CFPs: Thematic Program for CSOs and Human Rights and Democracy (Guatemala)

Deadline: 29-May-24

The European Commission (EC) is currently accepting applications for two thematic programs to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law and to promote the strengthening and active participation of Civil Society Organizations.

Lots

LOT 1: Thematic program on human rights and democracy

The multiannual indicative program 2021-2027 (PIP) for the thematic program on human rights and democracy follows the structure of the EU Action Plan with its five general priorities:

Protect and empower people.
Build resilient, inclusive and democratic societies.
Promote a global system of human rights and democracy.
Take advantage of the opportunities and face the challenges presented by new technologies.
Achieve the goals set by working together.

LOT 2: Thematic program civil society organizations

The activities funded by the CSO Program are aimed at contributing to the informed, inclusive and constructive participation of CSOs in the political dialogue with actors from partner countries and the EU, as well as their role as development partners. The actions will also be aligned with the priority areas of the European Union and the sectors selected for each EU Delegation in order to strengthen dialogue and the implementation of joint programming initiatives.

Objectives & Priorities

LOT 1 Thematic program human rights and democracy
- The overall objective of this call for proposals is to strengthen the capacities of civil society in the protection and promotion of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms in Guatemala.
- The specific objectives of this call for proposals are focused on enhancing the capacities of advocacy, proposal, inclusive dialogue, analysis, participation in key spaces and social audit of civil society with emphasis on:
  - SO1 Promote the participation of civil society in the implementation of the international regulatory framework on business and human rights, including the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, related European Union legislation on human rights and social due diligence and environmental, as well as enhance its role within the consultation and participation mechanisms of the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union-ADA (chapter on Sustainable Trade and Development).
  - SO2 Promote the enforceability of economic, social and cultural rights with emphasis on population groups in situations of greatest vulnerability (women, children, youth, LGBTIQ+ people, people with disabilities and indigenous peoples).
- The Priorities are:
  - SO1 Promote the participation of civil society in the implementation of the international regulatory framework on business and human rights, including the Guiding Principles of In defining the objectives and priorities of this call for proposals, the complementarity of both thematic programs with the European Union Guidelines on Human Rights, the European Union Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, the European Union Action Plan on Civil Society, and the Roadmap 2021- United Nations on Business and Human Rights, related legislation of the European Union on human rights and social and environmental due diligence, as well as enhancing its role within the consultation and participation mechanisms of the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union-ADA.
  - SO2 Promote the enforceability of economic, social, cultural and environmental rights with emphasis on the most vulnerable population groups (women, children, youth, LGBTIQ+ people, workers’ organizations, people with disabilities, human rights defenders and indigenous peoples).
LOT 2 Thematic program civil society organizations
- The overall objective of this call for proposals is to promote an inclusive, articulated and empowered civil society, as an independent actor of development and good governance in Guatemala.
- The specific objectives are:
  - SO1 Strengthen the capacities of civil society to promote a civic space that allows its participation in political dialogue with state institutions, monitoring the creation and implementation of public policies, monitoring the legislative agenda, as well as participatory dialogue and articulation between the different national and local social expressions (emphasis on women, youth and indigenous peoples).
  - SO2 Promote citizen participation through the training of political leadership of women and youth, which allows their equitable and active participation in decision-making spaces at the territorial and national level.
- The Priorities are:
  - SO1 Strengthen the capacities of civil society to promote a civic space that allows its participation in political dialogue with state institutions, monitoring the creation and implementation of public policies, monitoring the legislative agenda, as well as participatory dialogue and articulation between the different national and local social expressions (emphasis on women, youth and indigenous peoples).
  - SO2 Promote citizen participation through the training of political leadership of women, youth and indigenous peoples, which allows their equitable and active participation in decision-making spaces at the territorial and national level.

Funding Information

The total amount assigned to this invitation to tender is EUR 4,500,000. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to award all available funds.
Indicative allocation of funds:
- LOT 1: EUR 2,000,000
- LOT 2: EUR 2,500,000
Subsidies requested under this invitation to tender include the following minimum and maximum requirements:
- LOT 1
  - minimum import: EUR 500,000
  - maximum import: EUR 650,000
- LOT 2
  - minimum import: EUR 625,000
  - maximum import: EUR 1,250,000
The subsidies requested within this call for proposals will be between the following minimum and maximum percentages of the total eligible costs of the action:
- LOT 1
  - Minimum percentage: 75% of the total subsidy costs of the action
  - Maximum percentage: 95% of the total subsidy costs of the action
- LOT 2
  - Minimum percentage: 75% of the total subsidy costs of the action.
  - Maximum percentage: 90% of the total subsidy costs of the action

Eligibility Criteria

Primary applicant
- LOT 1
  - To be eligible for a grant, the main applicant must:
    - be a legal entity and
    - not have a profit motive; and
    - belong to the specific category of non-governmental organization or civil society organization (CSO) or a network, platform or other type of CSO coalition; and
    - verify having obtained legal status from the competent authority for at least three years, prior to the presentation of the proposal and will have to verify having previously implemented, regularly, actions in the field of human rights, for at least the same period of time, three years; and;
    - be directly responsible, with their co-applicants and affiliated entities, for the preparation and management of the action and not simply act as intermediaries; and submit with at least one co-applicant per proposal; and
    - At least one member of the consortium (applicant or co-applicant) must be Guatemalan.
- LOT 2
  - To be eligible for a grant, the main applicant must:
    - be a legal entity; and
    - not have a profit motive; and
    - be a non-governmental organization or civil society organization (CSO) or a CSO network, platform or other type of coalition; and
    - be established in Guatemala, or in a Member State of the European Union or in other admissible countries
    - be directly responsible, with their co-applicants and affiliated entities, for the preparation and action management and not simply acting as intermediaries; and
    - have been established for at least 5 years and have carried out regular actions in the areas of the call for at least 3 years prior to the time of submitting the application.
- For both lots:
  - International (intergovernmental) organisations, as defined in Article 156 of the EU Financial Regulation, are not eligible for this call.
Co-applicants
- The co-applicants will participate in the design and implementation of the action, and the costs incurred will be eligible for subsidies in the same way as those incurred by the main applicant.
- Co-applicants must meet the eligibility criteria applicable to the main applicant themselves
Affiliated entities
- The main applicant and its co-applicants may act with affiliated entities.
- Only entities that have a structural link with the applicants (i.e. the main applicant or a co-applicant), especially if the link is legal or capital.