Grants will be available for the projects within five thematic areas. The projects can be related to more than one thematic area, however for the application dominant theme must be selected. In case of activities, where the main target group is children and youth, theme (5) – Children and youth – should be selected.

(1) Civic participation – engagement of citizens in public life, increasing participation in public policy and decision making on issues that are relevant at a local and national level.

Supported activities:

a) Involving citizens/community members in various forms of public consultations and in influencing decision-making processes on issues which have a direct impact on them (spatial planning, budgeting, etc.); using available techniques and instruments of participatory democracy (e.g. public consultations, referendums) and deliberative democracy (e.g. deliberative polling or citizens’ jury)

b) Influencing public policies development on local or national level (e.g. social, cultural, education, climate policies); creating a public debate forum to present and share opinion and agree positions.

c) Advocating a wider access to public information, improving exchange of information and opinions between citizens and government/public administration; acquisition and dissemination of information on the operations of elected officials to assist citizens in monitoring and reviewing the actions and decisions of authorities; promote an informed participation in elections.

d) Supporting the establishment and proactive approach of ancillary bodies in local government and of civic dialogue institutions (village councils, estate councils, neighbourhood councils, public benefit councils, consultation boards).

Priority will be given to initiatives that engaged citizens/community members and authorities in cooperation and lead to adopting and implementing solutions based on consensus.

(2) Public scrutiny – improvement of good governance, transparency and citizens trust in public institutions.

Supported activities:

a) Scrutinising various aspects of central, regional and local administration’s operations, public funds and agencies, judiciary, institutions subsidized from public funds (e.g. universities and non-governmental organisations and other institutions wherever their policy has a significant impact on public interest); undertaking activities aimed to eliminate bad practice.

b) Monitoring law making processes (at national and local level) and the consequences of the implementation and practice of the legislation.

c) Examining and reviewing the quality and accessibility of public services (community audit in areas such as education, healthcare, banking and insurance, others); consumer rights protection and enforcement initiatives.

d) Initiatives to prevent and combat corruption, nepotism and other irregularities (in public, private and non-government sectors); disclosing information about irregularities and protection of institutions and individuals against negative consequences of such disclosure; promotion of transparency and good governance.

Priority will be given to initiatives that focus on a specific (important from the point of view of public interest) aspect of operation of government institutions and institutions of public trust, and seek to make a significant difference in the way they operate.

(3) Combating discrimination – promotion and protection of human rights, fighting homophobia, racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and all types of discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and gender.

Supported activities:

a) Monitoring and documenting the scale and manifestations of xenophobia, homophobia, racism, anti-Semitism, discrimination in the public sphere and in daily life (hate speech, physical aggression towards member of other minority groups); dissemination of information on acts of intolerance and discrimination.

b) Preventing discriminatory legislation and discriminatory practices in public and daily life, interventions and enforcement of rights of people discriminated, activities aimed to prosecute and penalize hate crime perpetrators, perpetrators of sexual and domestic violence.

c) Developing solutions to problems or preventing conflicts in specific communities (e.g. in communities with concentration of national and ethnic minorities, refugees, economic migrants, places frequently visited by foreigners or places where acts of aggression and intolerance are on the rise).

d) Initiatives and campaigns designed to influence public opinion, mobilize people to response to manifestations of xenophobia, homophobia, racism, anti-Semitism, discrimination and promoting attitudes of tolerance and respect for others.

Priority will be given to activities which tackle the problems of intolerance and discrimination in a systemic way as well as to activities undertaken outside of Warsaw. Additionally, initiatives which combat the hate speech will have preference.

(4) Counteracting exclusion – extending the scope and forms of support provided to the vulnerable groups at risk of social exclusion and engagement of these groups in the decision making processes.

Supported activities:

a) Conducting community-based activities as well as activities supporting the development of self-help and self-organisations groups of people at risk of exclusion.

b) Promoting voluntary work in the sphere of social care; training volunteers and creating volunteering opportunities in the area of providing services and assistance to e.g. elderly, disabled or ill people.

c) Advocating for the improvement of services (e.g. the quality and accessibility of services, as well as access to information about the services offered).

d) Counselling and support for vulnerable groups (mainly individuals with disabilities and/or mental disorders and their families, single carer of dependent, individuals with HIV/AIDS, victims of human trafficking, victims of rape, women and elderly people experiencing domestic violence) where such services are not provided by central, regional or local government or where provision is inadequate, especially on rural areas and smaller towns.

Priority will be given to initiatives involving community work and the one in which people at risk of social exclusion are involved in decisions making about necessary forms and methods of assistance.

(5) Children and youth – education of children and young people on human rights and civic participation, fighting against discrimination, exclusion and marginalisation of children and youth.

Supported activities:

a) Initiatives involving children and youth in active participation in public life, promoting volunteering and student self-government and encouraging young people to undertake initiatives for the benefit of local communities and others

b) Initiatives which facilitate developing practical skills in the area of civic rights (including legal education), consumer rights (including financial education), informed and critical use of modern technologies and media.

c) Activities designed to raising awareness of xenophobia, homophobia, racism, anti-Semitism, discrimination, violence; learning other cultures, engaging in cultural and interfaith dialogue, shaping attitudes of tolerance and respect for others and different.

d) Initiatives that are designed to improve lives of children and youth at risk (children and young people with physical and/or mental disability, juveniles placed in special education institutions or in youth detention centres, children experiencing domestic violence, children of refugees or living in disadvantaged communities e.g. in rural areas or degraded urban communities).

Priorytetowo będą traktowane działania, które dają dzieciom i młodzieży możliwość praktycznego działania, wykorzystania nabytej wiedzy i umiejętności oraz angażują młodzież w procesy decyzyjne w ramach realizowanych projektów. Ponadto, priorytetowo traktowane będą działania służące zwalczaniu mowy nienawiści.

Priority will be given to initiatives offering children and young people practical opportunities to act and implement their skills and knowledge and ones that engage young people in decision making within the framework of the projects. Additionally, initiatives aiming at engaging young people to combat hate speech will have preference.

CAPACITY BUILDING

All organisations applying for grants within thematic or systemic areas will have the right to allocate part of the grant amount to strengthening their institutional capacity, building sustainable foundations for future operations, developing long terms operational and financial plans, building systems for continuous improvement of work and management standards, including:

• engaging in a process to develop a strategy, an evaluation, institutional (and/or financial) audit, clients’ needs assessments etc. to improve the quality of operations and management of the organisation,
• improving the team’s skills, recruiting volunteers, building a membership base,
• engaging in advocacy, public consultations, dialogue bodies, coalitions and other activities which involve increased fixed costs (e.g. remuneration for the responsible individual, consulting fees, travel expenses etc.) and are crucial for organisation’s ability to meet its goals and objectives,
• reviewing the track record and/or developing new operational methods,
• planning and implementing coherent and specific promotional activities and/or fund-raising campaigns, including the 1 per cent tax campaign,
• purchase of new equipment and/or small repairs in the office, subject to a strong case regarding compliance with working conditions or improving the quality of or expanding the operation.

Priority will be given to initiatives designed to solve a selected specific problem which is a barrier to the organisation’s development.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Grants are available to non-governmental organisations, particularly foundations and associations, which:

• are legal entities registered in the relevant National Court Register,
• have a non‐commercial purpose,
• are independent of local, regional and central government, public entities, commercial entities and political parties; are not religious institutions,
• pursue public interest and abide by the principles of democratic values and human rights.

Applicants shall meet the following requirements:

• activities presented in their applicants must be in line with the Applicant’s mission (statute),
• no bankruptcy filing has been made against the Applicant, the Applicant is not in liquidation or subject to administrative receivership, has not suspended its operations nor is subject to any similar process,
• the Applicant is not in arrears with any public liabilities to the Tax Authorities or Social Insurance Institution (ZUS),
• none of the individuals authorised to represent the organisation has a criminal record for fraud.

Organisations may apply for grants individually or as leaders of partnerships with other entities.

One organisation, whether individually or as a leader of a partnership, may file only one application in one grant contest. Moreover, it may be a partner in one project application filed by another organisation. If an organisation is not filing an application individually or as a leader of a partnership with other entities it may be a partner in two project applications filed by other organisations.

PARTNERS

Partnerships may be formed with: non-governmental organisations or other public or private, commercial or non-commercial entities or informal groups in Poland, other 14 EEA/Norway grants Beneficiary States (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain), Donor States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) or states outside the European Economic Area which border on Poland (Belarus, Ukraine, Russia) or with intergovernmental organisations.

Partners should actively participate in project development and implementation, contribute their knowledge and experience and their involvement should assist a more effective accomplishment of planned outcomes.

The engagement of project partners must be of a non-profit nature and their contribution to project development and implementation must be confirmed by a written commitment outlining the role and responsibilities of each partner (partnership agreement).

In every call for proposal one can be a partner only in two applications.

GRANT AMOUNTS

The amount of grant varies depending on whether the project is implemented individually by one organisation or in partnership with other entities.

• EUR 12,500 – 62,500 for organisations which implement projects individually,
• EUR 12,500 – 87,500 for organisations implementing projects in partnership with other Polish or foreign entities.

CO-FINANCING REQUIREMENTS

Minimum 10% of total project costs, including a financial contribution of minimum 50 per cent and an in-kind contribution as voluntary work of maximum 50 per cent of matching funds.

DURATION OF PROJECTS

The duration of thematic projects in not restricted provided that they are completed by April 30, 2016. The timing of projects should be in line with the nature of project and capacity building activities. Project implementation should start no later than 3 months after the grant has been awarded.

GRANTS DESIGNATION

The following expenditures may be covered:

• direct project expenses,
• direct expenses related to capacity building of the project promoter – max. 20 per cent of direct expenses,
• indirect expenses (overheads) – max. 20 per cent of direct expenses.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS

There will be two stages for submission of applications. First organisations will submit project outlines; and next shortlisted organisations will submit full project proposals.

Project outlines and full project proposals will be submitted only through the Electronic Application System accessible from the Programme’ website www.ngofund.org.pl

While submitting project outlines, no additional documents will be required.

While submitting full project proposal, applicants who plan to implement the project with other entities will be required to submit a partnership agreement indicating partner’s role and responsibilities in the project. Statements in PDF format, signed by a person authorized to represent the partner, must be submitted together with the application through the Electronic Application System.