FCO Global Prosperity Fund

The purpose of the FCO’s Prosperity Fund is to support projects which enable the UK to meet its foreign policy priority of creating the conditions for sustainable global growth and development.

The Fund will deliver real, measurable policy outcomes that support the establishment of transparent and stable regulatory regimes, promote economic policies that underpin strong, sustainable, balanced and low carbon growth, encourage openness to trade and investment, discourage protectionism and strengthen the multilateral trading system.

We will also use the Fund globally to create the political conditions for achieving an efficient low carbon transition, and to enhance energy security by building support for open and effective international energy markets and by promoting the take-up of alternative energy sources and more efficient consumption of energy.  

China Prosperity SPF Programme

In China, the fund will be known as the China Prosperity SPF programme. It will have six strands, each consistent with the objectives of the global FCO Prosperity Fund and China’s 12th Five Year Plan (2011-15):

1. Financial sector reform: liberalising and opening-up the financial sector for efficient and sustainable growth.
2. Structural reform: rebalancing the economy towards consumer spending and business and service sectors.
3. Business environment and trade: Improving the business environment for domestic and foreign businesses and breaking down barriers to trade and investment.
4. Energy Security: Efficient, sustainable energy use for enhanced security of resources.
5. Low carbon/climate change: Reducing emissions growth in line with limiting warming to within 2 degrees of pre-industrial levels.
6. Green Investment: A shift from ‘brown’ to ‘green’ investment in line with that required for sustainable Chinese and global growth and sustainable urbanisation.

The British Embassy and the Consulates-General in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Chongqing are working with Chinese and international partners to deliver a programme of high impact projects that are contributing towards China’s transition to an open, stable and equitable low carbon economy. Prosperity projects allow exchange of expertise and best practice amongst Chinese and international stakeholders. For this reason, all proposals must include a partnership of at least one Chinese implementing partner and at least one UK and/or international implementing partner or demonstrate substantial involvement of UK and/or international participants.

The Programme Team provide oversight and support to funded projects to ensure impact and complementarity with the strategy and with the work of other partners.

Through joint working between Chinese, UK and International experts the SPF programme is:

• Strengthening the evidence base for low-carbon policy development
• Building institutional capacity for implementing low-carbon policies at national, provincial and local government level, and in industry and businesses
• Supporting  China in meeting its existing energy efficiency targets and its new carbon intensity target of 40-45% carbon reduction per unit of GDP by 2020 versus 2005 levels
• Supporting China to achieve efficient, sustainable energy use for enhanced security of resources
• Supporting China to open up and rebalancing China’s economy towards private consumption
• Building capacity to increase China’s integration into the global economy  

The China 2011/12 Prosperity SPF programme is currently composed of 52 climate change and energy, and economic reform projects. Examples of existing project areas include:

Climate Change & Energy: capacity building for low carbon development of China’s cities and provinces; low carbon tools for reducing emissions from sectors and heavy industry, supporting the development of clean energy technology, coal and carbon capture and storage (CCS); and low carbon business engagement.

Economic Reform: Macroeconomic policy-making; financial sector regulation and reform; and economic policy tools and frameworks to encourage the transition to a low carbon economy. 

Further information and case studies of our programme work can be found in the attached SPF publication (English Version [264KB, PDF, new window] & Chinese Version [233KB, PDF, new window] ). 

Call for Proposals - 1st Bidding Round 2012/13

The 1st Bidding Round for 2012/13 is now open for submission of proposals. Proposals will be required to align with the objectives and indicators stated in the Prosperity SPF Strategy.

The Prosperity SPF Strategy also includes detailed guidance notes and information on the governance structure and key requirements.

If you are interested in applying for funding, please contact the programme team in advance on the details below to discuss in more detail the proposed project area and to ensure it fits with the strategy and our requirements.

The bidding round is divided into a concept and full bid stage. The deadline is

• 10th January 5pm Beijing time for submitting concept bids in the area of climate change, energy, and green investment (objectives 4,5,and 6)
• 15th January 5pm Beijing time for submitting concept bids in the area of financial sector, structural reform, and business environment and trade (objectives 1,2,and 3)

Proposals should be submitted by emailed to the SPF programme team at PFGeneralQueries@fco.gov.uk. The Prosperity SPF Programme Strategy and Proposal Bid Forms and guidance can be found below.  Bids will need to be submitted in English and Chinese versions. Successful projects will start in May 2012.

Proposed Timetable (subject to change) for concept bids in the area of climate change, energy, and green investment (objectives 4, 5, and 6)

Call for proposals: 9th December 2011 to 10th January 2012

Results announced for approved concept bids: 2nd March 2012

Full bids submitted: 21st March 2012

Results announced for full bids approved: 21st April 2012

Projects to start: Week beginning 1st May

Proposed Timetable (subject to change) for concept bids in the area of financial sector, structural reform, and business environment and trade (objectives 1, 2, and 3)

Call for proposals: 9th December 2011 to 15th January 2012

Results announced for approved concept bids: 2nd March 2012

Full bids submitted: 21st March 2012

Results announced for full bids approved: 21st April 2012

Projects to start: Week beginning 1st May

Attachments to download:

Prosperity SPF Programme Strategy (English Version [353KB, PDF, new window] & Chinese Version [259KB, PDF, new window] )

Prosperity SPF Project Concept Bid Form (English Version [146KB, Word, new window] & Chinese Version [145KB, Word, new window] )

Prosperity SPF Project Concept Completion Guidance (English Version [144KB, Word, new window] & Chinese Version [142KB, Word, new window] )  

Template Contract (English Version [157KB, Word, new window] )

Example Concept Proposal (English Version [153KB, PDF, new window] )

Implementer must submit proposals with fully completed checklist [44KB, Word, new window].

If your proposal is accepted at concept stage, you will be required to submit a more detailed bid form and detailed activity based budget (ABB). The SPF programme team will provide you with the template documents.

Prosperity SPF Contacts

If you have any questions regarding the bidding round or want to know more about the Prosperity SPF programme, please contact the programme team through email at PFGeneralQueries@fco.gov.uk and leave your name, contact details, and questions.

Implementing organisations operating in China’s provinces may also want to contact the consulates in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Chongqing and Guangzhou directly.

Implementers Briefing Workshop
(For Concept ideas in Climate Change, Energy, and Green Investment area)

The Programme team will organise a workshop in the morning of 16th December 2011 for potential implementers in the area of climate change, energy, and green investment areas,  subject to enough interests received. The workshop will

• Brief on PF strategies
• Explain the Prosperity Fund requirement on bid form
• Provide opportunities for potential implementers to discuss concept ideas with relevant PF policy leads and project managers

If you are interested to attend the workshop, please fill in the form[31KB, Word, new window] below and send to PFGeneralQueries@fco.gov.uk. The programme team will contact you to send a formal invite.