Lietuvas Cilvēktiesību uzraudzības centrs un nevalstiskā organizācija OSFL Projects ir izsludinājis iepriekš noteikta projekta īstenotāju konkursu un aicina tajā piedalīties arī Latvijas nevalstiskās organizācijas.

Projekts tiks īstenots EEZ finanšu instrumenta līdzfinansētās programmas „NGO programme" Lietuvā ietvaros.

Detalizēta informācija par konkursu pieejama:
NGO Programme Lithuania website.

Informācija par projektu konkursu angļu valodā:
The overall objective of the NGO Programme Lithuania is strengthened civil society development and enhanced contribution to social justice, democracy and sustainable development, strengthened bilateral relationship between the beneficiary states and the donor countries. NGO Programme Lithuania is aimed at providing flexible and accessible funding to NGOs, with the aim to strengthen their capacity, promote human rights and foster civil engagement.

NGO Programme Lithuania Operator Human Rights Monitoring Institute together with NGO OSFL Projects (hereinafter referred to as Programme Operator) announce

OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A PRE-DEFINED PROJECT

Programme Operator intends to receive proposals for the implementation of the following pre-defined project:
1. Development of strategies for NGOs sustainability and diversifying their sources of income complemented by tailor-suited long-term fundraising strategies.

Project document together with other relevant documents of the open call are attached to this message.

APPLICATION PROCESS

1 applicant may submit only 1 application for the implementation of a pre-defined project.

Deadline for submission of the applications is 14th November 2014.

Applications must be submitted in one electronic copy and in one hard copy. Electronic application must be identical to hard copy of the application and must be submitted with all listed annexes. If the electronic copy of the application is not identical to the hard copy, electronic copy prevails. The electronic application must be sent from the e-mail of the person indicated as a "Contact person" to the e-mail address before the end of the deadline.
Hard copies of the applications must be submitted before the end of the deadline by hand-delivery or sent in one copy to the address of the Fund Operator:

Human Rights Monitoring Institute, Didzioji st. 5-404, LT-01128 Vilnius, Lithuania.

ELIGIBILITY AND CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE APPLICANTS

Eligibility criteria

1. The applicant must meet the following eligibility criteria:
2. Applicant must be a legal or natural person registered in EU or EFTA country. If the applicant is a legal person, the legal form of the entity is irrelevant. The applicant may be a consortium.
3. Applicant, which is membership-based, must have transparent structures and an elected chair/board, and must be accountable to its members and donors (valid for associations only).
4. Applicant must be independent of local, regional and national government and other public authorities. Stakeholders of the applicant cannot be public authorities or state institutions, state owned or managed enterprises as well as municipalities or other local and regional authorities. EXCEPTION: An exclusion is made for research institutes, which may be financially dependent on local, regional or national government or other public authorities.
5. Applicant must not be a political party and must be independent of political parties. Stakeholders of the applicant must not be political parties. Applicant cannot be carrying out any activities which could be attributed to any political party or political movement.
6. Applicant must not be religious institution or community. Faith-based organizations and national Red-Cross societies can be considered eligible applicants as long as they meet other eligibility criteria.
7. Applicant must not be bankrupt or in the process of bankruptcy, or the process of reorganization or liquidation.
8. Applicant must not have any unpaid tax debts to state or municipality budgets or the social security fund.
9. Applicant must not have been found guilty by a final judgement of criminal offences related to the use of funds from EEA and Norway Financial mechanisms or EU structural funds, or other public funds.
10. Applicant must not provide false or misleading information in the application and its supporting documents, as well as should not conceal any information including that about conflict of interest.
11. Applicant must not make or attempt to make any direct or indirect influence on representatives of NGO Fund Operator or Financial Mechanism Office during the entire period of implementation of the NGO Programme Lithuania.

Operational capacity criteria
The applicant must meet the following operational capacity requirements:

• By the time of submission of the application the applicant operates for at least 5 (five) years and has at least 5 (five) years of experience in the following areas:
• NGO sector: human rights advocacy, promotion and protection. The applicant has implemented at least 3 projects in human rights area of a total value of 100.000 Euro (or equivalent in Lithuanian Litas);
• Implementation of high level trainings and consulting in the areas of strategic planning, NGO management, fundraising, advocacy, marketing, public relations and communication.
• The applicant possesses extensive knowledge of Lithuanian NGO sector, is well-informed of actual situation, issues and challenges as well as strengths and weaknesses of the sector.

More details on capacity requirements for the applicants are presented in chapter 4.4. of Terms of Reference for pre-defined project No 1.

Own financial contribution
According to the EEA regulations, any applicant bidding to be the Project Promoter, has to contribute with 10% own co-financing over and above the grant mentioned in project document and Terms of Reference. However, NGO are allowed to make a contribution in-kind for up to 5% of the total co-financing required, with the rest being in-cash. This rule also applies for consortiums where an NGO is the lead partner (undertakes the major part of the activities), but not in consortiums where the NGO is a minor partner (receives less than 1/3 of the total amount of the budget).
The applicant must provide proof of eligibility and capacity criteria as well as sufficient project management skills.

More information related to this open call for proposals may be obtained by addressing NGO Programme Lithuania coordinator Tomas Kubilius via e-mail , or by phone +370 5 2314 681.