Call for Proposals: Bulgaria – Funds for Non-Governmental Organizations

Deadline: 30 September 2016

NGO Programme in Bulgaria under the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area is open for applications with an objective of strengthening civil society development and enhanced contribution to social justice, democracy and sustainable development.

Funding Information

The maximum amount of the funding is up to 5 000 Euros.
The available total budget under this measure amounts to 25 161 Euros 1 (the budget might be subject to updating).
Applications for funding partner initiatives shall be accepted evaluated and approved until the set budget is exhausted.

Thematic Areas

Democracy/Participatory democracy;
Active citizenship;
Good governance and transparency;
Combat racism and xenophobia;
Human rights including minorities’ rights (ethnic, religious, linguistic and sexual orientation), access to rights including in rural areas, and anti-discrimination;
Gender equality and/or gender-based violence;
Social inequalities, poverty and exclusion, including in rural areas;
Provision of welfare and basic services;
Specific needs of vulnerable groups, including Roma;
Environment and climate change;
Capacity building for NGOs;
Advocacy and watchdogging;
Networking and coalition building

Priorities

Democracy, human rights and good governance;
Social inclusion and empowerment of vulnerable groups;
Sustainable development and protection of the environment;
Capacity building for NGOs.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants are non-governmental organizations (NGOs) registered in Bulgaria as non-profit legal entities established for the public benefit, entered in the Central Register of non-profit legal entities established for the public benefit of the Ministry of Justice, whose registration has not been cancelled at the time of the application.
Eligible applicants are also the public community centers (chitalishta), in accordance with the existing Law on Community Centers and the Bulgarian Red Cross.
The eligible applicants must meet also the following requirements:
- to not be unions of businesses or organizations, established on a professional principle, whose objectives and activities are oriented towards protection of the specific interests (business or professional) of their members, founders, or governing bodies;
- to be independent of bodies of the local, regional, or central authorities and of other state or public authorities and institutions;
- to be independent of political parties and commercial entities within the meaning of the Commerce Act;
- to adhere to the democratic values and human rights principles.
Political parties, religious institutions, social partners and social enterprises are not eligible applicants.
Eligible applicants are also organizations from the donor states – Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway as well as international organizations.