Deadline: 13-May-24
The European Commission is inviting submissions for Thematic Programme on Human Rights & Democracy to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy and rule of law through support to civil society initiatives.
Any action funded following this Call for Proposals must contribute to this objective by strengthening the environment for journalists (online and offline) as human rights defenders, and to strengthen digital security.
Media freedom in other countries in the Southern Africa region is arguably even more under threat. ‘Attacks, harassment, intimidation and criminalization of journalists have been escalating in Eastern and Southern Africa for exposing allegations of corruption and human rights violations,’ according to Amnesty International. The introduction in some countries of cyber security laws has already limited the freedom of expression of journalists in Southern Africa.
Several journalists in the neighbouring countries have sought protection in South Africa and South African journalists have been collaborating with a number of other media houses in the region. Several regional organisations monitoring media freedom and providing legal support to journalists and human rights defenders are based in South Africa.
In this context, the EU Delegation in South Africa would like to support civil society organisations to work within South Africa as well as other selected countries in the SADC region, on issues related to journalists and digital technologies. Focusing the objectives of this call around journalists and other media practitioners as human rights defenders, this call for proposals aims to address the specific challenges faced by these individuals and entities. The EU Delegation in South Africa recognizes the critical and historic role of journalists in advancing human rights and democracy within the region.
Objectives
- The specific objectives of this call for proposals are to:
- Strengthen the role of journalists and media outlets as human rights defenders through capacity building and creation of conducive environments for robust reporting
- Enhance digital resilience and safety for journalists and media practitioners addressing the unique challenges this group faces in the digital space
- Protect journalists in the digital space, establishing emergency response mechanisms and legal support structures specifically designed to address threats, harassment, censorship and attacks faced by journalists, both digitally and in physical spaces.
Priorities
- Priorities under this call for proposals include:
- Supporting initiatives that promote media freedom, protect journalists and media practitioners as human rights defenders, and advocate for legal reforms ensuring their rights to operate without fear of harassment, censorship, or legal repercussions.
- Strengthening the digital resilience and adaptive capacities of journalists and other media practitioners, enabling them to navigate and overcome digital threats while ensuring their ability to continue reporting on human rights issues without compromise.
- Promoting cross-border collaboration and information sharing among journalists and other media practitioners within the region to enhance partnerships that facilitate the exchange of knowledge, resources, and best practices, fostering a strengthened and supportive regional community of journalists as human rights defenders.
Funding Information
- The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 1,150,000, with EUR 1,000,000 to be financed from the “2023 thematic cushion” allocated for ‘Journalism and Digital Security’ and EUR 150,000 to be financed under the 2024 budget.
- Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
- minimum amount: EUR 300,000
- maximum amount: EUR 500,000
- Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum percentages of total eligible costs of the action:
- Minimum percentage: 50% of the total eligible costs of the action.
- Maximum percentage: 95% of the total eligible costs of the action
Eligibility Criteria
- 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 organization active in the field of human rights and democratic governance in the Republic of South Africa
- can be established in any country
- be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the co-applicant(s) and affiliated entities, not acting as an intermediary
- As per Article 46 of the NDICI Regulation, civil society organisations embrace a wide range of actors with multiple roles and mandates which includes all non-State, not-for-profit independent and non-violent structures, through which people organise the pursuit of shared objectives and ideals, whether political, cultural, religious, environmental, social or economic. Operating from local, national, regional and international levels, they comprise urban and rural, formal and informal organisations.
- Civil society organizations include, but are not limited to: Nongovernmental organisations, organisations representing indigenous peoples, women’s and youth organisations, diaspora organisations, migrants organisations, local traders’ associations and citizens’ groups, cooperatives, employers’ associations and trade unions (social partners), organisations representing economic and social interests, organisations fighting corruption and fraud and promoting good governance, civil rights organisations and organisations combating discrimination, local organisations (including networks) involved in decentralised regional cooperation and integration, consumer organisations, environmental, teaching, cultural, research and scientific organisations, universities, churches and religious associations and communities, philosophical and non-confessional organisations, the not-for-profit media and any non-governmental associations and independent foundations, including independent political foundations.
- Co-applicant(s)
- 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 itself.
- In addition to the categories referred to the following are however also eligible:
- International organisations, including United Nation Agencies are eligible as co-applicants.
- Co-applicants must sign the mandate.
- If awarded the grant contract, the co-applicant(s) (if any) will become beneficiary(ies) in the action (together with the coordinator)
For more information, visit European Commission.