Active citizens fund: New Call to support the institutional development of Civil Society

Bodossaki Foundation and SolidarityNow, in their capacity as Fund Operator of the Active citizens fund programme for Greece, announce the 7th Open Call for “Organisational Grants to support the Institutional Development of Civil Society Organisations”.

With a budget of €13.5 million for Greece, the Active citizens fund programme is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and forms part of the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism (EEA Grants) for 2014-2021 programming period. The programme seeks to develop the long-term sustainability and capacity of Civil Society, with the aim of strengthening its role in promoting democratic participation, active citizenship and the protection of human rights.

The Call, budgeted at €661,387, focuses on the institutional development of CSOs. For Greece, this is an innovative Call that differs significantly from the previous ones under the Active citizens fund programme, as it provides grants that will subsidise general actions of CSOs on the basis of their multiannual strategic plans / workplans rather than actions in the context of projects with a specific thematic focus. The new Call is part of a pilot initiative of the EEA Financial Mechanism, launched in response to the requests made by CSOs for making available grants to subsidise their basic operational requirements, thus helping them attain their strategic goals and fulfil their mission.

Eligible project promoters are CSOs with legal status in Greece and an average annual turnover of at least €300,000 for each one of the financial years 2018, 2019 and 2020, which also have in place a multiannual strategic plan / workplan.

All documents related to the Call, such as the Guidelines for Applicants, the Call document etc., are available here.

The deadline for the submission of applications is 15 February 2022.

Dr Jennifer Clarke, Active citizens fund Programme Officer for Greece, made the following statement:

“For Bodossaki Foundation, finding new, effective ways to strengthen the Civil Society is a strategic priority. This is why we are very pleased to implement, within the framework of the Active citizens fund, which are jointly managing with SolidarityNow, an innovative Call that expands and helps further develop the ways in which we subsidize Civil Society in Greece. With the new Call, which subsidises operational requirements and actions linked to their strategic plans / workplans, CSOs are given the opportunity to engage in seeking long-term solutions to the most critical social issues, in the way they themselves deem to be most effective. As social needs keep growing in a constantly changing landscape, it is particularly important for the approach to supporting Civil Society to keep in touch with the new reality.”

Ms Antigone Lyberaki, General Manager of SolidarityNow, pointed out the following:

“All of us at SolidarityNow are proud of the innovative nature of the Active Citizens Fund Programme, which we jointly manage with Bodossaki Foundation. It is a programme that, this time, addresses the very ‘heart’ of Civil Society in Greece: the organisations and bodies that are constantly close to those in need, working tirelessly to achieve the best result. To succeed in their difficult task, they need –besides a devoted heart– additional reinforcement with material resources, so that they can keep a clear head and ensure the quality of their results.  This is exactly what we are attempting with the new Call: to strengthen the “heart and mind” of solidarity and help meet the needs of the organisations themselves. Thus, we fully support the independence, flexibility, effectiveness and quality of their services, whose ultimate beneficiaries are the most vulnerable of  our fellow citizens.”

About Bodossaki Foundation:

Bodossaki Foundation is a public benefit organisation founded in 1972 with the aim of continuing the contribution of its founder, Prodromos-Bodossakis Athanassiades, to the Greek society. Its vision is a society of equal opportunities and prospects for all. To promote its vision, the Foundation funds, plans and implements, in full alignment with the principles of transparency, accountability and integrity, actions and programmes of relevance to its four strategic pillars: supporting education, strengthening healthcare, protecting the environment and empowering Civil Society. From its establishment to this day, the Foundation has made available over €450 million for promoting its purposes.

At the same time, recognising the magnitude of current social needs, Bodossaki Foundation today also acts as a catalyst for fostering a broader culture of contribution in the Greek society, managing resources on behalf of third parties – Legators, international organisations, companies and other major donors– wishing to fund programmes to deal with emergencies as well as to address critical needs in education, healthcare, environmental protection and Civil Society capacity building. For more information, see here.

About SolidarityNow:

SolidarityNow (SN) is a non-governmental organisation established in 2013 to meet the needs and safeguard the rights of the most vulnerable and marginalised groups, without discrimination. The organisation’s vision is to improve people’s lives and empower them to claim a fairer and more inclusive society. Our vision is realised through three main strategic pillars: a) Defending security and security, b) supporting livelihood opportunities and integration into the labour market, c) strengthening the independence of civil society and defending the values of an open society. SolidarityNow has so far supported more than 320,000 people, by directly implementing programmes as well as by way of donations made to support civil society actions. For more information, see here.