Q&A

DEval provides information on how development cooperation projects or the respective project managers can decide independently whether a project is suitable for RIE implementation. It is also possible to use our consulting service to clarify this issue.

The checklist here will quickly allow you to decide whether your project is suitable for RIE.

As it can be challenging to decide whether a project is appropriate for RIE, we offer consultation. DEval also offers a capacity building workshop on RIE in early August. To register for a consultation and/or the capacity building workshop, send an informal email to RIE-fund[at]DEval.org with the subject “RIE consultation” or “Capacity building workshop”. Please include your contact information.

There are no restrictions at the start of development cooperation projects. Ideally, RIEs will have already been considered and integrated in the project planning and will start after the beginning of the research funding period. Due to time constraints however, this is not always possible. If the measure to be evaluated has not yet started and any necessary changes in terms of the implementation can still be made, an RIE may be integrated at a later stage. If (baseline) data has already been collected, it is also possible to carry out an RIE at a later stage of the project or even after the project has ended. It is particularly important here that data is not only collected on the participants in the measure but also on the persons in the so-called control group. Accordingly, a decision is always made on a case-by-case basis.

This cannot be answered in general terms, as it varies depending on the context of the project. For the development cooperation projects, the most labour-intensive period is probably the research design and the individual data collection stage.

The submitted project descriptions are fundamental to the RIE funding programme. They will be published after the submission deadline: Overview of development cooperation projects that are eligible for RIE.

Based on the project descriptions, a matchmaking process will be conducted. During this process, the interested scientific institutions get in contact with the development cooperation projects. The aim is to clarify any open questions and to assess whether cooperation within the RIE research projects is promising for the scientific and development organisations. The scientists then work with the development cooperation projects to develop a research design.

After that, the scientific institutions can apply for funding. Applications must include a letter of support from the respective development cooperation project.

Before your project description is published or made available to the scientific institutions, DEval will review the project description. If any information relevant for RIE design is missing, DEval will contact you and ask for clarification.

Applications by scientific institutions, with the support of a development cooperation project, are possible until 30 November 2022. It is not a requirement to have participated in the matchmaking process. Nevertheless, we recommend participation so that you can benefit from the support offered during the matchmaking process.

Eligible applicants are state and state-recognised German universities, university hospitals and non-university research institutions that are recognised as non-profit organisations and conduct their own research and are based in Germany. Development cooperation projects can be proposed by German development cooperation organisations (see development cooperation organisations). A letter of support from a development cooperation organisation is required for the application process. The administrative responsibility for project implementation lies with the eligible institutions.

The financial support goes directly to the research institutions funded. This means that scientific staff and data collection can be financed as well as material resources. The financial support provided for the RIE cannot be used to finance project staff at the development cooperation organisations. The implementation of the development cooperation measure cannot be financed using the funding programme either.

Eligible for funding are coherent research projects.

In exceptional cases, this can also be individual data collections if they have an “RIE character” and can be regarded as a complete research project.

The project proposal of the scientific institutions must include a complete RIE research project. Therefore, the conception of the RIE must be complete. However, it will still be possible to adjust individual aspects after the start of the project. Ideally, expenditure by financial year should remain the same. Changes in the budget are subject to approval.

The maximum amount of financial support is approximately 365,000 euros in total, which must be divided between the budget years. The maximum funding amounts per year are:

2023: up to 110,000 euros
2024: up to 144,000 euros
2025: up to 113,000 euros

Amounts not drawn down in one financial year cannot be carried over to the following year.

RIE projects are selected based on the following criteria:

- Relevance to development policy

- Quality of the project

- Benefit and partner orientation

Further information on the selection procedure and the selection criteria can be found in the funding framework. A summary of the funding framework can be found under the heading "Science".

There is no weighting based on certain cost categories. All expenditure must serve the fulfilment of the research purpose.

Consortia are permitted as applicants. The forwarding agreement will then be concluded between DEval and the institution responsible for the application (see consortium in the funding framework).

It is not possible to forward funds to independent consultants or companies. However, orders may be placed with consultants as part of award procedures at any time.

Funds may be forwarded to academic institutes in Germany or abroad as long as the amount does not exceed 40% of the total budget.

The academic institutes do not have to be connected to the DC project.

It is also possible for partner institutes that receive forwarded funds to award contracts to other parties. Such awarding procedures are subject to the same rules as in Germany with regard to tender limits and maximum amounts (also refer to the question about cost limits). It is the task of the grantee to record this.

A direct order is possible up to a net order value of €1,000. For a net order value of €1,000 to €15,000, an award procedure with at least three participants is necessary. For a net order value of €15,000 to €50,000, a restricted tender without competitive bidding is required. For a net order value of €50,000 to €215,000, a public tender or a restricted tender with competitive bidding is required. Mr Viertel is available to answer any questions. You can find the contact data in the funding framework.

The scientific institutions are responsible for the RIE research project. Therefore, responsibility for the successful implementation of the RIE research project lies entirely with the scientific institutions.

The design and planning of the RIEs as well as the data collection is carried out by the scientific institutions. Any calls for proposals are also made by the scientific institutions. The financial reporting as well as the factual reports to DEval are prepared by the scientific institutions.

In every RIE research project there should be a sounding board that continuously accompanies the project. DEval employees as well as others are involved in this board. Depending on the requirements, DEval provides flexible support to the RIE research projects in implementing the RIE. However, the main responsibility lies with the scientific institution submitting the application.

Ideally, the results of the RIE will be incorporated in the planning of similar projects within the organisations themselves as well as other development cooperation organisations, and are used by the BMZ and disseminated within the scientific community. How the results are used in practice may vary from project to project. Therefore, the benefits of the RIE should be specifically explained in the RIE funding application.

In principle, the committed funds are earmarked to the budget years specified in the funding plan. Unfortunately, it is not possible to transfer residual funds from the previous year into the following year.

Within a budget year,

1. it is possible to make a cost-neutral reallocation between budget lines within a cost category without submitting a reallocation application if the new amount deviates from the original budget line by less than 20%. If the new amount is more than 20% higher or lower, a reallocation application for a cost-neutral reallocation must be submitted in written form. (No. 1.2, General Auxiliary Provisions for Grants for Project Support);
2. a cost-neutral/non-cost-neutral change to the funding plan that either deviates from the original amount by more than 20% or entails a request for additional funds is possible, but an amendment must be submitted to DEval for approval. The amendment must be submitted in written form along with an updated funding plan. (No. 4, General Auxiliary Provisions for Grants for Project Support);
3. it is possible to use unused funds from an individual approach to create new positions within the “personnel costs” cost category. An amendment must be submitted to obtain prior approval from DEval. Unused funds from the “personnel costs” cost category must not be transferred to the other cost categories.

DEval will soon provide a form for amendments on the download sites of the funding project.

Yes, this is possible. However, the funding recipient must first submit a compelling amendment explaining that the position change does not jeopardise the objectives and quality of the project. The assessment of the application is conducted by DEval. The salary of the new employees will then be calculated according to their qualifications and must not exceed the budget originally planned for this position.

Unfortunately, it is not possible for us to approve any project activities beyond the 30^th September 2025. This is because our project funds were only allocated until 2025, and we must conclude the project (technically and financially) by the end of 2025. Your final report (use of funds statement) must be submitted no more than two months after the end of the approved period, however, at the latest on the 31^st October 2025.

Ideally, requests for funds should be submitted both by email and by post before the respective deadline.

However, it is okay if the original arrives a couple of days later. It is crucial that the digital request for funds has been submitted as a PDF file by the deadline (see funding framework) so that our administration has enough time to process it.

Deadline                                       For period                                    Payment date

15 December (previous year)     01 January to 28 February        01 January

15 February                             01 March to 30 April                01 March

15 April                                   01 May to 30 June                   01 May

15 June                                   01 July to 31 August                01 July

15 August                                01 September to 31 October    01 September

15 October                              01 November to 31 December   01 November

If a payment date falls on a public holiday, the payment will be made on the following business day.

Unfortunately, we can only process requests for funds received by the deadline. If we receive requests for funds after the deadline, they can no longer be processed and must then be resubmitted with the subsequent request by the following deadline.

It is not mandatory to withdraw funds. It is always only possible to withdraw funds two months in advance. If you are able to pay upfront with institutional funds you can also withdraw funds at a longer interval (e.g. every four months) and request funds from us retroactively.

However, please note: The withdrawal of 15^th October of the respective year is the last opportunity to withdraw funds for that year! We can no longer consider requests for funds for the current year received after this key date. This means that you must request funds for all upfront costs incurred within a given year by the 15^th October of that year at the latest!

As per Clause 7.4 of the forwarding contract, the funds must be used for due payments within two months after disbursement in the SEPA zone or within four months after disbursement outside the SEPA zone.

The last request for funds of a budget year must be submitted by the 15th October at the latest. The requested funds will then be transferred to the payment recipient on the 01^st November. The recipient has a two-month expenditure period ending on the 31^st December. It is not permitted to pay invoices from the previous year after the 31^st December.

Residual funds from the previous budget year must be paid back at the latest by the 31^st January of the following year.

The funds are bound to the budget years. It is never possible to carry over funds from one year to the next (Clause 9.3, forwarding contract).

After the spending deadline, the remaining funds can either be paid back to the DEval directly or offset against the next but one request for funds. In both cases, no interest will be charged. Please note that the remaining funds must be repaid in any case before the turn of the year. Offsetting against the next or next but one request for funds in the following year is not possible.

If the approved period is longer than one budget year, an annual interim report demonstrating the use of the grant must be submitted by the 28^th/29^th February of the respective next budget year (Clause 10.3, forwarding contract).

No, the first request for funds for a budget year must be submitted independently of the annual interim report for the previous year.

The final report (proof of use statement) must be submitted no more than two months after the end of the approved period, and at the latest on the 31^st October 2025 (Clause 10.1, forwarding contract).