Call for Proposals: Capacity Development of CSOs in Eastern Partnership Region

Deadline: 28-Aug-23

The European Commission (EC) is seeking proposals to contribute towards the inclusive, resilient and democratic societies in the Eastern Partnership region.

Objectives of the Programme and Priority Issues

• The specific objective(s) of this call for proposals are:
  • to increase capacities of CSOs and reinforce their role in the democratisation, reform and recovery processes in Eastern Partnership countries and the Russian Federation.
• Within this call for proposals the EU is aiming to select a total of up to 10 strategic partners and conclude Financial Framework Partnership Agreements with organisations that share EU’s values and vision on development of resilient civil society as actors of governance and on a framework of enhanced cooperation with the EU based on mutual interests, common general objectives and EU’s policies.
• The Financial Framework Partnership Agreements will constitute the basis for a medium term cooperation framework (four years) between the Commission and specific beneficiaries. The Commission intends to maintain a network of Framework Partners which will enable regular communication and coordination (collectively and individually) on relevant topics of mutual interest and in line with common objectives.
• Amongst the selected Framework Partners, specific grants will be awarded to a limited number of organisations in order to:
  • Conduct activities to strengthen the capacities of CSOs to participate in the democratisation, reform and recovery processes in Eastern Partnership countries and the Russian Federation and become better communicators of their work;
  • Provide Financial Support to Third Parties in Eastern Partnership countries and the Russian Federation, and provide step-by-step support in the implementation of project, coupled with oversight of the organisations’ own development strategies and ambitions.

Funding Information

• The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 6,036,000.
• Size of grants:
  • Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
    • Minimum amount: EUR 1,000,000.
    • Maximum amount: EUR 1,500,000.

Duration

• The framework agreement shall be concluded for a period of four years (48 months) starting from the date of its entry into force.
• The initial planned duration of an action (specific grant) may not be lower than 24 months nor exceed 40 months.

Location

• Actions must take place for or in at least four countries of the Eastern Partnership and the Russian Federation; where actions cannot take place in country due to political and security circumstances, actions can take place where relevant, including in the Eastern Partnership region or the European Union. Exceptionally, some study tours, networking or other activities may be foreseen in the EU.

Eligibility Criteria

• Lead applicant(s)
  • In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:
    • be a legal person and
    • be non-profit-making and
    • be a civil society organisation  and
    • be established in
      • EU Partner countries eligible for Union funding from the Eastern Neighbourhood – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, eligible for Union funding under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) instrument, and the Russian Federation or
      • a Member State of the European Union and contracting parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area,
    • be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the co-applicant(s) and affiliated entity(ies), not acting as an intermediary and
    • have recent proven experience of at least 3 years in implementing CSO capacity building activities in at least three countries from the Eastern Partnership  and/or the Russian Federation, and
    • have recent proven experience in awarding and managing grants to CSOs and local initiatives, including the publication of calls for proposals, the definition of selection and award criteria, the evaluation of applications, the contracting and the monitoring of implementation.
• Affiliated entities
  • The lead applicant may act with affiliated entities.
  • Only the following entities may be considered as affiliated entities to the lead applicant:
  • Only entities having a structural link with the applicants (i.e. the lead applicant or a co-applicant), in particular a legal or capital link.
  • This structural link encompasses mainly two notions:
    • Control, on the annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings:
    • Entities affiliated to an applicant may hence be:
      • Entities directly or indirectly controlled by the applicant (daughter companies or first-tier subsidiaries). They may also be entities controlled by an entity controlled by the applicant (granddaughter companies or second-tier subsidiaries) and the same applies to further tiers of control;
      • Entities directly or indirectly controlling the applicant (parent companies). Likewise, they may be entities controlling an entity controlling the applicant;
      • Entities under the same direct or indirect control as the applicant (sister companies).
      • Membership, i.e. the applicant is legally defined as a e.g. network, federation, association in which the proposed affiliated entities also participate or the applicant participates in the same entity (e.g. network, federation, association) as the proposed affiliated entities.

For more information, visit European Commission.