Deadline: 10-Sep-23
The Council of Europe/European Commission has launched the Programme “Equality and Freedom from Discrimination for Roma” (EQUIROM) to establish partnerships with Roma and pro-Roma civil society organisations for the development and implementation of a broad communication campaign to fight antigypsyism and anti-Roma discrimination.
The aim is to co-fund projects in three implementation countries (one per country: Bulgaria, Greece, Romania) contributing to the implementation of the EQUIROM Programme, with the ultimate goal of developing and implementing the communication campaign at national level of each of the aforementioned three countries.
The projects should aim to foster active participation from partner organisations, Roma individuals and representatives of Roma communities at all stages, ultimately empowering them to become the forefront leaders of the campaign.
Objectives
- fight antigypsyism and anti-Roma discrimination;
- build positive narratives about Roma;
- raise awareness about Roma history and culture, as well as the Roma Holocaust, including on the matters of gender equality and diversity dimension;
- raise awareness on the needs and priorities regarding the improvement of living conditions of the Roma communities.
Priorities
- Projects/actions proposed by Roma or pro-Roma civil organisations with experience in organising similar projects;
- Projects/actions proposed by applicants with experience in working on Roma topics such as how Roma communities are portrayed in the media and in society, challenges Roma people face in the fields of employment, education, housing, health, etc.;
- Projects/actions proposed by applicants with expertise in working with media representatives and journalists at local and national level;
- Proven experience from involvement in similar Programmes implemented by CoE or/and by EU or other intergovernmental organisations.
Funding Information
- The overall indicative available budget under this Call for proposals is € 90,000 (ninety thousand Euros). The Council of Europe intends to award three grants (one per beneficiary country) having maximum amounts as follows:
Duration
- The implementation period of the project should start on 1 October 2023 and should not extend beyond 31 October 2024.
- Reporting requirements shall be completed by 15 November 2024 at the latest.
Target Audience
- Projects should target local and national media representatives, journalists, Roma and pro-Roma civil society organisations, and Roma communities in Bulgaria, Greece and Romania.
Eligibility Criteria
- In order to be eligible for a grant, an applicant must:
- be legally constituted as a NGO/civil society organisation/entity in Bulgaria, Greece or Romania;
- be entitled to carry out activities described in its project proposal;
- have been active for at least three years in the field of Roma inclusion, Roma communities, policies and social inclusion;
- have experience in designing and/or implementing public campaigns, particularly in the area of hate speech, anti-racism, fighting antigypsyism, minority rights, anti-discrimination, equality;
- have sufficient financial capacity (stable and sufficient sources of funding) to maintain its activity throughout the period for which the grant is awarded and to participate by way of its own resources (including 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 Euro bank account.
- Multiple applications are not allowed and shall lead to the exclusion of all applications concerned.
Ineligibility Criteria
- The following types of action will not be considered:
- Projects/actions providing financial support to third parties (re-granting schemes);
- Projects/actions concerning only or mainly individual scholarships for studies or training courses;
- Projects/actions supporting political parties.
- Applicants shall be excluded from the grant award procedure where they:
- 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;
- are an entity created to circumvent tax, social or other legal obligations (empty shell company), have ever created or are in the process of creation of such an entity;
- have been involved in mismanagement of the Council of Europe funds or public funds;
- are or if their owner(s) or executive officer(s), in the case of legal persons, are included in the lists of persons or entities subject to restrictive measures applied by the European Union
For more information, visit Council of Europe.