ABOUT SMALL SCALE PROJECTS

Small Scale Projects (SSP) under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic (MFA CZ) represent one of the principal instruments of bilateral development cooperation of the Czech Republic. Such projects are carried out by local stakeholders in cooperation with Embassy of the Czech Republic directly in developing countries.

The Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi identified following priority areas and SDGs for 2027:

1. Good democratic governance (SDG 16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions)
2. Sustainable management of natural resources (SDGs 6 and 13 - Drinking water and sanitation and Climate action)
3. Agriculture and rural development (SDG 2 - Zero hunger, SDG 15 – Life on land, Sustainable forestry)

WHO CAN APPLY

The financial contribution is intended for projects implemented in Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives (not in India!).

Implementing partner must be a local entity established in the country of project implementation, with legal subjectivity (capacity to hold rights and obligations) and authorization to receive funding from the Czech Development Cooperation programme (ZRS ČR).

Implementing partner cannot be a central state administration authority, a political party or movement, or any entity that would generate profit from the funds provided.

Eligible implementing partners may include educational, healthcare, social or cultural institutions, non-governmental non-profit organizations (NGOs), cooperatives, local or regional authorities, or other public-benefit organizations.

The implementing partner assumes full responsibility for the substantive implementation of the SSP towards the project guarantor (the Embassy of the Czech Republic).

INFORMATION ON TIME FRAMEWORK, BUDGET AND VISIBILITY

SSP must qualify as Official Development Assistance (ODA) in accordance with OECD/DAC rules and must be implemented in a developing country. Project outputs may be tangible (e.g. infrastructure, equipment) or intangible (e.g. training, capacity building). In both cases, the expected output must be clearly described in the project identification form and must be verifiable by the Embassy during and after implementation.

The financial contribution provided by the Czech side for an individual SSP ranges from CZK 250,000 to CZK 500,000, including the exchange-rate reserve.

The SSP should primarily:

1. Address a local development priority identified by the Embassy based on its knowledge of the country and local context.
2. Increase the visibility of the Czech Republic and strengthen awareness of the Czech Republic as a donor country within the target community
3. Where possible, build on other Czech activities in the country, including development, humanitarian, economic, cultural, or compatriot-related initiatives, previous SSPs, activities of other donors, or programmes of the partner country. Such linkage is considered an advantage but is not a mandatory requirement
4. Enable the testing of new partnerships that may be utilized in future Czech Development Cooperation programmes
5. All project activities, including the payment of all project-related costs, must be completed no later than 31 October of the implementation year (2027)

Project costs:

1. Costs that directly contribute to the delivery of the SSP output specified in the Project Identification Form, including materials, equipment, construction works, transportation and installation, fees for trainers and experts, and costs related to training participants
2. Each project-related expenditure must be clearly linked in the budget to a specific activity outlined in the Project Identification Form
3. Support and administrative costs are costs necessary for the preparation, management, or administration of the SSP but which do not directly constitute project outputs.
4. Eligible support and administrative costs include salaries, fees and per diems of project management and administrative staff, travel and accommodation expenses, insurance, vaccinations, translation services, bank charges, and project visibility and publicity costs
5. Support and administrative costs may not exceed 8% of the total SSP budget financed from Czech Development Cooperation funds, including any subsequent budget modifications
6. Budget changes that, in total (cumulatively), do not exceed 10% of the total SSP budget financed from the Czech Development Cooperation funds (excluding the exchange rate reserve) may be implemented by the project implementer after prior notification to the Embassy. Such changes must be described and quantified in the final report
7. Budget changes that, in total (cumulatively), exceed 10% of the total SSP budget financed from Czech Development Cooperation funds, as well as changes to SSP activities or outputs, require prior written approval from the Embassy. The project implementer shall request such approval by submitting a change request
8. Method and schedule of fund disbursement to the implementer: bank transfer, cash payment, or cheque; payments may be made in installments, with the percentage determined by the Embassy, up to a maximum of 50% of the approved project costs.
9. The total approved budget of the SSP shall not be exceeded
10. The implementer's overhead and operational expenses are not eligible for financing from the SSP budget. These include, in particular, office rent, utilities, organizational accounting services, internet services, and other general institutional running costs
11. All tangible SSP outputs are marked with either the CzechAid logo or the logo of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, whichever is considered more appropriate for the local context. The selected logo is also used in the presentation of project results. For all intangible SSP outputs, support provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic (financial support of the Development Cooperation of the Czech Republic) is duly acknowledged in presentations and in any materials resulting from those outputs

HOW TO APPLY

The application for a SSP grant must include:

1. The Small Scale Project Identification Form in English, signed and stamped by the organization
2.  A verified copy of a document (in English or translated into English) certifying that the applicant has legal subjectivity in the country of implementation
3. A verified letter issued by management or board of the implementing partner in Czech or English stating that the person mentioned and signed on the identification form has the legal right to sign the contract with MFA CZ
4. A valid permit to receive foreign funding

EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR THE SELECTION OF SSP

1. Verification that the proposal has been submitted using the prescribed SSP Identification Form and that all sections, including the applicant’s  contact details, have been completed and that the applicant has submitted a document proving its legal status in the country of implementation
2. Verification that the applicant has submitted a document authorising the designated representative to act and sign on behalf of the organisation
3. Verification of the accuracy and truthfulness of the information provided in the Identification Form, potential risks associated with the proposed SSP and the proposal’s compliance with the objectives, eligibility criteria, and requirements of the SSP programme.
4. Assessment of whether the proposed costs are reasonable and proportionate to the expected results and whether the proposed activities and methodology are clearly described
5. Assessment of economy and cost-effectiveness, including the budget structure, compliance with applicable financial limits, and the amount and source of any co-financing
6. Assessment of the Embassy’s capacity to provide funding and to monitor the implementation of the SSP throughout the project period
7. Assessment of the likelihood that the project will achieve its objectives, generate sustainable benefits for the target group, and contribute to the visibility of the Czech Republic

The application must be delivered both in hard (by post) and soft copy (by email) to the diplomatic staff of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi by October 31, 2026. Applications received after this date will not be evaluated.

The applications must be sent to the following address: Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi, 50-M, Niti Marg, Chanakyapuri New Delhi - 110 021 India.

The soft copy of the application must be sent in both PDF file (signed and stamped) and in an Excel file to the e-mail address newdelhi@mzv.gov.cz and in copy to shimon.muller@mzv.gov.cz.

In the email, please include a short annotation (max. 80 words) of the project proposal with indication of which Sustainable Development Goals your project will be contributing to. 

Please do not include any other irrelevant documents such as annual reports, letters of intent or information about previous projects. Please try to compress the files before sending it to us.

IMPORTANT DEADLINES AND REALIZATION OF THE PROJECT

October 31, 2026 - Delivery of the soft and hard copies of application to the Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi

November to December 2026 - Assessment and evaluation of submitted applications by the Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

January - March 2027 - Publication of successful project proposals on the website of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi

Implementation of the Small Local Project (SSP) may commence only after the contract has been signed.

All substantial communication concerning the implementation and financing of the SSP must be documented in writing, either in paper or electronic form, and archived at the Embassy. The SSP must be implemented in accordance with the contract and within the deadlines specified therein.

The implementation schedule must comply with the Embassy's budget year, meaning that all project activities must be completed no later than 31 October of the implementation year (2027). 

All questions regarding the Small Scale Projects should be sent by e-mail to the address newdelhi@mzv.gov.cz and in copy to Mr. Shimon Müller (shimon.muller@mzv.gov.cz). In the subject of the email please write "MLP2027".

All communication must be conducted in electronic form via e-mail. Due to high amount of applications received, the Embassy cannot answer all applicants individually. In terms of results, they will be published on the website of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi (https://www.mzv.cz/newdelhi/en/index.html) around January 2027.

ATTACHMENTS

​​​Small Scale Project Identification Form (first worksheet)