[{"bbox": [128, 161, 754, 195], "category": "Section-header", "text": "# 4 IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS"}, {"bbox": [128, 227, 428, 259], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 4.1 Financing Agreement"}, {"bbox": [140, 273, 1086, 302], "category": "Text", "text": "In order to implement this Action, it is envisaged to conclude a financing agreement with the Lao PDR."}, {"bbox": [128, 314, 556, 346], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 4.2 Indicative Implementation Period"}, {"bbox": [140, 361, 1093, 442], "category": "Text", "text": "The indicative operational implementation period of this action, during which the activities described in section 3 will be carried out and the corresponding contracts and agreements implemented, is 72 months from the date of entry into force of the financing agreement."}, {"bbox": [140, 442, 1072, 495], "category": "Text", "text": "Extensions of the implementation period may be agreed by the Commission's responsible authorising officer by amending this Financing Decision and the relevant contracts and agreements."}, {"bbox": [128, 534, 486, 566], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 4.3 Implementation Modalities"}, {"bbox": [140, 592, 1110, 671], "category": "Text", "text": "The Commission will ensure that the EU appropriate rules and procedures for providing financing to third parties are respected, including review procedures, where appropriate, and compliance of the action with EU restrictive measures⁵."}, {"bbox": [128, 698, 661, 727], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### 4.3.1 Indirect Management with a pillar assessed entity"}, {"bbox": [140, 753, 1134, 806], "category": "Text", "text": "This action may be implemented in indirect management with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ)."}, {"bbox": [140, 818, 1134, 874], "category": "Text", "text": "This implementation entails a contribution to the achievement of the specific objective (outcome) and the three corresponding outputs specified in 3.1."}, {"bbox": [140, 884, 758, 913], "category": "Text", "text": "The envisaged entity has been selected using the following criteria:"}, {"bbox": [177, 924, 636, 951], "category": "List-item", "text": "i) experience working in the governance sector;"}, {"bbox": [177, 962, 1093, 990], "category": "List-item", "text": "ii) experience in promoting alignment of EU interests, policies and values in partner countries; and"}, {"bbox": [177, 1001, 1134, 1056], "category": "List-item", "text": "iii) expertise in providing advisory services, capacity building and/or technical assistance to the public and civil society sectors."}, {"bbox": [140, 1066, 1134, 1176], "category": "Text", "text": "On i) GIZ has demonstrated experience in Laos and in the region, for example with the Mekong River Commission and ASEAN. GIZ has been active in the Lao PDR since 1993, with an increasing engagement in the governance sector including in the field of administration, law and justice. Besides, it has already implemented the first phase of the CEGGA programme between 2017 and 2022."}, {"bbox": [140, 1185, 1134, 1320], "category": "Text", "text": "On ii) GIZ, as part of the German Development Cooperation, is fully integrated in the planning and implementation of the European Joint-Programming process in the Lao PDR, including the current Team-Europe Strategy 2021-2025. Under delegated cooperation arrangements, GIZ is also accredited to manage European Commission funds set aside to support partner countries. As such, it has proven experience in focusing on common goals while promoting alignment of EU interests, policies and values."}, {"bbox": [140, 1331, 1134, 1412], "category": "Text", "text": "On iii) GIZ has demonstrated its capacity to provide advisory services, capacity building and technical assistance through its work in partnership with the Government of Lao PDR and partners, enabling smooth facilitation of policy dialogue, advisory services and capacity development."}, {"bbox": [140, 1422, 1134, 1504], "category": "Text", "text": "Therefore, indirect management through this EU Member State organisation is assessed to be the best option to ensure a fully integrated and coherent implementation of all components of the Action, while also ensuring full compliance with the EU's requirements of minimum contract size and EU visibility. Germany (BMZ)"}, {"bbox": [128, 1572, 1144, 1647], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁵ www.sanctionsmap.eu. Please note that the sanctions map is an IT tool for identifying the sanctions regimes. The source of the sanctions stems from legal acts published in the Official Journal (OJ). In case of discrepancy between the published legal acts and the updates on the website it is the OJ version that prevails."}, {"bbox": [1026, 1680, 1143, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 18 of 21"}]