Project name: "Awareness raising & application quality improvement of the LIFE program in Estonia 2"
Project number: LIFE18 CAP/EE/000002
Coordinating beneficiary: The Ministry of the Environment (Estonia, Narva mnt 7a, website www.envir.ee)
The Estonian Ministry of the Environment is a public body. It is responsible for ensuring a clean living environment, the sustainable use of natural resources, and the preservation of biodiversity, today and for future generations. It is the acting National Contact Point (NCP) for the LIFE Programme.
Associated beneficiary: Environmental Investment Center (Estonia, Narva mnt 7a, website www.kik.ee )
Environmental Investment Center (EIC) is a private non-commercial organisation. It is a sub-ordinate organization to the Estonian Ministry of the Environment, it mediates state budget, EU and other funds for the implementation of environmental projects.
Beginning of the project: 01.04.2019
End of the project: 30.06.2023
Total project budget: 785 820 €
Total eligible project budget: 745 686 €
Project managers:
- Triin Kommer (The Ministry of the Environment), @email, +372 56 905 299
- Gady Künnapuu (Environmental Investment Center), @email, +372 627 4126
PROJECT BACKGROUND:
The LIFE Programme is one of the main European Union funding instrument for the environment and climate action. The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental and climate policy and legislation by co-financing projects with European added value. In the 2014-2017 funding period the LIFE programme introduced action grants for capacity-building projects. These are projects designed to build Member States' capacity to participate more effectively in the LIFE Programme. Specifically, these projects propose interventions to develop the capacity to submit successful applications for funding for projects under the sub-programmes for Environment and Climate Action. Member States that meet the criteria may each receive funding of up to one million euros for one capacity-building project. Only national level public bodies responsible for implementation of LIFE in an eligible Member State in the European Union may apply for capacity-building projects. Estonia is on of the two countries that had the oppertunity to apply funding for the second capacity-building project.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES:
Project "AwaRaEst 2 LIFE" is the follow-up project of "AwaRaEst LIFE" project. The objectives of the AwaRaEst LIFE project was to raise overall awareness about the LIFE Programme in Estonia, improve the quality of applications for LIFE funding and provide specific information about the opportunities it offers, and exploit LIFE results for replication, policy uptake or integration into economic activities and other programmes. The purpose of the follow-up project is to improve and further develop the created systems and approaches. Better national supporting system should be created in order to help applicants to cover their own contribution and to enhance the use of the LIFE programme funding.
To make LIFE programm more visable and attractive to the potential applicants, improve the quality of the concept notes and full applications and find partners we will:
- organize information days in different places of Estonia (to introduce LIFE programme, give information about the possibilities to cover own contribution, to find project partners, to share experience etc.)
- organize LIFE workshops, trainings and match-making events for writing the applications anf finding partners
- organize exchange events (study visits) to other Member States
- organize a NCP networking workshop
- introduce LIFE programme in external events
EXPECTED RESULTS:
A greater awareness of the LIFE Programme - among the potential applicants (public sector, private sector, universities, non-profit organizations etc). Potential applicants will be more educated on the possibilities of LIFE and will therefore consider it more often as a source of funding.
Better national supporting system to help applicants to cover their own contribution and to enhance the use of the LIFE programme funding.
Potential applicants will have the know-how to draw up high-quality applications.
Potential applicants will have valuable support resources through the extended activities of the NCP, including a helpdesk and a LIFE-related website.
NATIONAL CONTACT POINTS:
- Krista Tõnisson - general questions, @email, +372 626 0727
- Annika Varik - general questions, @email, +372 626 2961
- Merike Linnamägi - nature and biodiversity, @email, +372 626 2900
- Olav Ojala - environment, @email, +372 626 2919
- Mihkel Krusberg - resource efficiency, @email, +372 626 0752
- Krista Kupits - resource efficiency, @email, +372 5662 6203
- Maris Arro - climate action, @email, +372 626 29
- Siret Talve - clean energy transition, @email, +372 639 7660