Norwegian and EEA Financial Mechanisms NGO Fund One -year-experience of funding capacity building projects Maris Jõgeva Program Coordinator Open Estonia Foundation , Tallinn

NGO Fund Funded by the Norwegian and EEA Financial Mechanisms Overall objective of the Fund is to support economical and social development through strenghtening civil society in Estonia Aim of the NGO Fund in Estonia: increasing the capacity, role and influence of NGOs in Estonia During the period 2008 – 2011, Open Estonia Foundation as an Intermediary has a possibility to invest 2,1 mil EUR in the development of the third sector.

Priority areas NGO Fund supports initiatives which are important for the civil society development in three priority areas: –Democracy and civil society development (50% of funds); –Environemnt and sustainable development (25%); –Social integration and local development (25%).

Supported activities Development of the institutional capacity (leadership, governance, membership and constituency building); Development of advocacy and service provision skills; Promotion of democratic values, principles of good governance, sustainable development and gender equality; Improving access for participation and involvement in decision making processes on the local, regional or national levels; Implementation of information and communication technologies in order to enable better information sharing, consultations and participation; Coalition building and development of cooperation between the public, business and the third sector at a local, regional, state and international level; Increasing social inclusion by widening opportunities for disadvantaged groups; Supporting community development by combining mechanisms of social integration, education and economic development; Involving NGOs and the community in local problem solving, service delivery; Improving legitimacy, transparency and accountability of civil society organisations; Monitoring and assessing the state and trends in civil society development.

Eligible applicants, project characteristics Non-governmental organisations constituted as legal entities in Estonia, operating in the public interests, are not political parties and functioning on a not-for-profit basis:  Voluntary, self-governing organisations not subject to direction by public authorities, independent of political control and established under Estonian legal system;  Social partners (employers organisations and trade unions);  Certain independent organisations enjoying a specific legal status Small projects – grant from EEK (1278 – 6491 EUR), duration up to 12 months. Large projects – grant from EEK (6491 – EUR), duration up to 24 months. Grant-giving decisions are made through open calls carried out regulary.

Specific rules: Grant can cover up to 90% of projects eligible costs, at least 10 % of the costs should be covered by co-financing. - investments up to 20 % of eligible costs; - overhead up to 10 % of eligible costs; - in-kind contributions up to 50% of total co-financing; - acting in public interests; - applicant can not be under the influence of state or local government institutions. 80% as advanced payments, 20% will be covered after the project is completed.

Changes that we hope for: More trained leaders; New jobs in the third sector; Better strategic decisions by NGOs; Effective cooperation networks and coalitions created; Visible initiatives of NGOs for influencing public policy and widening of the circle of NGOs actively participating in policy making; New data for better understanding of NGOs, participation and involvement trends, needs and developments; Good-quality researches and policy analyses about the sector; More contracts and agreements signed with NGOs for public service delivery.

Numbers... Round IRound IIRound III Applications121 (66/55)145 (75/70)118 (61/57) Priority areas (50/25/25) 50%/11%/ 39%40%/10%/45%55%/12%/33% Approved in technical assessment 69%86% 84% Supported projects27 (14/13)31 (13/18) 21 %

Submitted projects Development projects - support applyed for capacity building or keeping activities going; Initiatives – new solutions and ideas for approaching needs in society or developing civil society, incl. awareness raising; Specific target area projects – mainly aimed at problems of target groups or specific areas (eg children, disabled people, rural areas); Regional cooperation projects – projects for improving cooperation between organisations as well as different sectors in a geographical region; Community projects

Examples of cooperation projects 1) Estonian Chamber of Disabled People, “Monitoring the implementation of accessibility article in using support of Structural Funds and improving the role of disabled peoples organizations“. Grant: EEK The aim of the project is to disseminate information about EU Structural Funds general regulation accessibility article – that the EU financed activities and investments cannot create additional barriers or any way add to social exclusion in the society. Project involves the Nordic Federation of Association of Disabled as a partner. Project duration is 16 months. 2) Pärnu’s County Village Movement “Kodukant”, “Civil courage is knowledge to have one’s say”. Grant: EEK Project contributes to the development of civil society in Pärnu County by training NGOs management skills and developing the county networks of NGOs. Study-visit to Norway is integrated into project activities in cooperation with Buskerud County Council. Project duration is 1 year.

3) Estonian Agrenska Foundation, “Right to Work – Common Right In Democracy. Introducing the Experience of Nordic Countries in Organising Supported Employment”, Grant: EEK Project is focusing on strengthening advocacy work within promotion of service development for people with disabilities – in the field of supported employment. A four-month sample supported employment program will be implemented with Norwegian, Swedish and Estonian partners. Project duration is 19 months. 4) Foundation Maarja Village, “Raising the Quality of “Life In the Community” Service in Estonia”. Grant: EEK The aim of the project is to map the situation of community-based care possibilities to mentally disabled people and to start trainings for workers and clients involved in the service. As a result a cooperation network of organizations providing living in the community service together with task distribution will be established, study-visit to Camphill Village Trust in Norway organized and guiding materials for partners as well as new possible service providers published. Project duration is 12 months.

5) Junior Achievement Estonia, “Entrepreneurship Studies and Enterprise Initiatives – Key to Citizenship”. Grant: EEK Goal of the project is to promote and popularize both entrepreneurship and the development of enterprises as a valuable attribute to citizenship and civil society. Study materials will be created, trainings and development activities conducted, youth, university students and adults will be involved. Valle Videregaende Skole is involved as a partner from Norway. Project duration is 24 months.

Dilemmas? Flexibility and openness vs certain rules “Project” as a way of thinking Teaching vs judging Good projects vs needed projects

Wishes... More analysis: critical assessment of former activities, organisatioal development, role in the sector, strenghts and capacities, etc More involving projects – members, partners, society Advocacy development New ideas Professionalism Reasonable budgets Cooperation projects with Norwegian partners

What could be done in cooperation Sharing experiences – membership, involvment, participation in policy making, sustainability and stability; Good practices – servce delivery, awareness building, programmes with influence; Networking – shared ideas, trainings, coalitions, etc.

Information and lists of supported projects: Website of Open Estonia Foundation: Tel Thank you!

Discussion: What could be the issues that Norwegian NGOs could share with Estonian partners? What could Estonian NGOs share with Norwegians? How could Open Estonia Foundation help to encourage cooperation?