This call for proposals is launched under the programme "EU-Latin America Alliance for Sustainable Growth" (aka AL-INVEST Verde), to promote sustainable growth and jobs creation by supporting the transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient and a more circular economy in Latin America.

AL-INVEST Verde is built a main component. Mobilise EU know-how and investment in support of building alliances with a private sector in Latin America.

Objectives

The global objective of this call for proposals is to promote sustainable growth and jobs creation by supporting the transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient and a more circular economy in Latin America 

The specific objective(s) of this call for proposals is that SMEs in Latin America adopt less polluting and more resource efficient products, processes and services while more sustainable consumption patterns are adopted by countries. 

The applicant consortium should consider that the priorities of this call for proposals are fully in line with the main priorities stated at the EU's Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan, the SME Strategy for a sustainable and digital Europe and the Farm to Fork Strategy and can be summarized as follows: 

• Priority 1: To support SMEs in reducing the environmental impact of their operation and production, in improving resource efficiency and adopting circular economy practices.
• Priority 2: To engage with private and public sector stakeholders in Latin America on disseminating innovative sustainable production and consumption practices, favouring EU-Latin America joint experiences and financing.

Funding Information

The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 25,000.000. The contracting authority reserves the right not to award all available funds. 

Size of grants

Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:

• minimum amount: EUR 25,000,000
• maximum amount: EUR 25,000,000

Eligibility Criteria

Lead applicant(s)

In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:

• be a legal person and
• be non-profit-making and
• be established in a Member State of the European Union or in one of the eligible countries of the Development Co-operation Instrument (DCI).
• be specific types of organisations:
  • Business intermediaries representing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. These includes, inter alia, chambers of 'commerce, sector-specific trade, industrial and professional associations, cooperatives, regulatory bodies and agencies promoting trade, investment and commercial activities as well as sector-based agencies working with SIviEs, or Public agencies (typically, boards of investment, trade promotion agencies etc.) at local, national and regional level and
• be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the co-applicant(s) and affiliated entity(ies), not acting as an intermediary.

Co-applicant(s)

• The applicant must act with a minimum of four (4) co-applicants from four different countries as specified hereafter.
• There must be a minimum of three (3) different co-applicants from three (3) different countries amongst the following Latin American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela and a minimum of one (1) co-applicant from the European Union.
• Co-applicants participate in designing and implementing the action, and the costs they incur are eligible in the same way as those incurred by the lead applicant.
• Co-applicants must satisfy the eligibility criteria as applicable to the lead applicant himself.
• Co-applicants must sign the mandate form.

Affiliated entity(ies)

• The lead applicant and its co-applicants may act with affiliated entities.
• Only the following entities may be considered as affiliated entities to the lead applicant and/or to co-applicants:
  • Only entities having a structural link with the applicants (i.e. the lead applicant or a co-applicant), in particular a legal or capital link.
  • This structural link encompasses mainly two notions:
    • Control, as defined in Directive 2013/34/EU on the annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings:
      • Entities affiliated to an applicant may hence be:
        • Entities directly or indirectly controlled by the applicant (daughter companies or first-tier subsidiaries). They may also be entities controlled by an entity controlled by the applicant (granddaughter companies or second-tier subsidiaries) and the same applies to further tiers of control;
        • Entities directly or indirectly controlling the applicant (parent companies). Likewise, they may be entities controlling an entity controlling the applicant;
        • Entities under the same direct or indirect control as the applicant (sister companies).
    • Membership, i.e. the applicant is legally defined as a e.g. network, federation, association in which the proposed affiliated entities also participate or the applicant participates in the same entity (e.g. network, federation, association,...) as the proposed affiliated entities.

For more information, visit EuropeAid and download the guidelines.