EPS Impulse Pool

EPS Impulse Pool

Purpose
Basics
Criteria
Process
Apply!

South Cooperation Domain has set aside CHF 1 million to encourage operational units in engaging more actively with the private sector and in setting up new EPS projects.

Innovate	We want to encourage operational units to try out new forms of collaboration with the Private Sector.
Move faster	We want to reduce "time to implementation" and speed up the process from idea to implementation ready project designs.
Improve	We want to raise the quality of our EPS Projects and foster learning from experienced peers

Seed-and Co-Funding:	The EPS Impulse Pool provides seed- and co-funding for innovative EPS projects. The pool contributes min. CHF 50’000 and max. CHF 500’000 to a project.
First come, first served:	Proposals are accepted in an ongoing process. The Investment Committee meets regularly and decides based on six evaluation criteria. Projects are funded until the full pool amount is committed. Pool status is communicated on the EPS shareweb.
Eligible Applicants:	The EPS Impulse Pool welcomes proposals from operational units of the South Cooperation Domain, cross-domain consortia of South Cooperation Domain and externally driven opportunities if they are proposed by a division of South Cooperation Domain.
Subject of funding:	The EPS Impulse Pool can contribute to a) Single Phase Credit Proposals, b) Opening Credit Proposals or c) Small Projects via Small Project Credits of divisions.
Additional conditions:	Projects handed into the EPS Impulse Pool have to be fully funded – either by the pool’s contribution of max. CHF 500’000, or by the pool’s contribution and an irrevocably committed co-funding of the applying division (and/or a third party). EPS Impulse Pool contributions have to be paid out in 2017.
Additional value:	Apart from funding, all applicants receive detailed feedback on their proposal. Projects selected for funding are accompanied by an experienced internal mentor.

Proposals are evaluated on a regular basis by an Investment Committee consisting of at least three EPS-experienced internal experts. The Investment Committee evaluates projects along the following criteria. Proposals should deliver enough relevant content to enable the Investment Committee to judge to which extend a proposal fulfills the criteria listed below – but proposals do not have to formally address all criteria.

Innovation	What is new … to SDC as a whole … to the applying division, country or consortium?
Impact	What exactly is different after implementation? Which systems are changed? Why do we achieve more impact in collaboration with the private sector than every party would achieve separately?
Institutional Backing	What will happen after the Impulse Pools start-up-funding? Who in the organization supports the project in which way? How is effective implementation secured?
Long-Term Sustainability	How will the project and/or the impact live on after SDC's withdrawal from the project in several years? What is the specific role of the private sector partner/s regarding sustainability?
Scalability/Replicability	How can SDC and/or the private partner replicate and scale the project or its impact after implementation?
Organisational Learning	How does the project strengthen EPS expertise & innovation readiness within the operational unit & SDC? Who/which unit can learn what from the implementation of the project?

The EPS Impulse Pool aims at stimulating innovation and fostering learning. So the process is designed around you and your learning experience:

Step 1: Develop a first rough idea of your project and hand in a 2-pager or a short slide-deck

Step 2: The CEP team has a look at your idea and evaluates the potential for impulse pool funding; it gives you feedback on strengths to build on, room for improvement and technical advise

Step 3: You work out a project draft/concept note and hand it in for final evaluation

Step 4: The EPS Impulse Pool Investment Committee (IC), consisting of at least three internal peers experienced in designing and implementing EPS projects has a close look at your proposal, gives detailed feedback and recommends the project for final decision to the Head of Domain

Step 5: Based on the IC's recommendation, the Head of Domain decides on the contribution of the EPS Impulse Pool to the proposed project

Step 6: You receive detailed feedback, a notification on the final decision – and if it is positive, one member of the IC volunteers as mentor to accompany you through project implementation

Step 7: You implement a great innovative EPS project

(External Opportunities often replace or accompany Step 1. The CEP team evaluates the potential of the opportunity and encourages operational units of South Cooperation Domain to work out a project draft and continue the process from step 3 onward)

You have an idea for a suitable project? Just write it down on 1-2 pages or pin it down on 5-6 slides and send it to lars.stein@eda.admin.ch.

We are looking forward to your ideas!