The CSSF team has received a large number of questions on the call for proposals published on the 21st June. Many questions received were broadly similar and have been grouped together with answers below.

Question: The call for proposals states projects must commit to deliver a project in line with HMG policy. What is this policy and what does it include?

Answer: HMG stands for Her Majesty’s Government and this refers to the policy of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Of course there would not be enough space within this post to describe all of UK government policy in Israel and the OPTs, however some broad elements to keep in mind are below.

• The UK’s longstanding position on the Middle East Peace Process is clear: we support a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state; based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, Jerusalem as the shared capital of both states, and a just, fair, agreed and realistic settlement for refugees
• The UK is committed to making progress towards a two-state solution.  We believe that negotiations will only succeed when they are conducted between Israelis and Palestinians, supported by the international community
• The UK is in regular dialogue with both the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel in which we reiterate the need for both sides to prepare their populations for peaceful coexistence, including by promoting a more positive portrayal of one another to contribute to building the conditions needed for peace.

Question: Does the term ‘Palestinians’ refer only to Palestinians living in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (East Jerusalem/West Bank and Gaza) or does this also refer to Palestinian citizens of Israel residing within the green line?

Answer: The UK government will welcome proposals for any project that meets the goals and objectives set out in the Published call. In this context the call for bids will welcome projects that engage with individuals and groups including, but not limited to, Jewish Israeli’s, Israeli Arabs/Palestinian citizens of Israel and Palestinians living in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The proposal must however demonstrate how it will impact the objective of ensuring that “Women are central in building support for and increasing political prospects of achieving the 2 state solution”.

Question: Who is eligible to apply for CSSF funding?

Answer: There are no set eligibility criteria for submission. An organisation can be eligible for funding if they propose a project that meets the requirements set out in the call for proposals. Israeli, Palestinian or international organisations may submit an application.

Question: Can the project be extended past March 2023?

Answer: No. Funds are allocated in yearly cycles. Funds allocated for a given financial year, running between April and March, cannot be spent after the end of that financial year. Funds allocated to project activities in this financial year must therefore be spent on activities that take place on or before 31st March 2023 and activities that take place after that date cannot be included within the project.

Question: Can organisations submit more than one proposal?

Answer: Yes, we will welcome all proposals for projects that meet requirements detailed in the published call. If an organisation wishes to submit more than one proposal these will be reviewed separately and on their own merits.

Question: When do you expect a final decision will be reached?

Answer: The deadline for submission is the 18th July. The CSSF team will endeavour to process the submissions and come to a decision as soon as possible, however the length of time until a decision is made will be dependent on the number and quality of submissions.

Question: Can organisations submit a proposal jointly with another organisation?

Answer: Yes, certainly. However the proposal should be submitted on behalf of one organisation with the other organisation listed as a partner. Payment can only be made to one organisation and then can be transferred to downstream partners for particular activities as part of a single project.

Question: Can organisations include overhead in the budget under this call for proposals?

Answer: Yes overhead costs can be included in the budget of a project but these costs can only make up a maximum of 10% of the entire project budget. For example, for a project costing £380,000, £38,000 of the total can go toward overhead costs such as office rent or electricity. As outlined in the call for bids; the relevant section reproduced below:

Bidders are required to differentiate in the Annual Budget between their:

(a) Administrative Costs (e.g.: general administration and support costs; office maintenance, repair and running costs; accountants, HR, and senior managers; other cross-cutting staff costs not directly attributable to a single project and are shared across the implementer’s business platform and any mandatory operational or legal costs incurred by an implementer in order to operate in a given location administrative staff salaries, office maintenance, repair and running costs).

(b) Project Costs which should include all project associated costs including implementing staff costs, travel, M&E costs. Please explain clearly, what you have included in each category.

Administrative costs must not exceed 10% of the total project budget.

Romsey flood alleviation scheme, which will better protect 127 properties, was officially unveiled today (Friday 8 July) by Caroline Nokes MP for Romsey and Southampton North.

The scheme that became operational in autumn 2021, reduces flooding from the River Test and surface water. It cost approximately £9.5 million to build, of which the Environment Agency contributed approximately £6.4 million through government grant in aid.

Romsey has a history of flooding in the 1960s, 1995, 2000 and 2001. In the winter of 2013/2014, water overtopped Fishlake Stream and the Barge Canal, badly flooding 36 homes and 44 commercial properties with devastating consequences for families and businesses.

Simon Moody, Area Director, Environment Agency, said:

The climate emergency is bringing greater risks. We’re seeing more extreme weather, with an increase in flooding. Our response must be to protect our communities as best we can, make them more resilient, and to tackle both the causes and consequences of climate change.  We can make a difference if we all work together, like we have done on this scheme.

The flood alleviation scheme includes a tilting weir structure used to control the flows of Fishlake Stream and earth embankments to contain the excess water within a flood plain. At the Causeway, more earth embankments have been built to manage flood water as well as a new bridge and a spillway to enable the flood plain to drain into the River Test.

The risk of surface water flooding has been reduced by improvements to the existing drainage system including ditches, pipes and road drainage at Mainstone junction and Middlebridge Street.

As well as reducing flooding, there are additional ecological benefits from the scheme. Some 150 metres of new water vole habitat have been created and 150 metres of river environment have been enhanced by managing vegetation and improving the structure that controls water flow in the Barge Canal. The London plane trees, some of the oldest in the country, were also carefully preserved during construction.

Members of the local community were consulted throughout the scheme’s development to ensure they were happy with the design. As a result, the new bridge on the Causeway is a Dutch, carbon-friendly design made of glass-reinforced plastic and is covered in timber to blend in with the picturesque surroundings.

The scheme, which took 3.5 years to build, has been developed through partnership working with Hampshire County Council and Test Valley Borough Council.

Councillor Edward Heron, Executive Lead Member for Transport and Environment Strategy at Hampshire County Council, said:

This is an important scheme and we have been delighted to play our part in helping protect residents in Romsey. We contributed £1.5 million towards the total cost and worked in partnership with the Environment Agency, the Borough Council and other local stakeholders on the planning, design and construction of the scheme.

While there will always be a risk of flooding, thanks to the work that has been completed, residents’ properties, businesses, roads and other infrastructure are now much better protected and more resilient.

In addition to building and maintaining flood defences the Environment Agency also runs a free flood warning service. You can sign up for free flood warnings in minutes on gov.uk at Check for flooding – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or call Floodline free on 0345 988 1188.

The scheme was funded from flood and coastal erosion risk management grant in aid (£6.4 million), local levy from the Southern Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (£1.2 million), Hampshire County Council contribution (£1.5 million), Test Valley Borough Council contribution (£0.3 million) and EU funding (£0.1 million).

In the 2020 Budget the Government doubled its investment in flood and coastal erosion risk management in England by committing a record £5.2 billion in 2021-27. This long-term commitment will better protect hundreds of thousands of properties, including homes, businesses, schools and hospitals from the risk of flooding.

The UK’s Business and Energy secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, announces today a £5 million support fund designated to providing safety and security equipment to Ukraine’s civil nuclear sector, supporting the country’s ongoing effort to stand with Ukraine.

The civil nuclear support fund will see high priority items, which could include personal protective equipment, communications systems, and radiation monitoring equipment, supplied to Ukraine. This will enable the high levels of safety and security required to be fully restored at Chernobyl and Ukraine’s other nuclear sites following Russian attacks.

The provision of vital equipment to Ukraine also contributes to widespread efforts to supply equipment for guard forces and to enhance the detection of the illicit movement of materials within Ukraine and across its borders, helping the country recover from Russian control of Chernobyl.

Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:

Energy systems play an indispensable role in ensuring national security and economic resilience.

Today the UK is ramping up our support to the Ukrainian people in their time of need by helping reconnect power across the country and protecting the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear sector, ensuring their frontline is fully equipped in the face of Russia’s brutality.

Melinda Simmonds, UK Ambassador to Ukraine said:

Ensuring Ukraine has access to available energy will not only make sure the economy continues to function, but will also keep people warm and allow hospitals to provide emergency healthcare when it’s needed.

I’m proud of all the UK is doing to support Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

Today’s news follows the Foreign Secretary’s announcement last week of a £10 million Energy Support Fund, forming part of a package to help Ukraine defeat Putin and rebuild the country. This fund will help keep Ukraine’s energy system running in wartime, enabling essential repairs to energy infrastructure and help reconnect power across the country. The package included both immediate financial and longer-term support for the Ukrainian people, utilising UK expertise and British businesses to accelerate Ukraine’s economic recovery.

Together this brings UK support for Ukraine’s energy sector to £22 million, including the UK’s £7 million donation of over 850 generators earlier this year that are already in use, helping to power essential services such as hospitals and shelters.

These support packages come as international partners and allies from around the world joined together last week for the Lugano Conference on Ukraine’s Recovery in Switzerland in a united stand with Ukraine.

The £22 million figure includes:

• the £10 million Energy Support Fund from the Energy Resilience and Energy Security programme, announced before the invasion. This 3-year FCDO fund is intended to keep Ukraine’s energy systems running in wartime and prepare for modern-era post-war reconstruction, with the other £7 million transferred to BEIS to supply 856 portable generators
• today’s £5 million from BEIS allocated to support Ukraine’s nuclear sector. The United Kingdom will procure these items of equipment and work with the International Atomic Energy Agency to deliver them to Ukraine

As in previous years there are a total of 1,000 places available to South Korean nationals for 2022.

The majority of places were allocated in the first ballot in January this year, while the remaining places will be made available in this second ballot in July 2022. If your application is successful you will be able to live, work and study in the UK for up to 2 years.

How to apply for the ballot

If you would like to be in with the chance to apply for the scheme you should send one email per applicant to:SouthKorea.YMS2022@fcdo.gov.uk between midday (12pm) on Monday 25 July 2022 to midday on Wednesday 27July 2022 (Seoul time).

The header or subject line of your email must contain your name, date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY) and passport number as shown in your passport.

This must be written in English only.

For example: Kim Jayne – 31/03/2000 – Passport123456789.

The main body of your email should include the following information, written in English:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Passport Number
• Mobile phone number

The email account will only be open for 48 hours and all emails received within this timeframe will be sent an automated reply confirming receipt. Please remember to check your junk inboxes.

Once the ballot closes, allocations for the remaining places will be chosen at random by UKVI. If you have been successful a second email will be sent to you by Friday 29 July to confirm acceptance and provide further instructions on how to make an appointment, along with documentary evidence required to apply for your entry clearance.

Please note successful applicants must prepare online applications and online credit card payments no later than 30 August 2022. Failure to submit your payment online by this date will automatically remove your name from the list and your allocation will be retracted. After you have paid online you have 90 days to book your appointment at the Visa Application Centre (VAC) and submit your paperwork for consideration.

If you are a South Korean national living overseas you can also apply following the instructions above, and if you are chosen to apply you will be able to do so in your country/territory of residence. Applications cannot be submitted for the Youth Mobility Scheme in the UK.

If you’re unsuccessful you will receive an email by 29 July and no further action is required.

Further information about the scheme can be found on gov.uk and any enquiries relating to the application process, online application forms and questions in general should be directed to the UKVI International Enquiry Line.