CFPs: Human Rights and Democracy Thematic Programme

Deadline: 10-May-24

European commission is pleased to announce Human Rights and Democracy Thematic Programme to promote and protect human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

Human rights and democracy are founding values of the European Union. Protecting and promoting HR&D is therefore a key priority of the EU’s external action. It is also a precondition for sustainable development and for building more inclusive, open and resilient societies.

This call for proposals is financed by the 2023 and 2024 HR&D Thematic Programme allocations for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, and it fits within the provisions set in the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024. More specifically, this call intends to contribute to the achievement of the first objective of the Action Plan: protecting and empowering individuals – by eliminating inequalities, discrimination and exclusion.

This call for proposals abides by the principles of universality, objectivity and non-selectivity in the consideration of human rights issues sanctioned in the 2023 EU-CELAC Summit Declaration, and the elimination of double standards and politicization. The call for proposals will be entirely managed by the Delegation of the European Union to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean States.

Objectives of the Programme and Priority Issues

• The specific objective(s) of this call for proposals are:
  • Prevention and response to domestic violence
  • Prevention and response to child abuse
  • Fight against human trafficking and forced labor
• The priorities of this call for proposals are:
  • Increase awareness of and access to support services for (potential) victims, strengthen gender-specific responses to domestic violence (including for witnesses of domestic violence), through capacity building and multi-disciplinary strengthened cooperation and coordination among relevant actors;
  • Protect all children from all forms of violence, abuse and neglect; organise awareness campaigns to recognise and report violence, provide professional development for social workers; support mechanisms to facilitate easy and confidential reporting of child sexual abuse
  • Facilitate early identification of human trafficking victims; integrate use of innovative strategies and technologies supporting appropriate victim assistance; promote survivor-focused financial inclusion and economic empowerment approaches to support victims’ rehabilitation and reintegration to society.

Funding Information

• The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 800,000. The contracting authority reserves the right not to award all available funds. Similarly, this amount could be increased should more funds become available.
• Size of grants
  • Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
    • minimum amount: EUR 250.000
    • maximum amount: EUR 400.000
  • Any grant requested under this call for proposals must [fall between the following minimum and maximum percentages of total eligible costs of the action:
    • Minimum percentage: 80 % of the total eligible costs of the action.
    • Maximum percentage: 95% of the total eligible costs of the action
• The balance (i.e. the difference between the total cost of the action and the amount requested from the contracting authority) must be financed from sources other than the general budget of the Union.

Duration

The initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than 24 months nor exceed 36 months.

Eligible Activities

• Activities to be financed under this call may include:
  • Develop and implement campaigns to raise awareness about the signs, consequences, and prevention of domestic violence, child abuse, human trafficking, and forced labour.
  • Provide training sessions, workshops, and seminars for professionals, community leaders, law enforcement personnel, and service providers to enhance their capacity to identify, respond to, and prevent these forms of violence and exploitation.
  • Establish or enhance services such as hotlines, shelters, counselling, legal aid, and medical assistance for survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, human trafficking, and forced labour.
  • Design and implement prevention programs targeting at-risk populations, including children, adolescents, families, and marginalized communities, to reduce the occurrence of these forms of violence and exploitation.
  • Advocate for the development, reform, or enforcement of laws, policies, and regulations aimed at combating domestic violence, child abuse, human trafficking, and forced labour, and ensuring justice for survivors.
  • Support economic empowerment programs, vocational training, job placement services, and entrepreneurship opportunities for survivors to regain financial independence and reduce their vulnerability to exploitation.
  • Conduct research studies, surveys, and data collection activities to better understand the root causes, prevalence, and dynamics of domestic violence, child abuse, human trafficking, and forced labour, and inform evidence-based interventions.
  • Foster partnerships, networks, and collaborations among government agencies, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academia, and other stakeholders to coordinate efforts and share best practices in combating these forms of violence and exploitation.
  • Engage communities through outreach programs, community dialogues, and grassroots initiatives to mobilize support, challenge social norms, and promote a culture of respect, equality, and non-violence.
  • Technology and Innovation Solutions: Develop and deploy innovative technological solutions, such as mobile apps, online platforms, and digital tools, to improve access to information, support services, reporting mechanisms, and resources for survivors and stakeholders.

Eligibility Criteria

• Lead applicant
  • In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:
    • be a legal person and
    • be non-profit-making and
    • be established in a Member State of the European Union or Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. If the lead applicant is established in a EU MS, it should have at least one co-applicant established in the Region where action takes place.
    • be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the co-applicants and affiliated entities, not acting as an intermediary
  • The lead applicant may act individually or with co-applicants.
• 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 itself.
• Affiliated entities
  • The lead applicant and its co-applicants may act with affiliated entities.

For more information, visit European Commission.