided to the project, each of the lead organisations sets a sub grant agreement with their partners within the consortium. This sub grant agreement governs the general terms of cooperation between the individual partners and the lead organisation during the implementation phase of the project.

Political support from the partner country must be obtained by the implementing organisation for the project implementing phase. The IKI Office at ZUG provides advice to the implementing organisations individually on the next steps at the appropriate time.

IKI Safeguards and IKI Gender Strategy

Fairness is one of the IKI’s core values. To ensure fairness is put into practice and implemented in each project, the IKI has a number of instruments at its disposal, which must be considered when preparing a proposal.

One of these instruments is the IKI Safeguards, which aims to ensure that IKI projects comply with international environmental and social standards, while also minimising or mitigating negative impacts on the environment and human communities. The exclusion criteria contained in the IKI Safeguards also clearly indicates the specific topic areas not funded by the IKI.

Gender justice is also vital at the IKI: all IKI projects must now be oriented in a way that prevents gender based biases and discrimination. The potential offered by all stakeholders must be utilised to help improve climate action and conserve biodiversity.

Complaint mechanism

The independent complaint mechanism at IKI aims to provide a means for people who (could potentially) suffer negative social or environmental consequences as a result of IKI projects or wish to report the improper use of funds to disclose their complaints in a protected setting and  get support.  In particular, IKI implementation organisations must publicise this complaint mechanism as part of their project organisation, providing appropriate information to their target groups and communities in the project region, and must also cooperate in the event of any investigations. For the proposal phase, this means you will be required to state entry points for integrating these measures into the project timetable.

Local Content

A close involvement of actors in the partner countries of IKI projects and a strong focus on the local context has always been a quality feature of IKI projects. The core assumption is that the stronger the local embedding, the more effective and sustainable the IKI project. 

Participation in a project can be an opportunity for an increase in knowledge and skills for all organisations involved. It facilitates a lively exchange of knowledge and learning. This, in turn, contributes to the institutional consolidation and further development of administrative and technical skills of organisations and can greatly increase the adaptability of international organisations and their methods to local contexts. 

One rule designed to promote these effects in IKI projects is the local content rule. This means that at least half of IKI projects should be implemented by organisations that are anchored in the partner countries/regions, generate added value there and offer jobs and training for local experts.

Policy for handling of mitigation credits in the IKI

Carbon markets make it possible to implement climate protection measures as efficiently as possible by trading emission reduction credits. The German government therefore considers the use of market-based instruments to be an important approach in the fight against climate change. IKI funds can and should be used to promote quality and transparency in the carbon market and to acquire private capital for scaling up IKI projects. However, in order to ensure a clear separation between ODA-eligible climate finance in the context of IKI projects and the compliance and voluntary carbon market, certain requirements must be met. Compliance with the requirements is ensured by the policy on the handling of emission reduction credits in the IKI.

For details on all relevant aspects for the proposal, please visit the specific information pages as listed here:

• IKI Safeguards
• IKI Gender Strategy
• IKI Complaint Mechanism
• Local Content Rule

• Policy for handling of mitigation credits in the IKI

If questions arise on individual topics, please get in touch with a designated contact at the ZUG IKI Office.

Templates

You will need these templates in order to submit a proposal. Where available, these will be provided in English, so as to ensure that all implementing partners are equally involved in the proposal phase.

Note: The specifications for GIZ and KfW may differ. The necessary templates are provided directly by the IKI Office.

If questions arise on individual topics, please get in touch with a designated contact at the ZUG IKI Office.

Guidelines

These guiding documents ensure that all important aspects for a successful IKI project have been properly covered in the proposal phase.

Links

Easy Online Application Platform (The use of the Easy Online Application Platform is only obligatory for German grant recipients)

IKI Guidelines Communication Obligations and Channels for IKI Projects