Under the EEA and Norway Grants 2009-2014, €11.8 million has been allocated to the programme by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
Bulgaria’s NGO Programme puts particular emphasis on horizontal concerns such as combating discrimination, racism and xenophobia, homophobia, anti-Semitism, intolerance, hate speech, hate crimes, and gender-based violence. It is expected that supported projects will actively contribute to promoting and enhancing tolerance, anti-discrimination, respect of human rights and rights of minorities (ethnic, religious, sexual), and multicultural understanding.
The programme has a special focus on improving the situation of minorities in Bulgaria, especially the Roma and children and young people at risk.
Eligible applicants are NGOs established in Bulgaria. Strengthening bilateral relations between the donor states, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and Bulgaria is one of the main priorities of the NGO Programme in Bulgaria, and projects may be implemented in partnership with project partners from the donor countries. A special database is set up to facilitate contact.
This open call supports projects in four thematic areas:
- Democracy, human rights and good governance;
- Social inclusion and empowerment of vulnerable groups;
- Sustainable development and protection of the environment;
- Capacity-building for non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
By 2016, three open calls will be launched. The Open Society Institute – Sofia (OSI-S) is the programme operator in partnership with the Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation (WCIF).
The first open call will allocate over €3.7 million to projects in Bulgaria. The deadline for submission of proposals is 1 April 2013. Applicants intending to develop and submit a project proposal in partnership with an organisation from a donor state may apply for seed money. The funds cover a restricted range of expenses directly related to the development of a joint project proposal. The deadline for submission of applications under this measure is 18 February 2013.
More information on the open call can be found here.
Photo credit: Balkani Wildlife Association.