About

The European Union has launched applications for the small grant scheme to achieve CSOs empowerment and meaningfully engagement in the justice sector reforms in Armenia as effective, trusted and sustainable independent actors, in order to create a more accountable, transparent and international human rights-compliant justice system in Armenia.

Project proposals are invited under this announcement, with a particular emphasis on initiatives aimed at analyzing and enhancing public understanding of police reforms.

Proposals should focus on evaluating the proposed reforms, assessing their potential impact, and identifying ways to improve public awareness and perception of the changes envisioned in the strategy.

Organizations (or consortia) need to prove they have access to data necessary for monitoring or have a track record of obtaining reliable information based on monitoring and explain in detail how such information will be gathered.

Objectives

• The Consortium (NHC, PRI, SJ NGO, CSI NGO) seeks to provide a grant within the “JUREMONIA” project for CSOs active in criminal justice and Human Rights to conduct monitoring, reporting and advocacy activities. With the grant, the project supports extensive monitoring with on-site visits, international expert review, enhanced advocacy etc. One of the goals of monitoring initiated by CSOs should be the assessment of the impact of current police reforms on citizens and reviewing further development of police reforms reflected in the new draft document with public engagement. 

• In recent years, significant structural changes have occurred within the police system, including the establishment of the patrol service, the development of a concept for creating the police guard, and the drafting of a new strategic program for police reforms.

• Thus, the main objective of CSO projects should be to: 

  • Research and Review: Analyze the existing draft document to assess its content and implications.

  • Advocacy and Public Engagement: Develop advocacy materials to facilitate public understanding and involvement in the proposed reforms. 

  • Promotion of Partnerships: Encourage collaboration between stakeholders and promote active participation from the public. 

  • Impact Assessment: Evaluate how the proposed reforms may affect specific segments of the population.

Funding Information

• CSO’s will be supported up to the 15000 EUR maximum. Only one grant will be awarded. Co-financing or any kind of contribution is encouraged. 

• Proposed projects should be fulfilled before 30th of November 2025

Ineligible Costs 

• The following activities and expenditures are not eligible under this call: 

  • Infrastructure projects (constructing roads, bridges, buildings, etc) 

  • Purchase of land or property 

  • Political or religious activities 

  • Environmentally harmful projects 

  • Retrospective activities (costs related to activities implemented prior to signing the grant agreement)

• Eligible costs include all costs necessary to perform monitoring work including the reporting process, such as: staff salary costs or fees, travel costs, daily allowances, printing costs, publication costs and telephone, internet cost.

Eligibility

• This call for proposals is open to non-profit civil society organizations or consortia of non-profit civil society organizations with the status of a legal person, established in Armenia. Civil society organizations must be registered for at least three years. In addition, the applicant or in case of consortia, at least one (as usual, the lead organization) of the organizations should be a member of JUREMONIA Platform or successfully completed the CSO capacity building training course (in 26-30 September 2022) for monitoring justice sector reforms within the framework of the JUREMONIA Project. 

• In case of consortia, the main applicant will be responsible for the overall implementation of the action and reporting. 

• In case the applicant does not have a formalized relationship with governmental bodies that provides access to required data, the applicant needs to prove it has a track record of obtaining reliable information based on monitoring and explain in detail how such information will be gathered. 

• Public administration institutions, state agencies, local or regional authorities, political parties or organizations affiliated with political parties are not eligible for this call.

Post Date: February 14, 2025