Deadline: 30-Apr-24
Submissions are now open for the ‘CSOs as Actors in Good Governance and Development’ (CSOsAct4Dev) project to strengthen Bhutanese CSOs as independent actors of good governance and development in order to contribute to an inclusive, participatory, empowered, and independent civil society.
The credibility and integrity of the Grant Fund Facility relies on putting in place transparent, accountable, and inclusive grant management structures and decision‐making processes. A dual decision-making process and strong mechanisms for checks and balances has been instituted through the establishment of a Sub Grant Committee (SGC) to assess and recommend project proposals and a Project Steering Committee for final approval and endorsement.
The Grant Fund will be complemented by capacity building using different approaches from training, mentoring, peer exchanges and technical assistance. The access to grants to implement activities upon their right of initiative, combined with enhanced skills to engage with policy makers and the brokering of spaces will enhance CSOs’ ability to advocate and enter into dialogues with the Parliament and relevant state agencies, particularly the CSO Authority, ultimately leading to a strengthened role of civil society in Bhutan, in line with relevant EU policies and those embraced by Bhutan.
Objectives
- The objectives of the Grant Fund to CSOs will be three-fold:
- To strengthen CSO contributions on the lives of vulnerable groups, particularly women, youth, persons with disabilities, and the LGBTQI+ community and groups whose vulnerabilities have been worsened by COVID-19.
- To enable piloting of sustainable revenue models, including public-private partnerships.
- To support research applicable to the Bhutan CSO context that could contribute to future policy advocacy.
Funding Information
- Applicants may apply for grants with a floor level funding of EURO 5,000 and a ceiling of EURO 10,000.
- The implementation period for grants shall be for a minimum period of 3 months and a maximum period of 18 months.
What are the Eligible areas for support?
- In line with the objectives of the Grant Fund, CSOs may submit proposals under the following categories:
- Socioeconomic empowerment initiatives for vulnerable groups, especially women, youth, Persons with Disabilities and the LGBTQI+ community and groups whose vulnerabilities have been worsened by COVID-19 in pursuing:
- Advocacy actions AND/OR
- Sustainable social enterprises.
- Sustainable revenue models under:
- Innovative ideas to enhance revenue sources for CSOs AND/OR;
- Public-private partnerships.
- Research applicable to the Bhutan CSO context that could contribute to future policy advocacy.
Eligibility Criteria
- CSOs and NGOs
- Be duly registered with the CSO Authority.
- Is an active CSO/NGO in Bhutan.
- Does not have an ongoing project through this grant making window.
- Contributes to the achievement of governance goals and SDGs.
- Demonstrates commitment towards improving the situation of either women, youth, persons with disabilities or other vulnerable groups.
- Has sound credentials in financial management.
- Community based groups, associations, organizations
- Farmer groups and cooperatives registered under the Cooperatives’ Act of Bhutan or recognized under other state policies (eg. forest management groups, water users’ groups)
- Non-registered but organized groups and associations (eg. youth groups, women’s networks, membership based bodies).
- Is known in the community in the case of non-registered groups and associations.
- CSO networks, alliances, consortia
- Be a network/alliance/consortium of CSOs in Bhutan.
- Minimum of 3 members in the network/alliance/consortia.
- Contributes to the achievement of governance goals and SDGs.
- Demonstrates commitment towards enhancing the situation of civil society in Bhutan.
For more information, visit Bhutan Media Foundation (BMF).