EEA GRANTS NORWAY GRANTS Patrizia Brandellero, Senior Sector Officer - Civil Society, FMO Oslo, 1 September 2011 EEA funding to NGOs and bilateral cooperation with Norwegian civil society

EEA GRANTS NORWAY GRANTS Reducing disparities Strengthening relations New impetus in support to civil society

EEA GrantsNorway Grants NGO Funds – critical support 3 Social justice Democratic processes Human rights, anti-discrimination Empowerment of vulnerable groups Strengthened capacity Advocacy Awareness raising Engagement and participation Local impact Key services Coalition building

EEA GrantsNorway Grants : What’s new for NGOs?  Increased size of support – up to 140M€  Focus NGO Programmes on strategic processes that are results-based and lead to change and sustainability: institutional strengthening, networking, policy and strategy development, advocacy and watchdog activities, increasing civic participation  Address key areas of concern (human rights, democratic processes, social inclusion…)

EEA GrantsNorway Grants NGO Programmes – strategic framework Objective Strengthened civil society development and enhanced contribution to social justice, democracy and sustainable development Applicants Non-profit voluntary organisation established as a legal entity, having a non-commercial purpose, independent of local, regional and central government, public entities, political parties and commercial organisations. Religious institutions and political parties are not considered NGOs

EEA GrantsNorway Grants NGO Programmes – Expected outcomes  Active citizenship fostered  Increased involvement of NGOs in policy and decision-making processes with local, regional and national governments  Cross-sectoral partnerships developed, particularly with government organisations at local, regional and national level  Democratic values, including human rights, promoted  Advocacy and watchdog role developed  Developed networks and coalitions of NGOs working in partnership  Strengthened capacity of NGOs and an enabling environment for the sector promoted  Increased contribution to sustainable development achieved  Provision of welfare and basic services to defined target groups increased  Empowerment of vulnerable groups

EEA GrantsNorway Grants NGO Programmes – Areas of support Core areas (at least one third of support)  Democracy  Human rights including minorities rights (ethnic, religious, linguistic and sexual orientation)  Good governance and transparency  Participatory democracy  Combat racism and xenophobia  Anti-discrimination  Social inequalities, poverty and exclusion, including in rural areas  Gender equality and Gender-based violence Additional eligible areas and activities  Environmental protection and climate change  Provision of welfare and basic services At least 10% for children and youth-driven organisations and or activities

EEA GrantsNorway Grants NGO Programmes – Suggested activities  Fostering active citizenship and participatory democracy, including grassroot/local level  Advocacy, watchdog and monitoring activities  Awareness raising activities  Multicultural dialogue activities  Participation in policy and decision-making processes  Capacity-building and organisational support to NGOs  Strengthening governance in membership-based NGOs  Network and coalition building  Mutual learning and dissemination  Education and training activities  Cultural initiatives to promote key areas

EEA GrantsNorway Grants New Set up Management  Programme Operator (PO) autonomous of government, have links to and strengthen the capacity of the sector  Possible for FMO or for the FP to contract PO  Consortium an option Rules and modalities – Guideline  Up to 90% grants for projects, in-kind up to 50% of co-financing  Complementary actions (at Programme level for exchanges with donor and other Beneficiary states)  Proportionality in management and reporting  Advance payment system

EEA GrantsNorway Grants NGO Bilateral relations  Contribute to objective and outcomes  Mutual benefit  Strategic exchanges developed at Programme level  Facilitation in contact building Funding available:  Funds for outreach/networking Programme Operator  Funds for bilateral exchange for:  Seed money to develop partnership projects  Know-how exchange with partners/contacts Partners can also be from BS, or bordering country outside the EEA

EEA GrantsNorway Grants Getting involved… Projects:  Strengthening individual/sectoral contacts  Developing existing contacts within networks  Innovative ideas/projects, new partnerships Programmes:  Contributing to Programme level exchanges, events, capacity- building (ex. advocacy, organisational development, fund- raising…)

EEA GrantsNorway Grants State of play €86M agreed in 8 countries to date Amount(M€)Focus EE: 2.3multiculturalism, minorities, children/youth, cap.build. LV: 10.36multiculturalism, minorities, children/youth, capacity LT: 5.5gender and domestic violence, cooperation with Belarus BG: 11.79good governance, discrimination and exclusion, Roma SI:1.87cross sectoral partnerships, children/youth, Roma CZ: 9.8democracy, Roma, environment, climate change SK: 6.9children/youth, Roma PL: 37tbd

EEA GrantsNorway Grants