Open Call: Thematic Programme on Human Rights and Democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Deadline: 25-Apr-23

The European Commission (EC) is accepting proposals for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms; democracy; and the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Objectives

• To protect human rights and fight discrimination (Lot 1)
• To protect and promote human rights and democracy by supporting the new technologies and engaging with the business sector (Lot 2)
• To support accountable institutions, engaged citizens and supporting a safe and enabling environment for civil society and independent media (Lot 3)

Priorities

• The priorities of this call for proposals per each lot are:
  • Lot 1: Protecting human rights and fighting discrimination
    • To facilitate implementation and enforcement of public human rights-related policies and improve their effectiveness in terms of transparency, inclusiveness, equal opportunities and accessibility, reach, service quality, environmental protection and gender-responsiveness.
    • To advocate for the elimination, prevention and protection from sexual and gender-based violence, including harmful norms and practices such as child, early and forced marriage, and discrimination. Encourage the swift ratification and implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention).
    • To advance towards equality, inclusion and respect for those persons in vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalized situations – women and girls, children and youth, LGBTI persons, persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, persons with disabilities and migrants, refugees, internally displaced and stateless persons.
  • Lot 2: Protection and promotion of human rights and democracy by supporting the new technologies and engaging with the business sector
    • To make public participation easier and more effective by increasing access to public services, facilitating the documentation of violations and abuses, and supporting online activism, anti-corruption measures and best practices on corporate social responsibility, due diligence, accountability and access to remedies in a participative manner.
    • Enhance business engagement in decent job creation, sustainable development and related advocacy work along the supply chain.
    • Enhanced implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
    • Develop tools and training material on business and human rights, responsible business conduct, private/public-sector dialogue and human rights diligence.
  • Lot 3: Supporting accountable institutions, engaged citizens and supporting a safe and enabling environment for civil society and independent media
    • To enhance democratic, accountable and transparent institutions.
    • To improve public trust in representative democracy.
    • To promote responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making.
    • Supporting independent and pluralistic media, access to information and the fight against disinformation.
    • Effective protection of – and support to – journalists, bloggers and other media workers.
    • Reinforcing a human rights and participative approach to conflict prevention and crisis resolution.

Funding Information

• Lot 1
  • minimum amount: EUR 150,000
  • maximum amount: EUR 225,000
• Lot 2 and Lot 3
  • minimum amount: EUR 100,000
  • maximum amount: EUR 150,000

Eligibility Criteria

Lead applicant

• In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:
  • be a legal person and
  • be non-profit-making and
  • be a civil society organisation  active in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with particular attention on those organisations that represent marginalised or vulnerable people   and
  • be established in  Bosnia and Herzegovina or a Member State of the European Union and
  • 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.

Co-applicant(s)

• If the applicant is established (see footnote 15) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it must act with at least one co-applicant, with no restrictions concerning co-applicant(s)’s place of establishment.
• 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 itself.
• 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 himself.

For more information, visit EC.