News

Background

The European Commission (EC) has set up a programme specific to Non-state actors (NSA) and Local authorities (LA) through the ‘Non-state actors and Local authorities in development’ thematic programme.

It is the second year that the EC puts funds (grants) at the disposal of NSA and LA from the EU and the partner countries allowing them to implement their own project and undertake their own initiative.

The global objective of the thematic programme is to strengthen non-state actors and local authorities capacity in policy making process. The programme is made up of three objectives:

- Objective 1: Interventions in developing countries [local (in-country) and global interventions (multi-country)]

- Objective 2: Awareness raising and development education

- Objective 3: Networking between NSA & LA in Europe

Objectives 2 and 3 are accessible only to EU actors, whereas the objective 1 is accessible to all actors from EU and partner countries, including ACP states. The present article will focus only on the objective 1.

For 2008 the annual plan is similar to the 2007 plan. However there will be two fundamental changes:

· The Commission has decided, for this year, to merge the 2008 and 2009 annual budgets. This means:

- For the 2008 call for proposals, the overall budget will be doubled (subject to final validation in this sense during the voting of the EU budget)

- There will not be any call for proposals in 2009. The next call will be published in 2010. A call for proposals will only be published in 2009 if the Commission does not receive enough good projects for the 2008 call.

· There will be two separated calls for proposals for the multi-country intervention: one for non state actors and another for local authorities in order to further take into consideration the specificity of local authorities.

What do you need to know about grant through call for proposal?

· Grants involve co-financing, which means you have to finance part of your project

· The grant will be available through call for proposals (CfP).

· Call for proposal means actors are invited to submit project proposals that should satisfy the criteria defined in the CfP.

· Each CfP will provide information on the type of projects that will be considered for funding and on specific conditions to be met (criteria).

· Only the best proposals (the number of which will depend on the available budget) will be selected.

· The system of restricted calls for proposals will be used. This means applicants will only have to submit a Concept Note. Only those who have their concept note pre-selected, will be invited to submit the complete application form.

· Applications must be submitted in accordance with the guidance given in the call for proposals, however you can already prepare your proposal by using the standard form available on the EuropeAid website:

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/work/procedures/d...

About Objective 1: Interventions in developing countries

· The overarching objective is the strengthening of civil society and local authorities in partner countries.

· The programme can finance local interventions (in-country) or global (multi-country/multi-region) interventions.

· Calls for proposals and contracts will be managed by EC delegations for local interventions and by the EC headquarter (EuropeAid) for global interventions.

· All actions to be supported under the objective 1 must include an element of capacity building.

· All actions should be based on an initiative of local partners and should ensure their involvement during all the states of the action implementation. NSA or LA originating from the EU which propose an action must demonstrate an established and effective partnership with local organisations in the partner countries where the actions are taking place.

In-country intervention (action taking place in a single partner country).

Priorities: Interventions can comprise small-scale local development activities in various sectors and themes including: economic development, health, education, capacity building, institutional support and rural development.

Expected results:

· increased capacity of non state actors and local authorities to strengthen their participation in poverty reduction and sustainable development strategies;

· changes in government policy and practice towards NSA and LA in favour of their involvement in the development process;

· better access of the poorest sections of the population to social services and increased participation of those groups in the policy making processes, including particularly marginalized and vulnerable groups;

· increased interaction between state and non-state actors in different contexts, including NSA involvement in policy dialogue with government and capacity to play an oversight role.

Eligible countries: Twelve (12) ACP countries are eligible to the in-country intervention. Associations of local authorities from those countries are eligible. The calls for proposals will be launched and managed by the EC delegations.

Co-financing rule: the maximum rate of EC co-financing of the action total eligible costs is 90% for actors from developing countries and 75% for actors from the EU

Grant size: minimum Euro 20.000 and maximum Euro 1.000.000

Duration of the action: minimum 12 months and maximum 60 months

Indicative budget: Euro 14,3 million will be allocated to local authorities from the 2008 budget (out of which Euro 4,7 million is earmarked for ACP local authorities). In the case the merging of the two annual budgets is confirmed, this amount will be doubled and will total Euro 28,6 million.

Multi-country intervention (actions in at least 2 partner countries including the above mentioned eligible countries), which means all ACP countries are eligible to the multi-country intervention. Priority will be given to actions targeting Least Developed Countries. Associations of local authorities are eligible.

Priorities: Priority will be given to activities aiming at:

· improving the capacity of non-state actors and local authorities from the partner countries to engage in local, national and international decision making processes;

· improving international linkages and networking between non-state actors and local authorities from the European Community and from the partner countries;

· providing innovative service delivery and service delivery in difficult/out of reach environments;

· strengthening strategic partnerships, networks and cooperation between non-state actors and local authorities from the partner countries;

· facilitating interaction between state and son-state actors in different contexts and support an increased role for local authorities in decentralisation processes.

Expected results:

· increased number of trans-national exchanges, confidence building, networking and coordination activities between non state actors and local authorities (North-South or South-South);

· increase in local civil society and local authorities’ support for and involvement in global and regional development processes and dialogues and/or dissemination of best practices at global or regional level and replication at national or local level.

· Initiatives and projects with a supranational dimension may lead to an added value vis-à-vis the country programmes and to increased support of local populations and their involvement in regional integration processes.

Co-financing rule: the maximum rate of EC co-financing of the action total eligible costs is 90% for actors from developing countries and 75% for actors from the EU

Grant size: minimum Euro 500.000 and maximum Euro 4.000.000

Duration of the action: minimum 24 months and maximum 60 months

Where to get information?

NSA-LA Strategy Paper 2007-2010

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/worldwide/c...

Practical guide for contract procedures for EC external actions – See Chapter 6 - Grants

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/work/procedures/i...

Standard application form grant – See E3a and E3b

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/work/procedures/i...

EuropeAid website: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/tender/index_en.htm

The ACPLGP website and newsletters give regular information on the NSA-LA thematic programme: www.acplgp.net

According to the evaluation of the 2007 call for proposals, very few local authorities from developing countries, including the ACP, succeeded in getting their project funded. Lack of time for preparation might be one of the reasons. The above information will help those interested to already prepare their project in order to be ready for the next call for proposals which will be launched around late 2008-early 2009.

ACP local government are highly advised to develop partnership with those ACP/EU NSA-LA and development cooperation agencies that have experience in EC call for proposals procedures.

Should you need any further information please contact us at platform@acplgp.net

21/11/2008