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You are here: Home / Europe / Open Estonia Foundation Launched first open call for proposals of the NGO Fund

Open Estonia Foundation Launched first open call for proposals of the NGO Fund

Deadline- November 25, 2012

Countries/Region- Estonia

Open Estonia Foundation is now accepting proposals for NGO Fund for which NGOs are invited to participate in the call for projects focusing on two outcomes-

  • Democratic values, including human rights promoted
  • Advocacy and watchdog role developed
  • Strengthened capacity of NGOs and an enabling environment for the sector promoted

“NGO sector in Estonia has been waiting for the day of opening the calls of the NGO Fund and project ideas for increasing social capital and empowering civic activism in Estonian society have already been discussed in networks,” stated Maris Jõgeva, coordinator of the NGO Fund.

NGO Fund is a programme area within the EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway earmarked to foster an enabling environment for the sector, strengthen its capacity and enhance its contribution to social justice, democracy and sustainable development. Fund Operator of the NGO Fund in Estonia is Open Estonia Foundation and the total budget of the programme is 2,3 mil euros. NGO Fund in Estonia was launched in June, 2012.

NGO Fund is a specific Programme area within the EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, earmarked to provide flexible and accessible funding to eligible NGOs, with the aim to foster an enabling environment for the sector, strengthen its capacity and enhance its contribution to social justice, democracy and sustainable development. NGO Fund in Estonia is established with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Donor states and the Republic of Estonia. Fund Operator for the programme is Open Estonia Foundation (OEF).  During the programming period  2012 – 2016 altogether 5 open calls are organised for supporting projects of public benefit NGOs in the amount of 1,910,000 EUR.

Eligible are projects which focus on-

  • Bringing new knowledge, skills and people in civil society (involving volunteers, inter-sector partnerships, etc)
  • Initiatives for strengthening governance in membership NGOs;
  • Activities for raising financial capacity of NGOs – incl. Social entrepreneurship, fundraising, etc;
  • Mutual learning and dissemination (incl. mentorship programmes, sharing of learning about good practice)
  • Training activities for raising professional skills of NGOs, especially in service provision.
  • Favored are projects which improve involvement and capacity of national minority NGOs.

Size of grants and duration of projects-

  • Small capacity building projects- 
  1. minimum grant 5000 EUR and maximum grant 7500 EUR;
  2. Duration up to nine months.
  • Large-scale projects-
  1. Minimum grant 25 000 EUR  and maximum grant 40 000 EUR;
  2. Duration up to  18 months;
  • Network projects-
  1. Minimum grant 75 000 EUR and  maximum grant 100 000 EUR;
  2. Duration up to 24 months.

Additional criteria– Network project has to be proposed and implemented by a coalition of NGOs, with participation as partners. It should suggest diverse solutions and its activities cover different regions of the country, involving smaller NGOs and grass-root level. Projects involving a partner from donor states are favored.

Eligibility-

  • Eligible applicants are non-governmental public benefit organisations (associations and foundations) established as a legal entity in Estonia,  following the following principles:
  1. are independent of local, regional and central government, public entities, political parties and commercial organisations.
  2. have a non-commercial purpose and have not been created nor operate to generate personal profit, and do not pursue commercial or professional interests of its members.
  3. are established as civic initiative and voluntarily by groups or individuals and involve an element of voluntary participation
  4. act in the public arena and for the public good
  5. are transparent in its activities, decisions and structures and accountable to its members and donors
  • Projects of trade and professional associations,  religious institutions and  political parties are not eligible.
  • Social enterprises, foundations, faith-based organisations and the national Red Cross societies are considered eligible  as long as they fulfill the above principles.
  • Applicant for a grant of a large-scale or network project should have an at least one-year experience of acting as a public benefit NGO.
  • Otherwise eligible NGO does not have the right for funding in case it is in bankruptcy, or the management of an organisation is convicted for an offence connected with violation of rules, or in case it has not performed the liability of paying taxes.
  • NGO Fund supports NGOs which follow the code of ethics.

How to Apply?

  • Application is submitted on the form of NGO Fund in Estonian. The following attachments are added to the application-
  1. detailed budget;
  2. guarantee letters for co-financing;
  3. partnership agreements, if relevant;
  4. CV of the project leader as well as other relevant people involved in the project.
  • Applications are submitted in one copy electronically or in paper. Electronically submitted applications have to be digitally signed by authorized person and these should be sent on an e-mail address provided in website. Applications in paper are sent in one copy to the address of OEF: Estonia pst. 5a, Tallinn 10143. If an application is sent via post, the date on the post stamp is considered as the time of submission.
  • Applications submitted in time are registered, delayed applications are not looked through. Registration is confirmed with an e-mail sent to the applicant.

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