Call for Proposals: Support to Civil Society Organisations (Montenegro)

Deadline: 27-May-24

The European Commission (EC) has announced a call for proposals to strengthen the role of civil society in promoting transparent and participatory governance, democratic reforms and human rights.

Objectives of the Programme and Priority Issues

• This call for proposals is divided into four lots, each with its own specific objectives and priorities, as indicated below. Within the general objective in each lot, the proposed actions may address one or more of the specific objectives of the lot.
• Priorities per Lot:
  • Lot 1: Support to CSOs and CSO networks towards increased abilities to monitor and actively participate in Montenegro’s reform processes.
    • The specific objective(s) of this Lot is to achieve effective inclusion of CSOs into current reform processes of Montenegro, in particular those relating to the EU integration process.
    • The thematic areas prioritised under this lot are:
      • Rule of Law and justice;
      • Anti-corruption and money laundry;
      • Public administration reform and public finance management in particular at local level;
      • Health sector;
      • Education sector;
      • Circular economy (reduce, reuse and recycling), forestry and biodiversity, in particular local communities;
      • Growth agenda and Socio-economic reform (in particular economic reform and energy)
    • N.B. 1. The intention is for CSOs to engage in the public debate with public Institutions on these reforms; contribute with reflections and suggestions; and bring in broader stakeholder groups into the development of these. For health and Education, pilot activities to test and demonstrate innovative approaches of interest to the reform area are allowed, but activities such as basic service provision are not encouraged.
    • N.B 2. Engagement with academia and local communities is encouraged.
  • Lot 2: Support to small Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and civil society movements in different sectors, developing movements and local informal groups’ capacities through flexible financial support to third parties’ mechanisms.
    • The particular focus will be on youth engagement, with particular emphasis on locations outside of the capital city of Podgorica.
    • The priorities of this lot are:
      • Environment and climate activism;
      • Volunteering actions;
      • Youth employment (innovative approaches);
      • Youth participation and dialogue at local level;
      • Cultural and creative industry;
      • Sports and ludic activities;
      • Mental health and anti-bullying;
    • All activities to be implemented under this Lot need to have a strong component of gender equality and non-discrimination amongst all youth
  • Lot 3: Support to different key stakeholders to contribute to local development in the North and central region of Montenegro
    • The specific objective(s) of this Lot is to support local CSOs to contribute to local development.
    • Support aims at increasing capacity and recognition of key stakeholders (civil society, women and youth organisations, farmer’s organisations and other civic actors) as drivers of local development, notably in the north of the country.
    • N.B. The actions must focus on the Northern region of Montenegro. They may cover also the central region of the country.
    • The priorities for this lot are:
      • Participating in reforms at local level, in particular relating to the environmental protection and/or the local business environment area;
      • Innovative approaches to development of small businesses particularly in rural areas with the aim of economic development and diversification at local level;
      • Cultural and tourism initiatives including eco-tourism and supporting of traditional handcrafts and Montenegro brand products;
      • Rural development, forestry and agriculture.
    • All activities to be implemented under this Lot need to have a strong component of gender equality.
  • Lot 4: Support to different key stakeholders to contribute to local development in the South and central region of Montenegro
    • The specific objective(s) of this Lot is to support local CSOs to contribute to local development.
    • Support aims at increasing capacity and recognition of key stakeholders (civil society, women and youth organisations, farmer’s organisations and other civic actors) as drivers of local development, notably in the South of the country.
    • N.B. The actions must focus on the South of Montenegro. They may cover also the central region of the country.
    • The priorities for this lot are:
      • Participating in reforms at local level, in particular relating to the environmental protection and/or the local business environment area;
      • Innovative approaches to development of small businesses particularly in rural areas with the aim of economic development and diversification at local level;
      • Cultural and tourism initiatives including eco-tourism and supporting of traditional handcrafts and Montenegro brand products;
      • Rural development, forestry and agriculture.
    • All activities to be implemented under this Lot need to have a strong component of gender equality.

Funding Information

• The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 2.5 Million. The contracting authority reserves the right not to award all available funds.
• Indicative allocation of funds by lot:
  • Lot 1: EUR 1,000,000
  • Lot 2: EUR 500,000
  • Lot 3: EUR 500,000
  • Lot 4: EUR 500,000
• 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 100,000
      • maximum amount: EUR 250,000
    • Lot 2:
      • minimum amount: EUR 460,000
      • maximum amount: EUR 500,000
    • Lot 3:
      • minimum amount: EUR 460,000
      • maximum amount: EUR 500,000
    • Lot 4:
      • minimum amount: EUR 460,000
      • maximum amount: EUR 500,000

Duration

• Lot 1
  • The initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than 30 months nor exceed 42 months.
• Lot 2, Lot 3 and Lot 4
  • The initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than 36 months nor exceed 48 months.

Types of Activity

• All Lots (not exhaustive):
  • Monitoring and analysing the implementation of the Government legislation, policies and strategies, action plans and indicators;
  • Capacity building of civil society organisations and other stakeholders to monitor policies;
  • Strengthening of existing civil society platforms, networks or coalitions, campaigning and cooperation on issues linked to the call;
  • Networking and partnership building;
  • Exchange of information, know-how and experience;
  • Campaigns and actions to mobilise citizens on targeted themes;
  • Vocational training including on digital
  • Organisation of discussion forum to improve dialogue and networking between civil society and decision makers on the issues and priorities of this call;
• More specific of Lot 2 (not exhaustive):
  • Activities relating to participation in music, arts and crafts, exhibitions, and other cultural and ludic activities;
  • Activities promoting youth participation in sports – sports events, sports clubs, outdoor sports or other events;
  • Activities promoting youth engagement in extra-curricular activities
  • Activities related to formal and informal education of youth;
• More specific of Lot 3 and Lot 4 (not exhaustive):
  • Analysis on obstacles to the development of economic activities at local level and definition of policies that could address these, and awareness raising/advocacy efforts towards improving the situation;
  • Analysis of environmental challenges facing local communities, definition of policies and approaches that could address these and awareness raising/advocacy efforts towards improving the situation;
  • Environment protection groups networking.

Eligibility Criteria

• Lead applicant(s)
  • In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:
    • For all lots;
      • be a legal person and
      • be non-profit-making and
      • be a Civil Society Organisation or a Consortium of CSOs and
      • be registered in Montenegro and
      • 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
      • be registered at least 24 months prior the deadline for submission of project proposals.
    • Lot 1: The lead applicant may act individually or with co-applicant(s).
    • Lot 2, Lot 3 and Lot 4: The lead applicant must act with co-applicant(s) as specified hereafter.
• Co-applicant(s)
  • For Lot 1: Not obligatory to have a co-applicant.
  • For Lots 2, 3, and 4: There must be at least one co-applicant.
  • For Lot 3 and 4, it is recommended that applicant or one of the co-applicants is based in the geographical area targeted by the action, and not in Podgorica.
  • 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 except that co-applicant can be established in Montenegro or in EU member state.
  • Co-applicants must sign the mandate form
• 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 EC.