In Bogota, approximately 10,000 people make a living from the recycling of waste. They are waste pickers, dealers or craftsmen who live and survive through collecting, reselling, re-using and transforming domestic waste. Yet, these people have limited access to the technology and training they need. ENDA America Latina (ENDA AL), which was established in the mid 1980s, started to offer recyclers and collectors of Bogota professional training and basic education. This was the beginning of the creation of a recycling school which provides organisational support to recycling groups such as the creation of cooperatives and unions. The school also has a specific project for children.

The project has been formulated by ENDA AL in collaboration with the recycling groups. Initial project development began in the middle of 1989 and continued until 1991. The project was redefined several times in direct consultation with the financiers.

The project was at first presented to the F‚deration Genevoise and the Fondation de France. Ten financing requests were also sent to several European development organisations involved in project funding.

One of the project's representatives met in June 1991 with some representatives from the European Union's (EU) budgetline B7-6200 (Environment in developing countries). The EU representative explained that the priorities are increasingly moving towards the field of urban environment. In September 1992, a new version of the project was prepared and sent to the EU. A member of ENDA European delegation in Paris was responsible for monitoring the project application. In January 1993, the EU indicated its interest in the project and a meeting was held in Brussels in June 1993. The EU showed a particular interest in the work and experience of ENDA AL, its network, institutional relationships with local authorities and NGOs and its publications. After the meeting, the project's terms of reference and budget were restructured.

In July 1993, the EU declared its willingness to finance the project, after requesting some changes in the budget. The project was then further modified and presented to twenty members of the European Commission for their opinion. The EU eventually accepted the project in October 1993.

The initial evaluation of the proposal took more than a year. The project is presently in the process of implementation.

One problem was that the Commission asked ENDA for a bank guarantee equalling 35% of the project's total cost. Because ENDA AL was not able to secure such a contract with the bank, a solution was found whereby ENDA could guarantee the project through a grant. Another problem was the delay in receiving the financial support from the EU. Funds that should have been released shortly after funding was approved, were only released in February 1994.

The complex EU financing procedures necessitates careful project presentation and can cause considerable delays in decision-making and the release of funds. Larger organisations can carry the costs of presenting and preparing proposals for the EU's budgetlines easier than smaller

organisations. A European NGO partner, in this case the ENDA European delegation, can play an important role in staying in touch with the EU representatives and suggesting necessary changes in the project-proposal.