Portuguese NGO programme popular

When calls under the NGO programme in Portugal closed recently, requests for funding were seven times higher than the amount available.

Portugal's NGO Fund is financed by the Grants

Under the EEA and Norway Grants 2009-14, €5.8 million have been allocated to support the development of civil society in Portugal.

The first call for proposals, which closed 1 July, will distribute € 3.67 million. The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the operator of the programme, received 363 applications requesting for a total of € 25.5 million, far more than what is available under this call. The large number of applicants confirms the Portuguese NGOs interest in the programme.

The programme support projects in three priority areas:
• Participation of NGOs in the implementation of public policy design and instruments at the local, regional and national levels;
• Active role in human rights, minorities and anti‐discrimination;
• Effectiveness of NGO action.

The next call is expected in 2014.

Combating tolerance and violence
Among the applicants, great interest were also shown for projects focusing on tolerance and multicultural understanding, combating hate speech, violence against women and racism and xenophobia.

Priorities in Portugal
In the coming years, €57.95 million are allocated through the Grants to finance programmes in Portugal. The key areas of support include:
- improving public health services and reducing inequalities in access to health care
- strengthening civil society
- improving management and protection of marine and natural resources
- reducing vulnerability to climate change

The first calls for project applications in Portugal under the current EEA Grants funding period was under the NGO programme.
Find out more about other programmes: www.eeagrants.org/portugal