European Union is seeking proposals from organisations for a country based support scheme (CBSS) with an aim to support civil society and human rights defenders in third countries in working on human rights (political, civil, economic, social and cultural), and democratization.

The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) new action plan aims to reinforce the implementation of the EU’s human rights and democracy policy with a special emphasis on strengthening ownership by local institutions, mechanisms and civil society actors, and to invigorate support to human rights defenders and democracy activists.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME AND PRIORITY ISSUES

The global objective of this call for proposals will aim to implement the objectives 1, 2 and 3 set out in the annex of the EIDHR Regulation 2014-2020 and will target local civil society.

Objective 1 supports human rights and human rights defenders in situations where they are most at risk. Objective 2 supports other EU human rights priorities, and objective 3 supports democracy.

FINANCIAL ALLOCATIONS

The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 1.800.000. The Contracting Authority reserves the right not to award all available funds. Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:

•    minimum amount: EUR 150.000
•    maximum amount: EUR 350.000

SECTORS OR THEMES

•    pursue common agendas for human rights and democratic reform;
•    build consensus on disputed or controversial areas of policy;
•    enhance political representation and participation;
•    enhance the inclusiveness and pluralism of civil society;
•    increase safety structures for human rights defenders and democracy activists;
•    counter the worrying trends of shrinking space for civil society;
•    support activities aimed at promoting the issues covered by EU Human Rights guidelines and in the EUs Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy;
•    enhance the fight against torture, ill-treatment, enforced disappearances and extra-judicial executions as priority focus areas;
•    enhance the rule of law and good governance.

TYPES OF ACTION

Examples of fields of intervention:
– support, protection and defence of human rights defenders and democracy activists;
– supporting gender equality (women’s rights, women in decision-making, right to participate in peace-building and reconstruction processes, fight against violence and harmful practices, etc.);
– supporting rights of persons belonging to minorities, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people and other vulnerable groups;
– supporting freedom of expression and freedom of religion or beliefs,
– support to civil society organisations’ actions and campaigns against the death penalty, against torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment;
– support for protection of the social, economic and cultural rights, especially for groups particularly vulnerable to discrimination, such as the poor, women, children, migrants, refugees and the rights of persons belonging to minorities.

Particular attention will be paid to support gender equality and gender oriented interventions are encouraged to be proposed under the diverse fields of intervention. For more information please visit http://archive.europa.ba/Brochures.aspx?id=124&cat=23&lang=EN  and consult publication titled “Gender country profile for Bosnia and Herzegovina”.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:

• be a legal person and
• be non-profit-making and
• belong to one of the following categories: civil society organisations, including non-governmental non-profit organisations and independent political foundations, community based organisations, and private sector non-profit agencies, institutions and organisations, and networks thereof at local, national, regional and international level; international and regional inter-governmental organisations;
• be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the co-applicant(s) and affiliated entity(ies), not acting as an intermediary.

Please note: No nationality restrictions apply to applicants, co-applicants and, if any, affiliated entities.

•    The lead applicant must act with co-applicant(s) as specified hereafter.

– The applicant established in Bosnia and Herzegovina must act with at least one (1) co-applicant, with no restrictions concerning co-applicant(s)’s nationality.

– If the applicant is not established in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it must act with at least two (2) co-applicants established in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Co-applicants participate in designing and implementing the action, and the costs they incur are eligible in the same way as those incurred by the lead applicant.

Co-applicants must satisfy the eligibility criteria as applicable to the lead applicant.

•    The lead applicant and its co-applicant(s) may act with affiliated entity(ies) that include:

• Entities directly or indirectly controlled by an applicant (daughter companies or first-tier subsidiaries). They may also be entities controlled by an entity controlled by an applicant (granddaughter companies or second-tier subsidiaries) and the same applies to further tiers of control;
• Entities directly or indirectly controlling the applicant (parent companies). Likewise, they may be entities controlling an entity controlling the applicant;
• Entities under the same direct or indirect control as the applicant (sister companies).

LOCATIONS

Actions must take place in the Bosnia and Herzegovina.

DURATION

The initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than 18 months nor exceed 36 months.

HOW TO APPLY

•    The application procedure consists of two phases: concept notes and full application.

•    In the first instance, only concept notes must be submitted for evaluation. Thereafter, lead applicants who have been pre-selected will be invited to submit a full application.

DEADLINE

The deadline for submission of proposals is 10th May 2016 at 17:00.

For more information, please visit Europeaid webpage and download the guidelines.