EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Directorate-General Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations
D - WESTERN BALKANS
D5 – Western Balkans Regional Cooperation and Programmes
IPA - Civil Society Facility and Media
Synthesis of the multi-beneficiary Action Document 2016-17
The proposed CSF and Media programme 2016-2017 is in line with the priorities of the Multi
Country Indicative Strategy Paper 2014-2020 and directly linked to the two sets of EU
guidelines: the EU guidelines for support to civil society in enlargement countries, 2014-2020
and the EU guidelines for support to media freedom and media integrity in enlargement
countries, 2014-2020. The 2016-2017 programme has been prepared in close consultation and
agreement with the EUDs in the Western Balkans and Turkey and geographical Units of DG
NEAR.
The main objective of programme is to strengthen participatory democracies by anchoring
democratic values and structures, respect for human rights, social inclusion and the rule of law
in the societies of the partner countries and thereby support their EU integration process. The
specific objectives build upon those of the EU guidelines and include fostering an enabling
legal, policy and financial environment for CSOs, improving CSOs-Governments relations, as
well as supporting CSOs in their efforts to become more effective, more financially sustainable
and to increase their capacity, transparency and accountability. In the field of media the
programme intends to improve the legal environment, to preserve pluralism and to enhance
public demand for quality media. Within a broader number of sectors, specific actions will
include: women rights and gender equality; support to local democracy; disadvantaged and
vulnerable groups; protection of minority rights; technical assistance to public service media.
The total proposed budget is € 35 million and includes the following actions:
1
Civil Society Facility and media 2016-2017 outline MC Action
Action
Implementation
arrangement
Horizontal support – Multi-country
Description
Year
EUR million
Sub-total
2016-2017
2016
2017
35
20
15
Regional networks platforms
Open Call for
Proposals
Regional networks of CSOs covering various sectors (including investigative journalism,
reconciliation, etc. to be further consulted before the launching of the call) and aiming at the
results included in the EU guidelines for the support to civil society in the Western Balkans
and Turkey. A minor part of this budget will be dedicated to the continuation of few FPA.
2016
2017
6.5
10
Operating grants –
regional platforms
Direct award after
evaluation of
yearly work
programme
IV year of budgetary support to 10 CSO platforms. The previous budgetary support is
included in CSF 2014 and 2015
2016
1.5
Regional Technical
Assistance (TACSO)
+ people-to-people
Service contract
after restricted
international
tender
Regional technical assistance to civil society including capacity building on networking,
advocacy, lobby, philanthropy, organisation and management of the people-to-people
programme. Moreover the regional TACSO will also assist the national resource centres
with technical expertise.
2017
5
Gender regional
programme
Direct award to
UN Women
This programme will have 3 components:
- Women's human rights and ending violence against women
- Including the most disadvantaged groups of women
- Ensuring political will to promote gender equality & women's empowerment and eliminate
harmful gender stereotypes.
Although funds will be directly awarded to UN Women, the organisation is obliged to subgrant 60% of funds to CSOs working in the same area.
2016
5
Local Democracy
programme
Direct award to
UNDP
The local democracy project (LOD) has been successfully implemented by UNDP in Bosnia
and Herzegovina for the last 5 years. The idea is to expand it in all the Western Balkans
countries. The programme includes capacity building of local municipalities for transparent
procedures in awarding grants to CSOs. The regional programme could foresee piloting 5
municipalities in each one of the country. Additional financial resources from countries'
envelopes will increase the number of benefitted municipalities in the related country.
At least 60% of the funds will be sub-granted to CSOs working in the selected
municipalities.
2016
5
2
Public Service
Media
RHP CSO
monitoring role
Service contract
after restricted
international
tender
Direct grant award
to IGMAN
initiative
Technical assistance to the public service media for the development of long term reform
strategies for better management, organisation, accountability and financial sustainability of
Public TV and radio broadcasters.
Funded after the Dayton agreement this coalition of CSO will monitor the implementation of
the RHP in the four countries with special attention to local and national authorities dealing
with vulnerable beneficiaries. The action grant will also include low values grants for grass
root organisations.
2016
1.5
2016
0.5
3