Call for Proposals: the Programme "Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development"

More than ?10 million have been earmarked by the European Commission for actions in the ENPI countries under a ?25.9 million global Call for Proposals on Strengthening the Capacities of Non-State Actors, issued jointly under the thematic programme Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development and the new Neighbourhood Civil Society Facility (Reference: EuropeAid/131140/C/ACT/Multi). 

The global objective and the priorities of the present Call for Proposals are the concrete answer to the Structured Dialogue recommendations to the EU to "promote and support regular, structured and inclusive multi-stakeholder dialogues" through funding to "empower civil society organisations (CSOs) and local authorities (LAs) (particularly their platforms and representative organizations) to participate effectively in dialogues".

The global objective of this call of proposals, in line with the NSA&LA strategy 2011-2013, the NSA&LA Annual Action Programme 2011 and the conclusions of the Structured Dialogue11, is to support:

• actions aiming at strengthening regional, continental and global civil society representative networks (i.e. platforms, unions) active in development cooperation in partner countries; and

• multi-country actions led by these platforms, tackling issues of global concern.

Additionally, for the Neighbourhood region only, the call also addresses civil society organisations which are not part of networks, if their actions have a regional dimension and aim at strengthening and promoting civil society organisations' role in reforms and democratic changes taking place in the Neighbourhood countries. Two additional priorities will be pursued

• Actions led by civil society organisations promoting the reinforcement of an enabling environment for civil society organisations' activities in Neighbourhood countries.  Actions relating to freedom of association, freedom of assembly and freedom of expression may be carried out under this priority, such as: monitoring and advocacy campaigns; development of guidelines, manuals, recommendations; capacity building and networking activities such as organisation of seminars, workshops, training sessions, exchange of experience, internships, study visits; support to tools of information and communication; other joint activities aiming to improve the legislative and administrative environment for the functioning of civil society organisations.

• Actions led by civil society organisations, which advance the political priorities of the Eastern Partnership and the priorities included in the Joint Communication ‘A partnership for democracy and shared prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean’ of 8 March 2011.
  
  
  • The political priorities of the Eastern Partnership are: democracy, good governance and stability; economic integration and convergence with EU policies; energy security; contacts between people.
  
  
  • The priorities included in the Joint Communication for the Southern Mediterranean are: democratic transformation and institution-building; a stronger partnership with the people; sustainable and inclusive growth and economic development.
  
  The following types of actions may be carried out under this priority: joint actions with a regional dimension addressing the issue mentioned above. Actions may be: awareness raising and promotion campaigns; advocacy campaigns; development of guidelines, manuals, recommendations; capacity building and networking activities such as organisation of seminars, workshops, training sessions exchanges of experience, internships, study visits; support to tools of information and communication; other joint activities aiming to support the political objectives mentioned above.

The overall indicative budget for this call financed from the 2011 budget is ?25,904,500, out of which ?10 million under the Neighbourhood Civil Society Facility funded by the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), and the rest from the Non State Actors in Development budget line.

The Call for Proposals is divided into different geographical lots. One lot is specifically dedicated to ENPI countries:

LOT 5 (?10.763 million): projects of regional networks and civil society organisations based in the ENPI countries (Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Lebanon, Libya, Jordan, Israel, Republic of Moldova, Morocco, Russia, Syria, Tunisia, Ukraine, West Bank and the Gaza Strip) – grants requested for actions must fall between ?200,000 and ?1 million.

In addition to this, applicants from Neighbourhood countries can also apply under: 

LOT 1 (?3.181 million): projects of global networks (covering different continents) – grants requested for actions must fall between ?1 million and ?4 million.

The deadline for submission of concept notes is 1 February 2012. 

Source of information - ENPI info centre

Guidelines for grant application and other information - online service EC DEVCO-Europe Aid