About

This competition is announced within the framework of the Council of Europe project "Strengthening multi-level governance, democracy and human rights at the local level in Ukraine", which is implemented by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (hereinafter - the Congress) within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine "Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction" 2023-2026.

The purpose of the project “Strengthening multi-level governance, democracy, and human rights at local level in Ukraine” is to strengthen the dialogue, partnership and consultation between different levels of government; enhance collaborative governance and citizen participation in line with the principles of local democracy and open government; promote and guarantee the right to equality and non-discrimination at local level, for the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.

The project contributes to strengthening local democracy and multi-level governance, accompanying new processes to meet the ambitions of Ukraine, and support the country on the path to European Union integration. The methodology encompasses peer-to-peer exchanges, including with members of the Congress, sharing of knowledge, know-how and practices across Europe, as well as expert and financial support. Through this call for local initiatives, local authorities are provided with direct support in the design and implementation of mechanisms/models of democratic innovations in order to bring meaningful change to local residents and communities.

Objective

• The objective of this call of proposals is to support local initiatives developed by Ukrainian municipalities to introduce or further develop open government and innovative practices of residents’ engagement and to promote a human rights-based approach at local level.

Funding Information

• The indicative available budget under this call for proposals is 200 000 EUR (two-hundred thousand Euros).

• The Council of Europe intends to award 10 grants of a maximum amount of 20 000 EUR (twenty thousand Euros) each.

Implementation period

• The implementation period of the projects should start on 1 December 2023 and shall not extend beyond 30 August 2024.

Target Stakeholders

• Projects should target in particular the following key stakeholders:

  • local and regional authorities;

  • residents (with a particular focus on IDPs, youth, women and minorities);

  • civil society organisations.

• The above list is not exhaustive and local initiatives may propose additional relevant stakeholders that would benefit from the grant outcome, while keeping in mind the general objective of the Project.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Applicants shall be excluded from the grant award procedure where they or, in the case of legal persons, their owner(s) or executive officer(s):

  • have been sentenced by final judgment on one or more of the following charges: participation in a criminal organisation, corruption, fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, terrorist offences or offences linked to terrorist activities, child labour or trafficking in human beings;

  • are in a situation of bankruptcy, liquidation, termination of activity, insolvency or arrangement with creditors or any like situation arising from a procedure of the same kind, or are subject to a procedure of the same kind;

  • have received a judgement with res judicata force, finding an offence that affects their professional integrity or constitutes a serious professional misconduct;

  • do not comply with their obligations as regards payment of social security contributions, taxes and dues, according to the statutory provisions of the country where they are established;

  • are an entity created to circumvent tax, social or other legal obligations (empty shell company), have ever created or are in the process of creation of such an entity;

  • have been involved in mismanagement of the Council of Europe funds or public funds.

Eligibility

• In order to be eligible for a grant, an applicant must:

  • be a local self-government body in Ukraine;

  • should a local authority partner with a NGO, the latter must be legally eligible to carry out the activities indicated in the proposed local initiative;

  • have sufficient operational, human resources and professional capacities, including gender-balanced staff and the involvement of under-represented groups of population, to carry out the activities described in the proposed project;

  • declare that the activity is not part of another project and that it is not financed nor supported by any other organisation.

• Multiple applications are not allowed and shall lead to the exclusion of all applications concerned. All documents shall be submitted in English failure to do so will result in the exclusion of the tender.

Post Date: October 10, 2023