Deadline: 19 November 2019

The European Commission is seeking proposals from eligible organisations for a program entitled “Support for Policy Reform Civil Society Cooperation in the field of Youth”.

Aims and Objectives

The objective of the present Call is to provide structural support, referred to as operating grants, to European non-governmental organisations (ENGOs) and EU-wide networks active in the field of youth and pursuing the following general aims:

• Raise awareness of the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027 including the European Youth Goals.
• Develop, promote and support actions to engage, connect and empower youth in the spirit of the EU Youth Strategy.
• Increase awareness and youth participation in EU actions for young people, including Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps and Discover EU.
• Increase commitment and cooperation of youth civil society actors with public authorities for the implementation of policies in areas relevant for young people.
• Boost youth stakeholder participation, including by building upon the potential of digital communication alongside other forms of participation.
• Boost youth civil society involvement in the dissemination of policy and programme actions including results and good practices among their membership and beyond.

These aims should be clearly embedded in the work plans, activities and deliverables of the applicant organisations.

Furthermore, the organisations active in the field of youth that will be supported under this Call are expected to carry out activities that aim to:

• Contribute to the realisation of the European Youth Goals as attached to the EU Youth Strategy.
• Adhere to the guiding principles set for the EU Youth Strategy and in this regard promote the following:
  • Equality and non-discrimination, by combating all forms of discrimination and promoting action to encourage young people’s fair and equal access to opportunities and facilitate their transition to adulthood, including in civic life, at school or in the world of work.
  • Inclusion, catering for the diverse needs of young people and especially those with fewer opportunities or whose voices may be overlooked.
  • Participation of all young people in democratic and civic life in Europe; by meaningful action to involve young people and youth organisations at European, national, regional or local level in the development, implementation and follow-up of policy issues; promoting debate and actions to make young people’s voices better heard in society; and encouraging them to vote in elections.
  • Global, European, national, regional and local dimension, ensuring European activities reach and impact young people at grassroots level and connect to global issues of concern to young people.
• Foster the development of competences and skills through non-formal and informal learning, youth organisations and youth work; promote digital literacy, intercultural learning, critical thinking, the respect of diversity, and the values of solidarity, equal opportunities and human rights among young people in Europe.
• Contribute to relevant EU policy initiatives beyond youth policy affecting young people in areas such as citizenship, education, culture, sport, employment or social inclusion.

All the above activities should contribute to widening the outreach towards young people to ensure a diversity of voices, reach young people within and beyond youth organisations and youth with fewer opportunities, thereby using a variety of traditional and digital channels.

Budget Available                                

The total budget allocated in the budget year 2020 for the present Call is EUR 500 000.

Eligible Applicants

• This Call is open to two categories of bodies:
  • Category 1: European non-governmental organisations (ENGO) in the field of youth;
  • Category 2: EU-wide networks in the field of youth.
• An organisation may submit only one application, either for category 1 or for category 2.
• To be eligible, applicants must be:
  • non-governmental;
  • not-for profit-making.
• Neither Erasmus+ National Agencies nor organisations having overwhelmingly Erasmus+ National Agencies as members (2/3 or more) are eligible organisations under this Call.
• Natural persons are not eligible.
• Only applications that fulfil the eligibility criteria will be considered for a grant. If an application is deemed ineligible, a letter indicating the reasons will be sent to the applicant.
• Please refer to the detailed definitions of the two categories of eligible applicants provided under each category.
• In the context of civil society cooperation in the field of youth, the following definitions apply:
  • Category 1: A European non-governmental organisation (ENGO) must:
    • Operate through a formally recognised structure, composed of a) European body/secretariat (the applicant) legally established for at least one year in a eligible country on the date of submission of the application and b) national organisations/branches in at least twelve eligible countries having a statutory link with the European body/secretariat;
    • Be active in the field of youth and run activities that support the implementation of the core areas of the EU Youth Strategy;
    • Involve young people in the management and governance of the organisation.
  • Category 2: An EU-wide network (informal network) must:
    • Be composed of legally autonomous non-profit organisations active in the field of youth and running activities that support the implementation of the core areas of the EU Youth Strategy;
    • Operate through an informal governance setting, composed of a) an organisation legally established for at least one year on the date of submission of the application in a eligible country with functions of coordination of and support to the network at European level (the Applicant); and b) other organisations established in at least twelve eligible countries;
    • Involve young people in the management and governance of the network.
  • In order to justify the links between the different organisations involved in the informal network a memorandum of understanding signed between all organisations involved must be sent.
• Affiliated entities
  • Entities affiliated to the applicants are not eligible to receive funding under this Call for proposals.

Eligible Countries

Applications from legal entities established in one of the following countries are eligible:

• EU Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom;
  • For British applicants: Please be aware that eligibility criteria must be complied with for the entire duration of the grant. If the United Kingdom withdraws from the EU during the grant period without concluding an agreement with the EU ensuring in particular that British applicants continue to be eligible, applicants will cease to receive EU funding (while continuing, where possible, to participate) or be required to leave the project on the basis of the General Conditions of the grant agreement.
• The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries which form part of the European Economic Area (EEA): Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway;
• Candidate countries for which a pre-accession strategy has been established, in accordance with the general principles and general terms and conditions laid down in the framework agreements concluded with those countries with a view to their participation in EU Programmes: North Macedonia, Republic of Serbia and Turkey.

Activities

The applicant bodies must present a consistent work plan integrating non-profit making, youth-led activities which are suitable for pursuing the objectives of the Call.

Notably:

• Non-formal and informal learning and activity programmes targeted at young people and youth workers;
• Activities for the development of quality, innovation and recognition of youth work;
• Activities for the development and promotion of validation and recognition and transparency tools in the field of youth;
• Seminars, meetings, workshops, consultations, debates of young people on youth policies and/or European matters;
• Consultations of young people feeding into the EU Youth Dialogue;
• Activities for the promotion of young people’s active participation in democratic life, such as promoting inclusion in decision-making, youth representation, promoting new and alternative forms of participation or the development of civic competences;
• Activities for the promotion of solidarity activities amongst young people in Europe;
• Activities for the promotion of solidarity, tolerance and intercultural learning and understanding in Europe;
• Media and communication activities and tools on youth and European matters.

As a transversal principle, applicant bodies should pursue strategies to connect to young people at grassroots level from a diversity of backgrounds with a view to ensuring a growing number of young people at the grassroots level are being reached.

How to Apply

Interested applicants must apply online via the given website.

For more information, please visit https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus/funding/support-for-policy-reform-civil-society-cooperation-in-the-field-of-youth-2019_en