Application and selection process
Summary of application process
Siemens intends to award funds to the most innovative and promising project proposals submitted. The selection and review process of the first funding round comprised two steps:
1. Call for and review of the Expression of Interest (EOI) forms including supporting documentation
2. Invitation to submit a Full Proposal and performance of a thorough due diligence on the implementation capabilities of the applicant, their financial management capabilities, their legal structure and their compliance background
Applicants that were selected for funding were invited to enter into a Funding Agreement with Siemens.
Timetable 1st Funding Round – Siemens Integrity Initiative
Siemens reserves the right to involve third parties, and in particular the World Bank in the review and selection process at any time. The World Bank Group has audit rights over the use of the funds and veto rights over the selection of anti-corruption groups or programs receiving funds.
To avoid any uncertainty, Siemens reserves full and complete discretion in the selection of the organizations that will be awarded funds from the Siemens Integrity Initiative up and until the Funding Agreement is signed. The decision to move ahead with any of the applicants in the selection process or not is therefore not subject to any judicial review or scrutiny of any kind. Siemens may decide fully at its own discretion to fund proposed projects at lower amounts than those asked for, or only selected parts of a project and the proposed activities.
Participation in the selection process and/or successful review does not entitle the applicant to be selected for the award of any funds. Successful participation in any funding round and the award of funds to any applicant does not entitle or qualify such applicant to be awarded further funds in any subsequent funding round.
The selection process is exclusively subject to German law, excluding any conflict of law provisions. Judicial review of the selection process or Siemens’ decisions during the selection process is excluded.
Expression of Interest
Applicants must submit the Expression of Interest (EOI) form filled out in full, in English, with all the required information and supporting documentation.
Please note that the deadline for submitting applications for the first Funding Round was January 31, 2010. The first funding round is closed and no new applications can be considered at the moment.
The Expression of Interest form includes an overview of the project goals, a summary of activities, a budget plan and time frame for the project as well as background information on the applicant. For details please refer to the Expression of Interest (EOI) form.
The Expression of Interest phase is intended to identify those project proposals that have the best fit with the goals of the Siemens Integrity Initiative. From the fully completed Expressions of Interest forms received by the above deadline, Siemens selects the most promising applications for the second stage of the selection process and invite the successful applicants to submit a Full Proposal.
Next steps:
1. Fill in Expression of Interest form and gather supporting documentation
All applicants must fill out the Expression of Interest form in English and provide the required supporting documentation (as per Annex 1 of the Expression of Interest form); where two or more organizations jointly participate in an application, the information and documentation outlined in Annex 1 must be submitted with respect to EACH organization.
The Expression of Interest form can be downloaded here.
2. Send signed Expression of Interest form to Siemens
The Expression of Interest form including its annexes must be signed by an authorized representative of the applicant organization and sent together with the required supporting documentation to the following email address: application.integrityinitiative@siemens.com by January 31, 2010 (first Funding Round only).
3. Siemens confirms receipt of EOI
Siemens confirms receipt of the EOI form by e-mail once complete; such confirmation is without prejudice to the review and selection process. No Expression of Interest form will be reviewed unless the supporting documentation has been handed in full as defined in Annex 1 of the Expression of Interest form, via the above-mentioned e-mail address and by the stated deadline.
4. Initial review of Expression of Interest forms
Siemens reviews those Expression of Interest forms that meet the above criteria and deadline, and selects those applications that present the most innovative and promising project ideas in line with the goals of the Siemens Integrity Initiative. The World Bank Group has veto rights over the selection of anti-corruption groups or programs receiving funds.
5. Notice to Applicants
Applicants will be informed in due course by Siemens and by e-mail on the outcome of the initial review, and whether they will be invited to the Full Proposal stage of the selection process. Siemens is not obliged to state reasons for any selection decision, including but not limited to the grounds for its decision not to move forward with any particular applicant organization at any stage of the selection process.
Full Proposal
Following the initial review, Siemens invites selected applicants to submit a Full Proposal. Applicants are given sufficient time to prepare this full and complete proposal. Deadline for the submission of Full Proposals was June 25, 2010 (first Funding Round only). Details of the Full Proposal requirements are provided to applicants together with the invitation to submit this Full Proposal. The Full Proposal should include, among other information further details on the output of the project, and should specify concrete milestones and detailed annual budgets, which will form part of the Funding Agreement if any funds are awarded. Siemens reviews the Full Proposals and assesses the implementation capabilities of the applicants, their financial management capabilities and their legal structure and compliance background, based on the information submitted.The final short list of applicants selected for the award of funds from the Siemens Integrity Initiative are invited to enter into a Funding Agreement with Siemens by September 2010 (first Funding Round only). All applicants are informed via e-mail on the outcome of their participation in the Full Proposal selection round. The selection of the projects to be funded is at Siemens’ sole and exclusive discretion.
Funding Agreement
Applicants that have been selected for funding (‘Funding Recipients’) will be invited to enter into a Funding Agreement with Siemens. Siemens will not pay out any funds to any organization before a detailed Funding Agreement has been signed, come into effect, and all conditions for payout (including milestones) under such Funding Agreement have been met. Siemens reserves the right to full indemnification of any amounts funded through such agreement in case of breach of the agreement, which includes the inability to implement a funded project due to material delays attributable to the Funding Recipient. A term sheet setting out the key terms and conditions of the Funding Agreement can be downloaded here. Siemens reserves the right to alter, amend or otherwise modify the term sheet at any time during the selection process, and prior to signature.
Where two or more organizations jointly apply for funds from the Siemens Integrity Initiative, one organization ...
- must assume a leading position,
- signs the overall Funding Agreement with effect for all participants, and
- must administer the distribution of funds responsibly between those participating in this application/project.
Siemens will in such cases retain the right to make any payouts subject to all partners to the project meeting their relevant milestones.
Ongoing Review of Projects
Siemens reviews progress made in the implementation of the project at least on a quarterly basis and reserves the right to participate in project steering group meetings and to perform audits on the proper use of funds at any time. In conformity with the conditions of the Settlement Agreement, the World Bank reserves audit rights of expenditures by any organization that received funding from the Siemens Integrity Initiative.
All Funding Recipients are required to report regularly, at least quarterly, on progress made, and submit an annual progress report summarizing the activities and results of the past year, and including a detailed financial overview of funds spent during this time. Siemens shares progress reports with the World Bank Group.
Funding Recipients are expected to prepare an annual work plan for the following year detailing activities, milestones and planned budgets. Siemens reserves the right to ask Funding Recipients to have the financial statements of the project audited by an external company, to be approved by Siemens. After completion of the project, all Funding Recipients have to prepare a final project report and financial reports on the use of funds which must be audited if the projects exceed a certain amount.
- Compliance - Collective Action
- Overview
- Our Approach
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Integrity Initiative
- Overview
- Key information on Siemens Integrity Initiative
- Status first funding round
- Eligibility and selection criteria
- Application and selection process