Deadline: 9-Jul-25
The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector is seeking applications for its Small Initiatives Support Scheme designed to assist applicants looking for funding for small projects that can make a real difference to their local communities.
Objectives
- The general objectives establishing the SIS Scheme are the following:
- To stimulate cooperation and networking between voluntary organisations.
- To provide a consultative forum that can effectively address issues related to the Voluntary Sector.
- To support the work of voluntary organisations as an integral part of civil society.
- To provide a platform from which to develop cooperation between voluntary organisations and the Government.
- To promote and encourage a culture of volunteering and participation in volunteer activities among people, especially children and youths, as an aspect of personal and social development.
- To foster cooperation in the volunteer sector with local and international bodies, entities or other persons for the encouragement and promotion of the development of volunteering programmes, initiatives, and activities.
- To encourage collaboration of non-governmental bodies with private entities or persons and local councils to contribute towards the promotion of volunteering in Malta in furtherance of the principle of subsidiarity.
Priorities
- In addition to the objectives, the general priorities of the SIS Scheme are the following:
- Volunteering: This priority is intended to encourage projects aimed at raising awareness of the value and importance of volunteering as a form of active engagement and as a tool to develop or improve competencies for personal, social and professional development.
- Poverty and Social Inclusion: This priority is intended to encourage projects addressing the issues of poverty, marginalisation and hate speech by focusing on actions such as enhancing awareness and commitment amongst the Maltese society to make it more inclusive.
- Education: This priority is intended to encourage projects addressing the issues related to education with a special focus on the support of marginalised and more challenged groups in Maltese society.
- Arts, Culture and Sports: This priority is intended to encourage projects to address enhancements of awareness in artistic and cultural heritage amongst the Maltese society.
- Research: This priority is intended to encourage projects addressing research to complement other priorities addressed in this call. Research can be carried out in regard to all aspects of the organisation such as capacity building, services, training, and volunteering.
Funding Information
- The budget allocated for the SIS Scheme will be €180,000.
- The grant requested for each project shall not be less than €2,000 and not more than €5,000.
- Duration: The project must be completed in 12 consecutive months.
Eligibility Criteria
- The applicants must be a Voluntary Organisation which is enrolled with the Commissioner for the Voluntary Sector.
- Voluntary organisations in compliance with the Commissioner for the Voluntary Sector by the deadline for submission of e-applications.
- The project should be innovative and not be a repeat of previously approved projects by the same organisation.
- The proposed project should be sustainable for at least 3 years.
- Voluntary Organisations that fall in the first two financial brackets according to the New VO Law Amendments of 2018 (annual turnover under €250,000).
- Have no pending MCVS projects from previous years.
Ineligibility Criteria
- The project proposal is or has been granted through another EU/national fund.
- The project is purely a fundraising event and/or for-profit-making purposes.
- If the organisation proposes the same project as in previously awarded years.
- If the organisation has any pending MCVS projects which are not finalised in full following the end date of the Grant Agreement.
- Does not observe any of the eligibility criteria.
Selection Criteria
- Financial capacity: The applicant must show that they have stable and sufficient financial resources to support the second and final payments of the amount granted until they are reimbursed following a successful evaluation of the interim/final report and financial documentation.
- Operational capacity: The applicant must show that they have adequate operational capacity, that is, the necessary people, skills, competencies, and motivation to complete the proposed project.
For more information, visit VO Funding.