Call for proposals: Norec grant «Democracy through partnerships» 2023/2024

About the grant scheme

The scheme is aimed at Norwegian political parties and youth parties.

Measures to promote democracy via political organisations represent a limited but important contribution to democratisation in official development assistance (ODA) recieving countries. Norwegian political parties can play a role through their international networks, engagement, and expertise in democratisation and building party organisations.

Grants under this scheme will be awarded in accordance with the criteria set out in the regulatory framework and the present call for proposals.

The scheme is application-based. Applications will be processed and assessed based on the guidelines and criteria set out in the call for proposals. Applications will be assessed and weighted in relation to other applications received.

There is no entitlement to receive a grant from this scheme. This applies even if all the formal and material conditions for award of a grant have been met.

The total annual framework for the grant scheme is eight million Norwegian kroner.

• Call for proposals: 17.11.2023
• Application deadline: 18.02.2024
• Earliest starting date: 01.01.2024
• Latest starting date: 30.09.2024

Who can apply, target and target group

Who can apply for this grant?

• Norwegian political parties and their youth wings.

Target

The target of this grant is:

• Democratic parties and party systems in ODA-recieving countries have better ability and capacity to promote democracy.
• Political parties have strengthened their global partnerships and contributed to sustainable development and democracy in ODA-countries.

Target group

• Democratic parties and party systems in ODA-recieving countries

Criteria for target achievement

The following criteria for target achievement shall be applied to this call for proposals:

• Increased representativeness in political parties or party systems, with the emphasis on youth and women.
• Concrete improvement in parties’ or party systems’ capacity to discharge their democratic roles.
• Enhanced collaboration between parties, primarily by means of measures to promote reconciliation, consensus and coalition-building.

Criteria for applicants

The applicant must be a legal person. Accurate and comprehensive information about the organisational structure must be provided.

The applicant must document that the following criteria are met:

• The applicant has the necessary specialist and administrative expertise to implement the measure. Results of previous efforts within the scope of the scheme are relevant.
• The applicant demonstrates good insight into the problems at hand.
• The applicant has established effective contact with potential partners. The application must include information about collaborators. The application must indicate that it has been prepared collectively.
• The applicant have its own articles of association and an accountable board.
• The applicant’s board is administratively separate from the organisation’s day-to-day operations in order to guarantee its function as an independent control body.
• The applicant has drawn up a code of conduct for the organisation, including zero tolerance for financial misconduct and zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH).
• The applicant has carried out adequate safety assessments for the organisation’s own employees when they are working abroad, and taken the necessary measures in areas such as training, internal guidelines, insurance, and equipment.

Norec will in all cases assess the applicant’s expertise as well as specialist and administrative capacity. In the case of applicants who have previously received grants under this grant scheme, experience relating to previous awards, including reporting, financial management and performance assessment, will form part of the assessment.

If the applicant is a local branch or division of an organisation, the application shall be submitted by the umbrella organisation.

What measures are eligible for grants?

Grants are available for the following:

• Measures to promote the development of well-functioning and democratic party organisations and systems in ODA-approved countries, thereby contributing to Sustainable Development Goals 16 and 17.

Grants will not be provided for:

• Self-promotion, fund-raising campaigns, commercial activities or electioneering in Norway or internationally.

All measures must satisfy the following criteria:

• The measure must fall within the purpose of the scheme and aim to meet a concrete, defined need.
• The measure must have clearly defined, realistic and measurable targets, and specify a baseline/current situation and indicators that make it possible to measure and report on the results achieved.
• The measure must be cost-effective. The applicant must document this in a detailed budget. Grant recipients shall not make a profit from the grant.
• Indirect costs* related to the measure shall be capped at seven per cent of the measure’s total direct costs.
• The measure must meet the criteria for ODA support set out in the OECD and DAC directives.

*Indirect costs are expenses that cannot be directly attributed to the execution of the specific project, including costs for administration and support functions at the grant recipient.

In assessing applications, Norec will attach importance to the following elements, among others:

• To what degree the measure is suitable to help achieve the purpose of the scheme
• To what degree the measure strengthens the development of global and mutual partnerships
• To what degree the measure facilitates skills development and knowledge transfer between collaboration partners
• Safeguarding of cross-cutting considerations
• Local support for the measure, its sustainability and exit strategy
• The measure’s relevance with respect to Norwegian strategies and guideline documents in the area
• The measure’s relevance to the partner country’s own plans and priorities
• Risk/risk management
• Any general guidelines for Norwegian development assistance and the measure’s contribution to SDG 16 and 17.
• Composition of the scheme’s portfolio

Cross-cutting considerations

The following four cross-cutting considerations shall be safeguarded in all measures:

• Human rights, especially in terms of co-determination, accountability and non-discrimination
• Women’s rights and equality
• Climate and the environment
• Anti-corruption

Grant recipients shall identify significant risk factors that may negatively impact the cross-cutting considerations, and analyse and manage these throughout the cycle of the measure. Norec assesses whether grant recipients’ risk assessments and risk management provide adequate assurance of avoiding unintentional negative effects.

What are the requirements for the application?

• Applicants must use Norec’s application templates to submit their application. Application templates are available at norec.no. Application forms shall be submitted in English.
• All relevant documentation shall be submitted to norec@norec.no by the application deadline
• Annexes forming part of the application may be uploaded in the following formats: .docx, .xlsx and .pdf
• Mandatory annexes include: Budget, results framework and, for new applicants, current articles of association.

Other information

• The minimum amount that may be applied for is NOK 500,000.
• Projects may run for up to two years with the option to extend in connection with future calls for proposals under the scheme.
• If the application covers several measures or projects, the applicant must attach an overall plan stating the reasons for thematic and geographical priorities.
• Measures that are supported through this scheme must comply with the rules of the EEA Agreement on state aid, cf. Act on state aid and associated provisions.
• Funding is contingent on annual appropriations from the central government budget.
• Feasibility studies are not normally eligible for support.
• Support for seminars and information work as part of the main project will not be prioritised where this exceeds 10 per cent of the total project budget.
• Project costs arising from 1 January 2024 are eligible.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affair’s budget item 170.70, civil society, is exempt from the requirement concerning geographical concentration. Nonetheless, we encourage applicants to concentrate on measures involving countries and thematic areas where efforts are likely to generate the best results.
• Collaborative measures to strengthen democratic institutions may also be considered relevant in line with the purpose of the scheme.
• Parties and youth parties are encouraged to collaborate on the applications where expedient.
• If registration of local civil society partners entails risk, the requirement for local registration may be waived. Exemptions from disclosure of project partners pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act must be justified in a separate annex to the application. If you have questions on this, please contact the responsible section of Norec.
• Norwegian development assistance shall be knowledge- and research-based, and applicants are encouraged to describe how this requirement has been met.
• The next call for proposals under this grant scheme is scheduled for 2025, for projects to start up in 2026.

Contact

Questions about the call of proposals for 2023/2024 can be directed to the Department of Programs at norec@norec.no. Please indicate “democracy through partnerships” in the subject line.