The South East Europe Transnational Programme has launched its 1st Call for Proposals on 5 May 2008. The Call will follow the 2-step procedure:
- First Step: Applicants are requested to fill in and submit an Expression of Interest where they are requested to describe briefly the problems and the challenges that their project aims to address, the foreseen budget, partners involved and the envisaged objectives and results.
- Second Step: Applicants of the pre-selected project ideas will be invited to submit a full Application Form.

The South East Europe (SEE) Programme 2007 - 2013 aims at improving the territorial, economic and social integration process and contribution to cohesion, stability and competitiveness through the development of transnational partnerships and joint actions on matters of strategic importance.
The Managing Authority of the SEE Programme (Hungarian National Development Agency) and the partner states (Albania, Austria, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine) are launching the first call for projects for transnational cooperation in the South Eastern area of Europe to be co-financed by ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) and IPA (Instrument for Preaccession) under this programme.

Even before the state reform of 1993, which gave extensive foreign competences to Flanders, the Flemish Government had considered Central and Eastern Europe as a priority area within Flanders’ foreign policy.
European programmes like Tacis and Phare served as a good example for the development of the Flemish cooperation programme in Central and Eastern Europe. The implementation of cooperation agreements with States in Central and Eastern Europe took the form of projects, for which Flemish promoters (institutions, organizations, companies, …) could receive a financial contribution from the Flemish authorities for setting up a project with partners in this region.

The new policy is based on three pillars:
* Pillar I: Flanders will try to build on previously established contacts and networks and concentrate on those sectors where it has a comparative advantage. In this context the Flemish democratic social model, a dynamic knowledge society and a model for administrative policy, can be propagated and transmitted through projects that lead towards a win-win situation. In 2008 a budget of 1,170,000 euros will be spent on activities in the new member states.

* Pillar II: the pre-accession support should contribute to the countries' accession process to the EU and facilitate their successful integration into the European Union. The available budget in 2008 amounts to 500,000 euros for Croatia, 250,000 euros for Macedonia and 750,000 euros for the other countries on the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia-Kosovo).

* Pillar III: also with the countries called 'new neighbours' Flanders will try to set up cooperation wherever it is possible and meaningful. This cooperation will take the form of capacity building, institutional, democratic and economical backing, conflict prevention and community structuring. In 2008 the Flemish authorities wish again to limit the cooperation to Ukraine. For the financing of projects under pillar III a budget of 250,000 euros is available

Click for the necessary documents here.

More information via:
Department of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs divison
Boudewijnlaan 30
1000 Brussel
E: projecten-bcoe@vlaanderen.be
T: +32 2 553 59 20

This call for proposals will be open to national, regional and local authorities registered in any of the 26 Member States participating in the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals (Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Austria, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom), Non Governmental Organisations, public or private bodies
(including university departments, research centres), as well as international organisations, working on a strictly non-profit basis, with proven experience and expertise in the fields covered, taking into account their respective competences.

Actions may include partners and participants from Denmark and third countries, but the costs for their participation may not be covered by Community contribution and must be financed entirely by non-Community resources. Read more.

United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) has launched a Call for proposals.

The United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) was established in July 2005 as a United Nations General Trust Fund. Its primary purpose is to support democratization throughout the world. UNDEF will finance projects that build and strengthen democratic institutions, promote human rights, and ensure the participation of all groups in democratic processes.

The Fund provides assistance to governmental, non-governmental, national, regional, and international organizations, including relevant United Nations departments, offices, funds, programmes and agencies. The Fund complements current UN efforts to strengthen and expand democracy worldwide.

The second round of UNDEF funding began with the invitation for proposals launched on 15 November 2007. The deadline for the first round of submissions will be 18 December 2007. Organizations wishing to apply for UNDEF funding should visit the UNDEF website where they will be prompted to complete an Online Proposal.

The Online Proposal form is here. The project guidelines are here.

The Trust for Civil Society in Central & Eastern Europe (CEE Trust) announces an open Call for proposals promoting the development of civil society in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

Letters of intent expected in the following areas:

    * - Accountability of Public Institutions
    * - Civic Engagement and Community Mobilization
    * - Solidarity in Social Life

Call for proposals "Support to Marginalised people"
Country: Albania Support to Marginalised people Reference: EuropeAid/125638/L/ACT/AL
Budget EUR: 400000
Status: Open (until 31.08.2007)

Documents: Guidelines for Applicants
Grant Application Form
Annexes B-G
The overall objective of this programme is to provide social support for vulnerable groups, to integrate otherwise disadvantaged groups into the labour market and in general to assists the social and economic recovery of poor areas of the country.
Organisations are encouraged to submit lively, imaginative and original proposals intended to:
• Provide assistance to disadvantaged groups of population;
• Improve literacy and the provision of educational services for children;
• Promote integration into the labour market through adult and vocational training;
• Stimulate income-generating activities.

Any project proposal with potential to improve the lives of citizens living under poverty in non-urban areas is welcome under this call for proposals.

Partnership with other civil society organisations, the direct involvement of ordinary people and collaboration with local and central institutions and other stakeholders (eg. representatives of the business community) are encouraged.

The CARDS Call for Proposals under the title SUPPORT TO THE ROMA AND MARGINALISED GROUPS IN THE WESTERN BALKANS has been extended.
The new deadline for concept notes is 3 August 2007.

Support to the Roma and marginalised groups in the Western Balkans
Reference: EuropeAid/125704/C/ACT/Multi
Budget EUR: 1000000
Status: Open (until 03.08.2007)
Documents:   Grant Application Form, Budget, Legal Entity Sheet, Guidelines, Logical Framework, Financial identification Form
Countries covered by the Call:
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244), Montenegro and Serbia.

The objectives and the priority areas are:
The overall objective is to ensure social inclusion, protection and return-related activities to Roma community and marginalised groups.

The specific objective is to create conditions for these persons to improve their lives by:
·acquiring access to social security, public services, and development and employment opportunities;
· fostering the promotion of poverty reduction and respect for human rights;
· providing assistance both in the provision of integration solutions and legal assistance.

This Programme is considered a Pilot Initiative which will focus on key-geographical areas (to be determined by the applicant) in each country. Therefore, the "sub-objective" will be also to evaluate the added value of a regional approach in the field of civil registration of the Roma communities and the marginalised groups.

The priority issues are:
o to provide Roma and marginalised groups with the necessary means for accessing employment opportunities, social welfare, schools and citizens rights,
o to remove the obstacles which prevent Roma people and marginalised groups to get access to basic rights and protection,
o to inform the Roma population and marginalised groups about the benefits of the registration and the recognition of their rights by the national authorities;
o the Programme should demonstrate a regional dimension and a harmonised approach in the activities to be undertaken in all the targeted countries;

Call for applications for Intensified Capacity Building Support (part of CBF - Capacity Building Fund) has been published in FedNet.
Procedures and Application form here.