The Strategic Programme Fund is closely aligned to the Strategic Objectives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).  We want our projects to underpin work at the policy level.

The Reuniting Europe Programme contributes to FCO Strategic Objective No. 8: to develop effective international institutions, above all the UN and the EU. It does this by supporting EU enlargement and works by helping European partner countries implement the reforms necessary for EU accession or closer partnership with the EU, focusing on the political and economic accession criteria set by the Copenhagen European Council in 1997:

stable institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the respect for and protection of minorities; a competitive, functioning market economy.

Programme Objectives
In line with these criteria the Programme focuses on helping partner countries realise four objectives:

1. To increase political transparency and good governance.
2. To build capacity in public administration.
3. To strengthen reforms in the justice sector and promote human rights.
4. To strengthen economic reforms in line with the Lisbon Agenda.

SPF currently supports a number of projects in Georgia.  This includes work on political party development; monitoring of Georgia’s implementation of its international commitments; and support to the judicial reform process.  The SPF programme also supports a regional EU Skills building project. Past SPF projects have supported efforts to combat people trafficking; strengthen links between policy makers and civil society; and increase the understanding of the role of Parliament in advance of elections.

The SPF RE programme is calling for concept bids by 6 November 2009. If you wish to bid please discuss it in advance with Lika Shavishvili as our budgets are already heavily committed. Please do not submit bids without prior discussion with the British Embassy Tbilisi:

Lika Shavishvili
Projects and Communications Officer
British Embassy Tbilisi
Tel: (995 32) 24 47 82
Please note that this year the British Embassy in Tbilisi is not calling for bids to SPF RE Programme.