Thematic Programme for Civil Society Organisations 2021-2024 in Bangladesh

Deadline: 15-Aug-22

The European Commission (EC) is calling for proposals for Thematic Programme for Civil Society Organisations 2021-2024.

The CSO programme, including the CfP at hand, seek to contribute to the EU Commission priorities on Governance, Peace and Security. It also aims to support the vital role of Civil Society with regard to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 16 “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels” and SDG 17 “Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

Objectives

• The global objective of this call for proposals is: Strengthen Civil Society Organisations as independent actors of good governance and development in their own right.
• The specific objective of this call for proposals is: Strengthen local Civil Society Organisations’ ability to engage as actors of good governance and development at country level.

Priorities

The priorities of this call for proposals are:

• An enabling environment  for civil society: CSOs promote a conducive legal, regulatory, institutional and operational environment.
• Dialogue and policy engagement: CSOs preserve, recover and open civic space to influence dialogue on development policy and domestic policies.
• A comprehensive approach to capacity building :  CSOs have strengthened their capacities, networks, coalitions, and accountability to promote democracy, good governance, human rights, gender equality and the digital transformation.
• Engaging with the whole spectrum of civil society: The EU through their partner organisations engages with a wide range of civil society organisations including academia, local and grassroots initiatives, community-based organisations, professional organisations, social movements and social enterprises.

Funding Information

• The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 6.889.500.
• This call for proposals provides for two lots:
  • Lot 1: Achieving the objectives and priorities trough financial support to third parties.
  • Lot 2: Actions contributing directly to the objectives and priorities.
• Indicative allocation of funds by lot:
  • The overall indicative amount made available under Lot 1 is EUR 4 000 000.
  • The overall indicative amount made available under Lot 2 is EUR 2 889 500.
• Size of grants
  • Lot 1
    • Any grant requested under this Lot must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
      • minimum amount: EUR 1 950 000
      • maximum amount: EUR 2 000 000
  • Lot 2
    • Any grant requested under this Lot must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
      • minimum amount: EUR 900.000
      • maximum amount: EUR 963.166

Eligibility Criteria

• Lead applicant(s)
  • In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:
    • be a legal person
    • be non-profit-making
    • be a Civil Society Organisation and/or their associations
    • be established  in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, or
    • be established in a Member State of the European Union or
    • be established in developing countries and territories other than the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, as included in the list of ODA recipients published by the OECD Development Assistance Committee, which are not members of the G-20 group, and overseas countries and territories
    • 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.
    • Under Lot 1 the lead applicant may act individually or with co-applicant(s).
    • Under Lot 2 if the lead applicant is not established in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh it must act with at least one co-applicants established in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
• 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, the following are however also eligible:
  • Co-applicants must sign the mandate in Part B Section 4 of the grant application form.
  • If awarded the grant contract, the co-applicant(s) (if any) will become beneficiary(ies) in the action (together with the coordinator).
• Affiliated Entities
  • The lead applicant and its co-applicant(s) may act with affiliated entity(ies).
  • Only the following entities may be considered as affiliated entities to the lead applicant and/or to co-applicant(s):
    • Only entities having a structural link with the applicants (i.e. the lead applicant or a co-applicant), in particular a legal or capital link.
  • This structural link encompasses mainly two notions:
    • Control, as defined in Directive 2013/34/EU on the annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings:
      • Entities affiliated to an applicant may hence be:
        • Entities directly or indirectly controlled by the applicant (daughter companies or first-tier subsidiaries). They may also be entities controlled by an entity controlled by the applicant (granddaughter companies or second-tier subsidiaries) and the same applies to further tiers of control;
        • Entities directly or indirectly controlling the applicant (parent companies). Likewise, they may be entities controlling an entity controlling the applicant;
        • Entities under the same direct or indirect control as the applicant (sister companies).
    • Membership, i.e. the applicant is legally defined as a e.g. network, federation, association in which the proposed affiliated entities also participate or the applicant participates in the same entity (e.g. network, federation, association,…) as the proposed affiliated entities.

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