RFPs: Empower Civil Society as drivers of Change (Armenia)

Deadline: 5-May-25

The European Commission is requesting proposals to enhance the capacity and resilience of Armenian civil society organisations as trusted, independent and effective actors.

Priorities 

• The priorities of this call for proposals are:  
  • To enhance the capacity of independent media outlets and journalists in Armenia to operate freely, ethically, and professionally by providing training, legal support, and technological tools that improve investigative journalism and counter disinformation. 
  • To enhance the capacity, sustainability, and impact of Armenian civil society organizations (CSOs) by strengthening their institutional capacities, financial resilience, and ability to engage effectively in policy dialogue, advocacy, and service delivery. 

Lots  

• LOT 1: Freedom and Professionalism of Media 
  • The Action implemented under Lot 1 is expected to contribute to each of the following three outcomes 
    • Outcome 1. Media organisations are managed and perform professionally, independently and sustainably 
    • Outcome 2. Media organisations and actors develop more reader-relevant, analytical, reliable and responsible content 
    • Outcome 3. Media regulatory and professional reforms are progressed in a participative manner 
• LOT 2. Strengthening civil society in Armenia  
  • The Action implemented under Lot 2 is expected to contribute to each of the following three outcomes  
    • Outcome 1. Improved governance, strategic planning and operational efficiency and public outreach of Armenian CSOs, including think-tanks, regional and smaller grassroots organisations.  
    • Outcome 2. Enhanced financial sustainability of Armenian CSOs, including think-tanks, regional and smaller grassroots organisations.  
    • Outcome 3. Enhanced policy engagement and dialogue with national and local authorities by Armenian CSOs (including think-tanks, regional and smaller grassroots organisations), including providing a voice to marginalised groups and persons. 

Funding Information 

• The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 3,970,000. 
• Indicative allocation of funds by lot/geographical distribution: 
  • Lot 1: EUR 970,000 
  • Lot 2: EUR 3.000.000 
• Size of grants 
  • Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts: 
    • Lot 1: 
      • minimum amount: EUR 970,000 
      • maximum amount: EUR 970,000 
    • Lot 2: 
      • minimum amount: EUR 3.000.000 
      • maximum amount: EUR 3.000.000 
• Duration 
  • The initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than 24 months nor exceed 48 months for the Lot 1. 
  • The initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than 36 months nor exceed 45 months for the Lot 2 

Eligibility Criteria 

• For all lots  
  • In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must: 
    • be a legal person and  
    • be non-profit-making and  
    • be a non-governmental organisation, and  
    • be effectively established in a Member State of the European Union or in Armenia or any other eligible country as stipulated in the basic act NDICI-GE, Due to the legal status of international organisations, the obligation of effective establishment in the referred countries does not apply to international organisations, where the latter are eligible, 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. 
• For Lot 1: the Lead applicant must act with at least one (1) co-applicant as specified hereafter. 
• For Lot 2: the Lead applicant must act with at least two (2) co-applicants as specified hereafter. 

For more information, visit EC.