CFPs: Technical Assistance preparation of ENV SIPs

This is a call for proposals for EU action grants in the field of Environment and Climate Action under the Programme for Environment and Climate Action (LIFE).

What is the LIFE Programme?

• The LIFE Programme is the EU Programme for Environment and Climate Action.
• As such, it is one of the key contributors to the European Green Deal which aims to:
  • transform the EU into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource efficient and competitive economy where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050 and where economic growth is decoupled from resource use and
  • protect, conserve and enhance the EU’s natural capital, and protect the health and well-being of citizens from environment and climate related risks and impacts.
• The LIFE Programme will contribute to these priorities through its four sub programmes in particular by:
  • boosting and integrating the implementation of the EU’s policy objectives for halting and reversing loss of wildlife habitats and species across all sectors
  • supporting the transition to a circular economy and protecting and improving the quality of EU’s natural resources, including air, soil and water among others
  • supporting implementation of the 2030 energy and climate policy framework, the EU’s climate neutrality objective by 2050, and the new EU strategy on adaptation to climate change and
  • building capacity, stimulating investments and supporting implementation of policies focused on energy efficiency and small-scale renewables.
• The LIFE Programme is structured in two fields and four sub-programmes:
  • Environment:
    • sub-programme Nature and Biodiversity
    • sub-programme Circular Economy and Quality of Life
  • Climate Action: 
    • sub-programme Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
    • sub-programme Clean Energy Transition.

Objectives

• LIFE-2024-TA-PP-ENV-SIP — Technical Assistance preparation of ENV SIPs
  • The objective is the preparation of ENV Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs).
    • ENV SIPs projects
      • aim at the implementation of:
        • National or Regional Circular Economy Action Plans, Strategies, Roadmaps or similar
        • National and regional Waste Management Plans (WMPs) pursuant to Article 28 of the Waste Framework Directive and/or Waste Prevention Programmes as requested by article 29 of the Waste Framework Directive;
        • River basin management plans (RBMPs) pursuant to Annex VII to the Water Framework Directive, Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) pursuant to the Floods Directive, Marine Strategies pursuant to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive;
        • Air quality plans pursuant to the Ambient Air Quality Directive or National Air Pollution Control Programmes (NAPCP) pursuant to the National Emission Ceilings Directive.
      • at large territorial scale
      • with the involvement of all concerned stakeholders
      • and include a coordination mechanism for funding supporting complementary measures necessary for the full implementation of the targeted plan or strategy.

Funding Information

• The available call budget is EUR 1,100,000.
  • Technical Assistance preparation of ENV SIPs
    • Total budget: EUR 200,000
    • Max. EU contribution: EUR 70,000

Activities

• LIFE-2024-TA-PP-ENV-SIP — Technical Assistance preparation of ENV SIPs
  • As a general principle, all activities included in the Technical Assistance project must be new and additional to the work undertaken by the applicant prior to the project.
  • In general, and amongst others, the activities:
    • should not be research;
    • should not include statutory responsibilities of the competent authority;
    • should be completed within the duration of the project;
    • should be clearly related to the objective(s) of the project and the corresponding SIP.
  • Activities may include (this is not an exhaustive list):
    • recruitment of new personnel and training for writing a SIP proposal;
    • contracting external assistance for writing a SIP proposal;
    • information collection for the preparation of a SIP proposal (e.g. on sources of funding)
    • networking, consultation and coordination work for preparing and writing the SIP;
    • coordination with stakeholders to be involved in the Strategic Integrated Project;
    • developing financing plans where such plans are not already part of the targeted strategy or plan;
    • mapping of the actions complementary to the SIP and their potential sources of funding
    • writing of the SIP proposal concept note and full proposal itself.

Expected Impact

• A proposal for a Technical Assistance project is expected to support the applicant during preparation of an eligible SIP proposal of good quality that targets an eligible strategy or plan. The proposals must also demonstrate that the proposed action is of Union interest by making a contribution to the achievement of one of the general objectives of the LIFE Programme set out in Article 3 of the LIFE regulation.

Eligibility Criteria

• In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:
  • be legal entities (public or private bodies)
  • be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
    • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
    • non-EU countries:
      • listed EEA countries and countries associated to the LIFE Programme
  • the coordinator must be established in an eligible country.

For more information, visit European Commission.