Philippines: 2023 Democracy and Human Rights Call for Proposals

Deadline: 28-Apr-23

The European Commission is seeking proposals to support and strengthen civil society organisations working on critical democracy and human rights issues in the Philippines.

Objectives of the Programme and Priority Issues

• The specific objective(s) of this call for proposals are:
  • To support human rights defenders working on the most critical areas of human rights policy and democracy issues
  • To contribute to the national effort in eliminating the worst forms of child labour in the Philippines
  • To contribute to the fight against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) and other forms of inhumane and degrading treatment
  • To support democracy through freedom of expression and access to information online and offline  This call for proposals will have four lots that each correspond to a focal theme and linked to the mentioned objectives of the programme and priority issues.
• The priorities of this call for proposals are:
  • Lot 1: Strengthening civic and democratic spaces for human rights defenders
    • Human rights defenders in the Philippines pursue their work under the mantle of the Philippine Constitution and internationally-guaranteed bill of rights and mainly with the support of civil society and National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) engaged in promoting and protecting human rights. Despite the change in administration following the 2022 general elections, no substantive changes have been observed so far in the case of Filipino HRDs. Major issues remain such as extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, torture, constriction of civic space/red-tagging all of which contribute to a climate of impunity.
  • Lot 2: Elimination of the worst forms of child labour
    • Recent progress in ending child labour in the Philippines is stalling due to lingering effects of the pandemic as millions of children face the risk of child labour and other forms of exploitation as poor families grapple with unemployment and lesser incomes.
  • Lot 3. Fight against Online abuse and sexual exploitation of children (OSAEC) and other inhumane and degrading treatment
    • Despite strong legislation punishing abuse of children, close to 9,000 child abuse cases nationwide have been recorded by the Council for the Welfare of Children. This includes physical and psychological violence, sexual violence, bullying, exploitation, and violence in the internet. Violence seriously harms children physically and psychologically, hampers their development, and violates their right to protection.
  • Lot 4. Freedom of expression and of the press
    • Media and journalists facilitate the public’s access to information and helps provide general check and balance vis the excesses of authority. While the Philippines remains a democratic country with democratic institutions in place such as the media (also called the “Fourth Estate), the right to freedom of expression and information has been under pressure affecting not only journalists but other members of society.

Funding Information

• The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 3 280 000. The contracting authority reserves the right not to award all available funds.
• Indicative allocation of funds by lot/geographical distribution:
  • Lot 1: EUR 820 000
  • Lot 2: EUR 820 000
  • Lot 3: EUR 820 000
  • Lot 4: EUR 820 000
• Any grant requested under this call for proposals must [not exceed the maximum amount] [fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts]:
  • minimum amount: EUR 410 000
  • maximum amount: EUR 820 000
• Duration: The initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than 24 months nor exceed 36 months.

Location: Actions must take place in the Philippines.

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 organisations and
  • Be established in a Member State of the European Union or an eligible country as stipulated in the basic act and
  • Be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the coapplicant(s) and affiliated entity(ies), not acting as an intermediary.
• 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.
  • In addition to the categories referred to in the following are however also eligible:
    • 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.

For more information, visit European Commission.