EU ENPARD Grants – How to Apply

Application process:

Application submission: When connecting to the platform, the applicant will be asked to create an account with his/her email address and a password. Once logged in, he/she will be able to officially apply to the grant competition, He/she will have to describe the project, select the equipment for which a matching grant is requested, and attach all supporting documents.

Eligibility and budget verification: Immediately after the application submission, FAO will make a review of the budget comprised in the application form and of the eligibility of the applicant itself. Shall any clarification be needed, FAO will contact the applicant to confirm the application is in line with the program requirements.

Pre-screening of supporting documents: Following the budget validation, FAO will perform a pre-screening of the supporting documentation attached on the platform to make sure all documents have been properly submitted.

Verification field visit: Following the previous stages, FAO or its implementing partner CNFA will perform a field visit to the farm to verify the information included in the application. This visit should confirm that:

	Conclusion
Infrastructures are suitable for commercial activities	Yes/No
The overall condition of the property is acceptable	Yes/No
The property is in line with the application	Yes/No
Assets are in line with the application	Yes/No
Working conditions seem acceptable	Yes/No
Access to infrastructures (road, electricity, water) is sufficient	Yes/No
Compliance with social and environmental aspects	Yes/No
Overall judgment is satisfactory/The reality is in line with the application	Yes/No

Technical evaluation of the application: Following a successful field visit, a technical review of the application will then be performed by the grant analysts of FAO’s project implementation unit. This technical review aims to ensure the soundness of the project from a technical perspective. In particular, the technical evaluation will ensure that:

Criteria:	Conclusion
The application is coherent and informative	Yes/No
The proposed investment is adapted to the farm’s size and activities	Yes/No
The proposed investment is adapted to the crop grown	Yes/No
The applicant demonstrates minimum technical knowledge	Yes/No
The agronomic need for the investment is justified	Yes/No
The proposed investment has an economic, social, or environmental positive impact	Yes/No
The commercial activity does not pose a major environmental threat	Yes/No
There is no strong doubt on the economic sustainability of the project	Yes/No
No conflict of interest or ethical doubts were identified	Yes/No
For anti-hail nets, the state of the orchard justifies the investment	Yes/No/ N.A
For no-till planters, the applicant demonstrates that he/she is not burning straw residues on his/her farm	Yes/No/ N.A
For no-till planters, the applicant must own an adapted tractor	Yes/No/ N.A
For drip irrigation systems, the applicant has a reliable access to water in the vicinity of the farm	Yes/No/ N.A
For the tractor package, the applicant must have access to relevant aggregates	Yes/No/ N.A

Selection of applications: Following a successful technical revision of the application, the Application Review Committee comprising representatives from the European Union delegation in Georgia, from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, and from FAO Georgia will take the granting decision.

Grant payment: If granted, the grantee will be contacted by FAO to prepare a grant agreement to be signed between the grantee and FAO. After signature, the grantee will be asked to pay his/her matching contribution to the selected supplier. The equipment will then be delivered to the farm by the supplier. A field visit will be organized to confirm the equipment delivery, and FAO will then pay the matching grant directly to the supplier.

Monitoring and evaluation: When receiving the grant, the grantee commits to keep and maintain the entirety of the supported equipment (including spare parts) for a minimum period of five years following the agreement signature date. The applicant will also commit to an open door policy and to facilitate visits to his/her premises upon FAO’s request. Finally, a yearly visit will be organized by FAO to ensure the proper usage of the equipment.