Patrizia Brandellero, Senior Sector Officer - Civil Society, FMO Oslo, 1 September 2011

1. Patrizia Brandellero, Senior Sector Officer - Civil Society, FMO Oslo, 1 September 2011 EEA funding to NGOs and bilateral cooperation with Norwegian civil society

2. Reducing disparitiesStrengthening relations New impetus 09-14 in support to civil society

3. NGO Funds – critical support 3 Social justiceDemocratic processesHuman rights, anti-discriminationEmpowerment of vulnerable groupsStrengthened capacity AdvocacyAwareness raising Engagement and participationLocal impactKey servicesCoalition building

4. 2009-14: What’s new for NGOs? • Increased size of support – up to 140M€ • Focus NGO Programmes on strategic processes that are results-based and lead to change and sustainability: institutional strengthening, networking, policy and strategy development, advocacy and watchdog activities, increasing civic participation • Address key areas of concern (human rights, democratic processes, social inclusion…)

5. NGO Programmes 2009-14 – strategic framework Objective Strengthened civil society development and enhanced contribution to social justice, democracy and sustainable development Applicants Non-profit voluntary organisation established as a legal entity, having a non-commercial purpose, independent of local, regional and central government, public entities, political parties and commercial organisations. Religious institutions and political parties are not considered NGOs

6. NGO Programmes 2009-14 – Expected outcomes • Active citizenship fostered • Increased involvement of NGOs in policy and decision-making processes with local, regional and national governments • Cross-sectoral partnerships developed, particularly with government organisations at local, regional and national level • Democratic values, including human rights, promoted • Advocacy and watchdog role developed • Developed networks and coalitions of NGOs working in partnership • Strengthened capacity of NGOs and an enabling environment for the sector promoted • Increased contribution to sustainable development achieved • Provision of welfare and basic services to defined target groups increased • Empowerment of vulnerable groups

7. NGO Programmes 2009-14 – Areas of support Core areas (at least one third of support) • Democracy • Human rights including minorities rights (ethnic, religious, linguistic and sexual orientation) • Good governance and transparency • Participatory democracy • Combat racism and xenophobia • Anti-discrimination • Social inequalities, poverty and exclusion, including in rural areas • Gender equality and Gender-based violence Additional eligible areas and activities • Environmental protection and climate change • Provision of welfare and basic services At least 10% for children and youth-driven organisations and or activities

8. NGO Programmes 2009-14 – Suggested activities • Fostering active citizenship and participatory democracy, including grassroot/local level • Advocacy, watchdog and monitoring activities • Awareness raising activities • Multicultural dialogue activities • Participation in policy and decision-making processes • Capacity-building and organisational support to NGOs • Strengthening governance in membership-based NGOs • Network and coalition building • Mutual learning and dissemination • Education and training activities • Cultural initiatives to promote key areas

9. New Set up 2009-14 Management • Programme Operator (PO) autonomous of government, have links to and strengthen the capacity of the sector • Possible for FMO or for the FP to contract PO • Consortium an option Rules and modalities – Guideline • Up to 90% grants for projects, in-kind up to 50% of co-financing • Complementary actions (at Programme level for exchanges with donor and other Beneficiary states) • Proportionality in management and reporting • Advance payment system

10. NGO 2009-14 Bilateral relations • Contribute to objective and outcomes • Mutual benefit • Strategic exchanges developed at Programme level • Facilitation in contact building Funding available: • Funds for outreach/networking Programme Operator • Funds for bilateral exchange for: • Seed money to develop partnership projects • Know-how exchange with partners/contacts Partners can also be from BS, or bordering country outside the EEA

11. Getting involved… Projects: • Strengthening individual/sectoral contacts • Developing existing contacts within networks • Innovative ideas/projects, new partnerships Programmes: • Contributing to Programme level exchanges, events, capacity-building (ex. advocacy, organisational development, fund-raising…)

12. State of play €86M agreed in 8 countries to date Amount(M€) Focus EE: 2.3 multiculturalism, minorities, children/youth, cap.build. LV: 10.36 multiculturalism, minorities, children/youth, capacity LT: 5.5 gender and domestic violence, cooperation with Belarus BG: 11.79 good governance, discrimination and exclusion, Roma SI: 1.87 cross sectoral partnerships, children/youth, Roma CZ: 9.8 democracy, Roma, environment, climate change SK: 6.9 children/youth, Roma PL: 37 tbd

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