Open Call: Advancing People Rights for Sustainable Development and Inequality Reduction in Thailand

Deadline: 10-Apr-23

The European Commission (EC) is seeking proposals for Advancing People Rights for Sustainable Development and Inequality Reduction.

The Thematic Programme on Human rights and Democracy under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI Global Europe) is devoted to upholding human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law for all worldwide. In line with the European Union (EU) Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy for the period 2020-2024, the Human Rights and Democracy Thematic Programme identifies five overarching priorities and key actions to ensure that the EU plays a greater role in promoting and defending human rights and democracy throughout its external action:

• Protecting and empowering individuals;
• Building resilient, inclusive and democratic societies;
• Promoting a global system for human rights and democracy;
• Harnessing the opportunities and addressing challenges of new technologies; and
• Delivering by working together.

Objectives of the Programme and Priority Issues

The global objective of this call for proposals is to support Thai civil society actions to contribute to governance and development process in Thailand that respect human rights and democratic principles, with a view to the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

• The specific objective of this call for proposals is to increase capacities and help establish an enabling environment for Thai civil society organisations to:
  • Promote and protect labour rights and promote safe working environment for all workers for decent work and economic growth
  • Reduce inequality through enhancing access to equal rights in social, economic and civic life of the most marginalised populations
• The priorities of this call for proposals are:
  • Promotion of Labour Rights, Decent Work and Business and Human Rights (B+HR).
  • Promotion of Other Fundamental Rights.

Funding Information

The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 1 590 000. The contracting authority reserves the right not to award all available funds. Similarly, this amount could be increased should more funds become available.

The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 510 000 to be financed under 2022 budget and an indicatively EUR 1 080 000 to be financed under 2023 budget. The latter is subject to the availability of the appropriations provided for in the general budget of the Union for 2023.

• This Call for Proposals is divided into two lots which are aiming at different priorities.
  • LOT 1: Actions on Labour Rights, Decent Work and Business and Human Rights (B+HR) – EUR 1 020 000.
  • LOT 2:  Actions on Other Fundamental Rights – EUR 570 000.
• Size of grants for both Lots
• Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
  • Minimum amount: EUR 500 000
  • Maximum amount: EUR 570 000

Eligibility Criteria

• 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 civil society organisation and
    • Be established in Thailand, a Member State of the European Union or any other country 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.
  • Potential applicants may not participate in calls for proposals or be awarded grants if they are in any of the situations;
    • Lead applicants, co-applicants, affiliated entities and, in case of legal entities, persons who have powers of representation, decision-making or control over the lead applicant, the co-applicants and the affiliated entities are informed that, should they be in one of the situations of early detection or exclusion, personal details (name, given name if natural person, address, legal form and name and given name of the persons with powers of representation, decision-making or control, if legal person) may be registered in the early detection and exclusion system, and communicated to the persons and entities concerned in relation to the award or the execution of a grant contract. In this respect, provisionally selected lead applicants, co-applicants and affiliated entities or those placed in the reserve list are obliged to declare that they are not in one of the exclusion situations through a signed declaration on honour. For grants of EUR 15 000 or less, no declaration on honour is required.
    • the lead applicant must declare that the lead applicant himself, the co-applicant(s) and affiliated entity(ies) are not in any of these situations.
    • International (inter-governmental) organisations as defined by Article 43 of the Rules of application of the EU Financial Regulation are NOT eligible, nor can act as co-applicant(s) under this call for proposals.
    • The lead applicant must act with minimum one co-applicant as specified hereafter. To be eligible, the proposed action must include at least one local organisation legally established in Thailand.
    • Partnership with organisations working in the target areas of the proposed action, at local and community level, is strongly encouraged. These organisations include the independent trade unions and/or informal workers organisations.
    • If awarded the grant contract, the lead applicant will become the beneficiary identified as the coordinator (special conditions). The coordinator is the sole interlocutor of the contracting authority. It represents and acts on behalf of any other co-beneficiary (if any) and coordinate the design and implementation of the action.
• 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 himself.
  • 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).
  • In addition, please note that contracts cannot be awarded to or signed with applicants included in the lists of EU restrictive measures.
  • Any application must also demonstrate that:
    • The project proposal is based on initiatives of local CSOs and ensure their involvement during all stages of the implementation to achieve stronger ownership and impact and,
    • There is a genuine and equitable partnership ensured at any stage of the action implementation with Thai CSOs established in Thailand.

For more information, visit EC.