Launched by the Financial Mechanism Office - the secretariat of the EEA and Norway Grants - the purpose of the tender is to provide an independent mid-term evaluation of the contribution of the Grants to the NGO sector in the beneficiary countries with NGO Programmes. Programmes are in the early to mid-term phase of their implementation period.
Key priority
Support to civil society is one of the key priorities of the EEA and Norway Grants. In the 2009-2014 funding period over €150 million has been set aside to support NGO programmes in all 15* beneficiary countries: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
The aim of the NGO programmes is to strengthen the development of civil society and enhance its contribution to social justice, democracy and sustainable development. Strengthening bilateral relations between NGOs in the donor (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and beneficiary countries is also important, with partnerships between organisations in the donor and beneficiary countries encouraged. The Norwegian Helsinki Committee facilitates contact and cooperation between NGOs in the 15 beneficiary countries and Norway.
NGOs are also eligible for funding under many of the other thematic EEA and Norway Grants programmes, such as gender equality, environmental protection and climate change, health, children and youth. This makes the Grants one of the prime funding schemes for civil society in Central and Southern Europe.
*Croatia became eligible for funding following its accession to the EU/EEA in 2013 and will also receive support from the Grants; however it will not be included in this Evaluation.
More information
You can find more detailed information in the Tender Instructions and Terms of Reference.
Should you have any further questions, please contact Ms Trine Eriksen by email: ter@efta.int or phone: +32 2 211 18 15.
- Deadline for submission of bids is 7 April 2014 at 12 (noon).
- Contract period: April to November 2014.
- Read more about our support to Civil Society