CALL FOR APPLICATIONS OPEN - INTERREG IVA PRIORITY 2.1: COLLABORATION: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
26 June 2009
Details of the latest Call.
A call for applications has been announced under Priority: Theme 1 of the INTERREG IVA Programme.
The call is being made under Priority 2: – Co-operation for a more sustainable cross-border region. This priority aims to improve access to services so as to improve the quality of life for those living in the eligible area.
The Theme within Priority 2 under which this call is being made is: Rural Development.
The Rural Development sub-theme has a particular focus on improving the socio-economic welfare of rural communities through collaboration across the eligible area.
Definitions of Rural
Although the eligible area for this Programme shares a similar rural landscape, the understanding of the actual term ‘rural’ is different within each of the three participating regions. A definition of ‘rural’ has been provided for each of the jurisdictions and it is important that you adhere to these in the development of your proposal.
For Northern Ireland, rural is defined as all those areas outside the statutory development limits of those settlements with a population in excess of 4,500 inhabitants.
For Ireland, rural is considered as all areas of the six Irish border counties excluding those towns listed as hubs and gateways under the National Spatial Strategy (Cavan, Monaghan, Sligo, Dundalk and Letterkenny towns)
In Scotland, 18% of the population falls into the eligible area. Rural is defined as settlements with a population of less than 3,000. However this is further differentiated by accessibility as Remote Rural (community with more than 30 min drive to nearest settlement of 10,000 or more) and Accessible Rural (community with 30 min or less drive to nearest settlement with population of 10,000 or more).
The Programme retains the flexibility to support projects located in more urban settings in cases where the projects will principally benefit rural communities. A robust case must be made in such circumstances to justify the consideration of such an application.
Detailed Criteria
The Criteria is as follows:
- The proposal must demonstrate how it will support the sustainable socio-economic development of disadvantaged rural communities through strategically focused cross border-actions;
- A comprehensive delivery plan should be developed for the proposal showing how it will be implemented and showing the planned timescale for delivery of the project;
- The proposal must show how it will adopt innovative approaches to enhancing the rural economy on a cross-border basis;
- The proposal should demonstrate clear and well defined complementarity to the Rural Development Programmes of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland;
- The impact of the project should be clearly stated. It should have the potential to make a major impact during and beyond the lifetime of the Programme to ensure the continuing development of the rural economy through cross-border activities;
- As the Rural Development theme of INTERREG IVA has a strong focus on targeting disadvantage, applicants must provide a full list of all District Electoral Divisions targeted in the border counties of Ireland and the Wards / Super Output Areas targeted in Northern Ireland, and Scotland if applicable.
Measuring Impact
The INTERREG IVA Programme is calling for strategic proposals which support the sustainable socio-economic development of particularly disadvantaged rural communities through strategically focused cross-border actions. In order to specifically measure the impact of this sub-theme and the projects funded by it, all applicants must incorporate a target for the number of people directly benefiting from their socio-economic project. Also, the applicants must describe the methodology they will use to monitor, measure and report against their stated target. Performance updates will be required twice per year during the funding period.
Capital Developments
Those proposals intending to undertake a capital development must be able to provide satisfactory evidence that the project will complete within the timeframe indicated in the application.
Obviously, those proposals which already have the necessary statutory approvals in place will be ready to proceed and more likely to complete within the Programme lifetime than those which do not.
Ineligible Activities
Funding will not be provided for:
- Applicants to operate small grants / open calls within the framework of their proposal;
- Food manufacturing / processing and direct agricultural activity;
- Preparation of business plans, marketing plans and research / feasibility studies.
Closing Date
The call for applications under the Rural Development sub theme will close at 5.00pm on Wednesday 30 September 2009. The closing date will be strictly adhered to. Applications will not be accepted after the published closing date.
For Further Information
For further information please contact:
Nuala Cormican (Programme Manager)
SEUPB, M:Tek Building
Armagh Road
Monaghan
+353 (0)47 77003
Eimear Murphy (Programme Manager)
SEUPB, EU House
6 Cromac Place
Belfast
BT7 2JB
+44 (0)28 90266683
Caroline Coleman (National Contact Point for Scotland)
Scotland Europa
150 Broomielaw
Atlantic Quay
Glasgow
G2 8LU
+44 (0)141 228 2202