The second competition for strategic projects is organized within the Active Citizens Fund (Active Citizens Fund) Bulgaria under the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area space (EEA) 2014-2021.

The general objectives of the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 are contributing to the reduction of economic and social disparities in Europe economic space and strengthening bilateral relations between countries donors - Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and the beneficiary countries, one of which is Bulgaria.

Thematic Priorities

Under the second call for strategic projects, project proposals can be submitted to six thematic priorities:

• Improving democratic culture and civic awareness.
• Support for human rights.
• Empowerment of vulnerable groups.
• Increasing the contribution of civil society organizations to gender equality and prevention of gender-based violence.
• Increasing the commitment of citizens to environmental protection and climate change.
• Improving the capacity and sustainability of the civil sector, including civil society organizations.

Funding Information

• The competition for strategic projects will support projects of civil society organizations (non-profit legal entities - non-profit organizations) with duration from 12 to 34 months 3 and amount of the grant from 10 001 to 200 000 euros in six thematic priorities.
• Indicative budget of the second competition for strategic projects:
  • Improving democratic culture and civic awareness: € 1,325,900
  • Support for human rights: € 1,093,120
  • Empowerment of vulnerable groups: € 815,000
  • Increasing the contribution of civil society organizations to gender equality and prevention of gender-based violence: € 549,650
  • Increasing the commitment of citizens to environmental protection and climate change: € 421,530
  • Improving the capacity and sustainability of the civil sector, including civil society organizations: € 566,080
• The total indicative budget available for grants for strategic projects under the competition is 4,771,280 euros.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible candidates for the second competition for strategic projects are civil organizations / non-governmental organizations 22 , registered in Bulgaria as legal entities non-profit (NPO) under the Law on Non-Profit Legal Entities, designated for public benefit activities 23 (including community centers, registered under the Non-Profit Legal Entities Act and the Bulgarian Red Cross).
• Eligible applicants must also meet the following requirements:
  • not be associations of economic entities or organizations established on professional principle, the aims and activities of which are aimed at the protection of the specific interests of their members, founders or members of bodies;
  • not dependent by local, regional or central government and from other state and public bodies and institutions;
  • not to be dependent on political parties and traders within the meaning of the Commercial law;
  • to respect the principles of democracy and respect for human rights.
• Political parties, religious institutions, social partners 25 and cooperatives do not are eligible candidates under the Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria.

For more information, visit Active Citizens Fund.