Background information
The EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021 represent funding from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to reduce economic and social disparities and strengthen cooperation with 15 EU countries in Northern, Central and Southern Europe. For the period 2014-2021, a total contribution of €2.8 billion has been agreed.
As described in article 3.2.b of Protocol 38c of the EEA agreement, funding shall be earmarked for support to civil society organisations in each of the 15 beneficiary states.
Programme allocation and objective
In Bulgaria, the allocation to the Active Citizens Fund (the civil society programme) is EUR 15 500 000 (see Memorandum of Understanding).
The objective of the Civil Society Programme Area is: ‘Civil society and active citizenship strengthened and vulnerable groups empowered’. The Active Citizens Fund 2014-2021 in Bulgaria shall seek to develop the long-term sustainability and capacity of the civil society sector, with the aim of strengthening its role in promoting democratic participation, active citizenship and human rights. More information on the objectives, principles, thematic areas of support and design of the programmes can be found in the Terms of Reference (see link below).
Submission of bid
The Fund Operator will be responsible for the development and implementation the Active Citizens Fund in Bulgaria.
The Terms of Reference, Bid form and annexes are provided in the links below.
The deadline for submission of bids is 20 March 2017 at 12:00 (noon) CET.
An online information session (webinar) for potential applicants was held on 9 February providing information about the tendering and selection process in Bulgaria. Organisations interested in applying for the role of Fund Operator in Bulgaria had been welcomed to register their participation prior to the webinar through this webpage.
The webinar presentation can be accessed here. Please note that the session did only provide information about the Terms of Reference. No information on funding for projects will be available until after the Fund Operator has been contracted.
All questions posed and answers provided during the session can be found in the Questions and Answers document.
Any questions should be addressed to acfund@efta.int. Please specify the country and organisation name in the subject line of your email (see section 6.4 of the Terms of Reference for further information on submission of and responses to questions).
Bid documents:
Annex C: Template Programme Implementation Agreement
Annex D: Suggested Outcomes and Outcome Indicators for the Active Citizens Fund
Annex E: Manual for Fund Operators of the Active Citizens Fund
Annex F: Reference documents, provided for bidder's information (see Terms of Reference)
Keep an eye on the website for updates on the EEA Grants Active Citizens Funds 2014-2021.