About

The European Commission has launched the call for proposals to empower persons with disabilities in The Gambia by promoting their inclusion, accessibility of public spaces, and socio-economic participation.

Objectives of the Programme and Priority Issues

• The specific objective(s) of this call for proposals are: 

  • To enhance the rights and socio-economic participation of persons with disabilities in The Gambia. 

  • To improve accessibility and inclusion in public spaces, education, employment, and social activities for persons with disabilities. 

  • To raise awareness about the rights, capabilities, and contributions of persons with disabilities, combating stigma and discrimination. 

• The priorities of this call for proposals are: 

  • Education and Skills Development 

  • Economic Empowerment 

  • Awareness and Advocacy 

• The Call for Proposals is organized into two lots tailored to address the specific needs of persons with disabilities at different stages of life. Lot 1 targets adults, aiming to empower them through vocational training, accessibility improvements, entrepreneurship support, and healthcare initiatives. Lot 2 focuses on children, emphasizing inclusive education, early intervention services, assistive technology provision, and recreational activities. This structure ensures targeted interventions to promote independence, inclusion, and well-being across the lifespan of persons with disabilities in The Gambia.

  • Lot 1: Adults with Disabilities 

    • Vocational Training and Employability: activities under this category could involve collaborating with vocational training centres or establishing specialized training programs tailored to the needs and abilities of adults with disabilities. These programs may offer skills development in various fields such as IT, carpentry, tailoring, or agricultural practices, enabling participants to acquire marketable skills and access gainful employment opportunities. Collaborations with local businesses and industries that can facilitate job placements and internships for program graduates. 

    • Accessibility of and Inclusion in Public Spaces: activities in this area could focus on conducting accessibility audits of public spaces, workplaces, and transportation and community facilities to identify barriers and implement necessary modifications. This may include installing ramps, handrails, accessible toilets, and tactile paving to improve physical accessibility. Additionally, awareness campaigns and training sessions to promote disability inclusion among employers, service providers, and the wider community. 

    • Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment: activities under this category could support the establishment of entrepreneurship programs specifically tailored to adults with disabilities. This may involve providing seed funding, mentorship, and business management training to aspiring entrepreneurs. Collaborations with microfinance institutions or business development agencies can facilitate access to capital and resources for starting and sustaining small businesses. Additionally, initiatives promoting disability friendly workplaces and market opportunities can be encouraged to foster economic empowerment and self-reliance. 

    • Assistive Devices and Technologies: Initiatives within this domain focus on acquiring and disseminating assistive devices, technologies, and adaptive equipment to adults facing disabilities. This encompasses resources such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, braille materials, and communication devices, enabling individuals to surmount obstacles and actively participate in daily activities.

    • Awareness and Advocacy: Initiatives focused on raising awareness about the rights, capabilities, and contributions of persons with disabilities, combating stigma and discrimination, and promoting a culture of inclusion and acceptance within communities. 

    • Under this lot, activities to support young people shall be evaluated positively. 

  • Lot 2: Children with Disabilities (up to lower Secondary Education) 

    • Inclusive Education Programs: Initiatives under this category could involve collaborating with mainstream schools to implement inclusive education policies and practices. This may include training teachers and school staff on inclusive teaching methodologies and providing assistive technologies to support the learning needs of children with disabilities. Additionally, establishing resource centers or support networks within schools can provide ongoing assistance and guidance to teachers, parents, and students.

    • Early Intervention and Therapy Services: Projects in this area could focus on establishing early intervention centres or mobile outreach teams to provide screening, assessment, and therapy services for children with disabilities and their families. This may include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and psychosocial support tailored to the individual needs of each child. Parent training activities and support groups can also be organized to empower families to actively participate in their child's development and wellbeing. 

    • Assistive Devices and Technologies: Proposals under this category could involve procuring and distributing assistive devices, technologies, and adaptive equipment to children with disabilities. This may include wheelchairs, hearing aids, braille materials, and communication devices, enabling children to overcome barriers and participate fully in daily activities. Additionally, initiatives focused on training caregivers and teachers on the proper use and maintenance of assistive devices can ensure their long-term effectiveness and sustainability. 

    • Recreational and Social Inclusion Activities: Initiatives aimed at promoting recreational and social inclusion opportunities could include organizing adapted sports programs, arts and crafts workshops, and cultural activities specifically designed to accommodate the needs of children with disabilities. This may involve collaborating with local community centres, sports clubs, and arts organizations to create inclusive spaces where children of all abilities can interact, learn, and have fun together. Additionally, awareness campaigns and advocacy efforts can be undertaken to promote acceptance, respect, and inclusion of children with disabilities within their communities.

  • In both Lot 1 and Lot 2, there will need to be a strong focus on promoting gender equality and addressing the unique challenges faced by women and girls with disabilities. Proposals for both lots are required to incorporate gender-sensitive approaches and outcomes, ensuring that interventions effectively address the intersecting issues encountered by individuals with disabilities across genders. The support and or involvement to women’s led initiatives/organisations will be considered positively. This approach ensures that not only targets the specific needs of women and girls with disabilities but also contributes to cultivating a more inclusive and gender-balanced society overall.

Funding Information

• The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 1,900,000. The contracting authority reserves the right not to award all available funds.

• Indicative allocation of funds by lot: 

  • Lot 1: EUR 950,000

  • Lot 2: EUR 950,000

• Size of grants 

  • Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts: 

    • minimum amount: EUR 475,000 

    • maximum amount: EUR 950,000

Duration 

• The initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than 24 months nor exceed 33 months.

Types of Activities

• Examples of types of activities may be financed under this call include but are not limited to: 

  • All types of capacity building activities including formal training, workshop, etc. 

  • Advocacy activities at community and district level e.g. round table meetings between CSO's and councillors, focus group discussions, community dialogues and forums, etc. 

  • Advocacy and media activities such as newsletters, journals, information platforms which present issues raised from rural areas at national level. 

  • Development of formal coordination mechanisms with national government of relevance to local issues. 

  • Activities that enhance employment opportunities, economic empowerment, access to finance, (project incubators, vocational training, coaching, internships, procurement of start-up kits) of people with disabilities; 

  • Small infrastructure activities aiming at promoting the accessibility of people with disabilities to public services.

Location 

• Actions must take place in The Gambia.

Eligibility

• Lead applicant (s) 

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

    • be a legal person and 

    • be non-profit-making and 

    • be a specific type of organisation such as: Civil Society Organisation and/or their associations 

    • be established in The Gambia or a Member State of the European Union or other eligible countries as stipulated in the NDICI-GE. and

    • be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the co-applicant(s) and affiliated entity(ies), not acting as an intermediary and and 

    • be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the co-applicant(s) and affiliated entity(ies), not acting as an intermediary.

• Co-applicant(s) 

  • Co-applicants participate in designing and implementing the action, and the costs they incur are eligible in the same way as those incurred by the lead applicant. 

  • Co-applicants must satisfy the eligibility criteria as applicable to the lead applicant himself. 

  • In addition to the categories referred, the following are however also eligible: Local authorities and Associations of Local Authorities, when duly justified for the benefits of CSOs and/or in achieving the objectives of the proposed action. 

  • Co-applicants must sign the mandate form.

• Affiliated entities 

  • The lead applicant and its co-applicant(s) may act with affiliated entity(ies). 

  • Only the following entities may be considered as affiliated entities to the lead applicant and/or to co-applicant(s): 

    • Only entities having a structural link with the applicants (i.e. the lead applicant or a co-applicant), in particular a legal or capital link. This structural link encompasses mainly two notions: 

      • Control on the annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings: 

        • Entities affiliated to an applicant may hence be: 

          • Entities directly or indirectly controlled by the applicant (daughter companies or first-tier subsidiaries). They may also be entities controlled by an entity controlled by the applicant (granddaughter companies or second-tier subsidiaries) and the same applies to further tiers of control; 

          • Entities directly or indirectly controlling the applicant (parent companies). Likewise, they may be entities controlling an entity controlling the applicant; 

          • Entities under the same direct or indirect control as the applicant (sister companies).

      • Membership, i.e. the applicant is legally defined as a e.g. network, federation, association in which the proposed affiliated entities also participate or the applicant participates in the same entity (e.g. network, federation, association,) as the proposed affiliated entities.

Post Date: May 13, 2024