Granturi și Finanțări

   I. Introduction 

EU4Accountability - Empowered Civil Society for Increased Social Accountability in Moldova is a 30-months project implemented by a consortium of three organisations: European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), ALDA - European Association for Local Democracy and the Czech non-governmental organisation People in Need. It is financed by the European Union. 

EU4Accountability seeks to empower Moldovan civil society organisations’ (CSOs) to better perform their role as actors of governance to improve social accountability of the local and central government of Moldova. It does so by strengthening the capacity of more than 60 grassroot organisations from 10 districts to participate in, monitor and advocate for greater public accountability and to take part in policy dialogue with the Local Public Authorities (LPAs) and the central government. 

Through a series of capacity development activities, joint monitoring, advocacy actions, and networking workshops, civil society and public authorities will be empowered to co-design local public policies in the wide social sphere through consultations throughout the budget cycle. A learning-by-doing approach will allow the capacitated CSOs to establish meaningful local partnerships and alliances with LPAs that will result in change-making coalitions to close the accountability gap and respond to the needs of communities.

One of the key aims of EU4Accountability is to raise the capacities of local actors to better serve their communities by contributing to the budgetary process and local public policies, notably social policies, in a participatory and inclusive approach. To achieve that, a series of capacity building activities will be organised throughout the project for both local authorities and CSOs representatives from the following 10 districts: Cahul, Comrat, Cimișlia, Fălești, Florești, Glodeni, Rîșcani, Strășeni, Ștefan Vodă, Telenești. 

The training will be destined to selected CSOs in the field of organisational development and social accountability, and to LPAs in the field of social accountability and engagement with civil society. Currently, an ongoing needs assessment takes a deep dive into the needs of the CSOs and will provide insights on the types of thematic areas which could be included in the training sessions. The capacity development support provided by the grantees awarded under this call for proposals will further enable local CSOs to develop their own project in the field of social accountability, participatory budget and policy making, in cooperation with the LPAs from the target districts. It is indeed necessary to strengthen the capacities of selected CSOs in targeted districts if they are to play a more active role as actors of governance at the local level. Post-training coaching and more tailored support will also be provided to beneficiary CSOs. In addition, LPAs’ know-how on participatory budgeting process, citizen engagement, social accountability, as well as collaboration between PLA and local communities needs to be strengthened in order to capacitate the “supply side” of accountability. Training delivery by local CSOs will contribute to convey the message that CSOs are competent and knowledgeable on policy issues and can be allies rather than antagonists in the promotion of public accountability.

To carry out this capacity building component, 4 capacity development oriented CSOs with experience in the field of participatory democracy will be selected through an open competition.

      II. Objectives of the Call

The aim of this call for proposals is to engage with four (4) organisations that would contribute to achieve the capacity development objectives of EU4Accountability. To do so, we are launching a call for proposals split in two lots. Two grants are planned to be awarded under each lot.

• Lot 1:  To provide organisational and technical capacity development support to grassroots CSOs

• Lot 2:  To support LPAs capacity to deliver on social accountability and collaborate meaningfully with civic society

Successful applicants will be expected to work closely together to harmonise and deliver high-quality training to about 120 members of CSOs and 120 members from LPAs from the 10 target districts. Under each lot, the successful applicants will be responsible for training CSOs or LPAs in 5 districts . 

Lot 1: Providing organisational and technical capacity development support to grassroots CSOs
Overall objective: To strengthen the capacity and competencies of grassroots CSOs’ to participate, monitor and advocate for greater public accountability with a focus on budget related social accountability mechanisms.
Specific objective: To provide tailor-made capacity development to grassroot CSOs focusing on their organisational development and on social accountability mechanisms. 

Expected outputs:

• Train 60 representatives of 30 grassroots CSOs  in the field of organisational development by organising training in 5 districts of the Republic of Moldova, with about 12 participants each (60 in total):
  • In the field of organisational capacity development: Develop and implement training courses on key organisational development-related skills mastered by Consortium implementing partners – such as (i) Fundraising, (ii) Project Cycle Management, (iii) Financial Management and (iv) Monitoring & Evaluation – ad-hoc thematic areas will be identified through the findings of the CSOs Capacity Needs Assessment, and
  • In the field of social accountability: Develop and implement training courses on Social Accountability Mechanisms and Public Budgeting, Policy Cycle and Policy Development, Communication and Policy Advocacy, and other ad-hoc training areas identified later through the findings of the CSOs Capacity Needs Assessment.

• Develop and participate in the dissemination of relevant educational materials on organisational capacity development and social accountability, developed for the purpose of the training. 

• Provide ad-hoc support to the CSOs trained during the workshops throughout the project during the implementation of their activities (estimated to last till May 2024) and participate in policy dialogue activities when applicable. 

Eligible types of activities: Desk research, capacity development workshops and seminars, technical advising to CSOs, organisation of sessions, development and dissemination of educational materials on the topic of the call, organisation of training, seminar, workshops, roundtables, ad-hoc support to CSOs.  The final list of topics for capacity development activities will be decided in a friendly manner by the project team and selected grants beneficiaries, approximately in September 2022, targeting all 60 CSOs included in EU4Accountability initiative.. 

Budget available under this lot: Overall amount: EUR 54.800. Maximum amount per grant: EUR 27.400. 

Lot 2: Supporting LPAs capacity to deliver on social accountability and collaborate meaningfully with civic society
Overall objective: To support the development of budget related social accountability mechanisms in 10 districts of Moldova.
Specific objective: To improve the capacities of Local Public Administrations (LPAs) in social accountability and to promote CSOs-LPAs alliances for change.

Expected outputs:

• Organise and deliver a five 3-day workshops for about 120 representatives (24 per district) of Local Public Authorities (mayors, local councillors, LPA staff) and local CSOs representatives from the target districts in the field of social accountability:
  • Develop and implement training courses on (i) Participatory democracy and local governance (notions, challenges and objectives), (ii) Participatory democracy and social receptiveness – shared governance management, (iii) Participatory budget and social accountability, other ad-hoc training areas will be identified and added based on consultations to be held with LPAs when devising the training methodology as well as on the findings of the CSOs capacity needs assessment;
  • Develop the content and the methodology of the different sessions of the workshop, addressing and consulting local authorities to better understand their needs but also providing the unique perspective of CSOs on the subjects covered;
  • Organise five 3-day workshops for about 120 representatives (24 per district) of LPA (mayors, local councillors, LPA staff) and local CSOs representatives from above mentioned 5 districts in the field of participatory democracy, social receptiveness, shared governance management, participatory budget and social accountability;
  • Provide participants with both theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in the mentioned fields;
  • Strengthen the collaboration between LPA and local communities in order to capacitate the “supply side” of accountability and promote the collaboration with CSOs in local policymaking and convey the message that CSOs are competent and knowledgeable on policy issues and can be allies rather than antagonists in the promotion of public accountability.

• Develop and participate in the dissemination of relevant educational materials on social accountability to the destination of LPAs, developed for the purpose of the training, under the form of a manual for meaningful engagement on social accountability. 

• Provide ad-hoc support to LPAs and CSOs throughout the project during the implementation of their activities (estimated to last till May 2024) as to support their cooperation in policy dialogue activities when applicable. 

Eligible types of activities: Desk research, capacity development workshops and seminars, technical advising to LPAs, organisation of sessions, development and dissemination of educational materials on the topic of the call, organisation of training, seminar, workshops, roundtables, ad-hoc support to CSOs and LPAs.  

Budget allocation under this lot: Overall amount: EUR 55.320. Maximum amount per grant: EUR 27.660. 

Additional information (both lots)

Technical expertise and engagement in the project. A part of the budget proposal can be earmarked to provide technical expertise to CSOs throughout the action,  as well as to provide expertise to the project within the framework of policy dialogue. A maximum of 20 days can be added to the proposal to address these two potential needs.

Ineligible activities. The following types of activities are ineligible: a) actions concerned only or mainly with individual sponsorships for participation in workshops, seminars, conferences, congresses; b) actions concerned only or mainly with individual scholarships for studies or training courses; c) actions supporting political parties or candidates in elections; d) retroactive financing for projects already in implementation or completed; e) projects for the exclusive benefit of individuals or restricted groups of individuals. Environmentally harmful projects will also not be financed.

Type of support received. Although the successful applicants will be able to apply their methodology, they will be coached by People in Need and ALDA in relation to mainstreaming key topical issues in the content of the training, notably in relation participatory budget making, institutional engagement with LPAs, and impact of public policy to vulnerable groups. 

Types of costs. Eligible types of costs include, but are not limited to:  Staff costs and expert fees; Travel and subsistence costs;  Costs of consumables and equipment; Accomodation; Costs of service & supply contract. Ineligible costs include: VAT costs, Debts and service charges; Provisions for losses, debts or potential future liabilities; Purchases of land or buildings; Currency exchange losses.

Location. Activities should be implemented in the Republic of Moldova. The geographical distribution per district will be decided before the signature of the grant agreement.

Added-value elements. The integration of the following objectives within the proposal will be considered as added-value elements, and will add relevance to the application:

• Inclusion of youth in local governance processes;

• To integrate gender mainstreaming as an approach to bridge the gender inequality gap in political and social participation and the specific challenges related to the participation of the most vulnerable groups, including PwDs and refugees;

• To mainstream environmental considerations in the content and delivery of the training;

• To promote institutional improvements, transparency, openness to collaboration, and joint actions through the policy, process and partnership lenses.

• To foresee sustained engagement with the project after the training is delivered. 

           III. Financial allocations and Grant Conditions 
For Lot 1: Increasing grassroot CSOs organisational and technical capacity development

• Overall amount: EUR 54.800
• Maximum amount per grant: EUR 27.400

For Lot 2: Supporting LPAs capacity to deliver on social accountability and collaborate meaningfully with civic society

• Overall amount: EUR 55.320
• Maximum amount per grant: EUR 27.660

It is expected that 2 grants per lot will be awarded. Prospective applicants can apply to both lots, however, only one grant per organisation will be awarded under this call. In case an organisation is applying for both lots, it should fill in and provide a distinct application per each lot. 

Budget proposals should be net of VAT costs. VAT costs are not eligible under this grant since the EU4Accountability is exempted from VAT and underlying supporting documentation in that regard will be offered to selected beneficiaries. Administrative and institutional costs should not exceed 30% of the total budget. The training should be implemented in the period from September – December 2022. After the training, the selected organisations will be involved in a one-year coaching process to CSOs and LPAs through ad-hoc support during the implementation of their projects.

The content of the contractual project document, i.e. the implementation plan and budget will be negotiated with People in Need and ALDA before the signature of the grant agreement as to ensure complementary between the four grants awarded under this call.

      IV. Evaluation criteria

Administrative criteria
All applications will undergo an administrative check that establishes whether the information required by the online application form has been provided. Applications will be assessed through the administrative compliance criteria. The applying organisan(s) must:

• be an NGO registered in Moldova, independent of local, regional and central government, political parties and religious institutions;
• be active or have a robust network of contacts able to access some of the targeted districts of the project: Cimislia, Straseni, Stefan Voda, Telenesti, Floresti, Cahul, Comrat/Gagauzia, Glodeni, Riscani, and Falesti; and familiar with Moldovan civil society environment and realities, especially at regional and local levels;
• possess knowledge and practical experience in the field of local public budget, local development, cooperation between CSOs and LPAs, civil society engagement at regional and local level etc, and experience in organising complex capacity building exercises with both civil society and public servants (at least 3 years of relevant experience);
• provide the application form and the budget form filled. The budget form should be within the budget ceiling applicable for each lot.
• be able to sign a grant agreement with ALDA or People in Need;
• The organisation must not be bankrupt or being wound up nor having its affairs administered by the courts;
• not have received an adverse audit opinion, either by its own auditors or its donors’ auditors;
• have policies in place and/or practices in place to guarantee the ethical management of personal identifiable information;
• not have been the subject of a judgement for fraud, corruption, involvement in a criminal organisation or any other illegal activity.

Technical criteria
The applications will be assessed against the criteria listed below: 

    V. Application procedure

Application package
The application should be sent by email and includes:

• Annex 1: The Application form duly filled and signed (MANDATORY)
• Annex 2: The Budget proposal duly filled (MANDATORY)
• Additional information considered relevant (e.g. CVs of engaged experts, reports of similar implemented projects…) (OPTIONAL)

Deadline for submission and modalities
All the applications under this grant competition should be sent by August 19, 2022 to eu4accountability@epd.eu with the subject line: 

• For Lot 1: “Application Lot 1: Providing organisational and technical capacity development support to grassroots CSOs”  - NAME OF THE APPLICANT”
• For Lot 2: “Application Lot 2: Supporting LPAs capacity to deliver on social accountability and collaborate meaningfully with civic society” - NAME OF THE APPLICANT”

All the questions related to this call shall be submitted by email to eu4accountability@epd.eu with the subject: “Question on the call: Civil society-led capacity development” at least 3 days before the deadline.

Indicative timeline

This call for proposals has been made possible with the assistance of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the project’s implementing organisations  and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.