Programme objective
Conditions
Project contents
Project approach
Restrictions
Application procedure
Approval, contract, payment, reporting
Contact details

Programme objective
This fund is intended to support small nature conservation projects. These projects entail activities related to nature protection and nature management, like drawing up inventories on protected species or the preservation of threatened species.

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Conditions
Although the grants are small, the Embassy takes great care to ensure that they are relevant and helpful, and that they are properly used. Therefore:
1. Applications must be presented in a certain way (see application procedure);
2. The project contents and the project approach must clearly fit within Matra/KNIP objectives;
3. A transparent reporting procedure is required.

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Project contents
In order to be eligible for a Matra/KNIP grant, the project must be aimed at nature conservation activities of Non Governmental Organisations (NGO's).
For Romania the priorities for financial support to NGO's include:
• Biodiversity policy development and implementation;
• Area protection and ecosystem management;
• Protection of the routes of migratory birds;
• Exchange of expertise concerning natural ecosystems;
• Promotion of sustainable relationship between agriculture and nature management.

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Project approach
• The project should be a local initiative;
• It should be aimed at a clearly defined target group;
• The organisation should carry part of the project burden through the contribution of money, material, facilities or work;
• The project should be feasible in the given local circumstances and other respects;
• It should be small-scale and non-commercial;
• Its duration may not exceed a period of twelve months;
• The amount appointed to 1 project will not exceed Euro 5.000,-;
• The funds must be earmarked for specific project activities.

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Restrictions
• The Embassy does not sponsor project organisers fees or salaries of the employees of the organising NGO
• The Embassy does not sponsor construction costs;
• The Embassy does not sponsor stationery costs;
• The Embassy does not sponsor projects, which have already started or are already completed.

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Application procedure
The Applications can be submitted no later than Friday 24 July 2009 at 14:00 hours at the Netherlands Embassy in Bucharest. (see address below)
Applications and all correspondence should be in English. Standard application forms Applications and all correspondence should be in English. Standard application forms can be obtained at the Embassy. The application should be accompanied by a cover letter and a copy of the registration document of the applicant's organisation. If letter(s) of recommendation is added, translation in English should also be provided.

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Approval, contract, payment, reporting
If the project is approved, the applicant receives two copies of the contract, outlining the conditions of the grant. One copy is to be signed and returned to the embassy. Upon receipt of this, the embassy pays the first instalment of the grant (80%). Not later than two months after finalisation of the entire project, you will submit to the embassy a project evaluation report and a financial report regarding the Embassy's grant. The project evaluation report describes the overall evaluation of the project according to the project-proposal, i.e. planned activities vs. realised, encountered problems or successes, opinions of organisers and participants, lessons learnt and future plans. The financial report consists of a table of the final realised budget where every bill/document is specified. With this report you will submit original bills and other documents proving the expenditures. Upon approval of these documents, the embassy pays the second and final installment (20%). The embassy reserves the right to inspect the project accounts and activities at any time. Any changes in the budget, which concern the Embassy’s donation, require our permission. In case of prolongation of the project duration, please notify the Embassy.

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Contact details
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Department for Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality
Matra/KNIP programme
Aleea Alexandru 20
011823 Bucharest - Romania

Note:
Matra/KNIP funds are limited. This implies that approval of project proposals may have to be withheld even when all of the above requirements are met.

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