TIPS

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TIPS HINTS ON EU FundingEMSP Central and
Eastern Development SeminarPrague, 28 30 April
2004

• Rose Nthiwa - ECAS
• (European Citizen Action Service)

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Outline

• Introduction to EU Funding
• The Power of Partnership
• How foundations can help
• General Tips on fundraising
• Conclude with an open call

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How is 2000-2006 EU funding structured?

• Regional Policy
• 4 Structural Funds (ERDF, ESF, EAGGF-Guidance,
  FIFG)
• 4 Community Initiatives (Interreg III, Equal,
  Urban, Leader)
• 2 Pre-accession funds (SAPARD and ISPA)
• The Cohesion Fund (Spain, Greece, Portugal and
  Ireland)
• Community Action Programme
• The common budget of the EU
• External Aid
• Budget lines
• European Development Fund (EDF)

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Structural Funds

• What are they?

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Structural funds

• The main purpose of the structural funds is to
  bridge the gap between the developed and less
  developed regions.
• For instance, in Greece, Portugal and Spain,
  average per capita GDP is only 80 of the
  Community average. Luxembourg exceeds this
  average by over 60 percentage points. The ten
  most dynamic regions in the Union have a GDP
  almost three times higher than the ten least
  developed regions
• Taken from DG Regional policy website

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The objectives of the Structural Funds are

• Objective 1 Helping regions whose development is
  lagging behind to catch up, i.e. providing them
  with the basic infrastructure which they continue
  to lack or encourage investments in business
  economic activity.
• Objective 2 Supporting economic and social
  conversion in industrial, rural, urban or
  fisheries-dependent areas facing structural
  difficulties.
• Objective 3 Modernising systems of training
  and promoting employment.

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The 4 Structural funds

• The European Regional Development Funds (ERDF)
  promotes economic and social cohesion with the EU
  to level out differences between countries
• The European Social Fund (ESF) to help realise
  the objectives of its employment policy
• The European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee
  Fund (EAGGF) contributes to structural reform
  of the agricultural sector
• The Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance
  (FIFG) for the structural reform of fisheries
  sector

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The 4 Community Initiatives

• Interreg III promotes cross-border,
  transnational and interregional cooperation i.e.
  partnerships across borders to encourage balanced
  development of multi-regional areas
• Urban II concentrates support on regeneration
  of cities and declining urban areas
• Leader - for rural sustainable development
• Equal to help eliminate inequalities and
  discrimination in the labour market

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Examples of projects funded by Structural funds

• In Luxembourg a home for the Community A
  derelict building was renovated and later used as
  a place for residents to meet or get in touch
  with social workers. It also now offers after
  school activities, such as sport and language
  courses to 30 children. It also contains
  cafeteria which offers meals to 25 children three
  times a week. The project currently employs 6
  full-time staff - an URBAN I Programme funded by
  ERDF.
• Technical info. Total cost EUR 632 000
• EU contribution EUR 271 000
• Contact Ministere du Logement
• email. Constant.Kiffer_at_ml.etat.lu
• Source DG Regional Policy website

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Examples of projects funded by Structural funds

• Project in Germany funded by the European Social
  Fund (ESF)
• Project title Employment counselling for women
  with disabilities (KOBRA)
• Promoter zsl Zentrum für Selbstbestimmtes
  Leben behinderter Menschen e.V., Mainz
• Partners IES (Inciativas y Estudios Sociales),
  ES-15895 Milladoiro/Ames
• Beneficiaries Women with disabilities
• Source DG Employment Social Affairs website

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Project in Germany cont..

• Description Collecting ideas and materials on
  the situation of disabled women and their status
  in the job market.
• Main objectives improving the employment
  situation of disabled women collecting ideas and
  materials on the areas in which counselling of
  disabled women by disabled women could be of
  significance and on subjects of importance to
  disabled women in training, in employment or
  seeking work.
• Technical info EU Funding 96 897.15 EUR
• National funding 143
  946.06 EUR
• Source DG Employment Social Affairs website

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Community Programmes

• What are they?

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Community Programmes

• Programmes to promote cooperation between actors
  from different member states in a specific field
  such as health, education, culture, social
  affairs, etc related to community policies.
• Fields with common problems and objectives!
• These are financed through the EU General Budget.
  

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Management of Community Programmes

• Managed by the Directorate General, so called
  DGs. These DG could be compared to a department.
• Ex
• DG Health
• DG Education and Culture
• DG Employment and Social Affairs

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What fields?

• Social Policy
• Combating Discrimination
• Gender Equality
• Combating Social Exclusion
• Employment
• Incentive measures in the field of employment

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What fields?

• Environment and Energy
• Environmental protection NGOs
• LIFE
• Intelligent Energy for Europe
• Action against violence
• Daphne II

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What fields?

• Police and Judicial Cooperation in Criminal and
  Civil matters
• Framework Programme for cooperation in civil
  matters (2002-2006)
• Framework Programme for police and judicial
  cooperation in criminal matters AGIS
  (2003-2007)
• Civil Protection
• Civil Protection Mechanism (2002-)

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What fields?

• Youth, Education and Vocational Training
• Youth
• Leonardo
• Socrates
• Elearning
• Sport
• Culture
• Culture 2000
• Audiovisual
• Media Plus

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What fields?

• Public Health and Consumer Protection
• Public Health Programme (2003-2008)
• Community activities in support of consumer
  policy (2004-2007)
• Information Society
• Econtent
• eSafe (former Safer use of internet)
• Research and Development
• 6th framework programme

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Co-financing

• The amount of funding provided for a project
  depends on the budget line or the call for
  proposal in question.
• In practice the principal of co-funding means
  that your organisation must match the funding
  provided by the Commission through a combination
  of its own resources, revenue from a particular
  project and funds from other organisations
• Proof of co-funding is needed in the application,
  and this usually takes the form of a commitment
  letter from you organisation and all the other
  organisations that will be providing funding.

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Additionality and co-financing

• Why??
• European dimension of the problems the project
  addresses
• Community value-added
• To finance operations that would have not been
  implemented otherwise
• Ensure greater commitment by the promoters.

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Additionality and co-financing

• Co-financing Financial contribution
• As a general rule, in-kind contribution is not
  considered as eligible co-financing!

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Co-financing

• Private foundations
• Partnerships (with the private or public sector)
• Ethical banks providing loans
• Sponsors
• Own contribution

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CONTROL

• Low possibility to modify the budget during its
  implementation
• Control of additionality

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Examples from ECAS

• Project title European Forum of Citizen Advice
  Services
• Programme Framework programme for Judicial
  Cooperation in Civil Matters call for
  proposals cofinancing of specific projects
• Contribution requested from the Commission (60)
  32.640
• Contribution by the applicant 14.139 (40)
• Contribution by other organisations 0
• Direct revenue expected from the operation 7500
  
• Total project budget 54.099
• Duration 5 months
• Annex Other sources of finance, excluding any
  Community grant List of foundations and trust
  supporting the activities of ECAS.

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Examples from ECAS

• Project title Dialogue with Citizens Signpost
  Service
• Call for tender Service Contract
• Bank guarantee through Charities Aid Foundation
  in favour of the Commission to the value of
  223.518.6 and with a validity of at least 18
  months ( so called performance bond in favour of
  the Commission).
• The bank guarantee corresponds to 30 of the
  total budget for 1 year.
• Duration 12 months renewable 5 times.
• Annual budget 745.062

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The Power of Partnership

• The Commission Approach

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Partnership The Commission Approach

• The Commission aims to renew European multi-level
  governance, to achieve better involvement and
  more openness
• Involvement in policy shaping (dialogue,
  cooperation with regional, local government)
• Greater flexibility in implementing legislation
  (e.g. contracts between Commission, Member
  States, Local/Regional Authorities)
• Overall policy coherence (Dialogue between
  Commission, Member States and regional
  authorities to ensure overall coherence of
  policies e.g., energy, transport, environment).

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Partnerships!

• The main objective of the European Union is to
  favour cooperation between citizens and
  organisations in the Member States
• The Commission is willing to work with different
  actors involved in society.

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Partnership elements for success!

• Strong community support.
• Recognised and legitimated roles for each actor.
• Being results oriented.
• A degree of autonomy.
• A clear, permanent and well functioning
  communication/networking system.
• Flexibility.

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Partnership Why?!?

• Policies co-ordination and integration,
• Mobilisation of regional/local material and
  immaterial resources,
• To better tailor policies to regional/local
  needs,
• For a more democratic policy making, and
  programme implementation.
• To create Social Capital.

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The partnership approach

• Partnership/consortium building learning how to
  work together at a local, regional, national and
  international level
• Development
• 1989-1993 inclusion of regional and local
  authorities
• 1994-1999 inclusion of the social partners
• 2000-2006 inclusion of NGOs and other movements

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How do I find the partners?

• Databases Internet (websites of the DGs)
• Information days (Cultura 2000, Econtent, etc)
• National contact points
• Desk officers
• European associations and networks
• National/regional/local associations and networks
• Professional and/or informal contacts

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Is your partner eligible?

• Geographical location?
• Type of organisation?
• Do they have the necessary resources?
• Do they have the necessary experience?
• Do they have the necessary skills?

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What to think about

• allocate reasonable time to find the most
  reliable ones clearly established your common
  goals and objectives.
• ensure you have a clear agreement about your
  tasks and responsibilities

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How Foundations can help

• With an introduction to EFC

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The European Foundation Centre

• Founded in 1989 by seven foundations
• Currently over 200 independent funders as members
• Links with over 50,000 organisations linked
  through a network of 42 information and support
  centres worldwide
• Main function promotes and underpins work of
  foundations and corporate funders active in and
  with Europe
• Mission to strengthen organised philanthropy,
  supporting civil society in Europe and
  internationally

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The European Foundation Centre

• Set up a database containing profiles of over 650
  foundations and corporate sponsors The Orpheus
  Funder Database
• Has Funders Online web site
  www.fundersonline.org
• Its website has links to websites where
  information about foundations can be found
• Presents current calls for projects on website
• Can help you locate partners
• For more information on EFC efc_at_efc.be
  www.efc.be

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Why work with foundations?

• Give a human dimension to public actions
• Able to work in a long-term perspective, so can
  take risks that elected governments might not
• Can enter into joint funding partnerships
• Can complement public authorities

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Tips on obtaining funding from foundations

• Regularly check foundations websites and annual
  reports to determine their interests
• Make sure your objectives fit with the
  foundations that you apply to
• Consider your current funders any conflict of
  interests?
• Check what the application procedures are before
  sending in your full proposal.
• Be realistic in your requests

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Examples of Foundations

• The Soros Foundation
• Funding interests youth, media, civil society,
  human rights, humanitarian aid, science and
  medicine, arts and culture and economic
  restucturing
• Funding area Central and Eastern Europe
• Contact National offices in countries of
  Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet
  Union. Use www.soros.org/about/foundations to
  get the different contact details

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Examples of Foundations

• Vybor Dobre Vule-Nadace Olgy Havlove
• Funding interests the physically handicapped,
  sick people, the elderly and the abandoned
• Funding area local (Czech Republic), and
  internationally
• Contact www.vdv.cz address P.O. Box 240,
  111 21 Prague, Czech Republic Tel. [phone]
  7331 Fax. [phone]

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Examples of Foundations

• Compagnia de San Paolo
• Funding interests research scientific,
  economic, judicial education art cultural and
  environmental heritage health and assistance to
  socially deprived categories
• Funding area Italy and International
• Contact info_at_compagnia.torino.it
• address Corso Vittorio Emanuele
  II, 75, 10128 Turin, Italy Tel. 39 011
  559 6911 fax. [phone]

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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FOUNDATIONS

• Contact
• European Foundation Centre (EFC)
• 51 rue de la Concorde
• B-1050 Brussels
• Belgium
• Tel. [phone]
• Fax. [phone]
• Email. efc_at_efc.be
• Website www.efc.be

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GENERAL TIPS ON FUNDRAISING

• How to go about it

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FUNDING

• Find the appropriate call
• Monitor websites of the Commission
  Directorate-General for updates on calls. If you
  wait to get them from the Official journal, you
  might be too late
• Adopt a strategic approach. Examine all
  possibilities. Note that funding may be found
  under budget lines not directly or immediately
  related to your area of activity, e.g. lines on
  education, research, youth, environment, what
  about thematic lines creation of jobs, urban
  regeneration, gender issues?...

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FUNDING

• Understand the Commissions aims
• Remember the European Commission is not a funding
  organisation!
• Be aware of the Commissions main aims
• - to advance European integration
• - to raise public awareness of the EU
• Convince the Commission that your project has
  taken those aims into consideration!

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FUNDING

• Network with others
• Create links and networks. It always helps not
  to go it alone!
• (refer back to our section on how to get
  partners)

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FUNDING

• Do study carefully the guidelines and conditions
  that come with the call.
• - Who is eligible? Are you?
• - Do you need a partner?
• - Do you need a guarantee?
• Distinguish clearly the different geographical
  levels of decisions. Some are handled directly
  by the European Commission others by their
  national contact points, and still others by
  delegations (developing countries and candidate
  countries)

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FUNDING

• Incorporate a system of quality control and
  contract compliance
• Having written a budget in application, keep
  within it. Do not when drawing up your budget
  offer more than you can deliver at the proposed
  price
• Keep time-sheets and invoices related to projects
  
• Be ready for inspections, incase there is one!

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FUNDING

• Note carefully in your application
• - how many copies to submit
• - any annexes required?
• - that you have signed your application
• - how and where to submit it
• - deadline?
• Failure in any of these points could result in
  automatic rejection!

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FUNDING

• Get people with expertise to help!
• Skills needed to succeed include
• - project management
• - drafting skills
• - financial management
• (ECAS can help you monitor calls and keep you in
  touch with the latest ones! Contact us if you
  need help)

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OUR CONTACTS

• European Citizen Action Service
• 53 rue de la Concorde
• B-1050 Brussels
• Belgium
• Tel.[phone]
• Fax. [phone]
• Email. admin_at_ecas.org
• Website www.ecas.org
• We will be happy to assist!

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TO CONCLUDE ONE OPEN CALL AS AN EXAMPLE

• Here we go!

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A call for proposals VP/2004/009 (OJ C72, 23
March 2004)

• Description for the support to European Level
  NGOs representing and defending the rights of
  Disabled people. Objectives include
• - to improve the capacity of disability
  organisations to partner with European and
  national authorities to achieve shared goals
• - to develop and provide sound knowledge on
  disability discrimination issues to inform policy
  and programme development and build awareness.

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A call for proposals VP/2004/009 (OJ C72, 23
March 2004) cont

• Eligibility European level disability
  organisations made up of at least Ten National
  members, established either in the current or
  future Member States of the EU or in Bulgaria,
  Rumania, Norway, Iceland and Liechstenstein
• Available funds approx. 615,000. Commission
  proposes to fund 5 European-level organisations,
  with a max. of 123,000 per year for each
  organisation.

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A call for proposals VP/2004/009 (OJ C72, 23
March 2004) cont

• Level of Community funding financial
  contribution will not exceed 90
• Deadline 14 May 2004
• Contact Flaminia Bussacchini, DG Employment and
  Social Affairs, unit D3, European Commission, rue
  de la Loi, 200, B-1049 Bruxelles tel. 32 2 296
  94 88 email. flaminia.bussacchini_at_cec.eu.int
• Website www.europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/
  fundamental_rights/prog/calls_en.htm

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IF WE CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE TO YOU CONTACT US AT

• European Citizen Action Service
• 53 rue de la Concorde
• B-1050 Brussels
• Belgium
• Tel.[phone]
• Fax. [phone]
• Email. admin_at_ecas.org
• Website www.ecas.org
• We will be happy to assist!