EU Call for Proposals: Strengthening the Role of Civil Society Organizations in Governance and Democratic Transition in Myanmar

Deadline: 4 March 2019

The European Commission is currently seeking applications for its grant program entitled “Strengthening the Role of Civil Society Organizations in Governance and Democratic Transition in Myanmar” to promote the involvement of civil society organisations in intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity, non-discrimination and respect for equal rights of all the people in Myanmar, and to strengthen the transparent governance of natural resources and landuse in order to contribute to a more equitable, open and democratic society as well as to promote a free press and the freedom of expression, of opinion, of association and of assembly.

Objectives

The specific objectives of this call for proposals are interlinked and mutually reinforcing:

• to enhance cultural pluralism, intercultural understanding and respect for diversity, including aspects relating to religion or belief, countering hate speech and radicalisation and enhancing dialogue and social inclusion (notably of vulnerable and disadvantaged populations such as persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, migrants, women and girls, disabled) and skills development;
• to promote better governance, transparency and accountability of extractive industries and enhanced advocacy on land rights and
• to protect freedom of press, of expression, of opinion, of association and of assembly in Myanmar.

Thematic Lots

1. Respect for Diversity, targeting cultural and religious (inter-faith) actors, fostering mutual understanding and countering hate speech and radicalisation through intercultural dialogue and culture. (Financed under CSO/LA Thematic Programme)
2. Governance of extractive industries and advocacy on land rights (Financed under CSO/LA Thematic Programme)
3. Protection of Freedom of press, expression, opinion and assembly (Financed under the EIDHR)

Priority Areas for all Lots

The following priorities are compulsory:

1. The EU shall apply a Rights-Based Approach (RBA) for development cooperation (article 3.8 of the Development Cooperation Instrument) encompassing all human rights, whether civil, political, economic, social or cultural. The implementation of the five RBA principles: (i) legality, universality and indivisibility of human rights, (ii) participation, (iii) non-discrimination, (iv) accountability (v) transparency must be applied in each step of the project cycle from identification, formulation, implementation, monitoring to evaluation. Therefore, all proposals must be designed according to a Rights-Based Approach.
2. Furthermore, gender equality is an integral part of the RBA, encompassing the promotion, protection and fulfilment of all human rights. Gender equality constitutes a fundamental human rights principle and a common value of the European Union (EU Treaties, EU Gender Action Plan 2016-2020). Each selected proposal will have to report against relevant “SMART” sex-disaggregated indicators mentioned in the EU Gender Action Plan 2016-2020.
   • Furthermore, each selected proposal will need to comply at least with the minimum requirements criteria outlined in the OECD DAC Gender policy marker Score 1:
     • A gender analysis of the project must be conducted
     • Findings from this gender analysis must inform the design of the project intervention
     • There must be at least one explicit gender equality objective backed by at least one gender-specific indicator (preferably several).
     • Data and indicators must be disaggregated by sex where applicable
     • Gender equality results will be monitored and reported on during (the) evaluation(s)
3. Knowledge sharing: applicants should also propose mechanisms to contribute to the dissemination of good practices and results of the programme for capacity building purposes, allowing for eventual replication and upscale of successful projects. A seminar to disseminate results and lessons learned between beneficiaries of the programme and/or other relevant stakeholders should be proposed. The applicants should also propose mechanisms to promote the development and sharing of resilient data collection mechanisms to inform policy dialogue and policy making at various levels.
4. For actions of an EU contribution of more than EUR 1,500,000, priority will be given to Actions proposed by a coalition or consortium of organisations.
5. Priority will also be given to actions which propose financial support to third parties (sub-granting, in accordance with the specific objectives of this call for proposals.
6. Priority will be given to actions in which gender is best mainstreamed and in which gender sensitive activities and indicators are best included.

Size of Grants

Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:

• Lot 1 – Respect for Diversity, targeting cultural and religious (inter-faith) actors, fostering mutual understanding and countering hate speech and radicalisation through intercultural dialogue and culture
  • minimum amount: EUR 1,000,000
  • maximum amount: EUR 2,000,000
• Lot 2 – Governance of extractive industries and advocacy on land rights
  • minimum amount: EUR 1,000,000
  • maximum amount: EUR 2,000,000
• Lot 3 – Protection of Freedom of press, expression, opinion and assembly
  • minimum amount: EUR 500,000
  • maximum amount: EUR 2,000,000

Eligibility Criteria

• In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:
  • Lots 1 and 2:
    • be a legal person and
    • be non-profit-making and
    • be a specific type of organisation such as: non-governmental organisation, public sector operator, local authority, international (inter-governmental) organisation as defined by Article 43 of the rules of application of the EU Financial Regulation ; and
    • be established in a country defined in the Article 11.2 of regulation (EU) No. 236/2014 on common rules and procedures for the implementation of the Union’s instruments for financing external action (CIR)1
    • 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 .
  • Lot 3:
    • In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:
      • be a legal person and
      • be non-profit-making and
      • be a specific type of organisation such as: non-governmental organisation, public sector operator, local authority, international (inter-governmental) organisation as defined by Article 43 of the rules of application of the EU Financial Regulation ; and
      • be established in a country defined in the Article 11.2 of regulation (EU) No. 236/2014 on common rules and procedures for the implementation of the Union’s instruments for financing external action (CIR)
  • For British applicants: Please be aware that eligibility criteria must be complied with for the entire duration of the grant. Unless sector-specific eligibility rules provide otherwise, if the United Kingdom withdraws from the EU during the grant period without concluding an agreement with the EU ensuring in particular that British applicants continue to be eligible, you will cease to receive EU funding (while continuing, where possible to participate) or will be required to leave the project on the basis of Article 12 of the General Conditions of the grant agreement.
• Potential applicants may not participate in calls for proposals or be awarded grants if they are in any of the situations
• Co-applicant(s)
  • Lots 1 and 2 – CSO/LA Thematic Programme
  • Lead applicants established in Myanmar must act with at least one co-applicant, whereas lead applicants established outside Myanmar must act with at least two co-applicants which are established in Myanmar.
  • Lot 3 – EIDHR
  • Lead applicants established in Myanmar must act with at least one co-applicant, whereas lead applicants established outside Myanmar must act with at least two co-applicants which are established in Myanmar.
• 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, as defined in Directive 2013/34/EU 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.

How to Apply

In order to apply for the grants, applicants have to register themselves in PADOR, an on-line database via given website.

For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2GXY7mc and download the guidelines.