CFPs: Regional Program for Local Democracy in Bosnia And Herzegovina

Deadline: 18-Apr-24

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has announced submissions for Regional Program for Local Democracy to strengthen partnership relations between civil society organizations and LGUs by building awareness of the usefulness of mutual cooperation and encouraging sustainable dialogue, all with the aim of providing better services to the local community.

The Regional Program for Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2) is a continuation of the initiatives supported by the EU – Project for Strengthening Local Democracy (LOD, 2009-2016) and the subsequently expanded Regional Program for Local Democracy in the Western Balkans (ReLOaD, 2017-2020). Like the previous projects, this project is financed by the European Union (EU), and implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in six countries of the region, namely: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Serbia. The total value of the ReLOaD2 project in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 3.69 million euros.

The specific goal of the project is to strengthen partnerships between local authorities and civil society in the Western Balkans, by expanding the successful model of transparent project financing of CSOs (LOD methodology) from the budget of local self-government units, aimed at greater civic participation and youth participation in decision-making processes and improvement of service provision in local communities.

Thematic Areas

The following thematic areas were prioritized within the framework of the public call:
- Ecology And Environmental Protection
  - Projects that contribute to the improvement and protection of the environment;
- Social Policy And Health
  - Projects aimed at protecting the physical and mental health of children and young people, people with developmental disabilities, people with disabilities, diabetics and other people who need the care and help of the local community;
  - Support for projects that focus on people of the third age;
- Culture And Sport
  - Projects for the promotion of cultural and artistic creativity and the inclusion of the population in cultural content (folklore, cultural heritage, handicrafts, events, book promotions, plays…);
  - Projects that contribute to the involvement of children and young people in sports activities with the aim of healthy life development;
- The Young
  - Projects that contribute to youth prevention models (protection of youth reproductive health, mental health protection, and other forms of youth prevention…);
  - Youth support projects in rural areas of the municipality;
  - Projects aimed at the safety of young people on social networks;
  - Projects that contribute to social and entertainment content for young people (festivals, street art, plays, concert drawing school.
  - Support for education projects in the field of advanced technologies.

Funding Information

The value of project proposals to be awarded under this call must be between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
- minimum amount: 10,000.00KM
- maximum amount: 50,000.00 KM
Duration
- The duration of projects can be from 5 (five) to 7 (seven) months, in the period from May 2024 to November 2024.

Geographic Focus

Projects must be implemented exclusively in the territory of the municipality of Vitez and for the residents of the municipality of Vitez. In exceptional cases, it is allowed to carry out certain activities on the territory of another LGU if there are objective reasons for this, which are stated in the project proposal.

Who can apply?

Participation in this public call is open, on equal grounds, to all formally registered CSOs (association/association or foundation), in accordance with the applicable legal regulations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In order to apply for the public call, applicants must:
- be a formally registered CSO in accordance with applicable legal regulations (association/association or foundation);
Potential applicants cannot participate in the call or receive grants if they do not submit a signed and scanned statement of eligibility with the project proposal.
This public call is not open to branches of foreign and international associations, foundations and other non-profit organizations registered and operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Applicants will be excluded from participation in the call or from the awarding of grants if, at the time of the call for submission of project proposals, they are:
- subjects of conflict of interest (eg employees of partner LGUs who at the same time hold executive or managerial roles in CSOs);
- provided false information or failed to provide necessary information;
- Tried to obtain confidential information, influenced the evaluation committee or the authorized party for contracts during the evaluation process of the call for submission of project proposals.
Partnerships and Partner Eligibility
- Applicants can apply independently or in partnership with other civil society organizations/NGOs.
  - Partner organizations
    - Project partners can be: only other civil society organizations/non-governmental organizations. The applicant’s partners participate in the creation and implementation of the project, the same rules apply for partner organizations as for the costs of the project holder (applicant). Partner organizations must meet the same eligibility requirements as the applicant. If applying in partnership, the “Applicant” will be the lead organization, and if selected, as the contracting party (“Beneficiary”), will bear full legal and financial responsibilities for the execution of the project. The partnership statement must be filled in correctly and form an integral part of the application.
    - The partnership declaration must be correctly completed and sent together with the application.
    - The partnership statement should contain all the details of all involved CSOs and the partnership agreement that determines the nature of the collaboration.
  - Associates
    - Other organizations and/or institutions that are necessary to ensure the successful implementation of the project can be included in the project (schools, kindergartens, museums, etc.). Such organizations and institutions can contribute to the implementation of project activities, but cannot be beneficiaries of the funds allocated through this public call.