Responses to Request for Clarifications: Strengthening Information Integrity and Media Resilience in Moldova
Q: Can you please explain in detail what you mean with “Theory of Change”, and provide some examples/guidelines of what you expect?
A: Guidance on this is provided in the Grants Handbook section 4.1: 4. Application | Norad.no
Q: Could you please provide some information/explanation on the OECD/DAC criteria for ODA (Official Development Assistance)?
A: Please consult Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 1.1. on the landing page of the call.
Q: Can you please provide a template for a MERL plan?
A: Norad does not require a specific template for knowledge plans / MERL plans. Please consult the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 4.9 on the landing page of this call.
Q: We understand that several applicants may submit a joint application, but that only one applicant may apply on behalf of the collaborating partners, i.e. as the lead of a consortium. The call specifies that if the application is successful, this applicant will be the administratively and financially responsible grant recipient, while the other collaborating partners will become sub-grantees. Our question: Are consortium members governed by the same conditions as the 'small-scale' grants referenced in the call — meaning that their involvement would also be defined by a sub-grant agreement of up to EUR 100,000 per year, with a duration of up to 36 months? Or, as cooperating partners, are they subject to different rules?
A: Cooperating partners that are specified in the application and whose costs are specified under “DIRECT PROJECT COSTS (HQ/Regional/Country Office/applicant consortium partners)” in the budget template, are not subject to any restrictions regarding agreement size and duration. We have updated the text of the call for proposals to clarify this. Please see the updated excerpt from the call for proposals:
“Applicants that collaborate on an initiative may submit a joint application. Only one applicant may apply on behalf of such collaborating partners i.e. consortium. If the application is successful, this applicant will be the administratively and financially responsible grant recipient while the other collaborating partners will become sub-grantees. Update 09 April 2026: For such collaborating partners, the limit of maximum EUR 100 000 and a maximum duration of 36 months for small-scale grant agreements stipulated in section 1. do not apply.”