Closed Thailand - Establish a Lower Mekong Regional Hub for Clean Air to enhance harmonized national regulatory capacity - TH-24-002 by CCAC - 4 July, 2024 Share SHARE Facebook share Twitter LinkedIn Copy URL Email Breadcrumb Home Calls For Proposals 2024 Calls For Proposals: Projects To Advance National Policy and Mitigation Actions Thailand - Establish a Lower Mekong Regional Hub For Clean Air To Enhance Harmonized National Regulatory Capacity - TH-24-002 OverviewThe project responds to a request by Thailand’s Pollution Control Department to set itself up as a Lower Mekong Regional Hub for Clean Air, encouraging and providing capacity for regulatory action that is harmonized across the national governments.Thailand is seeking to foster clean air actions in the Lower Mekong region, given its existing and ongoing collaborations with the governments of Cambodia, and Laos To foster clean air actions across the above countries, the Hub will:Be a platform for exchange both on policy/regulatory actions, as well as related air quality monitoring by the governmentsProvide tools for decision-making and regulatory approaches that are then applied by the individual countries in the Lower Mekong region in a harmonised wayFacilitate access to air quality monitoring support through international funding sources (including bilateral donors)Increase data availability through a data sharing platform the Lower Mekong regionStrengthen partnerships and enhance collaboration and cooperation in addressing environmental challenges in the Lower Mekong regionThese efforts are part of Thailand’s commitment to deliver the “Roadmap on ASEAN Cooperation towards Transboundary Haze Pollution Control” 2022-2030, which was adopted in August 2023. The proposed activities would also deliver against Thailand’s “CLEAR Sky Strategy” with respect to the “Experience Sharing” strategic area. All three countries have endorsed the “CLEAR Sky Strategy.”The activities proposed above should also build on the ongoing assessment of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) from Forest Fire and Open Burning in the Lower Mekong Sub-region (LMS) to support the ASEAN haze control supported by the CCAC.Who to involveThailand Pollution Control Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Laos), Ministry of Environment (Cambodia)Expected resultsOutcome 1: The Governments of Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos each endorse individualised recommendations for strengthening national regulatory frameworks for clean air during the project.Indicator: Number of laws, regulations, or other policy mechanisms with SLCP targets or mitigation measures proposed.Output 1.1: A report, with individual chapters for each of the four countries, that sets out at minimum recommended regulatory actions to be framed in the context of harmonization and collaboration amongst the Lower Mekong region countries. Output 1.2: A data and information management system that developed in alignment with the CCAC platform to inform regulatory actions and enhancements needed over the long-term for the Lower Mekong Region.Output 1.3 Stakeholder consultations with national entities from Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos organized to support the endorsement of the individualised recommendations for strengthening the regulatory frameworks for clean air.Outcome 2: The Government of Thailand secures political and financial support (national and/or international) for long-term operations of the Lower Mekong Regional Hub for Clean Air by the end of the project or soon after.Indicator: Number of possible donors for external funding (“catalysed funding”) for SLCP actionsOutput 2.1: Assessment detailing investment needs of the Lower Mekong Regional Hub for Clean Air and potential sources of financing Investment needs are identified.Outcome 3: The Government of Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos endorse project concepts/proposals by the end of the project for submission to international funding sources for putting high-quality air quality monitoring systems in place to inform future government commitments and regulatory enhancements by the end of the project. Indicator: Number of possible donors for supporting regional high-quality monitoring systemsOutput 3.1: At least two comprehensive and written project concepts/proposals for the hub that at minimum set out:Description Link to policies and regulationsCosts overview A sustainability plan for long-term upkeepOutput 3.2: Powerpoint pitches for each concepts/proposalsOutput 3.3: A list of potential donors, including contact detailsAPPLICATION PROCESsEligibility requirementsTo be eligible for consideration, project proposals must meet the following requirements:Complete and submitted before the deadlineSubmitted by a non-governmental organization (NGO), intergovernmental organization (IGO), or other not-for-profit entity. Requested funding is within the estimated budget amount, or includes a clear justification for additional expenses Project duration is less than 24 monthsBudget criteria are met and spending caps on expenses are respected.Please note that entities will be required to provide the last three (3) audited financial statements to be eligible for CCAC funding. These statements may be provided along with the application for funding or at the request of the CCAC Secretariat during the evaluation process.For-profit entities may only participate in the project as stakeholders, co-funders, or end users. Applicants are encouraged to include for-profit entities in the development of the project proposal and/or during project implementation if their ownership of the proposed solution is key to the project’s success. How to applyEligible applicants are invited to apply using the Application Form and Excel Budget Form. Specific instructions on completing these forms are available in both documents.Applicants may choose to follow the cost range proposed above OR propose a different budget supported by a clear justification. However, applicants should note that cost efficiency will play a significant role in the selection process.The completed Application Form and Excel Budget Form should be submitted to secretariat [at] ccacoalition.org.Evaluation criteriaProposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:Presents a clear plan to achieve the required outcomes during the lifetime of the project or soon afterIncludes a plan or activities to enable the scaling up of, replication of, or sustained use of project results over timeSets out a clear approach for enabling or contributing to SLCP emissions reductions and resulting co-benefitsInvolves relevant stakeholders Approach is grounded in a strong understanding of relevant risksComplements other relevant initiatives, funding mechanisms, and existing policy processesApplicant demonstrates necessary capacity and experience to perform the workA realistic, cost-effective, and clearly justified budget and approach is proposedProject meets the minimum requirements for the OECD DAC gender equality marker Score 1 Selection processA preliminary review of proposals submitted by the deadline will be conducted by members of the CCAC Secretariat, Funding Task Team, and Board, in consultation with relevant CCAC Partners. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to present their proposals in further detail and to respond to follow-up questions about their application.Successful applicants will be invited to develop a Project Implementation Plan and Detailed Budget in consultation with the CCAC Secretariat and relevant CCAC Partners.The selection process may take up to 6 months after the closing date of the call for proposals. Due to the high volume of requests, the CCAC will not respond to requests for updates or feedback during this time.NOTE: DUE DILIGENCE In addition to eligibility criteria outlined above, qualified UNEP/CCAC implementers* must meet the following criteria: Have adequate financial resources to perform the contract and meet all existing commitments (financial health)Be able to provide proof of registration, proof of not-for-profit status and audited financial statements for the last three completed fiscal years Have a record of satisfactory performance with UNEP/CCAC, when applicable; and - Not have been suspended or debarred by UNEP/CCAC or another UN agency. UNEP/CCAC also considers entities included in the Security Council Resolution Lists to be ineligible for UNEP/CCAC agreements.* (inter)governmental entities/ United Nations are exempt from this requirementProcurementAs a general rule, Implementation Agreements allow for incidental procurement only, and as such, total costs in the following categories must fall below a certain threshold*:Contractual ServicesEquipment, Vehicles and FurnitureOperating and other Direct costsSupplies, Commodities and Materials*Agreements of $200,000 and below: up to $20,000 or 15% of total budget, whichever is lower.*Agreements of above $200,000: up to $40,000 or 15%. * United Nations agencies are exempt from this requirement Highlights Opening: 5 July, 2024 Closing: 30 August, 2024 Estimated project cost $300,000