Call for Proposals: EU4Culture Programme for Non-Profit Organisations (Albania)

Deadline: 30-Jun-2024

In the framework of Recraft the Past: Build up the Future 3, EU4Culture invites non-profit organizations in municipalities of Durres, Kavaja, Kruja, Kurbin, Lezha, Mirdita, Rrogozhina and Tirana to submit their proposals for funding projects that support communities living in the areas surrounding the cultural heritage sites affected by the November 2019 earthquake.

The EU4Culture project is funded by the European Union (EU) and is implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in close partnership with the Ministry of Culture of Albania.

Objectives

In the light of the above, the overall and specific objectives of this Call for Proposals are:
- Overall objective: To develop local socio-economic and cultural opportunities for the communities surrounding the cultural heritage sites affected by the earthquake of November 2019, through projects supporting cultural heritage revitalization and improved capacities for its management, promotion, and environmentally friendly cultural innovative tourism initiatives.
- Specific Objective 1: To create and develop socio-economic growth opportunities for local communities by establishing sustainable collaboration between civil society organisations and other Cultural and Creative operators near cultural heritage sites, and through generation of environmentally friendly and innovative forms of cultural tourism.
- Specific Objective 2: To raise and enhance public and institutional awareness on the role of cultural heritage as a driver of sustainable socio-economic development by promoting growth; inclusive, environmentally friendly and gender sensitive models.

Themes

The main themes of this Call for Proposals are:
- Support development of CH-inspired tourism products around EU4Culture intervention sites, that showcase and enhance the quality of local cultural goods/services and expand the capacities and opportunities of artisans and other CCOs.
- Awareness raising and education through culture. Events/activities/products inspired by EU4Culture intervention sites designed and implemented in cooperation with CCO and local communities and/or public institutions related to cultural heritage.
The Cross-cutting themes of this call for proposal are:
- Focus on engaging communities surrounding EU4Culture sites in identifying, enabling and expanding employment opportunities stemming from cultural heritage sustainable development.
- Attention towards visibility and tailored promotion of the EUCulture sites in creative forms.
- Focus on integration of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) actions including access to women, youth inclusion, inclusion of minorities and other disadvantaged persons living in the areas around project locations.
- Ensure sustainable and environment friendly approach in all activities.
- Attention towards the long-term impact of the project activities and their continuation beyond the grant period.
- Focus on creating and fostering collaboration and synergies between multiple national and sub-national actors, such as public institutions responsible for cultural heritage.

Scope

This Call for Proposals is focused on projects implemented by civil society organizations which demonstrate capacity and expertise to operate in the Cultural and Creative Sector. Joint applications from more than one organisation, in operational partnership with other non-profit local and community development organisations are also acceptable. The partnerships are intended to promote collaboration, good governance, and transparency.
All actions under this Call should contribute directly to the attainment of the overall objective through activities that aim to achieve any or both specific objectives.
The territory where the actions will take place is defined as any or a combination of these 8 municipalities: Durres, Kavaja, Kruja, Kurbin, Lezha, Mirdita, Rrogozhina and Tirana.
The Call for Proposal will support initiatives that contribute to the well-being of communities and may create broader social impact. The initiatives may include activities that generate social cohesion and which address the needs and provide support to vulnerable groups (youth, women, minority groups, people with disabilities, etc.), foster and promote gender equality, and protect the environment. The implementation of Good Governance principles (efficiency, transparency, accountability, citizen participation and anti-discrimination) should be recognised within the project. Elements of sustainability and after-life strategies should be highlighted in the project proposals.

Funding Information

Total amount: USD 400,000.00
The grants awarded will be up to USD 50.000 with an expected duration of the grant/funding up to 11 months.

Activities

Indicative list of eligible activities:
- Development of activities that foster cooperation among artisans, artists, experts and other CCOs, aiming at competence-building regarding promotion of cultural practices for cultural tourism development.
- Interventions supporting artisans and other CCOs in recognizing, developing and promoting products that are sustainably sourced, manufactured that promote economic viability over the long term, at the individual, regional and national level.
- Development of innovative approaches to creation, preservation and promotion of crafts, cultural artifacts, natural and cultural community traditions, customs and practices
- Promotion and development of site-specific cultural tourism products, such as site-specific souvenirs, trail marking and orientation, cultural trails and itineraries connecting EU4Culture sites with other cultural and/or natural sites and POIs as well as other interventions that enrich the cultural sites and facilitate their integration towards cultural tourism.
- Promotion of site-specific cultural tourism based on Albanian or international good practices and success stories, adapted as per the attributes of the local cultural heritage sites.
- Organisation and implementation of cultural events (local fairs and festivals, etc.) inspired by tangible and intangible cultural heritage (hidden histories, cultural expressions of minorities’ practical demonstration of artisans’ crafts, etc.)

Target Beneficiaries

The direct final beneficiaries of this Call for Proposals, in line with the EU4Culture project, comprise local communities (women, youth and children, people with disabilities, minority groups such as ethnic or religious minorities, etc.) in the targeted areas; domestic, regional, and international visitors. The Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation of Albania as the public institution directly in charge for cultural heritage, along with its regionally deconcentrated cultural heritage institutions and the local municipal management authorities are direct beneficiaries too. Lastly, entities working in the vicinity of the targeted cultural sites including local small and medium scale enterprises, civil society organisations (CSOs), cultural and creative sector operators and individual practitioners are also beneficiaries of the project.
The final beneficiaries of the projects to be awarded within this granting scheme are the local inhabitants of the municipalities around the project sites in: Durres, Kavaja, Kruja, Kurbin, Lezha, Mirdita, Rrogozhina and Tirana.

Eligibility Criteria

All non-profit organisations legally established before January 1, 2023, and registered in accordance with the applicable laws in the Republic of Albania are eligible to apply.
Lead applicants and Partners categories
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs);
- Foundations;
- Civil society organizations (CSO);
- Grass- root organizations;
- Associations (of artisans, touristic operators etc);
- Research Institutes, Academic Centres and think tanks;
- Regional and/or Local Development Agencies.
Associated Partners categories
- Local governance units (municipalities)
- For-profit entities
- Individuals
- National & deconcentrated government agencies
- Academic and research institutions
- Foreign non-profit organizations