EPIM Call for Proposals on advising long-term EU funding on migrant inclusion and community cohesion Sub-Fund on Building Inclusive European Societies DOC 1: Guidelines for the submission of a project proposal 1. INTRODUCTION The European Programme for Integration and Migration dedicates a Sub-Fund to enhancing community cohesion in diverse European societies so that it leads to collective and individual improvements of quality of life and social relationships of all members of the community (including migrants). With a multi-level and bottom-up approach, the Sub-Fund aims to promote whole-of-community approaches to migrant inclusion as a tool to enhance community cohesion. In this context, this call for proposals aims to empower civil society to advise the long-term financial programming, governance and practical implementation of EU funding for migrant integration and its translation at the national level, towards more efficient, coordinated, coherent and socially impactful use of this funding for migrant inclusion and community cohesion. Besides background information and objectives of the Sub-Fund, this document provides full information concerning eligibility as well as the grant application and selection process. 2. ABOUT EPIM EPIM is a collaborative funding initiative of foundations from a variety of European countries that supports civil society organisations work on migration and integration. It is hosted by the Network of European Foundations (NEF). The following EPIM Partner Foundations contribute to the core activities of the programme, including this Sub-Fund: Aga Khan Foundation, Barrow Cadbury Trust, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Compagnia di San Paolo, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Fundaçᾶo Calouste Gulbenkian, Oak Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, King Baudouin Foundation, Fondation Abbé Pierre, Adessium Foundation, Fondation de France, Charles Mott Foundation and Open Society Foundations. An additional twelve foundations are cooperating with EPIM on specific sub-funds. 3. OBJECTIVES This call for proposals seeks civil society organisations projects at EU level which form (a) strong Pan- European partnership(s) to: - become a critical actor that advises the long-term financial programming, governance and practical implementation of EU funding for migrant integration and community cohesion as well as its translation at the national level, in particular in the context of the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations; - engage with EU and national decision-makers in evidence-based and solutions-oriented discussions (i.e. by referring to existing good practices);
- ensure that funding priorities and their translation into practice are coherent, coordinated, needsbased, migrant-focused and socially impactful and shift from a top-down to whole-of-community 1 approaches to migrant inclusion that foster community cohesion. 4. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS 1. Applicants should apply in partnership. 2. Applicants must be charities or non-profit organisations registered in a country within the European Union and should be established at least two years prior to application. 3. Pan-European, (national/regional chapters of) international or national civil society organisations are eligible applicants as long as they demonstrate the value and rationale of engaging at European/transnational level as opposed to locally or nationally. In the case of national organisation, the expected impact of the project should not be limited to the national level, and the project must include one or more partner(s) from other member states and/or at the EU level. In the case of pan-european civil society organisations and/or umbrella platforms, one or more (external) partners or member organisations must be included in their project. Projects that reach out to non-eu partners will also be considered. 4. While an organisation may be involved in more than one project application as a partner, it can only make one application for project funding under this call for proposals as project coordinator. The organisation that leads the application will be considered as the project coordinator. 5. ELIGIBLE PROJECT PROPOSALS 1. The Sub-Fund will consider projects that are focused on advocacy. Supported activities could include, among others: power mapping and analysis, joint civil society strategizing at the EU and national levels, monitoring of the negotiations and information exchange, coordination between EU and national civil society actors, information requests to public authorities, EU and national policy roundtables, bilateral advocacy meetings at the EU and national levels, joint advocacy papers, networking for advocacy, and development of advocacy tools to be used at the EU and national level. Training, research, evidence collection, and mobilisation can be part of the project if directly linked to enhance the advocacy strategy. 2. Applications for stand-alone trainings and conferences, or individual academic study/research/travel are not eligible. 3. Funds cannot be provided for physical capital projects. 4. English is the working language of EPIM. Only well-presented and clear applications in English will be accepted. Furthermore, the organisation s staff communicating with the EPIM Secretariat and representing the grantees in EPIM s capacity and network development programmes will be expected to work in English. 5. The currency of the budget proposals must be established in Euro. 1 Under this Sub-Fund, EPIM defines the whole-of-community approach to migrant inclusion as one that supports and promotes initiatives driven by local communities as well as one that seeks to reconcile the interests of migrant populations with those of the rest of the community to achieve a high level of well-being for all community members. 2
6. SELECTION CRITERIA Eligible applications will be reviewed on the basis of the criteria outlined below: Alignment with the objectives of the call: proposed projects should contribute to achieve the objectives listed under Section 3 of this document. Project proposals must clearly explain how they will contribute to achieve these objectives. Objectives of the the project proposals must be broken down to a realistic and tangible set of outcomes to be achieved within the proposed timeframe. Theory of change and methodology: Project proposals must clearly explain the relevance of the proposed approach with regard to the opportunities offered by the European and national contexts. Project proposals should indicate the concrete and realistic changes they will aim for. Well-thought and innovative advocacy strategy: Proposals should outline an advocacy strategy that is both solutions-based (i.e. by referring to existing good practices) and evidence-based (i.e. by relying on the evidence contained in existing reports as well as research developed in the context of this Sub-Fund) The advocacy strategy should also reflect the difficulties that civil society organisations may have to engage in EU decision-making processes and proposes strategic steps to overcome them. Strength of the partnership: The proposal should include a Pan-European partnership. The partnership may include Pan-European civil society networks, national NGOs, networks and associations of cities and municipalities, migrant-led organisations, think-tanks etc. All partners must be joint contributors to the project outcomes. Their specific level of contribution must be reflected accordingly in the budget distribution. Strategic choice of the target countries: Proposed projects should seek to engage at the EU level. In addition, proposed projects should strategically engage at the national level and hence target several EU member States. The choice of (the) target country(ies) for the proposed projects must be based on a sound analysis of the needs and opportunities provided by the European and national contexts. Empowerment of beneficiaries: Direct involvement of final beneficiaries of EU and national migrant integration funding is strongly encouraged. Effective communications strategy: Projects should be designed around a strong communications strategy, which applies from the very outset of the planning of the project and its implementation. Who are the stakeholders who should be aware of this project from day one and be consulted in its design and implementation? Which communication channels can be used to disseminate outcomes? How can communications be targeted to reach different audiences? Who among the partners is best placed to communicate on what? Which resources are required (staff, design, translation )? A specific part of the budget should be earmarked, and a time period reserved, for the implementation of the communications strategy. Feasibility and financial viability of the project: The proposal includes a scope, a methodology and a timeframe that are realistic. Human and financial resources are sufficient to complete the project; Elaboration on risks and challenges: the proposal should provide a clear understanding of risks and challenges with suggestions on how to overcome these. 3
Sustainability: Project proposals should address the sustainability of project outcomes and highlight how the project strengthens the capacities of the organisations involved beyond the funding period. Value/need for EPIM funding: The need for private funding opposed to EU funding or other sources of funding should be demonstrated. 7. DURATION OF PROJECTS The selected project(s) can run up to 24 months starting in May 2018. 8. BUDGET Projects can be proposed for a grant of up to 200,000 EUR to be awarded under this call for proposals. 9. APPLICATION PROCESS Step 1: Organisations who are eligible for funding should fill out the online application form on the NEF online application system. To access the application form, please visit the website https://applications.nef-europe.org/ and click on the tab Login/Register. If this is your first visit to the website, register by giving your first name, last name, email address and by choosing a password. You will then receive an email confirming your registration. Log in with your email address and chosen password. Once logged in, click on the tab available application forms. Choose the call for which you wish to submit an application form, in this case EPIM call for proposals on advising long-term EU funding for migrant inclusion and community cohesion. You can start completing your application form. The questions with an asterisk require an answer. You can save your unfinished version to work on it later. You can also preview your application in PDF version. Once you send your application, you can no longer modify it. You will receive an e-mail and a pdf version of your application to confirm your submission. The application has to be submitted by 16 March 2018 (COB). The following documents need to be submitted with the application: The completed application form; Project Budget Proposal in Excel format; Your organisation s financial statements for the past two years (2016 and 2017 audited, if available); Your organisation s total operating budget for 2018, including income and expenses; Contact details for two referees. Step 2: Organisations eligible for EPIM funding with projects meeting the selection criteria will be invited to meet with EPIM before their application is being subject to the decision of the EPIM Selection Committee by mid-april 2018. 10. REVIEW AND DECISION-MAKING Only complete application packages with all above-mentioned documents will be eligible for review during the selection process. Proposals received will be reviewed by the EPIM Selection Committee, made up of members of the Foundations involved in this sub-fund. Applicants will be informed about the decision by email. 4
11. TIMELINE 16 March 2018 Deadline for submission of proposals March-April 2018 Mid-April 2018 May 2018 Review of applications and interviews with shortlisted applicants EPIM decision on the grant Project(s) start(s) CONTACT EPIM encourages those interested in applying to contact Sophie Ngo-Diep (sophie.ngodiep@epim.info) for any questions they may have. 5