Support to civil society organisations to contribute to the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Date de clôture : 7 juil. 2020  
APPEL À PROJET CLÔTURÉ

 

1.1. Background

The thematic programme on Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities (CSO-LA) has its legal base in regulation (EU) no 233/2014 of the European parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation for the period 2014-2020. It is an actor-based programme that aims to foster an enabling environment for civil society; to promote a meaningful and structured participation of CSOs in domestic policies of partner countries, in the EU programming cycle and in international processes; and to increase local CSOs' capacity to perform their roles as independent development actors. It fully integrates the impetus of the new European Consensus on Development (the 'Consensus') to align EU policies and actions to the objectives of the 2030 Agenda. The programme translates into strategic orientations the robust EU commitments made in the Consensus, in particular regarding the promotion of CSOs as actors of governance in their own right in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

In order to fulfil these commitments, the EU has signed 25 Framework Partnership Agreements (FPAs) with networks of global and regional civil society umbrella organisations. FPAs create a long-term political partnership aiming at common agreed strategic objectives and encourage CSOs as key contributors to policy-making at regional and global levels.

Through this call for proposals, the CSO-LA thematic programme will provide specific support to civil society organisations in order to contribute to the achievement of the SDG 10, that aims at reducing inequality within and among countries, and the SDG 16 dedicated to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies. 

This call for proposals will complement other EU actions aimed at addressing inequalities, and notably the Research Facility on Inequalities that aims to enhance the knowledge and understanding of economic and social inequalities, their drivers and underlying factors at different spatial levels, as well as the most effective policies and approaches to reduce them.

1.2. Objectives of the programme and priority issues 

1.2.1 Global objective

The global objective of this call for proposals is to support civil society organisations as actors of governance in their own right by strengthening their capacity to participate effectively in policy formulation and in the monitoring of policy implementation processes in order to contribute to the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and ensure no-one is left behind. 

1.2.2 Specific objectives

The specific objectives of this call for proposals are: 

• Lot 1-3: Inequalities initiative

To support civil society organisations in conducting analysis in order to develop public awareness and critical understanding of the causes, consequences and possible solutions to economic inequalities; and engage with public authorities to advocate public policies aiming at reducing income and wealth inequalities.

• Lot 4: Preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE)

To contribute to prevent and counter violent extremism through a more strategic engagement with CSOs. This will be achieved through the establishment of a CSO hub that would serve as an EU partner in the P/CVE area. The objectives of the hub is 1) to provide a space where civil society active in the P/CVE area can interact in a more systematic and strategic manner, share best practices and exchange lessons learned, and 2) to serve as an EU's operational instrument to support locally led initiatives in priority partner countries/regions. 

 

This call contains 4 lots: 

Lot 1-3: Inequality Initiatives 

Lot 4: Preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE).

Applicants must clearly specify under which lot they are submitting the application in their project title.

 

Priorities issues

Lot 1-3: Inequalities initiative

Under lot 1-3, proposals must address the following priorities: 

Lot 1: Inequalities Initiative - Latin America and the Caribbean

At regional/global level: contribute to address illicit financial flows, tax evasion, and tax avoidance impact on income and wealth inequality.

At country level: 

- Mexico : contribute to address income and wealth inequality related to gender, ethnic origin and poorly defined access to natural resources ;

- Colombia: contribute to address income and wealth inequality as a contribution to support the peace process;

Lot 2: Inequalities initiative - Africa

At regional/global level: contribute to address illicit financial flows, tax evasion, and tax avoidance impact on income and wealth inequality.

 

At country level: 

- South Africa: contribute to address income and wealth inequality related to land rights, including land reform, and access to natural resources such as water for agriculture;

- Kenya: contribute to address income and wealth inequality related to tax policy (including tax incentives such as tax exemptions); 

Lot 3: Inequalities initiative – Asia-Pacific

At regional/global level: contribute to address illicit financial flows, tax evasion, and tax avoidance impact on income and wealth inequality.

At country level: 

- Indonesia: contribute to address income and wealth inequality related to gender;

- India: contribute to address income and wealth inequalities faced by manual scavengers (only in the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh).

Lot 4: Preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE)

Under lot 4, proposals must address all the following priorities: 

 

• To build the capacity of the Framework Partnership Agreements’ signatories to contribute to addressing P/CVE through support into local, regional and global initiatives;

• To establish a CSO hub with a secretariat based in Brussels allowing for a timely and close collaboration with the Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO) and when required also with other relevant Directorate-General from the European Commission (e.g. DG HOME) and  EU services (e.g. European External Action Service);

• To contribute to deepening collaboration, cooperation, and networking among the civil society networks around the P/CVE agenda; 

• To strengthen the capacity of CSOs in preventing and countering violent extremism through support into locally-led initiatives in the following areas among others:

 

• o P/CVE and research; 
• o P/CVE education including critical thinking;  
• o P/CVE and religion;
• o P/CVE women and youth;
• o P/CVE and alternative messages/ media; 
• o Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTF), disengagement and reintegration.

 

• To maximise the space for CSOs to contribute to P/CVE;

• To create a space for dialogue, through meetings, workshops, trainings among the actors involved such as private sector, local and regional platforms and networks, international organisations, experts on P/CVE and other civil society organisations.

 

The actions should focus on at least one of the following areas: 

• • Research;
• • Education, training, workshops at local/regional level;  
• • Religious aspect; 
• • Youth and Women empowerment; 
• • Preventive communication;
• • Foreign terrorist fighters, disengagement and reintegration; 
• • Partnership with private sector (on-line platforms/companies and social media) to design effective campaigns against violent extremism among others.   

 

1.2.3 Cross-cutting issues (for lots 1, 2, 3)

 

Proposals should consider how they will integrate the “leave no one behind” principle, and ensure that activities reach the most vulnerable and marginalised individuals and communities, through a rights-based approach.

 

The cross-cutting issues to be taken into account when designing proposals include:

• Human Rights (Rights-based approach)

The European Consensus on Development commits the EU and its Member States to implementing a rights-based approach (RBA) to development cooperation, encompassing all human rights. It thereby reinforces the EU's commitment to a RBA as outlined in the 2012 EU Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy, the 2014 Tool-box "A Rights-Based Approach, Encompassing All Human Rights, for EU Development Cooperation", and the respective Council Conclusions. 

 

In line with a Rights-Based Approach, development cooperation should contribute to the development of the capacities of ‘rights-holders’ to claim their rights and ‘duty-bearers’ to meet their obligations. Programmes and projects therefore need to assess the capacities of rights-holders and duty-bearers and develop the appropriate strategies to build these capacities. 

 

The RBA methodology also reminds us that development projects can have unintended negative impact in terms of human rights such as disadvantaging certain groups, interfering with participation rights and labour rights or contributing to forced displacement. It is therefore important to abide by the 'do no harm' principle and carry out the required analysis and mitigation. 

 

Moreover, the RBA working methodology recognises that pursuing desired human rights outcomes is not, in itself, enough. The way these outcomes are achieved is equally important. Programmes should therefore monitor and evaluate both outcomes and processes.

 

To be considered for this call, applicants should as a minimum explore the human rights dimensions of the priority issues and how these will be considered and/or addressed. Applicants are encouraged to ensure that a rights based approach is mainstreamed throughout the proposal and/or to include specific results on human rights. 

 

• Gender Equality

 

Equality between men and women is at the core of values of the European Union (EU). The Gender Action Plan 2016-2020 stresses the need for the full realisation of women’s and girls’ full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Gender equality is also a central, standalone goal in the 2030 Agenda. 

 

To be considered for this call, applicants should as a minimum explore the gendered dimensions of the priority issues (internal and external) and how these will be considered and/or addressed. Applicants are encouraged to ensure that gender is mainstreamed throughout the proposal and/or to include specific results on gender equality. 

 

• Environment

EU treaties and policies underpin the Union’s high-level commitment to environmental sustainability and to combating climate change. Mainstreaming environment and climate change is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

 

To be considered for this call, applicants should as a minimum explore the environmental dimensions of the priority issues and how these will be considered and/or addressed. Applicants are encouraged to ensure that environment and climate change considerations are mainstreamed throughout the proposal and/or to include specific results on environment and climate change. 

 

1.3. Financial allocation provided by the contracting authority

The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 14 000 000, specifically EUR 11 000 000 for lots 1 to 3 and EUR 3 000 000 for lot 4, all lots financed by the budget line 21 02 08 01. 

The Contracting Authority reserves the right not to award all available funds. Likewise, this amount could be increased should more funds become available. 

Indicative allocation of funds by lot distribution:

Lot 1: Inequalities Initiative - Latin America and the Caribbean

Total available: EUR 3 666 666

Lot 2: Inequalities initiative - Africa

Total available: EUR 3 666 666

Lot 3: Inequalities initiative – Asia-Pacific

Total available: EUR 3 666 666

Lot 4: Preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE)

 

Total available: EUR 3 000 000 

 

If the allocation indicated for a specific lot cannot be used due to insufficient quality or number of proposals received, the contracting authority reserves the right to reallocate the remaining funds to (an)other lot(s), 

Size of grants

Lot 1: Inequalities Initiative - Latin America and the Caribbean

Any EU requested contribution under this call for proposals must be EUR 3 666 666.

Any EU requested contribution under this Call for Proposals may not exceed the following maximum percentages of total eligible costs of the Action:

 

• • Minimum percentage: 60% of the total eligible costs of the action
• • Maximum percentage: 90 % of the total eligible costs of the action (see also Section 2.1.5).

Lot 2: Inequalities initiative - Africa

Any EU requested contribution under this call for proposals must be EUR 3 666 666.

Any EU requested contribution under this Call for Proposals may not exceed the following maximum percentages of total eligible costs of the Action:

 

• • Minimum percentage: 60% of the total eligible costs of the action
• • Maximum percentage: 90 % of the total eligible costs of the action (see also Section 2.1.5).

Lot 3: Inequalities initiative – Asia-Pacific

Any EU requested contribution under this call for proposals must be EUR 3 666 666.

Any EU requested contribution under this Call for Proposals may not exceed the following maximum percentages of total eligible costs of the Action:

 

• • Minimum percentage: 60% of the total eligible costs of the action
• • Maximum percentage: 90 % of the total eligible costs of the action (see also Section 2.1.5).

Lot 4: Preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE)

Any EU requested contribution under this call for proposals must be EUR 3 000 000.

Any EU requested contribution under this Call for Proposals may not exceed the following maximum percentages of total eligible costs of the Action:

• • Minimum percentage: 60% of the total eligible costs of the action
• • Maximum percentage: 90 % of the total eligible costs of the action (see also Section 2.1.5).

The balance (i.e. the difference between the total cost of the action and the amount requested from the contracting authority) must be financed from sources other than the general budget of the Union or the European Development Fund.

 

2. Rules FOR thIS call for proposalS

These guidelines set out the rules for the submission, selection and implementation of the actions financed under this call, in conformity with the practical guide, which is applicable to the present call (available on the internet at this address http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/prag/document.do?locale=en).

 

2.1. Eligibility criteria

There are three sets of eligibility criteria, relating to:

(1) the actors:

• • The ‘lead applicant’, i.e. the entity submitting the application form (2.1.1),
• • if any, its co-applicant(s) (where it is not specified otherwise the lead applicant and its co-applicant(s) are hereinafter jointly referred as ‘applicant(s)’) (2.1.1), 
• • and, if any, affiliated entity(ies) to the lead applicant and/or to a co-applicant(s). (2.1.2);

(2) the actions:

Actions for which a grant may be awarded (2.1.4);

 

(3) the costs:

• types of cost that may be taken into account in setting the amount of the grant (2.1.5).

2.1.1. Eligibility of applicants (i.e. lead applicant and co-applicant(s))

Lead applicant

(1) Under 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 representative of a regional and/or global umbrella organisation of CSOs signatory of a Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) with the European Commission with the aim to implement the Strategic Plan defined in the Annex I of the above-mentioned Framework Agreement.

and

• 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

 (2) Potential applicants may not participate in calls for proposals or be awarded grants if they are in any of the situations listed in Section 2.6.10.1 of the practical guide;

 

Lead applicants, co-applicants, affiliated entities and, in case of legal entities, persons who have powers of representation, decision-making or control over the lead applicant, the co-applicants and the affiliated entities are informed that, should they be in one of the situations of early detection or exclusion according to Section 2.6.10.1 of the practical guide, personal details (name, given name if natural person, address, legal form and name and given name of the persons with powers of representation, decision-making or control, if legal person) may be registered in the early detection and exclusion system, and communicated to the persons and entities concerned in relation to the award or the execution of a grant contract. In this respect, lead applicants, co-applicants and affiliated entities are obliged to declare that they are not in one of the exclusion situations through a signed declaration on honour (PRAG Annex A14). For grants of EUR 60,000 or less, no declaration on honour is required.

In Annex A.2 Section 5 of the grant application form (‘declaration(s) by the lead applicant’), the lead applicant must declare that the lead applicant himself, the co-applicant(s) and affiliated entity(ies) are not in any of these situations.

The lead applicant must act with co-applicant(s) as specified hereafter.

If awarded the grant contract, the lead applicant will become the beneficiary identified as the coordinator in Annex E3h1 (special conditions). The coordinator is the main interlocutor of the contracting authority. It represents and acts on behalf of any other co-beneficiary (if any) and coordinate the design and implementation of the action.

Co-applicant(s)

The lead applicant must act with at least one co-applicant.

In order to be eligible for a grant, the co-applicant(s) must:

• be a legal person and 

• be non-profit-making and

• be a civil society organisation, and

• Be established in:

For Lot 1: Inequalities Initiative - Latin America and the Caribbean

Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Cayman Islands, Virgin Islands and EU member states.

During assessment, priority will be given to applications that involve (as co-applicants or affiliated entities) at least one CSO established in one of the two target countries (Mexico and Columbia) in order to benefit from their local experience on the priority issues. This will be assessed in the section relevance of the action of the evaluation grids (section number 1.2 of the Concept Note and section number 2.2 of the Full Application).

For Lot 2: Inequalities initiative - Africa

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Republic, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and EU member states. 

During assessment, priority will be given to applications that involve (as co-applicants or affiliated entities) at least one CSO established in one of the two target countries (Kenya and South Africa) in order to benefit from their local experience on the priority issues. This will be assessed in the section relevance of the action of the evaluation grids (section number 1.2 of the Concept Note and section number 2.2 of the Full Application).

For Lot 3: Inequalities initiative – Asia-Pacific

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Fiji, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,  Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Vietnam and EU member states.

During assessment, priority will be given to applications that involve (as co-applicants or affiliated entities) at least one CSO established in one of the two target countries (India and Indonesia) in order to benefit from their local experience on the priority issues. This will be assessed in the section relevance of the action of the evaluation grids (section number 1.2 of the Concept Note and section number 2.2 of the Full Application). 

For Lot 4: Preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) 

The EU partner country included in the Annex M and EU Member States.

Please note that developing countries, as included in the list of ODA recipients, which are members of the G20 group (Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey) can only participate in procedures, where the country itself is a beneficiary of the action.

During assessment, priority will be given to applications that involve (as co-applicants or affiliated entities) CSOs established in the target countries (see Annex M) in order to benefit from their local experience on the priority issues. This will be assessed in the section relevance of the action of the evaluation grids (section number 1.2 of the Concept Note and section number 2.2 of the Full Application).

(TRUNCATED)

Lien officiel :   Disponible pour les utilisateurs enregistrés