European Union

EDULINK II is open to public or private Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), networks of HEIs and Regional Institutions of Higher Education. The current Call for Proposals is designed to continue fostering co-operation in the field of Higher Education between the countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP States) and the European Union.
The Programme aims at promoting innovation in HEIs in the ACP Group of States member countries and, hence, at ensuring their competitiveness in the global environment.

The deadline for submission of applications is 30 July 2012.

Two Priority Themes

EDULINK II differs from previous calls for proposals by focusing exclusively on two thematic areas:

• ENERGY ACCESS AND EFFICIENCY
• AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY

The specific objectives are to increase the capacity of ACP HEIs at two levels:

• Management /Administration and
• Academic

Proposals will aim at supporting HEIs in ACP States to create new and upgrade existing curricula and teaching methods, reinforce links between teaching, modern technologies, lifelong learning and research, as well as strengthening their management and administration capacity.

An Enlarged Programme

The programme has been expanded in a number of ways:

• in terms of the global amount of budget available to fund projects, which is now EUR 23,300,000;
• in terms of eligible partner countries.

EDULINK II is funded by the European Development Fund (EDF) and the Development Co-operation Instrument – Relations with South Africa (DCI). This additional contribution allows expanding the participation in the programme to many non-European or ACP countries.  However, the projects should take place in the ACP Member States.

More information

The programme guidelines, application form and annexes may be downloaded from the EuropeAid website: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/europeaid/online-services/index.cfm?ADSSChck=1335536139908&do=publi.detPUB&userlanguage=en

or from the ACP Secretariat web site: http://www.acp-edulink.eu/pt-pt/news-views/edulink-ii-call-proposals-launched

Questions may be sent by e-mail to the below address, indicating clearly the reference of the Call for Proposals:

E-mail address:  Call2012@acp-edulink.eu

Key figures

BUDGET:
Overall Programme Budget: EUR 23,300,000
Lot 1 - European Development Fund (EDF):  EUR 18,300,000
Lot 2 - Development Co-operation Instrument (EU - South Africa):  EUR 5,000,000
  
SIZE OF GRANTS:
Minimum:  EUR 200,000
Maximum: EUR 500,000
Maximum EC Grant : 85%
  

DURATION OF GRANT CONTRACTS: 
Minimum 12 months
Maximum 42 months
 
ELIGIBILITY OF PARTNERS: 
Minimum Number of institutions: 3
Minimum Number of ACP states: 2
The number of institutions from the ACP States must always be greater than the number of institutions from the EU or from other regions (non-ACP).