Grant Scheme to Advance Social Services Provision and Inclusive Employment & Skills in Albania

Deadline: 31-Mar-23

The European Commission (EC) has announced the Call for Proposals to strengthen municipal and central level capacities to establish and deliver social care services, inclusive employment and vocational education.

Lots

Priorities for this call for proposals are structured into two main “lots” (thematic areas) with specific objectives related per each lot, as follows:

• LOT 1: Local level partnerships for strengthening the delivery of social care services
  • The main aim is to establish new or extend existing models of social care services, inclusive education and employability of groups at risk prioritized in the Local Social Plan of the municipality.
  • The grant scheme under Lot 1 will target the following municipalities: Gjirokaster, Vore, Cerrik, Librazhd, Kavaje, Kurbin, Kukes, Kruje, Pogradec, Korce, Kamez, Vlore, Elbasan, Durres.
• Specific Objectives
  • Support to establish and/or extend existing social care services at the municipal level, such as: community centres, multifunctional centres; mobile teams, daily centres, foster care; family-based services; home care for elderly mobile social services, which are prioritized in the local social plan.
  • Support to establish and/or extend specialized social care services focused on specific needs and which may include more than one of the targeted municipalities, such as for example: emergency services for children, women victims of violence and social services for LGBTIQ+ community; services for children victims of sexual abuse; specialized services for children and adults with disabilities.
  • Note: Initiatives which promote integrated models of service delivery – linking social care/community-based services with other services toward a local safety net at the local level are strongly encouraged.
  • The main focus of the grant is related to social and community services provision and any proposed investment in renovation/ refurbishment shall serve to the main objectives of the Lot 1.
• LOT 2: Strengthen inclusive and active employment and skills models
  • The grant under this lot will focus on supporting inclusive employment and skills development for vulnerable groups with a special focus on: young people not in employment and not in education, young mothers not in employment, people with disabilities, and beneficiaries of the cash assistance scheme.
  • This Lot aims to provide support to 19 targeted municipalities and regional employment offices and vocational education schools/ centres operating: Prrenjas, Gjirokaster, Vore, Mallakaster, Cerrik, Librazhd, Shijak, Kavaje, Kurbin, Kukes, Kruje, Pogradec, Korce, Kamez, Vlore, Shkoder, Elbasan, Durres and Tirane.
• Specific Objectives          
  • Increase employment opportunities for vulnerable groups, with a special focus on: young people not in employment and not in education, people with disabilities, beneficiaries of the cash assistance and young mothers not in employment through active employment programmes, introduction of integrated case management approaches and guidelines, self-employment and social enterprises initiatives.
  • Improve access and quality of vocational skills development, career guidance and life skills training through provision of training, mentoring and coaching in close cooperation with the vocational schools, vocational training centres toward skills development.
  • Promote and support accessibility and new models of supported employment for people with disabilities at the regional employment offices and outreach through active labour measures or similar measures.
  • The grant under this lot should respond to all the three specific objectives  and any renovation/refurbishment and supply provision shall serve to the main objectives of the Lot 2.

Funding Information

• Lot 1- Local level partnerships for strengthening the delivery of social care services 
  • Minimum amount: 2,800,000.00  EUR
  • Maximum amount: 2,800,000.00 EUR
• Duration of the Action  Minimum: 30 months, Maximum: 36 months
• Lot 2- Strengthen inclusive and active employment and skills models 
  • Minimum amount:  EUR 2,700,000
  • Maximum amount: EUR 2,700,000
• Duration of the Action  Minimum: 30 months, Maximum: 36 months.

Eligibility Criteria

• Lot 1- 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 a relevant public mandated body of a Government Department of a European Union Member State; or
    • Be an International Organization (intergovernmental) as defined by Article 156 of the EU Financial Regulation ; or
    • Be a non-profit making organisation, civil society organisation  legally registered and operating in Albania. The organization may also be from an EU member state or an official candidate country, legally registered and operating in Albania.  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.
    • Please note: Municipalities are not eligible to apply as lead applicant.
• Lot 2- 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 a relevant public mandated body of a Government Department of a European Union Member State; or
    • Be an International Organization (intergovernmental) as defined by Article 156 of the EU Financial Regulation ; or
    • Be a non-profit making organisation, civil society organisation  legally registered and operating in Albania. The organization may also be from an EU member state or an official candidate country, legally registered and operating in Albania.  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.
    • Please note: Municipalities are not eligible to apply as lead applicant.
• Lot 1 and Lot 2 – Co-applicants
  • 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 himself.
  • Be a legal person; and
  • Be non- for profit making; and
  • Be a relevant mandated public body of a Government Department of a European Union Member State ; or
  • Be an International Organization (intergovernmental) as defined by Article 156 of the EU Financial Regulation ; or
  • Be a non-profit organisation, civil society organisation  legally registered and operating in   Albania. The organization may also be from an EU member state or an official candidate country.

For more information, visit EC.