Bucharest, August 24, 2022 – the Active Citizens Fund Romania Programme is launching today, three calls up to almost 2 million Euro to sustain non-governmental organizations involved in the civil-humanitarian response triggered by the conflict in the neighboring country.
The humanitarian crisis started in February as result of the invasion in Ukraine received a prompt response from non-governmental organizations in Romania. The rapid response to the critical situation in the first months of the war showed the power of organizations to adapt and react in key moments, but it showed also the vulnerabilities regarding the sustainability of the aid provided, in medium and long term.
To enable even more the civil society organization to have relevant interventions for the benefit of the refugees from Ukraine and, as well, to respond to the current challenges that might as well affect the overall environment for CSOs and the civic space, the Active Citizens Fund Romania Programme launches three calls that support rapid response grants for Ukraine crisis:
Call 1.1 – Civic participation in response to the Ukraine crisis – supports measures to increase civic engagement in addressing the challenges generated by the refugee crisis, initiatives that support citizens in advocacy actions and oversight of specific regulations, as well as projects that combat disinformation, fake news and encourage citizens to critically engage with news content and to identify malicious campaigns.
The budget allocation for Call 1.1 amounts to 110,000 Euro and there will be awarded grants up to 50,000 Euro for projects with duration between 6-12 months.
Call 4.1 – Awareness on human rights and equal treatment for refugees fleeing Ukraine – supports frontline organizations providing assistance to refugees at risk or who become victims of human rights violations. Actions could include prevention and/or direct response (legal, medical, psychological counseling, accommodation, etc.) for survivors and people at risk of human rights violations, litigation support in human rights/equal treatment cases, including gender-based violence. Enhancing awareness on human rights and equal treatment of refugees is another objective of the call.
The budget allocation for Call 4.1 amounts to 650,000 Euro and there will be awarded grants up to 250,000 Euro for projects with duration between 6-12 months.
Call 6.1.1 – Support for refugees fleeing Ukraine – addresses the social inclusion of Ukrainian refugees through integrated approaches, with an important focus on the most vulnerable, supports the involvement of stakeholders in this process for the benefit of local communities hosting groups of Ukrainian citizens.
The budget allocation for Call 6.1 amounts to 1,058,000 Euro and there will be awarded grants up to 250,000 Euro for projects with duration between 6-12 months.
The Calls are addressed to non-governmental organizations in Romania that have implemented or are currently implementing projects financed by Active Citizens Fund Romania as a project promoter or partner. These organizations can apply in partnership with other NGOs or public/private entities that can contribute to the success of the project.
”The activities under these calls are financed through the EEA and Norway Grants. We are confident that the Active Citizens Fund through its partners will provide valuable assistance to refugees from Ukraine.”
stated H.E., Ms. Siri Barry, the Norwegian Ambassador in Bucharest
”Active Citizens Fund Romania must continue to show its solidarity with the people of Ukraine, with those fleeing their homes in search of safety, with the civil society organizations from the neighboring country that need, now more than ever, a safety net, moral support, and realistic actions. Our values commit us to stand beside those defending democracy, and its core values. These are the times when we need to ensure even more that the human rights are respected. Throughout these three calls, we invite the Romanian organizations and their partners to enroll on this road together
Mr. Ionuț Sibian, Executive director of Civil Society Development Foundation in Romania, leader of the Consortium that administrates the Active Citizens Fund Romania.