World news story: Call for proposals for Colombia’s Technical Assistance Programme

Updated: The London Workshop venue has been confirmed.

The BEIS ICF Technical Assistance Programme aims to:

  1. Contribute to the reduction of Colombia’s emissions and poverty reduction by improving the capacity and capability of key institutions (national, subnational, non-state).

  2. Support demand-led technical assistance that prioritises implementation and helps raise climate ambition, by addressing barriers, constraints and areas of opportunity at different levels of government based on the country’s political and economic context and sectoral priorities.

The programme has the following themes:

a. Diffusion of non-conventional renewable energy sources to ensure an affordable, resilient, and low emissions energy system

b. Addressing key policy, finance and technical barriers to scale up the energy efficiency market

c. Financial and non-financial incentives (existing and new) and better access to innovative finance instruments, combined with a more comprehensive and coherent policy and regulatory framework, to accelerate the deployment of low emission vehicles

d. Improving energy access through decentralised renewable energy generation models in areas that complement other UK forests and land use programmes

e. Sustainable tourism and scientific research as a strategy to protect forests, ensure sustainable rural development and consolidation of peace in areas that have been affected by conflict

Crosscutting themes are:

a. Implementation of Colombia’s Green Growth Policy to consolidate long-term GHG emission reduction and sustainable economic development

b. Improved understanding of investment opportunities and risks in green growth and support implementation of Colombia’s roadmap to establish a green bond market

c. Operationalisation of Colombia’s MRV system for mitigation action, including a transparent registry, to track progress and ensure NDC implementation

Call for proposals (C4P)

BEIS ICF has allocated up to £2 million for technical assistance activities in Colombia through an open, competitive call for proposals. Funds are available for projects of up to one year in length.

This C4P request implementation partners to submit concept bids for the following project types:

  1. Year 1 projects should require funding from the ICF of between £250,000 – £500,000 (indicative), for up to one year of activity from the point of signing the grant agreement. The total project budget may exceed the amount requested from the ICF with co-funding and exceed the timescale of one year, if the activity applied for is an initial phase or component within a larger multi-year project.

  2. Skill share projects should require funding from the ICF of between £25,000 – £100,000 (indicative), for up to one year of activity from the point of signing the grant agreement.

  3. Early transition activity projects should require funding from the ICF of between £25,000 – £100,000 (indicative), for up to six months of activity from the point of signing the grant agreement. Projects funded through this bidding round must:

  • relate to one or more of the themes of the call for proposals
  • require funding of between £25,000 – £500,000 (indicative), for up to one year length of activity from the point of contracting, based on the project types described in the ICF Colombia Call for Proposals Strategy and Guidelines.
  • be compatible with Official Development Assistance (ODA) criteria
  • facilitate the exchange of policy and commercial expertise. Good proposals will demonstrate substantial collaboration and involvement on implementation between Colombian and UK and/or international partner
  • explain how the project has sufficient buy-in from Colombian stakeholders to deliver the expected outcomes. Further information on our programme work can be found in the attached publication (links below)

Bidding round stages

The ICF Technical Assistance Programme in Colombia is coordinated by the British Embassy in Colombia. The bidding process is split between a concept stage and a full proposal stage.

Stage 1: Concept bid development. Implementing organisations develop concept bids in consultation with the Embassy, and submit by the deadline (using the Project Concept Bid form provided).

Stage 2: Approval of concept bids. Concept bids are assessed on five criteria: strategic fit, potential for transformational impact, value for money, additionality, and deliverability. Implementers successful at this concept stage will be invited to develop full bids.

Stage 3: Development and approval of full bids. Successful implementing organisations are invited to submit full bids, which are assessed by a Programme Board. Successful projects will then begin from Autumn 2018.

Proposed timetable

Submissions should be sent to both ICF.Colombia@fco.gov.uk and ICF.Colombia@beis.gov.uk, based on the following deadlines:

Early Transition Activity Skill Sharing 1 Year Projects
Deadline of concept bids for early transition activity projects is August 8, 2018 – 23:59 (GMT) Deadline of concept bids for skill share projects is August 22, 2018 – 23:59 (GMT) Deadline of concept bids for 1 Year projects is August 22, 2018 – 23:59 (GMT)

The timetable is subject to change, at the discretion of the Colombia TAP Team.

Attachments to download

If proposals are accepted at the concept stage, implementers will be required to submit a more detailed bid form and more detailed activity-based budget (ABB). The Colombia TAP Team will provide the template documents for full proposals to successful implementing organisations in due course.

Colombia TAP Team contact details

For further details on the call for proposals, please contact the Colombia TAP Team by email at ICF.Colombia@fco.gov.uk and ICF.Colombia@beis.gov.uk

Implementers briefing workshops

The Programme team will host two workshops for potential implementers in Colombia and London (to be delivered in English).

The workshops will:

  • brief on ICF Technical Assistance Program, including Colombia strategy
  • explain the requirements for the bid form
  • provide opportunities for potential implementers to make questions on the C4P process

Colombia Workshop will take place Wednesday 18 July, 2018 from 15:00 to 16:30 (GMT) / 9:00 to 10:30 (COL time).

Registration deadline: by 13:00 on Monday 16 July 2018 (GMT)

Venue: WebEx virtual room to be confirmed

Register form:

Colombia TAP Registration Form
(MS Word Document, 15.5KB)

If you are interested in attending the workshop, please send an email, fill in the relevant form above and send to ICF.Colombia@fco.gov.uk before deadline, with “Colombia workshop” in the subject field. The programme team will send to all registered organisations a confirmation with details for connection.

London Workshop will take place on Thursday 02 August.

Registration Deadline: by 9:30 on Friday 27 July 2018 (GMT)

Venue: 1VS Conference Centre, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET

Register form:

London TAP Registration Form
(MS Word Document, 15.4KB)

If you are interested in attending the workshop, please send an email, fill in the relevant form above and send to ICF.Colombia@beis.gov.uk before deadline, with “London workshop” in the subject field. The programme team will send to all registered organisations a confirmation including date, time and venue.




Press release: Foreign Secretary marks the 23rd anniversary of the massacre at Srebrenica

On the anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:

On this day, the 23rd anniversary of the massacre at Srebrenica, we remember the more than 8,000 civilians who lost their lives in a brutal act of murder.

At this time, we must reflect on how the perpetrators were held to account by International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for committing an act of genocide. The verdict will not bring back the thousands who were killed, nor erase the grief of their families, but it sends a clear message that there will be no impunity for those who commit such crimes.

The UK is committed to helping the region overcome the legacy of past conflict. Yesterday, I attended the Western Balkans Summit alongside the Prime Minister and other European and Western Balkan leaders. The Summit demonstrated a shared will to work together to build a more peaceful, prosperous and stable future for all.




Press release: Border Force seize cocaine at Gatwick

Officers discovered approximately 1.5 kilos of the Class A drug on Saturday (7 July) when a passenger was stopped after arriving on a flight from Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The drugs, which have an estimated street value of around £75,000, were found inside a suitcase.

Border Force officers stopped and questioned a man who had arrived on a flight from Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

A search of luggage by officers revealed the drugs within a suitcase and a full forensic analysis will now take place.

Tim Kingsberry, Director of Border Force South said:

The professionalism and vigilance of our officers has prevented a significant quantity of Class A drugs entering the UK and ending up on our streets.

Working with the National Crime Agency (NCA) and other law enforcement partners we will continue to tackle drug smuggling and bring those responsible to justice.

Following the seizure by Border Force, the investigation was passed to the NCA.

A 25-year-old man from Trinidad and Tobago, Nehemiah Timon Gulston, was charged with importing a Class A drug. Gulston, of no fixed UK address, appeared at Croydon Magistrates Court on Monday, 9 July where he was remanded in custody. He will next appear at Croydon Crown Court on 24 August.

The government’s Serious Violence Strategy, which was launched in April, aims to combat the devastating impact drugs have on levels of serious violence.

It also highlights a strong link between drugs and serious violence and the related harm and exploitation from county lines. The government has set out the action it will take to tackle this violent and exploitative criminal activity. The action of Border Force to stop drugs before they get into the country forms a key part of this work.

Border Force officers use hi-tech search equipment to combat immigration crime and detect banned and restricted goods that smugglers attempt to bring into the country.

Nationally, they use an array of search techniques including sniffer dogs, carbon dioxide detectors, heartbeat monitors and scanners – as well as visual searches – to find well-hidden stowaways, illegal drugs, firearms and tobacco which would otherwise end up causing harm to local people, businesses and communities.

Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to smuggling should call the hotline on 0800 59 5000.




Press release: Cocaine worth £1.2 million seized by Border Force at Gatwick.

Officers discovered the Class A drugs on the morning of Friday, 6 July when two passengers were stopped after arriving on a flight from Aruba. The weight of the drugs was estimated to be around 15 kilos and a full forensic analysis will now take place.

Tim Kingsberry, Director of Border Force South said:

Using their skill and expertise, Border Force officers protect our country from those who attempt to smuggle in dangerous drugs. In this case, the drugs seized were estimated to have a potential value of approximately £1.2 million once cut and sold on the streets.

Working with law enforcement colleagues like the National Crime Agency (NCA) we are determined to prevent drug trafficking and bring those responsible to justice.

Following the seizure by Border Force, the investigation was passed to the NCA.

A 31-year-old Italian man, David Fasano, and a 25-year-old Spanish woman, Tania Cedino-Piguane were charged with importing a Class A drug. Fasano, of Grove Vale Road, East Dulwich, and Cedino-Piguane, of no fixed address, both appeared at Croydon Magistrates Court on Monday, 9 July and were remanded in custody. They will next appear at Croydon Crown Court on 14 August.

The government’s Serious Violence Strategy, which was launched in April, aims to combat the devastating impact drugs have on levels of serious violence.

It also highlights a strong link between drugs and serious violence and the related harm and exploitation from county lines. The government has set out the action it will take to tackle this violent and exploitative criminal activity. The action of Border Force to stop drugs before they get into the country forms a key part of this work.

Border Force officers use hi-tech search equipment to combat immigration crime and detect banned and restricted goods that smugglers attempt to bring into the country.

Nationally, they use an array of search techniques including sniffer dogs, carbon dioxide detectors, heartbeat monitors and scanners – as well as visual searches – to find well-hidden stowaways, illegal drugs, firearms and tobacco which would otherwise end up causing harm to local people, businesses and communities.

Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to smuggling should call the hotline on 0800 59 5000.




News story: Government announces strict rules for the use of vaginal mesh

The use of vaginally inserted surgical mesh for stress urinary incontinence will be paused until a set of conditions to reduce the risk of injury are met.

Vaginally inserted meshes will only be used when there is no alternative and after close and comprehensive consultation between patient and clinician, with rigorous oversight and governance at all times.

The Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review made the interim recommendation following a programme of engagement with patients and patient groups.

The independent review was set up in February and is being chaired by Baroness Julia Cumberlege. Its aim is to review what happened in each of the cases of primodos, sodium valproate and surgical mesh, including whether the processes pursued to date have been sufficient and satisfactory.

It also recommended that the pause should be extended to include vaginally inserted mesh to treat pelvic organ prolapse, and that the pause should be implemented through a high vigilance regime of restricted practice.

In taking this decision, ministers sought advice from the Chief Medical Officer and senior clinicians in the health system.

NHS England is now working with other health agencies to pause procedures quickly and safely. A clinical advisory group has been established to ensure that appropriate measures are put in place to give effect to the high vigilance programme.

NHS England and NHS Improvement have written to providers to ensure that provider medical directors and nurse directors are equipped with advice and guidance to ensure that clinicians can support patients to make clear decisions about their treatment.

Health Minister Lord O’Shaughnessy said:

The department’s top priority is patient safety, and we have therefore immediately accepted Baroness Cumberlege’s recommendation.

Our new approach, with a high vigilance programme of restricted practice, will radically reduce the number of women have vaginal meshes inserted, and ensure that when it does happen, it is only after close consultation with their clinician and with extremely thorough clinical oversight and governance.

Mental Health and Inequalities Minister Jackie Doyle-Price said:

We need to put in place a consistent, high quality service that meets the conditions set out by Baroness Cumberlege.

Only then can women be confident when they are considering an operation to treat pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence – conditions that cause not just physical discomfort but long lasting psychological effects.