Q&A
Serbia
- In Annex 4A, it is written that the course for entrepreneurship is opened for young people who have previously attended educational programs of A and B levels, as well as other young people who want to develop entrepreneurial skills, realize a business idea and start their own business. Does this mean that we, as an organization, publish a call for a program and organize a selection, or do you (CZOR with partners) “refer” young people who have previously attended educational programs to course 4. “entrepreneurial skills”?
Centre for Youth Work and the selected organization jointly invites young people who have previously attended educational programs of A and B levels and makes a selection. If there is a less than 20 interested young people,a public call will be published for all young people and the number of young people that are missing in order that a group has 20 participants will be selected.
- Can the trainer who will be hired (module 4.) be also a mentor (if he meets the required criteria) and what is the budget for module 4. (Entrepreneurial skills) since in the description of services and the curriculum for entrepreneurship on the first page of the annex 4A states that the budget (maximum amount of funds) allocated for the implementation of the course for digital marketing?
Yes. A trainer can also be a mentor if he meets the conditions. The budget is set for the entire course and it is EUR 10.100 in RSD counter value. The budget is not defined for each individual module. Organisation defines realistic costs in the given total budget framework and in line with given instructions.
Regarding the statement on the first page of Annex 4A – Service description and curriculum for entrepreneurship in IT, it is a mistake. The sentence should read: “The maximum amount of funds allocated for the implementation of the course for entrepreneurship in IT is EUR 10.10010.100 in RSD counter value.“
- Regarding the financial reports that need to be submitted with the application, is it enough to submit a balance sheet and income statement for the required period or is something else needed?
Regarding the financial reports, when submitting the application, it is necessary to submit the balance sheet and income statement for 2018, 2019 and 2020 (if available for 2020).
- Does the budget’s item within Annex 4A – Description of Services and Curricula for Entrepreneurship in IT, refer to the maximum amount of funds allocated for the implementation of the course for Entrepreneurship in IT (and not digital marketing as written)?
Yes, it does. In Annex 4A – Description of Services and Curricula for Entrepreneurship in IT it is a mistake. The sentence should read: “The maximum amount of funds allocated for the implementation of the course for entrepreneurship in IT is EUR 10.100 in RSD counter value.“
- In the line with guidelines from the mentioned Annex 4, the number of persons we have to hire is 8, as follows: 1 Trainer, 1 Trainer’s Assistant, 6 Mentors? Can someone who is hired as a trainer be hired as a mentor at the same time?
Yes. A trainer can also be a mentor if he meets the conditions.
- Do mentors have to meet all the criteria cumulatively (or can one condition be met, such as owning your own business/enterprise?
The conditions listed in the application package are:
– three and more years of experience as an entrepreneur,
– three or more years of work and development of a business idea and business plan,
– three or more years of experience in trainings,
– three or more years of experience as a mentor.The Commission makes a decision based on the overall quality of the application, including the quality of the proposed educational program and the competencies of the human resources proposed for its implementation. In the interest of equal treatment of all applicants and assessment of overall quality, CZOR encourages the submission of applications.
- Regarding the condition of three or more years of work experience as an entrepreneur, is the appropriate person (trainer, mentor) the one whose company is no longer active or must be active?
A trainer or mentor must have a total of three or more years of experience as an entrepreneur, but his company does not have to be currently active.
Montenegro
- I’m interested in application procedure. I’m currently in process of professional internship in X high school. Is it possible for me to apply and is participation free?
Call for Proposals for implementation of the one-stop-shop youth employability model is open for grass-root CSOs in Montenegro. Selected organizations will implement services of the Model for 50 NEET youth in Podgorica (youth not in employment, education or training) and participation will be completely free.
More information could be found on the following link.
- I’m writing regarding Call for Proposals and I’m interested could adult education providers, licenced by Ministry of education, apply?
Please check section 4.1. of Call for proposals, which provides description of Eligibility criteria for applicants. CSOs must meet all criteria, including being a legal and non-profit CSO registered in Montenegro.
- Is the digital course that is predicted for the project organized only in your premises?
No. All premises that meet the criteria described in Call for Proposals, section 2.1. could be used for course implementation.
Please keep in mind that both courses (A and B level) might be conducted in the same premise, if necessary.
- Can the funds predicted within the project be used for equipment i.e. for purchasing of lap tops for the project followers?
Please check Call for Proposals, section 4.6., which provides description of eligible direct costs, including “provision of material, supplies and equipment needed for implementation.”
Please note that an applicant besides technical has to provide enough reliable information on its professional capacities.
We advise you to check carefully Annex 1 which provides details on costs’ verification methods. Additionally, please have in mind that Forum MNE will also provide to a certain extent technical and logistical support for the courses’ implementation.
- Are the project funds allowed to be used in finance the equipment for the project teachers?
Please check answer on Question no. 4 and section 4.6. of the Call for Proposals.
- If we would like to join a partner to this project who has adequate premises, what is the procedure to prove it?
In the section 4.3 of the application form please describe the partners premises. General information about the partners should be provided within section 3.
In the case that application is considered for funding additional documents might be requested regarding the premises, including information about ownership, equipment available in the premise, photos, etc.
Please note that an applicant is fully responsible for the financial management of the awarded grant and sub-granting to other CSOs is not allowed. An applicant can engage experts and service providers either natural persons or legal entities.
- One of the conditions is that the applicant has at least one- year experience with one stop shop methodology. Can we count as experience the activities that were taken on periodically and is the experience of courses organization that were attended by our followers relevant, than the trainings of non-formal character that we organized for young followers as winter and summer programs with regard on youth relevant issues as well as improving and gaining digital competences?
In the interest of equal treatment of applicants, we cannot give a prior opinion on the eligibility of an applicant or specific activities.
Please note that applicants should describe previous experience primarily in specific area they are applying for (e.g.: digital skills, career counselling etc.) and/or in other areas of the Model, if applicable, as well as previous experience in working with NEET youth or youth in general.
- Is the training for the course of digital competences level A and B provided in group of 25 participants? If the group should be divided, how many groups should be or we should propose this?
As explained in Call for Proposals, A and B level courses include 50 NEET youth, in total. 25 NEET youth without previous knowledge in IT will be enrolled in A level course, while 25 NEET youth who have no prior professional knowledge in that field, but are highly motivated to gain more specific digital competencies will be enrolled in B level course.
Both of these courses will be implemented simultaneously.
It is not envisaged to further divide this group, unless necessary due to the situation caused by Covid 19 pandemic.
- Is it possible to have an IT company as a partner?
Please check answer to question No.6.
Please keep in mind that partner must meet the sam criteria as applicant. Eligibility criteria are listed in section 4.3. of Call for proposals.
- Is it acceptable that the teacher who would lead the course of digital competences has degree in Graphic Design Science, if it complies with other request predicted for this position (3 years of experience with the program to be lectured, working experience in organisation of educational programs and experience with working with youngsters?
In the interest of equal treatment of applicants, we cannot give a prior opinion on the eligibility of an applicant or specific activities.
Please check criteria listed in curriculum for the Digital skills course, where is indicated that person engaged should have diploma of at least VI or VII degree of relevant faculties/courses.
- If we would like to engage a guest expert in some field, is the CV of short-term experts who would teach only a lesson obliged to be submitted? If yes, do they need to comply with all criteria requested for regular teachers?
Please note that applicant should submit CVs of all persons who will be engaged to provide services. Guest expert doesn’t have to meet all criteria requested for regular teachers.
Please provide reasoning behind engagement of the guest expert.
- Which formal criteria should fulfill the co-applicant? And can it be registered as a limited liability company?
Partners must meet the same criteria as applicant. Please check section 4.1. of Call for proposals, which provides description of Eligibility criteria.
Please note that an applicant can engage experts and service providers either natural persons or legal entities.
- Can we apply for services 4 and 5 (Career counseling- group A and Career counseling- group B) within the same application or we must submit two?
An applicant must submit separate applications. Please check section 6 of the Call for Proposals for more information on how to send applications.
- We have question regarding application form, section 5. Should members of the project team and experts engaged be listed in the same form?
Yes. All proposed project’s team members and pre-selected experts should be listed in the form provided in section 5 of the Application form.
Please note that in column Position/role you can provide more information about the person involved.
- Who is responsible for youth outreach? Is organization in charge for implementation of entrepreneurship included in selection of participants?
Forum MNE is responsible for outreaching NEET youth in Montenegro.
Selected organizations for implementation of digital skills course A and B level jointly with Forum MNE will participate in recruitment and selection of candidates for both courses.
- Can you provide me with more information on defining an organization as grass-root. Is there a limit in the budget as a condition?
Grass-root organization for the purpose of the Call of Proposals are understood as organizations acting on local level and registered in Montenegro.
- Our question refers to the literature listed in curriculum. Is applicant obliged to use for e.g. Hogan test mentioned in curriculum for Career counseling?
No. Literature listed in curriculums is provided as a suggestion/ proposal. However, applicant should propose literature and materials which they plan on using in order to achieve envisaged learning outcomes.
Kosovo
- We are an NGO located in Peja and we do provide support to marginalized groups of this region, especially women and communities. The CfP states that training venues shall be provided by Toka, thus can you please let us know if such location can be provided in Peja. If not, should we plan our activities in our location or plan to rent a location in Peja.
The location will be in Prishtina for all trainings, to ensure continuity and stability for the participants. The trainers of all partner organisations, regardless of where they are based, will be expected to conduct their trainings in the Prishtina training location.
- As an organization we do not have the full capacities for all the trainings under the CfP, as such can we partner with another organization that has the experts but has been established in 2020.
Yes you can, but kindly note that any partners in the project have to fulfill all eligibility criteria of the applicant – for example, you cannot partner with a business (since only CSO’s are eligible to apply) or with a CSO that was registered in 2020 (since eligible CSOs have to have been registered at least from 1st January 2018). Please check 4.1 Eligibility criteria in the Call for Proposals, for full details.
- If partnership is not allowed, can we cooperate with this organization for some activities, is it eligible.
Point 4.4 on in the Call for Proposals outlines conditions for Associates. You can also hire external experts to conduct part of your training, but please note that anyexternal goods/services above 2,500 euros need to undergo a procurement procedure, as per EU rules.