Call for Proposals: Human Rights & Democracy and Civil Society Thematic Programmes

Deadline: 17-May-23

The European Commission (EC) is now accepting proposals for the Human Rights & Democracy and Civil Society Thematic Programmes.

The Thematic Programme on Human rights and Democracy, built upon the key features of the previous European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), is a major flagship tool of the EU. The overall objective of the thematic programme on human rights and democracy is to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law worldwide. It follows the structure of the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 with its five overarching priorities:

• Protecting and empowering individuals;
• Building resilient, inclusive and democratic societies;
• Promoting a global system for human rights and democracy;
• Harnessing the opportunities and addressing challenges of new technologies;
• Delivering by working together.

Objectives of the Programme and Priority Issues

• LOT 1: NDICI – Global Europe Human Rights & Democracy Thematic Programme 2021 – 2027: 2022 country allocations for Sri Lanka and the Maldives
  • The global objective of this call for proposals (for Lot 1) is to protect human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy in Sri Lanka and in the Maldives.
  • The specific objective(s) of this call for proposals (for Lot 1) is to enhance democratic governance in Sri Lanka and Maldives, with a specific focus on:
    • improving the integrity, transparency and accuracy of electoral processes;
    • supporting political pluralism and inclusiveness.
      • The two priorities of this call for proposals (for Lot 1) are:
        • Strengthening electoral reforms, institutions and practices, building inter alia on the recommendations from previous EU Electoral Observations Missions (EOM) deployed in both countries. This includes also broader support to voters’ education and capacity building for CSOs and media active in elections monitoring and oversight of related reforms.
        • Promoting political pluralism and inclusiveness, including support to democratic engagement and political education (with a focus on youth, women and marginalized groups’ participation in politics), support to CSOs and youth networks/coalitions active in that sphere as well as support to dialogue and alliances-building between civic and political actors/political parties.
      • This lot is in line with the priorities identified in the EU Human Rights and Democracy country strategies 2021-2024 for Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
      • In terms of country coverage, proposals under this lot which cover both countries (Sri Lanka and Maldives) in their scope of activities and results are strongly encouraged.
• LOT 2: NDICI-Global Europe Civil Society Thematic Programme 2021-2027: 2022 country allocations for Sri Lanka
  • The global objective of this call for proposals (for Lot 2) is to enable and enhance Civil Society Organizations’ engagement as an efficient actor of governance and development process in Sri Lanka.
  • The specific objective of this call for proposals (for Lot 2) is to support CSOs actions helping Sri Lankan vulnerable population groups (in particular women, children and youth) and communities to cope with the negative impacts of the ongoing socio-economic crisis in Sri Lanka.
    • The priority areas of this call for proposals (for Lot 2) are:
      • Livelihood and social assistance support targeting women, youth and/or children
      • Nutrition-related interventions targeting women, youth and/or children
      • Education-related interventions targeting women, youth and/or children
      • Protection and psycho-social support targeting women, youth and/or children
    • To the maximum extent possible, proposals under this lot should not be limited to services provision but also include advocacy and oversight dimensions in the relevant policy areas (such as social sectors), as well as capacity development benefitting local organizations (in line with the priorities outlined in the EU-Sri Lanka CSO Roadmap 2021-2024).
    • Proposals under this lot should only cover Sri Lanka.

Funding Information

• The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 3,100,000.
• Indicative allocation of funds by lot/geographical distribution:
  • LOT 1: EUR 974,640 to be financed under the 2022 country allocation (HR/D instrument), and EUR 125,360 to be financed under the 2023 allocation subject to the availability of the appropriations provided for in the general budget of the Union for 2023 (total: EUR 1,100,000).
  • LOT 2: EUR 2,000,000 to be financed under the 2022 country allocation (CSO instrument).
• Size of grants
  • Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
    • LOT 1
      • minimum amount: EUR 500,000
      • maximum amount: EUR 550,000
    • LOT 2
      • minimum amount: EUR 650,000
      • maximum amount: EUR 1,000,000
• Duration: The initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than 24 months nor exceed 36 months.

Location

• Actions under Lot 1 must take place in Sri Lanka and/or in the Maldives. Actions which cover both countries are strongly encouraged.
• Actions under Lot 2 must take place in Sri Lanka.

Eligibility Criteria

• LOT 1
  • 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 specific type of organisation such as: non-governmental organization
      • 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.
• LOT 2
  • In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:
    • be a legal person and
    • be non-profit-making and
    • be a specific type of organisation such as: non-governmental organization
    • be established in Sri Lanka
    • be established in a Member State of the European Union
    • 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.
• FOR LOT 1 AND LOT 2
  • Co-applicant(s)
    • Co-applicants participate in designing and implementing the action, and the costs they incur are eligible in the same way as those incurred by the lead applicant.
    • Co-applicants must satisfy the eligibility criteria as applicable to the lead applicant himself.
    • Co-applicants must sign the mandate form.
    • If awarded the grant contract, the co-applicant(s) (if any) will become beneficiary(ies) in the action (together with the coordinator).
• Affiliated entities
  • The lead applicant and its co-applicant(s) may act with affiliated entity(ies).
  • Only the following entities may be considered as affiliated entities to the lead applicant and/or to co-applicant(s):
    • 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 (EC).