Working with Civil Society | What do PPAs involve | What kind of outcomes are we looking for | Process

Partnership Programme Agreements (PPA)

This document explains DFID's Partnership Programme Agreements (PPAs) and invites expressions of interest in the next round of PPAs. These new PPAs will come into effect in April 2006.

Background

The Department for International Development (DFID) is the UK government department responsible for promoting development and the reduction of poverty across the world.

The central focus of the Government's policy is a commitment to the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals (MDG). The central goal is to halve the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015. They also include associated goals, such as the provision of basic health care and universal access to primary education by the same date.

DFID seeks to work in partnership with governments that are committed to the international targets. We also work with multilateral institutions including the World Bank, United Nations agencies and the European Community.

The bulk of our assistance is concentrated on the poorest countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. We are also contributing to poverty elimination and sustainable development in middle-income countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and elsewhere.

Working with Civil Society

Working with civil society is an important part of our business. We have a long history of working with UK-based organisations, and also a growing programme of direct engagement with civil society within developing countries. PPAs are only one of a range of DFID programme and funding instruments that support this work. Details of others, such as Strategic Grant Agreements and the Civil Society Challenge Fund, can be found at "Working with Civil Society"

DFID is seeking new PPA partnerships with organisations or coalitions within civil society which have a strong track record of work in international development. They will also have the ability to make a significant contribution to achieving the MDGs through closer working with DFID around agreed outcomes. Although PPAs are targeted primarily at UK-based organisations, we will also consider expressions of interest from international organisations based outside the UK.

We currently have 18 PPAs with a range of civil society organisations including, VSO, Oxfam and WaterAid. Full details of existing PPA partners, in addition to partner agreements and funding levels, are available on this website.

What do PPAs involve?

PPAs are long-term strategic agreements (typically 6 years) which provide partners with guaranteed funding. The agreements are built around a set of specific measurable outcomes and identify the respective roles of both DFID and the partner in achieving these. The PPAs should strengthen relationships between different parts of DFID and the partner.

What kind of outcomes are we looking for?

The broad framework for our work with civil society is around:

empowering poor people

promoting their engagement in decision-making

building a popular base for development, North and South

Within this we are looking for partnerships and outcomes which:

contribute to the achievement of the MDGs

demonstrate specific added value from working with DFID

are innovative and contribute to a broad overall portfolio of work addressed by the PPAs

Process

Expressions of interest should run to a maximum of 6 pages and will be assessed on the following criteria:

Organisational focus and structure - set out the background, aims and objectives of your organisation or coalition.

Poverty focus - how you contribute to the MDGs.

Added value - identify the potential areas of work to be covered by a PPA (i.e. the possible outcomes), with indicators of the added value your organisation would bring and the benefits of working with DFID.

DFID engagement - indicate existing orpotential policy and project engagement with DFID.

Innovation - set out new ideas or approaches to development, and the contribution you will make to DFID's existing PPA portfolio.

All expressions of interest should reach DFID by 15 September 2005. They will be acknowledged within one week of receipt, and applicants will be informed of the outcome of our assessment by 14 October 2005.

Short listed organisations will then be asked to submit a full proposal by 11 November 2005. Information on what will be required in the full proposal will be provided at that time. Subject to a further assessment of the full proposals, we will aim to notify successful applicants by 31 January, and complete negotiations with these partners by 28 February 2006.

Expressions of interest should be emailed to ppa@dfid.gov.uk . Alternatively you can send hard copy by post to:

Stewart Dolier 
Information & Civil Society Department 
Abercrombie House, 
Eaglesham Road, 
East Kilbride, G75 8EA

For further information, you can contact Stewart Dolier on 01355 843790.

25 July 2005

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