Grants for ROMACT “Support Organisations” in Bulgaria and Romania

Deadline: 20-Sep-2024

The Council of Europe has launched a call for proposals that aims to co-fund national projects that assist National Support Teams in implementing the ROMACT methodology in Bulgaria and Romania with an aim to build local capacity for the integration of Roma communities.

This call for proposals is launched under the joint project of the Council of Europe and the European Commission ROMACT.

The grants will fund projects which target the implementation of the ROMACT methodological steps, by proposing activities for facilitation at each municipality to be targeted by the action. The proposals of activities will include organisational and logistical support for every action.

Objectives and Results

• The objectives and results to be obtained with the financial support provided are as follows:
  • Objective(s) (outcomes):
    • strengthen the capacity of local authorities to perform their roles and responsibilities in an effective and efficient manner, by helping them to design and implement more inclusive plans, policies and projects and to access resources that would support the active inclusion of Roma at local level;
    • support the establishment and enforcement of mechanisms and processes promoting and ensuring good governance standards and ownership by relevant stakeholders for effective integrated development efforts covering fields in which action is necessary (education, employment, healthcare, social protection, housing, urban development etc.);
  • Results (outputs):
    • Getting local authorities committed to include their Roma population
    • Getting Roma community mobilised
    • Defining the needs and priorities to improve living conditions of Roma community
    • Translating the priorities into action plans
    • Funding, implementing, and monitoring.

Funding Information

• The indicative available budget under this call for proposals is €200,000.00 (two hundred thousand Euros). However, applicants may submit budgets for a lesser amount. The Council of Europe intends to award one grant of a maximum amount of €200,000.00 (two hundred thousand Euros).

Implementation Period

• The implementation period of the projects will be between 1 October 2024 – 31 March 2026 and shall not extend beyond.
• Reporting requirements shall be completed on 30 April 2026 at the latest.

Target Stakeholders

• Projects should target local administrations and Roma communities in the following municipalities, depending on which NST is proposing to support: Belogradchik, Berkovitsa, Botevgrad, Brezovo, Dobrich, Dobrichka, General Toshevo, Karlovo, Kaspichan, Kotel, Mezdra, Nikola Kozlevo, Omurtag, Perushtitsa, Peshtera, Rakitovo, Razlog, Sofia, Stamboliyski, Suvorovo, Tvarditsa, Varshets, Velingrad, Yablanitsa.
• The above list is not exhaustive, and projects may propose to target other relevant stakeholders, while keeping in mind the general objective of the Project. The Council of Europe reserves the right to add or remove municipalities from the above list and will inform the successful applicant about any such change prior to the signature of the grant agreement and, if needed, request an adjustment of the budget. Up to 20 municipalities will be selected throughout the implementation of the project.

Eligibility Criteria

• In order to be eligible for a grant, an applicant must:
  • be legally constituted as a non-governmental organisation in Bulgaria;
  • be entitled to carry out the activities described in its project proposal;
  • have been active for at least 5 years in the field of Roma inclusion, Roma communities, policies, public administration, access to funding, and social inclusion;
  • have sufficient financial or human capacity to contribute by way of its own resources (including financial, human resources or in-kind contributions);
  • have sufficient operational and professional capacity, including staff, to carry out activities described in  its project proposal;
  • have a bank account.
• Multiple applications are not allowed and shall lead to the exclusion of all applications concerned.

Ineligible

• Applicants shall be excluded from the grant award procedure where they or, in the case of legal persons, their owner(s) or executive officer(s):
  • have been sentenced by final judgment on one or more of the following charges: participation in a criminal organisation, corruption, fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, terrorist offences or offences linked to terrorist activities, child labour or trafficking in human beings;
  • are in a situation of bankruptcy, liquidation, termination of activity, insolvency or arrangement with creditors or any like situation arising from a procedure of the same kind, or are subject to a procedure of the same kind;
  • have received a judgement with res judicata force, finding an offence that affects their professional integrity or constitutes a serious professional misconduct;
  • do not comply with their obligations as regards payment of social security contributions, taxes and dues, according to the statutory provisions of the country where they are established.

For more information, visit CoE.