A/HRC/10/49 page 10 49. The Board reviewed the fund-raising activities undertaken by the members of the Board and secretariat. A fund-raising meeting was organized on 19 February 2008 with donors and other interested Governments to discuss the future direction of the Fund. In addition, 15 bilateral meetings were organized with representatives of Permanent Missions. Recommendation 13 50. OIOS recommended reformulating the processing and funding cycle of the Fund. The Board adopted a new grant cycle for project grants for 2010 as follows: (a) Deadline for the submission of project applications for 2010: 31 March 2009; (b) Annual session of the Board of Trustees: September 2009; (c) Disbursement: October to December 2009; (d) Submission of interim financial and narrative reports: 30 June 2010; (e) Submission of financial and narrative reports: 28 February 2011. Recommendations 15 and 16 51. OIOS recommended that OHCHR establish a more comprehensive and cost-effective pre-screening policy to ensure that grants are approved for credible applicants in a cost-effective manner and in coordination with OHCHR, UNDP field presences, and other relevant partners to verify the actual existence of new applicants. 52. The Board revised and adopted a new format for the pre-screening of applications as well as new application forms requesting applicants applying for the first time to the Fund to provide additional documents including: a registration certificate of the organization; statute of the organization; copy of bank records indicating signatories for the organization; copies of six months’ bank statements; two letters of recommendation; and evidence of other sources of funding. The secretariat also coordinated with OHCHR and UNDP field presences to verify the existence and quality of all applicants. Recommendation 18 53. OIOS recommended that OHCHR require grantees to sign a comprehensive agreement that safeguards the interests of the Fund and includes the obligation to cooperate with project evaluations; submit reports; maintain documentation as to how the grant was spent; and refund in cases of fraud, misuse or mismanagement. 54. The Board noted that a new standard grant agreement containing all requested provisions was sent to all beneficiaries of project grants in 2007.