1. Regional Seminar ENP, Russia, Yemen & Iraq Introduction to Wg3 Needs resulting from WG1&2 discussions & conceptual clarifications Baku, February 9-11, 2011

2. Conclusions from Wg1 and 2 Debates within WG3 (workshops)
Needs to be addressed
Conclusions from Wg1 and 2
Assessment of potential ways to address these needs (in the form of funding modalities and selection procedures )
Debates within WG3 (workshops)

3. Identified needs (from Wg1&2 discussions)

4. Contribute to the promotion of an enabling environment by supporting CSOs lobbying, watchdog and research efforts (also human rights defenders) and adapting funding requirements to the context conditions, institutional and political-wise (avoid a “one-size fits all” approach);
Support the role of local CSOs in political dialogue and support new citizens engagement practices, particularly at the local level, throughout the public policy cycle (from agenda-setting to implementation to monitoring and evaluation);
Support demand-driven capacity-building of CSOs & CSOs self-governance efforts, with a view to strengthen their voice to influence policy dialogue, participate in development priority settings and service delivery;
Support long-term processes of social and economic change in a results-oriented perspective;
Support equitable partnerships (also between International and local actors) as well as networking & coalition building among CSOs (at a local, national, inter-regional & international level) on the basis of common agendas and shared objectives;

5. 6. Preserve and support the RoI of CSO through flexibility in aid programming & financial support;
7. Support multi-stakeholder approaches to development and governance and allow for a more collective decision-making process on funding;
8. Support pilot initiatives, knowledge development activities, empirical research and dissemination initiatives by local actors;
9. Support grass-roots & community-based organisations & movements, often excluded from EU funding opportunities due to the complexity of the procedures (e.g. via simplification of funding mechanisms, building in more flexibility; ring-fencing of funds, etc)
10. Support decentralisation efforts, provide effective& decentralised support LAs and support ”bottom-up” multi-actor territorial approaches to development & local governance;
11. Enhance funding predictability and increase harmonisation among donors to reduce transaction costs and decrease the burden imposed on CSOs.

6. Conceptual clarifications

7. Conceptual clarification What do we refer to when talking about funding mechanisms?
Selection procedures
(Funding)
Aid modalities

8. Current state of play
Funding modalities
Selection procedures
Project funding
Open CfP
Restrictive CfP
Project-based calls for proposals are the primary means through which grants are awarded by the EC.

9. Alternative mechanisms to be further explored
Funding modalities
Selection procedures
Programme funding
Core funding
Block-grants / re-granting
Pool funds
Follow-up grants
Decentralised sector budget support
Twinning
Service contracts
Etc.
Targeted CfP
Ring-fencing of funds
Certification systems
Direct award
Tenders
Etc.

10. The needs table
Needs
Responses
Strengths
Weaknesses
Feasibility

11. Wg3 workshops
Workshop 1: The Call for Proposals as a selection procedure for the disbursement of EC funding to support CSOs&LAs
Workshop 2: Better targeting and actor segmentation in aid delivery
Workshop 3: Support long-term processes & strengthen the sustainability of interventions
As a cross-cutting theme:
Harmonization & cost-effectiveness of aid delivery