Author: Agnieszka Pietrzak-Kirkiewicz

Active Citizens Days 2021 – Polish representation

They are going to take part in a series of online workshops over several months, culminating in a trip to Oslo (we’re keeping our fingers crossed to make it possible!), where they will meet human rights activists from the other 14 countries participating in the Active Citizens Fund Programme and Donor-States. The main organiser of the project is Fund Operator of the Active Citizens Fund in Romania and Norwegian Helsinki Committee. Recruitment for the project in Poland was conducted by Active Citizens Fund – National  and Active Citizens Fund – Regional.

Jan Marković, co-founder of the Subcarpathian Association for Active Families, an NGO which does a lot of good in the fields of civil rights, culture, and education. Psychologist, trainer, board game designer and children book author. Likes to learn about new things and to be surprised. Does not like cynicism. Is happy when kids ask him “Why?”.

Aleksandra Sidoruk, third-year student of international relations at the University of Lodz, specializing in the foreign policy of the United States and Latin America. Boardmember of the Gals4Gals Lodz, volunteer at the Regional Center for International Debate in Lodz, project coordinator at the Green REV Institute and member of the Green Party.

Filip Malejewski, father of three daughters, geographer. Human rights activist since 2015, currently treasurer in Refugees Szczecin Association and member of the board in westpomeranian branch of the Committee for the Defense of Democracy.

Barbara Biskup, doctor of education, anti-discrimination educator and WenDo trainer (self-defense and assertiveness for women). Shee works at the Regional Volunteer Center in Kielce, where she organizes discussion meetings and human rights actions (documentary film festival WATCH DOCS, happening One Billion Rising, Amnesty International Marathon of Writing Letters, Living Library, intercultural workshops) and coordinates European volunteering projects (European Solidarity Corps).

Monitoring and advocacy activities – meetings with international experts

On 16 February at 12.00 p.m. CET the following will talk about the not easy, but very educational experiences and proven solutions in their many years of advocacy work:

  • Oana Preda expert from Resource Center for Public Participation – CeRe and TamTam – an informal coalition fighting for citizens’ right to participate in decision-making processes in Romania
  • Tina Divjak from Centre for NGOs Slovenia (CNVOS) – expert on legislation for Slovenian social organisations and citizen participation in public policy-making

On 18 February at 12 p.m. CET, proven methods and latest trends in advocacy and monitoring to improve the health of the civil sector will be talked about:

  • Cezara Grama – expert on the rule of law, working with the Romanian think-tank Expert Forum
  • Guri Idsø Viken representing Frivillighet Norge/The Association of NGOs from Norway – policy advisor to a Norwegian organisation of other social organisations
  • Olivia Vereha from Code for Romania – an expert on new technologies to make life easier for social organisations working in the service of democracy

Both meetings will be held in English, recorded and – after adding Polish subtitles – published on our website and social media. If you are interested in taking part, please fill in the registration form.

Below are biographies of all invited persons (alphabetical order by first name):

Cezara Grama is a rule of law expert working with Expert Forum, a Romanian think-tank, since 2014 on issues of justice, transparency, rule of law and active citizenship. Since joining EFOR’s team she has played an active role in monitoring elections (2014-2019). She has been involved with EFOR’s School for Democracy Program since 2015, training and supporting teachers to engage their students and communities on issues of active citizenship and democracy. In recent years, she has been focusing on how to engage teachers and particularly students on the topic of civic education and active citizenship.

Guri Idsø Viken is a senior political adviser in The Association of NGOs in Norway (Frivillighet Norge), where she, among other things, is responsible for the involvement in Active Citizens Fund Romania. She has been working on politics and communication for the last 16 years, and is also a journalist and media commentator in several Norwegian newspapers and on radio. She lives in a small island in southern Norway and volunteers for several small and large NGOs within sports and culture.

Oana Preda has been part of the Romanian nongovernmental sector since 1996. She worked with Pro-Democracy Association, where got experienced in promoting democracy and public participation. After that, Oana worked for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) in Romania supporting NGOs in their advocacy efforts. In 2006, Oana Preda took part in the establishment of the Resource Center for Public Participation – CeRe, one of the most relevant NGOs in the area of activism and citizens participation. Currently, she is the Director of CeRe.Apart her professional activity, preoccupied by social justice, Oana is a civic activist fighting for many causes relevant for the Romanian society. CeRe’s mission is to contribute to a just and equitable society, where people stand together and their voices are central to the decision-making processes. CeRe works with citizens’ groups and NGOs to help them have a stronger voice. Currently, CeRe is facilitating the TamTam – NGOs group for citizens – an informal coalition which defends the civic space for participation.

Olivia Vereha – co-founder / Chief Operations Officer @ Code for Romania
Holding a background in communications and customer and user experience design, since 2016, Olivia Vereha is dedicating her entire time to managing the delivery flow for all Code for Romania projects. She is passionate about how technology can shape and improve our day to day lives and she is always willing to help in any way she can in building great digital tools for our society. Having a strong focus on usability and learning, her work focuses on user research, analysis and functionality and how all these translate in better digital services and solutions in the public space.

Tina Divjak is a head of advocacy at CNVOS. She has been working on different issues of NGO development since 2003. She has been focusing on enabling environment for NGOs – legislation, public funding, public participation in policy-making, transparency and accountability of NGOs. She has authored or co-authored several analyses, studies and manuals in Slovenia and abroad (Western Balkan and Eastern Partnership countries). She has worked as an expert for Council of Europe, Regional Cooperation Council, TACSO, different ministries, etc. From 2011 – 2020 she was a president of the Government Council for the development of NGOs. In 2018, she authored the study, commissioned by EESC, “The future evolution of civil society in the European Union by 2030”.

 

 

Call for sectoral projects concerning advocacy and monitoring activities

Grants are available for activities concerning monitoring of formulation of the law and the practice of enforcing the law and public policies affecting the operations of social organisations and civic movements, and advocacy for rights and interests to improve the conditions in which social organisations and civic movements operate. Projects can last between twelve and thirty months, and there is no required contribution.

Projects can be implemented by the Applicant acting alone or in cooperation with Partners based in Poland or elsewhere. Each organisation applying for a grant for a project will also be able to receive an additional grant for capacity building, namely for team-building, improving skills, raising funds for its activities, and improving management.

Applications must be submitted using the Online Application System.

The full text of the “Call for applications”, and “Applicant and Project Promoter Guide”, other documents concerning the call for projects, and information about scheduled online training sessions can be found HERE.

The decision on the grants awarded will be made by 31 May 2021.

 

Results of the call for sectoral projects

All Applicants have access to the assessment sheets of their applications through the Online Application System.

Organizations that have not received funding may apply for a grant in a second call for sectoral  projects, which will be announced this month and will be dedicated to projects concerning monitoring or advocacy activities.

More details and the results list are available HERE.

Bilateral and regional cooperation – online meetings

7.12 am from 12-13.30 pm on cooperation with Belarusian organisations and support for immigrants/teachers from Belarus (in Polish)

8.12 am 10-11.30 pm on deradicalisation, dialogue over divisions and prevention of hate crimes – inspirations from Norway (in English)

8.12 am from 12.00 to 13.30 pm on women’s rights (including advocacy initiatives) – inspirations from Iceland and Liechtenstein (in English)

11.12 am from 12.00 to 13.30 pm on grassroots/local initiatives to support communities (including vulnarable groups) during a pandemic – inspirations from Norway (in English)

Link to registration: https://forms.gle/LuiiXAWFaMHkfyyk7
We also offer support in searching for a partner and organizing the first ice-breaking meeting – more: https://forms.gle/qxdMNxsMDnyw4pfu7.

Second call for thematic projects

A consortium of the Stefan Batory Foundation, the “Shipyard” Foundation and the Academia of Civic Organisations Foundation issues the second call for thematic projects in the Active Citizens Fund – National, financed from the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 (EEA Grants).

The amounts allocated to particular support areas are:

  • Area 1: civic participation in public affairs and social activities: EUR 4 500 000, increased by unused funds from the first call,
  • Area 2: protection of human rights and equal treatment: EUR 2 985 000, increased by unused funds from the first call,
  • Area 3: empowerment of vulnerable groups: EUR 2 970 000, increased by unused funds from the first call.

The envisaged results of the Programme and particular areas for which support is provided are listed on the Programme website: https://aktywniobywatele.org.pl/en/about-the-fund/results/

There are two types of grants available in the call for proposals:

Small grants:

  • Minimum grant: EUR 5 000
  • Maximum grant: EUR 25 000
  • Project implementation period: between 8 and 24 months
  • Co-financing: optional

Large grants:

  • Minimum grant: EUR 25 000
  • Maximum grant: 62 500 EUR
  • Project implementation period: od 8 do 24 months
  • Co-financing: optional.

Applications can be submitted via the Online Application System available at wnioski.aktywniobywatele.org.pl

Deadlines for applications:

  • Project outlines can be submitted between 7 December (from 9.00 am CET) and 11 January 2021 (up until 12.00 pm midday CEST).
  • Detailed projects can be submitted between 8 March 2021 (from 12.00 pm midday CEST) and 19 April 2021 (until 12.00 pm midday CEST).

Second call for thematic projects – full text 

All the documents relating to call II for thematic projects can be found HERE.

Join us for live information webinar on Friday, December 4th 2020 at 2 pm.

We also invite for a series of inspiring online meetings with foreign organisations which we organize between 7th and 11th of December.

 

The Active Citizens Fund – Regional programme

The Active Citizens Fund – Regional programme is financed using EEA Financial Mechanism funds (EEA funds), from Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

The programme will be implemented from 2020-2024 by a consortium made up of the Foundation in Support of Local Democracy/Fundacja Rozwoju Demokracji Lokalnej (consortium leader), the Information Society Development Foundation/Fundacja Rozwoju Społeczeństwa Informacyjnego, the Education for Democracy Foundation/Fundacja Edukacja dla Demokracji.

The aim of the programme is to enable long-term enhancement of social welfare organisations in Poland (in particular those that operate in small towns) and develop the civil society, for which social diversity, equality, and dialogue are of particular value.

Under the programme, CSOs will be able to apply for co-financing of projects in the following areas:

  1. Defending human rights (including gender equality issues).
  2. Measures to further social diversity and empowerment of vulnerable groups.
  3. Building a culture of democratic values and civil involvement at a local level (including environmental protection issues).
  4. Providing support for the social welfare sector.

In addition to the calls for projects, awareness-raising measures will also be conducted to improve the skills of persons connected with the social welfare sector.

The programme is officially scheduled to start in January 2021.

Programme Facebook page

The website for the Programme will be created at: https://aktywniobywatele-regionalny.org.pl/.

Results of stage I of the call for sectoral projects

277 applications did not attain a score making them eligible for the detailed project stage. 51 applications were found by experts not to be in line with the Programme objectives and the basic principles in the field “Support for development of the civic sector”, and thus were not assessed further.

Due to the low number of applications judged eligible for stage II and concerning activities relating to “Monitoring of formulation of the law and the practice of enforcing the law and public policies” and “Advocacy for rights and interests”, the Operator is considering launching a separate call for projects aimed solely at supporting sectoral monitoring and advocacy initiatives. Details will be published in a separate statement.

Detailed projects can be submitted from noon on Thursday 27 August 2020 until noon on Monday 26 October 2020.

All applicants submitting proposals for stage II are encouraged to make use of the content-related support provided by the Programme Operator. We have scheduled webinars, a special workshop, and publication of additional information packs. Detailed information will be posted regularly on our website and social media sites.

Results of the first call for thematic projects

Increased citizen participation in civic activities

53 small grants for a total of  EUR 1 334 826

47 large grants for a total of EUR 3 131 431

 Increased support for human rights and antidiscrimination practices

25 small grants for a total of EUR 655 631

33 large grants for a total of EUR 2 316 742

 Increased empowerment of vulnerable groups

34 small grants for a total of EUR 870 710

31 large grants for a total of EUR 2 068 706

All Applicants have access to the assessment sheets of their applications after connecting the Application System to the Internet.

HERE are the details of the results presented according to supported areas (in small and large grants).

Tips for detailed projects in the call for thematic projects

What it is worth looking at before writing the detailed project proposal?

We recommend the following:

 

 

Results of administrative assessment of the call for sectoral projects

Out of 395 applications submitted, 388 were accepted for the next stage, which is content-related assessment, of which one was accepted following an appeal. Six applications were found not to meet the administrative requirements, of which two were re-examined, and one was withdrawn. We recommend reviewing the LISTS/LISTY. The results of the expert assessments will be released by 25 August.

Call for sectoral projects has just been closed

Grants will be awarded for projects to support the civic sector at nationwide level and in particular regions or subsectors. They must focus on activities such as provision of services and other activities that support capacity building of CSOs and civic movements, measures to increase public awareness about what organizations do, or to monitor the laws that affect how CSOs and civic movements function.

The organizations which meet requirements following administrative and eligibility assessment will be invited to submit detailed project proposals from 25 August onwards.

 

Results of stage I of the call for thematic projects

If more projects were awarded the minimum score required to go through to stage II, all of the projects were accepted for the detailed project stage, even if this meant exceeding 150% of the funds allocated for grants in the first call.
Congratulations to those organizations whose applications were accepted for stage II! Detailed projects can be submitted starting from noon today, 15 June, and can be submitted up until noon on 10 August.
Also from noon today onwards, all Applicants will be able to access their application assessment sheets, by logging on to the Online Application System.
Organizations whose projects were not accepted for the next stage are heartily encouraged to apply in the second call for thematic projects. The deadline for submitting project outlines is in November!

Sectoral projects – videos of webinars and online training

In the first webinar of 27 May 2020, we explain what the call for sectoral projects is, what its objectives are, and who can implement them, and we describe types of activities for which grants can be awarded.
The webinar video can be viewed HERE.

All of the important details concerning partnership cooperation in sectoral projects are provided in the next training session held on 29 May 2020.
The webinar video can be viewed HERE.

An online workshop was held on 4 June 2020 on how to draw up an application for a sectoral project grant. This meeting is recommended for people in organizations that will be named as the leader in the grant application.
The workshop video can be viewed HERE.

Call for sectoral projects

A consortium of the Stefan Batory Foundation, the “Shipyard” Centre for Social Innovation and Research Foundation, and the Academy of Civic Organizations Foundation is calling for sectoral project proposals in the Active Citizens Fund – National Programme, financed from the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021.

Grants can be applied for in the call according to the following conditions:

  • minimum grant: EUR 25 000,•maximum grant EUR 125 000,
  • implementation period: between 12 and 36 months,
  • co-financing – 10% of the overall project and capacity building expenses, a minimum of half of which must be in financial form.

Application timeline:

  • project outlines: between noon on 6 May 2020 and noon on 30 June 2020,
  • detailed projects: between noon on 27 August 2020 until noon on 26 October 2020.

Types of activities supported:

  • Provision of services and organizing other activities that support capacity building of CSOs and civic movements,
  • Monitoring of the law,
  • Advocating for rights and interests
  • Increasing public awareness of the role and importance of the civic sector and the need to become involved in supporting it,
  • Research, analyses, opinions, and expert analyses.

Applications can be submitted via the Online Application System

Fundacja Akademia Organizacji Obywatelskich (the Academy of Civic Organizations Foundation) is responsible for the call.

Here you can find the Call for sectoral projects .

All the information and documents (in Polish) can be found HERE.

 

Matchmaking online meeting

The aim of the meeting is to facilitate networking  of Polish civil society organizations with their potential project partners from Donor States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). We also want to deliver and discuss information on the current condition of the civic sector in Poland and in Donor States and to share recommended activities empowering the civic sector from each country.
The meeting will be also the opportunity to deliver information about Active Citizens Fund – National application submission rules (call for proposals for sectoral projects) and answer concerns/questions addressed at the meeting.

In order to fulfill expected aims we decided to divide the meeting into two parts (you can find the full meeting’s agenda below). First part is a webinar and consists of presentations and time for participants’ questions. We invited representatives of Icelandic, Liechtenstein, Norwegian and Polish CSOs who will share their knowledge and reflections on the most common and effective CSO’s capacity building and civic sector empowerment and development activities.

The second part of the meeting is going to be a moderated discussion which will be based on the participants’ preferences marked in the registration forms. We proposed 3 topics. Let’s see which of them are going to be most interesting for matchmaking meeting’s participants. That is why we would like to ask you to fill the registration form (link below) in order to help us prepare the matchmaking meeting as much based on your needs and choices as it is possible.

The working language of both parts is English.

After filling in the registration form you will receive more information about the meeting including the link to the online meeting platform. When it comes to the technical equipment there is only computer with loudspeakers/headphones needed.

Having applications exceeding our technical capacity we are going to decide on the participation based on the diversity of participants and on the quality of their applications.
In order to register please use this link:
https://crm.batory.org.pl/formularz-online/matchmaking-online-meeting

Having any questions or remarks, please do not hesitate to contact Anna Fedas from Batory Foundation: afedas@batory.org.pl

Matchmaking meeting’s agenda

Part 1 (recorded and available online after the meeting)
10-11.30 a.m. CET
1. Welcoming remarks (representatives of the Active Citizens Fund – National Program Operator consortium)
2. Presentation on the civic sector in Iceland – a representative of the Icelandic Human Right Centre (10 minutes)
Q&A
3. Presentation on the civic sector in Liechtenstein – a representative of the CSO from Liechtenstein (10 minutes)
Q&A
4. Presentation on the civic sector in Norway – a representative of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (10 minutes)
Q&A
5. Presentation on the civic sector in Poland – Lidia Kuczmierowska from the Academy of Civil Organizations Foundation (10 minutes)
Q&A
6. Presentation on the “Sectoral projects call for applications” – Andrzej Pietrucha from the Academy of Civil Organizations Foundation (10 minutes)
Q&A
short break
Part 2 (not recorder) in 2 working groups:
11.45 a.m.-1 p.m. CET
1. Discussion on the common challenges of the civic sector in each country and brainstorm on potential solutions.
Identifying potential barriers and supporters to one chosen activity responding to the challenges/solutions discussed before.
or/and*
2. Golden practices and failures (for those who want to share it with other participants).
or/and*
3. Presentation of the projects’ ideas (for those who want to share it with other participants).
Concluding remarks & goodbye (in one common session)

* depends on the topic(s) chosen by participants in the registration form

First call for thematic projects

A consortium of the Stefan Batory Foundation, the “Shipyard” Centre for Social Innovation and Research Foundation and the Academia of Civic Organisations Foundation issues the first call for thematic projects in the Active Citizens Fund – National, financed from the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 (EEA Grants).

The amount designated for grants for the first call is EUR 10 455 000.

The amounts allocated to particular support areas are:

  • Area 1: civic participation in public affairs and social activities: EUR 4 500 000
  • Area 2: protection of human rights and equal treatment: EUR 2 985 000
  • Area 3: empowerment of vulnerable groups: EUR 2 970 000.

The envisaged results of the Programme and particular areas for which support is provided are listed on the Programme website: https://aktywniobywatele.org.pl/en/about-the-fund/results/

There are two types of grants available in the call for proposals:

Small grants:

  • Minimum grant: EUR 5 000
  • Maximum grant: EUR 25 000
  • Project implementation period: between 8 and 24 months
  • Co-financing – 10% of project’s budget, may be entirely in the form of in-kind contribution (voluntary work).

Large grants:

  • Minimum grant: EUR 25 000
  • Maximum grant: 62 500 euro
  • Project implementation period: od 8 do 24 months
  • Co-financing – 10% of project’s budget, of which a minimum of 50% must be a financial contribution.

Applications can be submitted via the Online Application System available at wnioski.aktywniobywatele.org.pl

Deadlines for applications:

  • Project outlines can be submitted between 10 February 2020 (from 15.00 pm CET) and 15 April 2020 (up until 12.00 pm midday CEST)
  • Detailed projects can be submitted between 15 June 2020 (from 12.00 pm midday CEST) and 10 August 2020 (until 12.00 pm midday CEST)

All the information can be found here: Call for thematic projects

A webinar on the subject of the Active Citizens’ Fund – National Programme

Webinar agenda:

  1. Information on organisational matters concerning the Active Citizens’ Fund – National Programme (dates, amounts, procedures)
  2. Information on thematic areas for which funding is available
  3. Information about additional amounts of grants for capacity building and/or cooperation with Donor State organisations.

Chaired by:

Aleksandra Muzińska – Active Citizens’ Fund – National Programme financial  director, Stefan Batory Foundation

Maria Jagaciak – Area 1 coordinator in the Active Citizens’ Fund – National Programme, “Shipyard” Centre for Social Innovation and Research Foundation

Moderator

Piotr Henzler, Academy of Civic Organizations Foundation

Webinar devoted to bilateral cooperation

In the webinar there were experts with practical experience of bilateral projects:

– Prof. Marta Bivand Erdal – Director of Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
– Leiv Igor Devold – Polish-Norwegian film director, graduate of the Polish National Film School in Łódź
– Donata Honkowicz-Bukowska – Polish language teacher, educational and multicultural advisor in primary schools in Kópavogur, Iceland
– Alina Kula – co-founder and member of the Board of the Positive Change Foundation. In the previous edition of the Active Citizens Programme she implemented a project with an Icelandic organisation.

Working language of the webinarium was Polish.

 

We will be touring Poland!

At the briefings, the organisers will talk about the main precepts of the Programme and the first call for projects, and the challenges related to areas for which funding is provided. They will present inspirational examples of activities and answer questions. The briefing will also include a workshop for attendees can work on preliminary ideas for projects. This is something to consider beforehand.

Opole – 5.02 – registration closed
Koszalin – 13.02 – registration closed
Białystok – 18.02 – registration closed
Zielona Góra – 20.02 –  registration closed
Rzeszów – 24.02 – registration closed
Ełk – 27.02 – registration closed
Olsztyn – 2.03 – REGISTRATION until 24.02
Kielce – 4.03 – REGISTRATION until 26.02

Important! Due to popularity, the venues selected for the meetings may change (locations in particular cities). Registered attendees will be notified.

We are looking for experts to evaluate applications

Experts must fulfil the following requirements:

  • they must have knowledge of a minimum of one of the thematic areas and be familiar with the activities of CSOs active in this area,
  • they must have the ability to apply their knowledge and experience when analysing and evaluating projects,
  • they must have an ability to formulate evaluations and opinions concerning applications clearly and communicatively in writing,
  • they must guarantee that projects are evaluated impartially,
  • they must be available at the times specified on the application form.

The experts’ task will be to evaluate project outlines and detailed projects, and attend three meetings during each of the calls, including two training sessions on the subject of application evaluation and one meeting of experts subsequent to evaluation of detailed projects.

Online  recruitment system

We will announce the results of the recruitment process by 2 March 2020. Prior to applying, please read in particular the information on the areas for financing for which applications can be submitted. The Operator reserves the right to hold meetings/interviews with applicants using new technology such as Skype. Successful applicants will be asked to sign an agreement for a specified task (umowa o dzieło) specifying the terms of employment and remuneration according to the rates given below:

Small grants (up to EUR 25 000): project outline – PLN 55 gross, detailed project – PLN 210 gross. Large grants (up to EUR 62 500): project outline – PLN 70 gross, detailed project – PLN 280 gross. These rates cover all costs related to evaluation, including attendance at meetings.

The experts we select will be required to sign a conflict of interest declaration/deklaracja bezstronności eksperta/ki, which is an appendix to the agreement.

If you have any questions regarding recruitment please contact:

regarding areas 2 and 3 – the Batory Foundation

tel. (22) 536 02 00

aktywniobywatele@batory.org.pl

regarding area 1– the “Shipyard” Foundation
tel. (22) 100 55 94
aktywniobywatele@stocznia.org.pl

Please be informed that for the sake of transparency and openness of evaluation of applications submitted in the Programme, when the calls for projects are completed, personal data of experts who evaluate applications in the Programme, being the first name, surname, and brief description of their occupation, will be posted on the Programme website on the grounds of legitimate interest of the Programme Operator (art. 6(1)(f) of the GDPR).