2015 APPLICATION PROCESS FOR APEC-FUNDED PROJECTSChen-Sheng Ho, Ph.D.

Associate Research Fellow

Chinese Taipei APEC Study Center

Taiwan Institute of Economic Research

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OVERVIEW OF APEC PROJECTS

Ministers' and Leaders' policy directions are transformed into actions.

Most projects focus on transferring knowledge between members and building capacity for achieving the Bogor Goals.

APEC contributes funding to around 100 projects each year.

Since 1993, over 1800 projects have been implemented.

APEC started the pilot multi-year projects (3-5 years) in 2011 and ended in 2013.

2014: 69 approved projects (224 projects requested funding).

Source: www.apec.org

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PROJECT FUNDING SOURCES (1) Trade and Investment Liberalization and Facilitation

Account: Voluntary member contributions; TILF projects General Project Account: Annual membership

contributions; ECOTECH projects APEC Support Fund: Voluntary member contributions;

capacity building projects for developing economies General Fund: ECOTECH projects Sub-Fund: Human Security Sub-Fund: Health and Emergency Preparedness Sub-Fund: APEC Second Trade Facilitation Action Plan Sub-Fund: Science & Technology Development Sub-Fund: Energy Efficiency Sub-Fund: APEC New Strategy on Structural Reform

(ANSSR) Sub-Fund: Supply Chain Connectivity New Sub-Fund: Mining

Source: www.apec.org

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PROJECT SESSIONS IN 2015 (1)

Session 1, 2015 Concept Notes: By Feb. 27 to APEC Secretariat.

Session 2, 2015 Concept Notes: By July 1 to APEC Secretariat.

Suggestion: Kindly follow the deadline set by your forum’s

Program Director which is before the Secretariat’s deadline.

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DOCUMENT: “FUNDING CRITERIA FOR ALL APEC-FUNDED PROJECTS IN 2015” (1)

Rank 1: Projects promoting regional economic integration

Including projects relating to:

Multilateral Trading System and the Bogor Goals Beijing FTAAP Roadmap Open economy: Innovative development, interconnected growth Trade Facilitation and Liberalization SME Development Services Trade and Investment Facilitation and Liberalization Global Value Chains (GVCs) Blueprint Supply Chain Connectivity Structural Reform APEC Connectivity Blueprint Investment Facilitation and Liberalization

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DOCUMENT: “FUNDING CRITERIA FOR ALL APEC-FUNDED PROJECTS IN 2015” (2)Rank 1: Projects promoting regional economic integration

Including projects relating to: Facilitation of trade and investment to support the LNG market Infrastructure Development and Investment, including through PPP Environmental Goods and Services, including trade and investment Next Generation Trade and Investment Issues Ease of Doing Business Standards, conformity assessment, technical regulations Protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights Internet Economy Information technology and digital economy Ocean-related issues Travel facilitation for enhancing mobility Human capital development Building sustainable and resilient communities Food safety and security Emergency preparedness and disaster management

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DOCUMENT: “FUNDING CRITERIA FOR ALL APEC-FUNDED PROJECTS IN 2015” (3)

Comments and Suggestions Rank 1 supports projects in a wide range of

issues but they must be linked to the REI agenda through promoting free and open trade and investment.

Rank 2 projects support the APEC Leaders’ Growth Strategy.

It is necessary to develop well-designed projects and well-written concept notes, given the possibility of many projects seeking funding.

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Stages of the APEC Project Cycle

Stage 1: Development and Submission of Concept Note

Stage 2: Assessment of Concept Note Priority

Stage 3: Full Project Development Stage 4: Project implementation Stage 5: Project completion

Source: “Guidebook on APEC Projects (10th Edition)”

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OVERVIEW OF APEC PROJECT FUNDING PROCESS

Comments and Suggestions Please see Chapter 5 of the “Guidebook on APEC

Projects (10th Edition)” on “Applying for Funding.” A forum’s Program Director should be consulted with

regard to any questions. The three-page limit for a concept note should be

followed. It is suggested that the co-sponsors include the host

economy, a developed economy and a developing economy.

A project should seek support from the relevant forum’s members and be related to Rank 1 or Rank 2 of APEC Funding Criteria.

A concept note and proposal should be clearly written and also be understood by non-experts.

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QUALITY CRITERIA FOR ASSESSING APEC PROJECTS (1)

Relevance: Link with APEC goals, forum, and funding account.

Effectiveness: Able to achieve objectives. Efficiency: Support cost effectiveness. Impact: Generate positive impacts on

beneficiaries. Sustainability: Ensure continuity of

activities and a project’s benefits.

Source: “Guidebook on APEC Projects (10th Edition)”

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QUALITY CRITERIA FOR ASSESSING APEC PROJECTS (2)

Comments and Suggestions The APEC Project Quality Assessment

Framework (QAF) focuses on the criteria and is the peer review process, since at least two QAFs are needed.

The Project Management Unit (PMU) of the APEC Secretariat will also do an assessment using the quality criteria and QAF comments.

From the initial development of a project, the five criteria must be kept in mind.

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OVERALL COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS

The concept note and proposal must be clear and understandable by non-experts.

It is necessary to answer precisely the questions in the concept note and proposal.

Kindly keep in constant contact with a forum’s Program Director.

The “Guidebook on APEC Projects (10th Edition)” should be consulted.

Finally, the Chinese Taipei APEC Study Center is always available to answer your questions.

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Thank You

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