What is the Global Call for Proposals?
The Global Call for Proposals (GCP) is an initiative that aims to empower Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in developing countries to drive forward their capacity and performance. This is done by (i) supporting SAIs to develop proposals based on their needs and strategic plan; and (ii) enabling matching with interested financial and technical providers of support in a coordinated manner.
The aspiration of the Cooperation with this initiative is to scale-up and optimize joint efforts of INTOSAI and donor partners in enhancing the capacity of SAIs in developing countries.
Through the GCP, all eligible SAIs and INTOSAI bodies can submit capacity development funding proposals at the country, regional and global levels. The INTOSAI Donor-Cooperation will then work with the applicant in an effort to match these proposals with donor and/or INTOSAI funding.
The first GCP round was launched in 2011 and the second in 2013. Both rounds saw roughly 50% success rates in project applications. Since 2017, the GCP was split in two tiers. Tier 1 is a rolling application mechanism that is open to all eligible applicants, while Tier 2 is a target program focused on particularly challenged SAIs (often from fragile states or states in challenging contexts). The selected SAIs work together with donors and technical partners to develop strategic plans and capacity development projects.
Proposals taken from GCP Tier 1 have been successful when they follow a robust approach to capacity development, e.g. not just training or new infrastructure but combining professional staff development with changes to organisational systems to enhance audit quality and deliver impact. Support to ISSAI implementation, undertaking SAI PMF assessments, and enhancing specific SAI functions – like forensic auditing – which show a clear benefit for the country, have been particularly successful. Support has come from Development banks, Donor agencies, the SAI Capacity Development Fund (CDF) financed by Switzerland, the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI), SAIs with their own development resources (e.g. Norway, Sweden), SAIs as in-kind support (e.g. India, Brazil, Mexico). The contribution of projects initiated under the GCP towards country-level impact is highlighted in a number of the Cooperation’s Success Stories.
If you are a SAI interested in applying to the Global Call for Proposals programe, learn more about Tier 1 (Global Call for Proposals). If you are part of the current targeted support program, or want to learn more about the program’s goals, follow the link for Tier 2 (GSAI).
GCP Strategy
The Global Call for Proposals Strategy recognises that SAIs have unique roles best understood by other SAIs, and that peer support is already established as a credible and independent form of support within INTOSAI. A growing number of SAIs and INTOSAI bodies are now set up to provide peer-to-peer support. Some operate in specific regions or language groups, others globally. Some are capable and experienced in leading facilitation of large scale capacity development programs; others can provide complementary support. To aid both applicants and those interested in providing support, the Cooperation issued a Call for Capability Statements to INTOSAI bodies able to provided peer-to-peer support. Further capability statements will be added as they are developed.
Previous Rounds
Previous rounds of the GCP in 2011 and 2013 have been hugely successful for many SAIs and donors. Around 50% of all concept notes or proposals have been supported, in-full or in-part. Support has come from:
- Development banks
- Donor agencies
- the SAI Capacity Development Fund (CDF) financed by Switzerland
- the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI)
- SAIs with their own development resources (e.g. Norway, Sweden)
- SAIs as in-kind support (e.g. India, Brazil, Mexico)
Proposals have been successful when they follow a robust approach to capacity development, e.g. not just training or new infrastructure but combining professional staff development with changes to organisational systems to enhance audit quality and deliver impact. Support to ISSAI implementation, undertaking SAI PMF assessments, and enhancing specific SAI functions – like forensic auditing – which show a clear benefit for the country, have been particularly successful. The contribution of projects initiated under the GCP towards country-level impact is highlighted in a number of the Cooperation’s Success Stories.