Call for Proposals: Human Rights and Democracy Thematic Programs (Angola)

Deadline: 12-Jun-23

The European Commission (EC) is seeking proposals for its thematic program “Human Rights & Democracy” which contribute to strengthening the protection and respect for Human Rights, Democracy and fundamental freedoms in Angola, in situations where they are most at risk.

The action will achieve this goal by supporting and strengthening civil society organizations (CSOs), democracy activists and human rights defenders working on critical human rights and democracy in the European Union’s partner countries. The Human Rights and Democracy (HR&D) thematic program stems from a series of grassroots strategic pillars.

It will contribute to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in particular to the achievement of SDG 16:

promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development and access to justice for all; and
build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions; SDG 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls) and SDG 10 (Reduce inequality within and between countries)

Objectives

The general objective of the program is:
- to advance the fundamental values of Democracy;
- the rule of law;
- the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of human rights;
- respect for human dignity;
- the principles of non-discrimination, equality and solidarity; and
- respect for the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international human rights law.
Specific objectives
- Protect and empower individuals: contribute to the full enjoyment by all of all human rights, whether civil, political, economic, social or cultural.
- Build resilient, inclusive and democratic societies: foster a functional, pluralistic, participatory and representative Democracy and protect the integrity of electoral processes.
- Safeguarding fundamental freedoms, including taking advantage of the opportunities and meeting the challenges of new technologies: creating and maintaining an environment conducive to the full exercise of all fundamental freedoms, online and offline.

Priorities

The EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 builds on the adopted in 2020, based on achievements of previous Action Plans and identifies five main priorities:

protect and empower individuals;
build resilient, inclusive and democratic societies;
promote a global HR&D system;
safeguard fundamental freedoms, including by taking advantage of the opportunities and facing the challenges of new technologies;
performing by working together with other stakeholders, such as civil society actors, EU Member States and private sector actors.

Funding Information

The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 865,000, EUR 430,000 to be financed in the 2022 budget and EUR 435,000 to be financed in the 2023 budget, subject to the availability of the appropriations provided for in general budget of the European Union for 2023.
Grants requested under this call for proposals may not exceed the maximum amount shown below and must be between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
- minimum amount: 815,000 EUR
- maximum amount: 865,000 EUR
Duration: The initial duration foreseen for an action cannot be less than 24 months nor exceed 48 months.

Location: Actions must be carried out in Angola

Eligibility Criteria

lead applicant(s)
- To be eligible for a grant, lead applicants must:
  - Be a legal person, or an entity without legal personality or a natural person
  - Not for profit
  - Be a specific type of organisation, such as: non-governmental organisation, public sector operator, local authority, international (intergovernmental) organization.
  - Be established in Angola or in a Member State of the European Union or any another country
  - and be directly responsible, together with your co-applicant(s) and affiliated entity(ies), for the preparation and management of the action and not act as intermediaries
Co-applicants
- Co-applicants must participate in the design and implementation of the action and the costs they incur are eligible in the same way as the costs borne by the lead applicant.
- Co-applicants must meet the same eligibility criteria as those applicable to the lead applicant itself.
- Co-applicants must sign the mandate form.
Affiliated Entities
- The lead applicant and its co-applicant(s) may compete with affiliated entity(ies).
- Only the following entities can be considered affiliated entities of the lead applicant and/or coapplicant(s):
  - Only entities that have a structural link with the applicants (ie the lead applicant or a co-applicant), especially a legal or financial link.
  - This structural link essentially includes two notions:
    - Control on annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain forms of companies:
      - Thus, entities affiliated with an applicant may be:
        
        Entities directly or indirectly controlled by the applicant (branches). They may also be entities controlled by an entity controlled by the applicant (sub-subsidiaries), the same applying to further levels of control;
        
        Entities that directly or indirectly control the applicant (parent companies). In the same way may be entities that control an entity that controls the applicant;
        
        Entities under the same direct or indirect control as the applicant (subsidiaries)
    - Membership, i.e. the applicant is legally defined as, for example, a network, a federation, an association in which proposed affiliated entities also participate or the applicant participates in the same entity (e.g. a network, a federation, an association, etc.) than the proposed affiliated entities.