The second edition is launched!
You can now upload the application form
Calendar for the second edition 2023
Take part in the second edition of the year by submitting your form before 31 October 2023.
Need a little more time? You can submit your application form for the first edition of 2024. You then have until 30 April 2024.
Candidates shortlisted in the second edition of 2023 will be notified at the beginning of January 2024 and will have until 30 April 2024 to submit their detailed proposal. The final selection will take place by the summer of 2024.
Applicants shortlisted in the first edition of the competition in 2024 will be notified in July 2024 and will have until 31 October 2024 to submit their detailed proposal.
The call for proposals
Apply with your project
The selection process follows a two-steps call for proposals:
- pre-selection via an application form here ;
- for the pre-selected candidates, a full submission, including a business plan, shall be presented
Any type of private company registered in Luxembourg or in a country of the European Union may, individually or in the form of a consortium, participate in this call for proposals, provided that it meets the minimum administrative eligibility conditions.
Various types of partnership may be established under the BPF. However, the initiative for the partnership lies with the Luxembourg and EU private sector representatives wishing to participate in the facility.
While the initiative may come from a player in a developing country, in this case it is essential that contacts are established with potential partners in the EU, and it will be up to these European partners to submit a proposal.
In the first part of the form, the project leader briefly describes its company and its activities, as well as its experience in developing countries. It must also describe its commitments and approaches in terms of responsible conduct, such as its environmental, social and/or good governance commitments or the existence of internal codes or recognised certification (ISO 14000 or other).
With regard to human rights, the principle adopted is that the lead partner "should avoid infringing the human rights of others and remedy any negative impact on human rights in which they have a part". A formal commitment to respect the "United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights" is therefore considered an advantage.
In the second part of the form, the project leader writes a concept note presenting the project and the proposed partners. The concept note must be presented in such a way that the project responds to an existing problem in the country of implementation and/or contributes to achieving one or more Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The project leaders selected at the end of the first step have around three months to submit a complete dossier including a business plan, in which a more detailed presentation of the project is expected, in particular through a value proposition. The dossier must also include an implementation plan with a results matrix, a financial plan and supporting documents.
If they wish so, Luxembourg companies can be assisted by Luxinnovation in preparing their detailed proposal.
Once the detailed proposals have been selected, a co-financing agreement will be concluded with the promoters of the selected projects.
Selection criteria
The support granted by the BPF must contribute to achieving the SDGs through green and inclusive growth, job creation and technology transfer.
The following parameters are also taken into account in the final selection of projects:
- the innovative nature of the project ;
- the economic viability of the project
- the proposed partnership with the local partner, in particular the formal common interest between the partners and mutual accountability;
- the expected results and associated indicators;
- the potential for job creation, particularly for women and young people;
- the positive impact on the environment;
- additionality of co-financing by the BPF facility;
- neutrality (not creating market distortions);
- demonstration effect and replicability;
- compliance with social, environmental and fiscal standards.
