EU Call for Proposals: Capacity Building of Civil Society Organisations and Strengthening Human Rights in Solomon Islands

Deadline: 22 May 2017

The European Union (EU) is seeking applications for its program entitled “Capacity Building of Civil Society Organisations and Strengthening Human Rights in Solomon Islands” to enhance civil society organisations and human rights defenders’ contribution to governance and development, consolidation of democracy, the rule of law and respect for all fundamental rights and freedoms in the Solomon Islands.

The Thematic Programmes “Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development (NSA-LA) currently referred to as “Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities in Development” (CSO-LA) ” and the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) promote foreign policies of the European Union fostering engagement and capacity building of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), promoting human rights, governance, democracy and inclusive sustainable development. EIDHR and CSO-LA are therefore actor-oriented programmes aimed at strengthening the capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs) and local authorities as a precondition for a more equitable, open and democratic society.

The specific objective(s) of this Call for Proposals is to enhance the role of CSOs contribution in reinforcing governance and accountability, democracy, social responsibility, gender equality and inclusive sustainable economic development process in Solomon Islands.

Priority Activities

Lot 1: CSO-LA

Capacity building of Solomon Islands’ based CSOs in order to perform their roles in advocacy, awareness, policy dialogue, researching, analysing, information dissemination and negotiations
Supporting initiatives to establish and strengthen structured platform for Solomon Islands’ based CSOs to enhance effective collaboration between CSOs, private sector and the government to facilitate and create an enabling environment for effective policy dialogue and delivery,
Advocacy and promoting transparency and accountability in the management and utilisation of national resources including public funds for delivering benefits to all citizens of Solomon Islands in an equitable and fair manner, and
To empower women and enhance women’s representation and participation in social and economic activities in the Solomon Islands.

Lot 2: EIDHR

Supporting civic education and increasing awareness and civic responsibility to strengthen democratic processes and help reduce corruption in the Solomon Islands, particularly targeting schools and youth population,
To pursue the delivery of common needs of human rights and democratic reform development initiatives in the Solomon Islands
To empower women and enhance women’s representation and participation in political processes, and
To support initiatives aiming to protect the rights of children, minorities and disabled groups of Solomon Islands

Funding Information

Lot 1: CSO

Any grant requested under this Call for Proposals must fall between 500 000 EUR and 750 000 EUR

Duration

The initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than 24 months nor exceed 48 months.

Lot 2: EIDHR

Any grant requested under this Call for Proposals must fall between 300 000 EUR and 600 000 EUR

Duration

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

Location

Actions must take place in Solomon Islands

Eligibility Criteria

Lot 1 – Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities in Development (CSO-LA)

In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:
- be a legal person and
- be non-profit-making and
- be a Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) and/or associations of CSOs and
- be established in Solomon Islands where the Action is taking place, or in a Member State of the European Union or in an OECD country
- 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
- International Organisations Are not eligible under this Lot 1 CSOLA

Lot 2 – European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)

In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant:
- be a legal person and
- be non-profit-making and
- belong to one of the following categories of the Regulation (EU) No 236/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 laying down common rules and procedures for the implementation of the Union’s instruments for financing external action):
civil society organisations, including nongovernmental non-profit organizations and independent political foundations, community based organisations, and private sector non-profit agencies, institutions and organisations, and networks thereof at local, national, regional and international level;
public sector non-profit agencies, institutions and organisations and networks at local, national, regional, and international level;
national, regional and international parliamentary bodies, when this is necessary to achieve the objectives of the EIDHR and the proposed measure cannot be financed under another Instrument;
International or regional intergovernmental organisation, 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.
- no nationality restrictions apply to applicants, co-applicants under Lot 2 EIDHR.