About the Program
The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) is one of these instruments and was established by Regulation (EU) No.235/2014 adopted by the European Parliament and the Council in March 2014 for the period 2014-2020, establishing a financing instrument for democracy and human rights worldwide through support to civil society initiatives.
The EIDHR is designed to support civil society to become an effective force for political reform and defence of human rights. In doing this, it complements various other tools for implementing the Union policies relating to democracy and human rights. In the context of Turkey, EIDHR seeks to address evolving and dynamic needs in the field considering recent developments in the EU as well as to complement other Union Instruments namely Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA). Furthermore, the EIDHR offers independence of action, which is a critical feature of cooperation with civil society organisations at national level, especially in the sensitive areas of democracy and human rights. It offers great flexibility and increased capacity to respond changing
circumstances or to support innovation.
EIDHR in Turkey
Since 2002, EIDHR has provided support to more than 150 projects in Turkey addressing issues ranging from freedom of expression, to improved access to justice, fight against torture and impunity, women's rights, protection and respect of cultural diversity. This support has been instrumental in complementing Turkey’s reform efforts through enabling better participation of organised citizens in the reform process.
Objectives and Priority Areas
The global objective of this call for proposals is to support and empower civil society in protection and promotion of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms and thus contribute to the opening of civic, democratic and civil society space. The specific objective of this call for proposals is “to strengthen civil society's involvement in the making, implementation and monitoring of human rights policies at local and national levels”. In addition, proposals can address (a) any situation where violation of human rights is observed or where there is a need for promotion of human rights; and/or (b) supporting the resilience of civil society and civic actors to new and modern challenges, including but not limited to digital security and public health risks such as COVID-19.
The priorities of this call for proposals are:
- children and women's rights, combating gender-based violence, rights of LGBTI persons;
- non-discrimination, rights of persons belonging to minorities, freedom of religion or belief;
- right to fair trial, fight against impunity, prevention of torture and ill-treatment, human rights in prison;
- freedom of expression, assembly and association.
This call for proposal will finance projects that respect the rights-based approach (RBA) methodology. Following the adoption in 2014 of the toolbox "A Rights-Based Approach, Encompassing All Human Rights, for EU Development Cooperation" and the respective Council Conclusions, the European Commission committed to move towards a Rights-Based Approach for development cooperation.
About Application
To apply for this call for proposals the lead applicants need to provide information about the organisations involved in the action. Please note that the registration of this data in PADOR is obligatory for this call for proposals. Please note that online submission via PROSPECT is obligatory for this call.
Applications for this call for proposal will be received in two stages. Those who have passed the Concept Note stage, which is the first stage, will be asked to make a Full Application, which is the second step.
In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:
- be a legal person and
- be non-profit-making and
- be a civil society organisation and
- be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the co-applicant(s) and affiliated entity(ies), not acting as an intermediary and
- No nationality restriction applies to lead applicants and, if any, to co-applicants and affiliated entities.
The initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than 24 months nor exceed 36 months. The proposal needs to be in line with the global and specific objectives of this call. It also needs to stipulate which priority or priorities the proposal responds to. Activities should be designed and implemented following a Rights-Based Approach and a gender sensitive approach and the data collected during project implementation should be sex-disaggregated.
Actions must be implemented in Turkey, except for specific activities related to study tours, participation in events and attendance of CSO representatives to platforms, meetings and conferences, etc. as long as they clearly contribute to the achievement of the project’s overall objectives. Activities related to exchange of knowledge and experience from European Union Member States, Candidate and Potential Candidate countries can be supported only if part of a broader action.
- The lead applicant may not submit more than 1 application under this call for proposals.
- The lead applicant may not be awarded more than 1 grant under this call for proposals.
- The lead applicant may be a co-applicant or an affiliated entity in another application at the same time.
- A co-applicant/affiliated entity may be the co-applicant or affiliated entity in more than 1 application under this call for proposals.
- A co-applicant/affiliated entity may not be awarded more than 1 grant under this call for proposals.
Size of Grant
Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
- minimum amount: EUR 300,000
- maximum amount: EUR 600,000
Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum percentages of total eligible costs of the action:
- Minimum percentage: 80 % of the total eligible costs of the action.
- Maximum percentage: 95 % of the total eligible costs of the action.
Deadline
The deadline for the submission of concept notes is 16/03/2021 at 16:00 (Brussels date and time).
For Questions
Questions may be sent by e-mail no later than 21 days before the deadline for the submission of concept notes to the address(es) below, indicating clearly the reference of the call for proposals: E-mail address: [email protected]
For Detailed Information
Before applying for this call for proposals, please carefully review the Guidelines for Grant Applicants and related supplementary documents.
