Deadline: 20-Apr-21
Applications are now open for the French Solidarity Program PISSCA 2021 to Strengthen Professional Skills of Civil Society Organizations in Ghana.
In this light, the French Embassy in Ghana is seeking high quality proposals in 2 different areas, in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the SDGs:
Preservation of Biological Diversity
- The purpose of PISCCA is to support innovative projects aiming at setting up concrete measures/actions for the conservation and protection of biodiversity. Contributing to the dialogue led by civil society with the authorities in the implementation and monitoring of their commitments in terms of environmental protection and promoting citizen involvement will also be supported. The “Nature-based Solutions” approach developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will be favoured.
- Proposals should aim at:
- Improving local and territorial governance of natural resources,
- Fighting against deforestation,
- Managing protected areas,
- Generating income from activities to offset the consumption of natural resources, development and promotion of “green” activities on sites with high biodiversity potential,
- Reconciling economic development with the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services, tourism potential and heritage conservation,
- Preserving the ecosystems and species and raising awareness,
- Promoting civil society dialogue with the authorities to support the implementation and/or monitoring of the national strategy to protect the biodiversity.
Gender Equality
- The objectives of the PISCCA project are to promote equal rights, equal sharing of resources and responsibilities between women and men; to increase access to women’s rights (economic, social, political, reproductive and sexual); and to improve women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion for a better inclusive and equitable economic growth.
- Innovative proposals should aim at:
- Promoting and implementing measures to improve gender equity, empowerment of women, promotion of woman’s rights (social, economic, political, financial, etc.),
- Fostering economic empowerment of women through the promotion of professional equality (equal rights, equal opportunities, equal salary, etc.) and innovative income generating activities,
- Encouraging innovative measures to promote financial empowerment, access to and control of resources,
- Advocating for the adoption of laws and policies that guarantee equality and non-discrimination,
- Promoting the culture of equality,
- Improving access to appropriate sexual and reproductive health services(birth control, choice of spouse, family planning, etc.),
- Sensitizing and advocating against early marriage and/or teenage pregnancy that prevent teenagers from attending school,
- Promoting sustainable change in social habits and more favourable laws for girls, especially young girls in vulnerable situations.
Funding Information
- Each successful project will be supported with a grant ranging from € 40,000 to € 50,000 for a period of 12 months for project implementation.
- A co-financing from the project holder (in cash or kind) is expected (10% minimum)
- The running costs of the project should not exceed 8% of the total budget.
Eligibility Criteria
Conditions for CSOs:
- CSOs that are legally registered and recognized in Ghana or
- CSOs that are affiliated to known coalitions and networks or
- CSOs with offices in the regions, and especially in the districts where they plan to implement the project. Credible national CSOs may also collaborate with local CSOs located within their preferred project districts to apply for the project
- CSOs must have managed budgets of at least € 30,000 for 2 years over the last 3 years (2018-2020)
Ineligible Projects
The following types of actions are ineligible:
- Actions concerned only or mainly with individual sponsorships for participation in workshops, seminars, conferences and congresses;
- Actions concerned only or mainly with individual scholarships for studies or training courses;
- Actions in the formal education sector, except in special circumstances;
- Equipment costs beyond 7% of the total budget;
- Actions supporting political parties;
- Actions which include religious proselytism;
- Actions which discriminate against individuals or groups of people on grounds of their race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs or lack of them, or their ethnic origin;
- Actions which are in conflict with Constitutional provisions.
For more information, visit here.