Call for Proposals: Civil Society & Human Rights and Democracy Thematic Programs (Panama)

Deadline: 13-Sep-23

The European Commission (EC) has launched a joint call for proposals under the Civil Society (NDICI – CSO) and Human Rights and Democracy (NDICI – HRD) thematic programs.

Program Objectives and Priorities

• The overall objective of this call for proposals in accordance with the general objectives of the DH&D and CSO thematic programs is, on the one hand, to strengthen CSOs as independent actors of good governance and development that contribute to promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law. On the other hand, it aims to contribute to a civil society and an inclusive, participatory, and independent democratic space that allows for an open dialogue with and between CSOs.
• The projects resulting from this call will be implemented with the support of the EU Delegation in the country, and will be consistent with the EU-Panama cooperation priorities, the EU strategy and action and implementation plan for human rights and democracy. and the EU guidelines on human rights. They will also be complementary to the Roadmap for the EU’s engagement with civil society in Panama.
• The thematic program for CSOs at the country level has the general objective of strengthening CSOs as independent actors of good governance and development. The first overall priority of the program, both at global and partner country level, is “An inclusive, participatory, empowered and independent civil society and democratic space in partner countries; and an inclusive and open dialogue with and among civil society organizations”.
  • LOT 1: Thematic Program Civil Society Organizations
    • The specific objective of this Call is to strengthen the technical, management, articulation and coordination capacities of civil society organizations (OSC) promoting their informed, inclusive and constructive participation in the implementation and monitoring of actions, policies, plans and programs audiences in two priority thematic lines.
    • Priority Lines:
      • Promotion, with a gender approach, of an enabling environment and strengthening the capacities of CSOs working for the protection of the marine and coastal ecosystem, in particular with regard to preparing, coordinating and contributing in a meaningful and structured way to dialogue, design, implementation and monitoring of actions, plans, programs, services and related public policies.
      • Strengthen the capacities of civil society and promote an enabling environment for CSOs that work in favor of the protection and promotion of the rights and development of children, adolescents and youth, with a gender approach, in order to allow their advanced contribution and participation in the dialogue, design, implementation and monitoring of actions, plans, programs, services and relevant public policies.
    • Beneficiaries: The final beneficiaries are local communities, boys, girls and young people and the population in general.
  • LOT 2: Human Rights and Democracy
    • The specific objective of Lot 2 of this Call is to support CSOs in actions that contribute to promoting and protecting democracy and the rule of law, through transparency, accountability and the fight against impunity.
    • Priority Line:
      • Carry out concrete actions of dialogue, design, implementation, follow-up, and/or training related to public policies and practices, legal frameworks, and supervision, investigation, and sanction mechanisms, at the local and national levels, in terms of transparency, accountability, accounts and the fight against impunity, including with regard to public spending and investment and budget transparency.
    • Beneficiaries: The final beneficiaries are groups in a state of vulnerability, the general population.

Funding Information

• The total indicative amount assigned to this call for proposals amounts to EUR 1,273,000, which corresponds to the financial endowment until 2024.
• Indicative distribution of funds by lot:
  • Lot 1 NDICI/CSO: 973,000 EUR
  • Lot 2 NDICI/HRD: 300,000 EUR
• Amount of subsidies
  • Lot 1
    • minimum amount: 400,000 EUR
    • maximum amount: 600,000 EUR
  • Lot 2
    • minimum amount: 300,000 EUR
    • maximum amount: 300,000 EUR
• Duration: The initial expected duration of an action may not be less than 24 months nor more than 36 months.

Results

• Expected results under Lot 1
  • Developed, promoted and consolidated networks, platforms or other coordination mechanisms and collaboration between CSOs.
  • Mechanisms for coordination and collaboration, and/or alliances between CSOs and relevant authorities (at the municipal, regional and state level), private sector actors, local communities and other interested actors developed, promoted and consolidated.
  • Strengthened the capacities and knowledge of CSOs, relevant authorities (at the municipal, regional and state level), private sector actors, local communities and other key actors on priority issues.
  • Promoted at the local, regional or national level a conscious, informed and committed to priority issues.
• Expected results under Lot 2
  • Civil Society actors, public institutions relevant, and media.
  • Articulated and strengthened networks, platforms or multi-stakeholder alliances (CSO articulation, media, academia, opinion leaders, local-central government) to promote learning, coordination and collaboration on the matter, including alert networks in the sectors of interest.
  • Supported pilot initiatives that promote and investigate access to information on public policies and effective supervision and control of state powers.
  • Developed campaigns, events and citizen actions.

Location: The actions will be carried out in the Republic of Panama.

Eligibility Criteria

• Main Applicant
  • To be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:
    • be a legal person;
    • Not for profit and
    • be a civil society organization that operates independently and responsibly;
    • be established in Panama or a Member State of the European Union;
    • be directly responsible, with their co-applicants and affiliated entities, for the preparation and management of the action and not merely act as intermediaries.
  • If you are a non-Panamanian applicant, you must necessarily present yourself with at least one Panamanian co-applicant.
• Co-solicitors
  • Co-applicants will participate in the design and implementation of the action, and the costs they incur will be eligible in the same way as those incurred by the lead applicant
  • Co-applicants must meet the eligibility criteria applicable to the lead applicant itself.
  • Co-applicants must sign the mandate form.
  • If the grant contract is awarded, the co-applicants (if any) will become beneficiaries of the action (together with the coordinator).
• Affiliated Entities
  • The main applicant and its co-applicants may act with affiliated entities.
  • Only the following entities may be considered entities affiliated with the lead applicant or co-applicants:
    • Only entities that have a structural link to the applicants (ie the lead applicant or a co-applicant), especially if the link is legal or capital.
    • This structural link covers mainly two aspects:
      • Control on the annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and other related reports of certain types of companies.
      • Thus, the affiliated entities of an applicant may be:
        • Entities controlled directly or indirectly by the applicant (subsidiaries or first level subsidiaries). They can also be entities controlled by an entity controlled by the applicant (second level affiliates), and the same applies to the following levels of control.
        • Entities that directly or indirectly control the applicant (parent companies). Likewise, they may be entities that control an entity that in turn controls the applicant.
        • Entities under the same direct or indirect control as the applicant (associated companies).
      • Membership, i.e. the applicant is legally defined as, for example, a network, federation or association in which the proposed affiliated entities also participate, or the applicant participates in the same entity (for example, a network, federation or association) than the proposed affiliated entities.

For more information, visit European Commission.