Romania

Objectives

The overall objective of the Active Citizens Fund (ACF) in Romani is to strengthen civil society and active citizenship and to empower vulnerable groups. The Programme is based on the common values of respect of human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and the respect for human rights including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.

The Programme seeks to develop the long-term sustainability and capacity of the civil society sector, strengthening its role in promoting democratic participation, active citizenship and human rights by supporting projects in the following areas:

• Democracy, active citizenship, good governance and transparency
• Human rights and equal treatment through combating any discrimination on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity
• Social justice and inclusion of vulnerable groups
• Gender equality and gender-based violence
• Environment and climate change
• Capacity building for NGOs

Programme structure

The programme is foreseen to have 11 open calls for project proposals (launched in two rounds; 1^st round planned for the autumn 2019) contributing to the following outcomes:

Outcome 1 Strengthened democratic culture and civic awareness

Outcome 2 CSOs actively defend human rights and promote equal treatment

Outcome 3 Vulnerable groups are empowered

Outcome 4 Enhanced capacity and sustainability of civil society (organizations and the sector)

Norwegian organizations are encouraged to apply as project partners together with a lead NGO established in Romania.

A Bilateral Fund is reserved for initiatives aimed to enhance collaboration between the NGOs established in Romania and entities from the Donor States. Several activities are planned for 2019:

• A call for proposals for bilateral initiatives (seed money facility with a budget of 75.000 euro) will be launched (tentatively mid-August 2019) to enhance partnerships for the ACF Fund.
• A facilitated matchmaking session to facilitate networking, potential collaboration among Donor States organisations and potential Romanian promoters working in the same fields will be organized in Bucharest, Romania (tentatively 2^nd half of September 2019).
• Information sessions in Norway (Oslo, tentatively second half of August 2019) and Iceland (Reykjavik, tentatively beginning of September 2019) to present and promote the Programme among organisations in Donor States.

Through the Regional Civil Society Initiatives, the programme supports knowledge exchange and mutual learning, development of regional networks, adopting and using the knowledge and the best practices for consolidating the civil society sector in the EEA grants beneficiary countries.

Fund operator

Civil Society Development Foundation, in cooperation with Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation, Resource Center for Roma Communities, PACT Foundation and Frivillighet Norge

Address: Bd. Nerva Traian, No. 21, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania
acf@fdsc.ro
+40 21.310.01.77/81/82/83