News
01.09.2010. First open call is launced for researchers from Latvia within the Scholarship Fund The Scholarship Fund is implemented within the framework of Swiss Scientific Exchange Programme which forms a part of Swiss financial contribution to new EU Member States.
The programme aims at facilitating research stays in Swiss research teams to Doctoral Candidates and PostDocs from the 8 New Member States of the European Union (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia). The Sciex Fellows will be fully integrated in the on-going research work, contribute their own ideas and results and benefit from specific knowledge through exchanges with experienced professionals and young researchers.
The deadline for submission of applications is 1st November 2010.
The Scholarship Fund will be implemented by the Swiss institution the Rectors' Conference of the Swiss Universities; however the implementation of the Fund in Latvia will be coordinated by the Education Development State Agency. (http://www.viaa.gov.lv/).
For more information please visit the web page http://www.sciex.ch/, http://www.sciex.lv/.
05.07.2010 Latvia and Switzerland signed a Scholarship Fund Agreement for science development within the framework of the Swiss-Latvian cooperation programme
16.04.2010 The second Annual meeting of the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme
The second Annual meeting of the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme was held on 14 April 2010 in the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia. During the meeting representatives from the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia discussed with representatives from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and the Swiss Contribution Office for Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania the implementation of the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme in Latvia during period from May 2009 till March 2010.
On 11 December 2009, Swiss Ambassador in Latvia Gabriela Nützi Sulpizio, Deputy State Secretary on foreign finance aid coordination issues of the Ministry of Finance Andžs Ūbelis and Director of the Society Integration Foundation Aija Bauere signed Project Agreement in the framework of the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme concerning the grant for “NGO Fund”.
The Intermediate Body of the NGO Fund is the Society Integration Foundation. The purpose of this project is to promote civil society’s contribution to economic and social cohesion by supporting NGOs activities increasing life quality of children, youth and retired persons. Under small projects could be implemented activities justified by the needs of the target group (children, youth and retired persons), for example activities promoting leadership and participation, healthy and physically active life style and motivation and self-assessment programmes etc.
Total project costs - 4 117 647 CHF, including 617 647 CHF or 15 % national co-financing. It is foreseen to announce single open call for small project in the 1st quarter of 2010. Eligible applicants are societies, foundations and religious organizations acting for public benefit registered in Republic of Latvia.
On 16 November 2009 was signed second agreement within the Project Preparation Facility for the project "Research on youth needs in peripheral or disadvantaged regions”.
The agreement was signed between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education and Science (the Executing agency).
The objective of the project is to obtain credible data which would allow quantitative and qualitative analysis of the current situation in the area of youth interests and training needs and would give a rise for recommendations on establishing the Centres and necessary trainings, exchanges and events programmes. Total eligible costs of this project is 38 824 CHF, including 15% national co-financing. The implementation period shall be six months.
On 11 August 2009, Swiss Ambassador in Latvia Gabriela Nützi Sulpizio and Deputy State Secretary on foreign finance aid coordination issues of the Ministry of Finance Andžs Ūbelis signed two Project Agreements in the framework of the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme concerning the grant for “Latvian local governments to ensure the transportation of schoolchildren” as well as for “Technical assistance in preparing the financial reports”.
The promoter of project „Implementation of Local Government’s Activities by Ensuring the Transportation of School Children and Related Support Measures” is the State Regional Development Agency. The purpose of this project is to enhance access to qualitative education and to increase safety of school children in peripheral and disadvantaged regions of Latvia by ensuring their transportation to schools and by increasing the quality of means of transportation. The main project activity is acquisition of approximately 110 school buses for local governments. Total project costs - 20 885 355 CHF, including 4 885 355 CHF national co-financing (state and local governments budget).
The second project “Financial Reporting Technical Assistance Project” will be implemented by the Ministry of Finance and by its partner the World Bank Centre for Financial Reporting Reform. The overall objective of this project is to ensure conformity of Latvian accounting and auditing legislation with the acquis communautaire and proper functioning of administrative institutions and as well as to improve and strengthen administrative capacity in financial reporting policymaking field, legislation and standard settings. Total project costs - 1 977 795 CHF which is 100% Swiss contribution.
25.06.2009 The first Project Agreement of the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme is signed
Swiss competent authorities have approved final project proposals:
Approval date | Project title | Project promoter |
28.07.2009. | Implementation of local governments activities by ensuring the transportation of school children and related support measures | State Regional Development Agency |
16.07.2009. | NGO fund | Society Integration Foundation |
20.05.2009. | Modernization of courts in Latvia | Court Administration |
24.02.2009. | Financial reporting technical assistance project | Ministry of Finance, Department of Coordination and Analysis of Accounting Methods |
26.05.2009 The first Annual meeting of the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme
The first Annual meeting of the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme was hold on 26 May 2009 in the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia. During the meeting representatives from the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia discussed with representatives from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and the Swiss Contribution Office for Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania the implementation of the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme in Latvia during period from December 2007 till April 2009.
17.04.2009 The meeting of the Steering Committee of the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme was hold in the Ministry of Finance on 17 April 2009. In the Steering Committee was approved the final project proposal “NGO fund”. Further the final project proposal “NGO fund” will be submitted for approval to the Embassy of Switzerland in the Republic of Latvia.
On 2 March 2009 the first agreement within the Project Preparation Facility about the project "Preparation for implementation the Project "Remediation of historically polluted areas – in Sarkandaugava”” was signed between the Ministry of Finance and the State Hazardous Waste Management Agency (the Executing agency).The objective of the project is to obtain the necessary data on historically polluted areas in Sarkandaugava and to prepare the appropriate documentation in order to complete the final project proposal.
Total eligible costs of this project is 117 000 CHF, including 15% national co-financing. The implementation period shall be six months.
24.02.2009 The first final project proposal is approved
The Swiss competent authorities have approved the first final project proposal „Financial reporting technical assistance project” on 24 February 2009.
19.02.2009 The meeting of the Steering Committee of the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme was hold in the Ministry of Finance on 19 February 2009. In the Steering Committee were approved three final project proposals:
- Modernization of courts in Latvia;
- Implementation of local governments activities by ensuring the transportation of school children and related support measures;
- Financial reporting technical assistance project.
In the Steering Committee also was approved the revised project outline “Support for the development of the youth initiatives in peripheral or disadvantaged regions”, which was updated by the Ministry of Children, Family and Integration Affairs of the Republic of Latvia in accordance with conditions set out in the decision letter of the Swiss competent authorities.
21.01.2009 The Technical assistance fund and the Project preparation facility agreement has been signed by Ministry of Finance on the Latvian side and by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and State Secretariat for Economic Affairs on the Swiss side.
On 8 November 2008 the Saiema adopted the Latvian-Swiss Cooperation Programme Management Law which prescribes effective, transparent and corresponding with the sound financial governance principles management of the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme in Latvia. The Law please see in Documents.
The Law basically determines: the institutions involved in the management of the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme, they rights and duties;
the procedure for making decisions and appeal of decisions of institutions involved in the management of the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme;
and other specific issues related with the management of the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme.
23.12.2008 Swiss competent authorities have approved project outlines
03.10.2008 All project outlines have been submitted to the Embassy of Switzerland in the Republic of Latvia
25.07.2008 The 1st meeting of the Steering Committee of the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme
21.07.2008 The Law on Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme is approved
23.01.2008 On implementation of Swiss – Latvian cooperation programme