Deadline: 16-Nov-22
Active Citizens Fund Romania is inviting applications for Communication Grants focused on improving the CSOs’ public image among targeted audiences.
ACF Romania will pursue a long-term development of the civil society sector sustainability and capacity, stepping up its role in promoting democratic participation, active citizenship and human rights, while strengthening bilateral relations with organizations from the Donor States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).
The overall objective of the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021 is to reduce economic and social disparities, and to strengthen bilateral relations between 15 beneficiary countries and the Donor States.
The objective of the Call #10
To improve CSOs’ public image among targeted audiences
- Public image includes the following dimensions:
- How CSOs are perceived by the general public (including also with specific focus on different categories i.a. youth, elderly, volunteers, beneficiaries or not of services, within a specific community etc.) or specific audiences (public officials and/or public policy makers, business sector, academia, etc),
- To what extent the CSOs work and roles are understood or recognised, positively or not, by different stakeholders/audiences,
- How visible is the CSOs work and how they build their relations with constituencies and different stakeholders (be it media coverage or direct engagement with citizens)
Programme Areas of Support
- Democracy, active citizenship, good governance and transparency;
- Human rights and equal treatment through combating any discrimination on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity;
- Social justice and inclusion of vulnerable groups;
- Gender equality and gender-based violence (GBV);
- Environment and climate change
Focus of the Call #10 Improving the CSOs’ public image among targeted audiences
The present Call for proposals will support implementation of strategic communication and/or building constituency campaigns leading to:
- Improved public perception of CSOs (reputation, understanding the contribution of CSOs to communities and society at large)
- Improved awareness among general public on the concrete results of CSOs in their geographical area;
- Increased participation of citizens in CSOs as members, volunteers, donors or supporters;
- Improved perception of government/business sector representatives of CSOs (reputation, understanding contribution and partnership potential etc.)
Funding Information
- The total allocation for the Call #10 is 780,000 Euro, to be distributed in a single round of Calls for project proposals.
- Grant amount (minimum and maximum) 25,000 – 75,000 Euro
- Project duration (minimum and maximum) 6– 12 months
Eligible Activities
- Developing and implementing a communication and/or constituency building strategy and plan based on a sound understanding of the audiences, context, the goal and objectives in order to contribute to a better understanding of the role of CSOs;
- Organizing direct interactions with target groups at the community level such as: door-to-door campaigns, community meetings, small cultural events, etc.
- Organizing interactive events that directly connects CSOs with targeted public and relevant stakeholders such as: open doors events, CSOs festivals, gala or other recognition events, competitions, community workshops, etc.;
- Developing efficient, trustful and easy to use instruments for interactions with constituencies/supporters: for manifesting their support to a cause, provide ideas and feedback, offer their time as volunteers etc.;
- Developing effective media campaign using the media that reaches targeted audiences (print, television, radio and online) at the local and/or national levels;
- Developing innovative informative materials adapted to the targeted audiences (infographics, videos, digital storytelling, podcasts, participatory media, posts on blogs or social media, printed materials etc.) and providing layered information focused on key results of CSOs
- Working with ambassadors or key influencers to disseminate messages;
- Organizing conferences or seminars with high visibility among targeted audiences;
- Combat disinformation about the role and nature of CSOs.
Note: Analytical activities such as studies, reports, data collection are also eligible as part of more complex projects (i.e. preparatory work for proposed communication strategy/plan etc.).
Please note that the activities listed above are only examples that can be part of a project which has to be understood as a defined group of activities implemented to develop a response to a specific need, activities to be done in a logical sequence to achieve a set of predefined targets using the given resources.
Programme Outcomes
- Strengthened democratic culture and civic awareness
- CSOs actively defend human rights and promote equal treatment
- Vulnerable groups are empowered
- Enhanced capacity and sustainability of civil society (organizations and the sector)
Eligibility Criteria
Territorial Scope
- The Programme aims to support Romanian NGO projects in Romania, without prejudice to actions that are carried out in Donor or Beneficiary States or Border States with Romania under partnerships created to implement the selected projects.
- In exceptional and well justified cases, there could be allowed initiatives to participate/organize capacity building activities in other EU countries than the one already mentioned above.
Eligible applicants
- Non-governmental and non-profit organizations (NGOs), with Romanian nationality that acquired legal personality, are organized and operating under the Government Ordinance 26/2000 and/or the Law 21/1924 on associations and foundations (with subsequent amendments and completions); or
- County and Bucharest municipality foundations for youth and the National Youth Foundation established under the Law 146/2002 (with subsequent amendments and completions); or
- National Red Cross Society in Romania established under the Law 139/1995 (amended and supplemented by the Law 524/2004) and its structures with legal personality;
- In addition to the above mentioned criteria, the applicants shall meet the following requirements:
- Abide by the principles of human rights for all, democratic values, rule-of-law and
- Do not promote intolerant, discriminatory and/or hate speech, and
- Act in the public arena and for the public good on concerns and issues related to the well-being of people, groups or society as a whole, and
- Have the capacity, according to their statutes, to act in the field addressed by the project, and
- Are independent of the local, regional and national government and other public entities1 , and
- Are independent of political parties, and
- Are independent of commercial entities (such as companies, self-governing regies, individual enterprises etc.), and
- Do not directly or indirectly promote a religious doctrine, mission or proselytism related to the beliefs of a particular faith (beyond basic religious/cultural awareness raising) and
- Have transparent structures and elected chair/board, and are accountable to their members and donors, and
- Are directly responsible for designing and managing the project and do not act as an intermediary, and
- Have implemented or are currently implementing a project financed through Active Citizens Fund Romania, as project promoter or partner
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