Deadline: 10 March 2020

The European Union (EU) is currently accepting proposals from eligible organizations for its “Thematic programme for civil society organisations (CSO) and Human Rights in Ecuador”.

The overall objective of this call for proposals to hide the strengthening of the internal capacities of civil society organizations in Ecuador, for their full and free management and impact on the public, especially considering the violent manifestations of the month of October 2019. Thus as in the promotion, protection, protection of Human Rights and the consolidation of democracy. Finally, the promotion of the SDGs, the protection of ecosystems and water sources through Civil Society initiatives.

Program Lots

• LOT 1 – EIDHR: Guardianship, defense and promotion of Human Rights
  • The overall objective of this lot is to support the development of initiatives that promote the defense, promotion and guarantee of Human Rights stipulated in the Universal Declaration and in the conventions that Ecuador has signed. Paying special attention to the needs and challenges faced by the least served sectors of society.
  • The specific objectives, priorities of LOT 1, are:
    • Promote human rights, working to end discrimination and violence against women, children, ethnic minorities, LGTBI people, people with any type of disability, people in a state of human mobility and other vulnerable groups.
    • Guarantee the defense of defenders of human rights and nature, who are in situations of greater vulnerability, and who carry out fundamental work to make visible situations of social injustice, combat impunity and promote democratic processes.
• LOT 2 – OSC-AL: Elimination and mitigation of the causes of inequality
  • The overall objective of this lot is to support the development of proactive and operational actions and capacities of Ecuadorian civil society organizations, with emphasis on women’s associations, which contribute to the reduction of inequality (SDG 10).
  • The specific objectives, priorities of LOT 2, are:
    • Enhance and promote the protection of water sources and water management (SDG 6); improve the efficient production and consumption of resources (SDG 8) at the community level with the aim of protecting the most vulnerable people and territories with higher poverty rates than the national average.
    • Improve the protection of terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15), through measures to reduce the loss of natural habitats and biodiversity, and support food security.
  • For the fulfillment of this objective, it is mandatory that the gender approach be present and well integrated into the proposals. Those proposals that are presented in consortium among the following 3 categories of actors will be prioritized without being mandatory:
    • Non-Governmental Organization + National and / or Local Authority (GAD) + University / Research Centers.
• LOT 3 – OSC-AL: Participation in the national dialogue process to strengthen peace and democracy
  • The overall objective of this lot is to promote multisectoral dialogues and generate consensus for the resolution of the great challenges of the country, developing an enabling environment and a responsible, transparent and active impact on public management.
  • The specific objectives, priorities of LOT 3, are:
    • Promote the exercise of citizen participation in the process of national dialogue (between the central government, the indigenous movement and other social organizations such as labor unions and unions) and/or in the 2021 electoral process in order to consolidate peace and democracy (SDG 16).
    • Support participatory and sustainable initiatives to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all people, regardless of their age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or situation Economic or other condition.
  • For the fulfillment of this objective, it is mandatory that the gender approach be present and well integrated into the proposals. Those proposals that are presented in consortium among the following 3 categories of actors will be prioritized, without being mandatory:
    • Non-Governmental Organization + National and/or local Authority (GAD) + University/Research Centers.

Size of Grants

The grants requested within this Call for Proposals will be included between the following minimum and maximum amounts:

• LOT 1: Guardianship, defense and promotion of Human Rights:
  • Minimum amount: 300,000 EUR
  • Maximum amount: 475,000 EUR
• LOT 2: Elimination and mitigation of the causes of inequality:
  • Minimum amount: 420,000 EUR
  • Maximum amount: 845,000 EUR
• LOT 3: Participation in the national dialogue process to strengthen peace and democracy:
  • Minimum amount: 400,000 EUR
  • Maximum amount: 800,000 EUR

Eligibility Criteria

• Main applicant: In order to qualify for a grant, the principal applicant must:
  • For LOT 1:
    • be a legal entity
    • not be for profit
    • belong to one of the following categories: civil society organization (CSO); OSC network, platform or other coalition
    • In this lot, no nationality restrictions apply to the main applicant and his co-applicant (s); In the case of applicants from countries other than Ecuador, they must also duly comply with the rules of operation in the country, prior to the presentation of the proposal
    • Having obtained the legal status of the competent authority prior to the presentation of the proposal
    • be directly responsible, with their co-applicants and affiliated entities, for the preparation and management of the action, and not simply limit themselves to acting as an intermediary
  • For LOT 2 and LOT 3:
    • be a legal entity
    • not be for profit
    • be a civil society organization (CSO) or a network, platform or other type of CSO coalition
    • be established in Ecuador, or a member state of the European Union, or in the European Economic Area. For the attention of applicants in the United Kingdom: Please note that it is necessary that the criteria to qualify for subsidies are met at all times during the grant agreement. In the event that the United Kingdom withdraws from the Union during the grant period without an agreement having been allowed to allow UK applicants to continue benefiting from the grants, you will stop receiving funding from the Union (although they will continue to participate in the project whenever possible) or they will be forced to abandon the project in accordance with Article 12.2 of the general conditions of the grant agreement; In the case of applicants from countries other than Ecuador, they must also duly comply with the rules of operation in the country, prior to the presentation of the proposal
    • be directly responsible, with its co-applicant (s) and affiliated entity (s), for the preparation and management of the action and not simply limit itself to acting as an intermediary
• Co-Applicant (s)
  • In the event that the applicant has a nationality other than Ecuadorian, it is mandatory to submit an application jointly with – at least – 1 Ecuadorian co-applicant.
  • The co-applicants will participate in the design and execution of the action, and the costs incurred will be eligible in the same manner as those incurred by the principal applicant.
  • Co-applicants must meet the eligibility criteria applicable to the principal applicant himself.
• Affiliated Entity (s)
  • The principal applicant and its co-applicant (s) may act with affiliated entities.
  • Only the following entities may be considered entities affiliated with the principal applicant or the co-applicant (s):
    • Only entities that have a structural link with the applicants (that is, the principal applicant or a co-applicant), especially if the link is legal or capital.
    • This structural link mainly covers two aspects:
      • Control, as defined in Directive 2013/34 / EU on annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and other related reports of certain types of companies:
        • Thus, entities affiliated with an applicant may be:
          • Entities controlled directly or indirectly by the applicant (subsidiaries or first level subsidiaries) They can also be entities controlled by an entity controlled in turn by the applicant (second level subsidiaries), and the same applies to the following levels of control.
          • Entities that directly or indirectly control the applicants (parent companies). They may also be entities that control an entity that in turn controls the applicant.
          • Entities under the same direct or indirect control as the applicant (associated companies).
      • The accession, that is, the applicant is legally defined as, for example, network, federation or association in which the proposed affiliated entities also participate, or participates in the same entity (for example, network, federation or association, … ) than the proposed affiliated entities.

For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2ZiGBP6 and download the guidelines.