Funds for Non-governmental Organisations

Programme Summary

Why is the programme needed? The current economic crisis has led to cuts in state funding that adversely affect civil society. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in particular are suffering from these financial constraints and struggling to develop their capacity, enhance their advocacy role, and improve the provision of much-needed services. At the same time, social concerns, such as unemployment and social exclusion, remain high on the agenda with a particularly acute situation in respect to the Roma population. What will the programme achieve? The programme aims to achieve a more resilient and developed civil society in Hungary. In order to be able to defend the most vulnerable groups in society and to contribute to sustainable and democratic development, the programme will focus on seven priority areas: - Human rights and democracy; - Gender and equal opportunities; - Local community and organisational development; - Children and youth; - Environment and sustainable development; - Empowerment of vulnerable groups (Roma integration); - Basic and welfare services. The programme will address horizontal concerns such as: hate speech, extremism, racism and xenophobia, homophobia, anti-Semitism, tolerance/multicultural understanding, Roma, sexual harassment, violence against women and trafficking. How will it be achieved? Within the above seven priority areas the NGO programme seeks to support micro, medium and macro projects through for example: • Capacity-building to bolster the NGOs’ advocacy and watchdog roles as well as their ability to work in community development; • Awareness raising and advocacy for human rights, democracy, gender equality, vulnerable groups and environment; • Promoting active citizenship, especially among youth; • Advocating for accessible welfare and basic services and combating social inequalities, poverty and exclusion, including in rural areas. Support shall be provided through four rounds of open calls. Issues related to children/youth and gender equality shall receive at least 11% of the funding. Promoting the rights of the Roma population through supporting capacity building is also a key focus area of the Programme. How will bilateral relations be strengthened? Some 2.16% of the eligible expenditure is set aside as a fund to facilitate bilateral relations. The programme aims at strengthening links and cooperation, sharing and transferring of good practices, new ideas and alternatives for solving problems within the society between the NGO sector in Hungary and in the donor countries in the seven priority areas, among others through supporting internships in the donor states. What are the partnership opportunities? The programme will contribute to strengthening cooperation with the donor states, Council of Europe and other beneficiary states. The programme expects to achieve 20 project partnership agreements. Projects with donor state partners may apply for a 10% increase in the grant amount to cover additional costs related to joint activities. The fund operator will work with the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) to facilitate establishing bilateral contacts. Who can apply for funding under this programme? Eligible applicants are NGOs established in Hungary which fall within the following definition: “A 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.”