European Commission: Thematic Programme for CSOs in Liberia

The European Commission (EC) is pleased to announce a call for proposals that contributes to enhancing the democratic governance of Liberia by empowering and building the capacities of the Liberian Civil Society and the Media.

The specific objective is:

• Enhance freedom of expression and information by strengthening media professionalism and quality of information delivery while promoting human rights and democracy

• For this objective, the priorities are:

  • Reinforce the role and capacities of the media in the promotion of human rights and democracy

  • Reinforce the role and capacities of the media to cover, report and give voice to citizens on the accountability of public authorities and the implementation of their policy programmes

  • Support media networks and umbrella organisations

  • Strengthen journalists’ capacities in the use of digital media while countering mis/disinformation, fake news and hate speech

  • Support awareness and training activities to implement national and international codes of ethics and conduct to ensure that journalists and media members adhere to the highest ethical standards and professional integrity

• Support an enabling environment for the promotion of freedom of opinion, expression, and access to information in particular in their priority sectors

• Support investigative journalism, particularly in issues related their cooperation priorities;

  • Enhancing and preserving natural resources for sustainable growth,

  • Promoting decent jobs and inclusive growth and

  • Improving financial and democratic governance

• Establish and support a self-sustainable business model for media organisations

• Develop innovative approaches to journalism education

Focus Areas

• The current “Civil Society Organisations” thematic programme for the period of 2021-2027 focuses on:

  • contributing to an enabling environment for civil society

  • increased efforts for a more inclusive CSO participation in the dialogue on development policy and domestic policies in partner countries and

  • a comprehensive approach to capacity building to strengthen CSO partner capacities.

Funding Information

• The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 1.000.000

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

  • minimum amount: EUR 950.000

  • maximum amount: EUR 1.000.000

• Duration: The initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than 36 months nor exceed 48 months.

Added-Value Elements

• The following will be considered as added-value elements (and reflected in evaluation criterion 1.4 of the concept note):

  • The targeting of hard to reach, vulnerable and marginalised groups of society, in particular the youth, women and people with disabilities (PWD);

  • The formation of partnerships amongst CSOs and media, building on existing networks, supporting emerging networks, and encouraging the building of coalitions and the creation of platforms;

  • Definition of a baseline with a monitoring and evaluation mechanism (see evaluation grid);

  • Dissemination of knowledge, and use of evidence for advocacy and action.

  • Projects proposals should be based on local initiatives and genuine involvement of CSOs from Liberia should be ensured at all stages.

  • Non-Liberian CSOs acting as lead applicants should demonstrate their experience in the country and added value as well as show that their action responds to a local demand and to locally identified needs and includes support to local partners (e.g. through mentoring, peer support, joint advocacy and direct financial support).

Location: Actions must take place in Liberia.

• • e to the lead applicant himself.

  • Co-applicants must sign the mandate.

  • If awarded the grant contract, the co-applicant(s) (if any) will become beneficiary(ies) in the action (together with the coordinator)

• 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, as defined in Directive 2013/34/EU 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.