Call for Applications by ERIM (Equal Rights & Independent Media) for Armenian Civil Society and Independent Media

ERIM (Equal Rights & Independent Media), a French based organisation, is announcing a call for Armenian civil society organisations (CSOs) and independent media.

 

The purpose of the call is to strengthen the capacities, resilience, and effectiveness of civic actors, including independent media and civil society organisations in Armenia through capacity building grants of up to 17,000 EUR, based on Organizational Capacity Assessments (OCA).

 

The call is opened to organisations that need support to continue their work, develop their organisational capacities, enhance their resilience or financial sustainability, etc.

 

We aim to support media and civil society organisations active in the field of human rights, LGBTQI+ rights, women's rights, gender issues and so on.  

 

 

Context and Objective

 

 

ERIM (Equal Rights and Independent Media) is a not-for-profit organisation based in Lyon, France. Our mission is to promote human rights, strengthen independent media and civil society and empower individuals through developing critical thinking skills. The ERIM approach emphasises partnerships with local development organisations to bring about change through training, partnerships, education, research and sub-granting schemes.

 

“Democracy in Eastern Partnership - DEAP”, is a regional project, funded by the European Union and implemented by ERIM. The project aims to promote inclusive, resilient and democratic societies in the Eastern Partnership Region by strengthening the capacities of civil society and grassroot organisations, supporting research and policy analysis, and organising cultural and networking events to promote the work of human rights defenders.

 

 

Target Groups and Beneficiaries

 

 

We particularly welcome applications from regional, grassroots organisations.

We also welcome organisations working on cross-cutting issue, such as LGBTQI+ rights, women’s rights, youth or disability, etc.

Applications from political or religious organisations will not be considered.

 

 

Activities and Eligible Costs

 

 

The funding will be used to reach one or more specific operational goals in the following fields: (1) governance, (2) fundraising, (3) development and provision of services, (4) mobilisation, branding and external communication, (5) human resources management, (6) financial management, and (7) monitoring and evaluation.

Selected organisations will collaborate with an external consultant to conduct a comprehensive Organizational Capacity Assessment (OCA). This process typically lasts an average of four days and This project is funded by the European Union takes place at the organization's premises. Various team members should participate in the assessment. The primary goal is to identify key areas for the organization to focus on during the implementation of the project/capacity development grant. Following the assessment a Capacity Development Plan will be developed. The external consultant will continue to be involved during the implementation period, offering counselling as needed.

ERIM will award two capacity development grants, each with a maximum of 17,000 EUR, for projects lasting up to 18 months. The grants will be used to implement capacity development plans, which may include, but are not limited to:

 

• Consultancy and mentorship in developing or improving policies/planning documents,

• Strategies, structures, and processes: strategic plans, professional development plans, communications strategies, emergency response plans, business planning, fundraising strategies

• Training courses and focused technical assistance based on organizational needs in areas such as, but not limited to, board development and governance, public relations, strategic planning, financial management, volunteer systems, advocacy and communication, informational technology (IT), digital security, etc.

• Monitor and evaluate the progress of the organizational development

• Other needs identified through the OCA

 

ERIM is available to share with the selected beneficiaries a roster of trainers and experts in organizational development. Organizations may also select their own trainers; however, ERIM will review and approve all experts, trainers, and consultants hired under each grant to ensure alignment with the program’s objectives.

The following are excluded from funding consideration:

 

• Core support and direct activities: Please keep in mind that capacity development grants cannot include core support and direct activities implemented by organisation. Only activities aiming to strengthening capacity, process and sustainability of the organisation are eligible.

• International events/programs/conferences

• Equipment, unless a strong justification is provided

 

Capacity development is a key element of the consolidation and longevity of an organisation, it increases effectiveness, impact but also wellbeing and satisfaction within teams. However, we advise that you apply only if your team has sufficient time and resources to dedicate to improving organisational capacities. Your team will need to allocate adequate time for training, consultations with experts, sharing insights with other team members, and implementing changes over the long term.

Each support amount, contract and payment method will be decided and discussed between the beneficiary and the support team to ensure the security of the beneficiaries and based on the OCA results. The Application form is available here.  

 

 

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

 

 

Minimum eligibility Criteria

 

• Applicants must be registered or legally organised in accordance with the Armenian law; citizen, youth or other forms of informal groups looking to grow as an independent organisation are eligible to apply through an established organisation with whom they have had a relevant history of cooperation
• Applicants must have been active for a minimum of the last 2 years
• Applicants must have at least 2 full time staff members
• The applicant’s current statute and mission are in line with democratic and human rights principles

 

Selection Criteria

 

• The organisation has highlighted clear areas where it seeks improvement
• The organisation proposed activities that will strengthen their organisation
• The organisation showed willingness to participate and motivation to improve their internal procedures and strategic documents
• The applicant shows resilience potential beyond the project support

 

 

Application Process

 

The application form can be submitted in Armenian or English to the email address: [email protected]

Please, state in the subject line “DEAP - Capacity development for Armenia”. The applications should be submitted in word, please, provide an English version of your application to the original one, google translate is an acceptable method of translation. Proposals must be submitted online by 18:00 (Yerevan time), 10 November 2024. For any further information, you can consult the Guide for Applicants which can be downloaded at the following link: Guide for Applicants. ERIM will be hosting an information session on October 31, 2024, at 5:00 PM (Yerevan time). To participate, please register here and submit your questions in advance.

 

Guide for preparing grant proposals 2024 in Armenian can be accessed here.