Norwegian support to Civil Society in the Western Balkans

Calls for applications for the management of the funds will be announced and agreements signed with strategic partners during spring 2011. Information regarding the call for proposals will be published on regjeringen.no and the Web-sites of the Royal Norwegian Embassies in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kosovo.

Country specific projects and programmes in Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro, as well as regional initiatives,  may be applied for directly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, please refer the general call for proposals (coming soon).

Purpose of the funds
The purpose of the funds is to strengthen the participation and contribution of civil society to social development in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kosovo through advocacy work and monitoring of political and public institutions’ performance. Organisations supported by the funds will promote the rights and inclusion of marginalised groups. The funds will therefore contribute to increased empowerment and participation by the target groups.

The funds will furthermore contribute to strengthen the capacity and competence of civil society organisations to conduct advocacy work and fulfil their role as watchdogs of public priorities, performance and reform. Moreover, the funds increase the capability of civil society organisation to handle local challenges without foreign donor support. The funds will therefore include capacity building tailored to the needs of the specific partner.

Thematic areas of support
The funds will support projects:

• where Norway support has a particular added value; such as equity issues, women’s rights, including combating gender based violence; peace and reconciliation; ethnic and sexual minority rights.
• where civil society plays an important role in country specific reform processes of Norwegian priority, e.g. security sector and justice sector reform, and audit institutions.

The country specific priorities will be described in the country specific call for project applications.

Eligibility

Management of the fund
Locally registered organisations, foundations and consultancy companies may apply for the management of the funds. Furthermore, regional, international and multinational, governmental and non-governmental organisations, foundations and consultancy companies that can document thorough local capacity and competence may also apply.

Project support
Local non-governmental organisations and foundations are the main targeted group for the funds. Locally registered Norwegian and foreign organisations are also eligible. The funds will not give these organisations priority. Norwegian and foreign applicants will have to prove their added value in relation to the purpose and aims of the fund, in line with other applicants. Norwegian/foreign organisations may also participate as partners of locally registered organisations.

Further information regarding management and governance structure will be made available when the calls for proposals for the management of the funds are made.