The Strategic Programme Fund(SPF) (formerly the Global Opportunities Fund) is the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s largest programme budget and is closely aligned to FCO’s Strategy and its Departmental Strategic Objectives.

The SPF Reuniting Europe Programme (SPF–RE) contributes to the FCO's Departmental Strategic Objective No.8: 'to develop effective international institutions, above all the UN and the EU'. It does this by supporting EU enlargement and by helping European partner countries implement the reforms necessary for EU accession criteria.

The SPF–RE objectives are:

• to increase political transparency and good governance
• to strengthen reforms in the justice sector and promote human rights
• to build capacity in public administration
• to strengthen economic reforms in line with the Lisbon Agenda.

Within the SPF–RE programme for 2008/2009 priority is given to the following target countries/regions: Turkey; Croatia; Northern Cyprus; Serbia; Macedonia; Bosnia & Herzegovina; Georgia; Moldova; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Albania; Montenegro; Kosovo; Ukraine.

The British Embassy Chisinau opens a call for project proposals under SPF-RE every autumn. The information is circulated widely in the media, and is also available on this website. The priority areas for each year may vary and are presented when the application process is launched. Both governmental and non-governmental organisations are eligible for grants.

BRITISH EMBASSY CHISINAU: STRATEGIC PROGRAMME FUND – REUNITING EUROPE (SPF-RE) CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS

The British Embassy Chisinau invites concept project proposals from Moldovan governmental bodies, local and international NGOs, for support under the British Government's Strategic Programme Fund - Reuniting Europe Programme. Concept project bids must address one of the following areas:

-          increasing political transparency and good governance;

-          building administrative capacity in public administration required for European integration (with priority given to central Government).

Proposals for projects with a timeframe of up to three years can be submitted. Preference is given to medium and large projects. Only proposals with a budget of £20,000 or above will be considered. Co-funded proposals, as well as projects involving cooperation with other countries in the region (in particular new member States of the European Union and the Candidate Countries) are particularly encouraged. Implementation of projects can not start earlier than 01 April 2010. 

Concept project proposals should be submitted in electronic format only to Enquiries.Chisinau@fco.gov.uk by 06 November 2009. Concept project proposals must be submitted using Section A only of the project bid form available for download from http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/what-we-do/spend-our-budget/funding-programmes1/strat-progr-fund/strat-pro-fund-europe. Concept proposals must be kept concise and focussed. Short-listed applicants will be asked to work up full project proposals. Applications can only be accepted in English. Any concept proposals that are not submitted in the correct format will be automatically rejected.