Technical Assistance for Grant Scheme under the South Sinai Regional Development Programme

Detailed description of project

Over the past decade, South Sinai has seen significant economic growth in the tourism sector, which now accounts for around 25% of all tourist arrivals in Egypt. This growth has been largely built on the natural environment and unique natural resources of the area. However, the excessive concentration of tourists along the Gulf of Aqaba coastal zone has particularly increased the environmental pressures on adjacent marine sites and on the region’s natural resources.

Furthermore women, Bedouins and migrant workers are not fully integrated in this rapid development. Aware of the major challenges and opportunities that this situation creates, the Governorate of South Sinai (GOSS) is engaged in an ambitious programme to sustain the development of the region while preserving the fragile land and maritime environment, enhancing and promoting value of the religious and cultural heritage of this land as well as improving living conditions for the local population.

In order to support these efforts, the European Commission decided to finance the South Sinai Regional Development Programme (SSRDP). This €64 million programme launched in 2005 will implement priority projects and activities that contribute to the integrated development of the region.

One of the major components of the SSRDP is the implementation of a 20 million Euro Regional Development Grant Scheme (GS), which will support local initiatives in the field of environment & sustainable tourism, local development, cultural heritage, social development, equipment & capacity building and public awareness.
The specific objectives of this assignment are

1. to ensure the dissemination of the first call for proposals.
2. to help the potential applicants to the first call for proposals, generate a large number of quality projects in line with the priorities listed in the Guidelines for Applicants;
3. to assist the PSU in setting up and starting procedures for administrating and monitoring the implementation of Grant Scheme projects.

Type of service provided

Technical assistance

- Organising three half-day dissemination events to inform a total of an estimated 200 potential applicants & local stakeholders about the Grant Scheme (GS) and the upcoming calls for proposals;
- Designing and conducting three training courses:
- an introduction to Project Cycle Management (PCM) and its use for developing and implementing projects.
- a detailed presentation of the Guidelines for Applicants for the Grant Scheme including the Application Form and the budget.
- a detailed revision of the Application form of each participant in the last day of training.
- Organising Project Support sessions until the deadline for submission of proposals;
- Establishing one “Info and Guidance Point” in El Tor;
- Assisting with Contract Negotiations;
- Establishing a Monitoring System.

The expert team consist of one team leader, one assistant team leader and four project managers.

PROMAN provides the services of the team leader and two project managers and ensures overall technical backstopping of the mission.