Info Days 2010 held

The Info Days on calls for support CSOs projects and programmes from the Sate Budget and a part of the revenue from Gambling for the year 2010 were organised by the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs (GOfNGOs) in cooperation with the state administration bodies - donors. It was held on 25 and 26 February 2010 in the Centre for Vocational Training and Professional Improvement of the Ministry of Public Administration. It was the first such event that gathered almost every donors at the national level. The goal of this Info Days was to presenting to the interested associations the call that the ministries, Government offices and National Foundation for the Civil Society Development will publish in 2010 for funding the associations’ programmes and projects, and that according to areas (topics) of funding. The necessity and justification for the organisation of the Info Days has shown an extremely high interest of the civil society organisations. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the participants for their interest, and those to whom we had to cancel application due to space limitation, we thank for their patience and understanding. All the presentation and other materials from the Info Days, as well as the questions and answers (Q & A) you can find below.

25 February 2010
 
In his introductory speech, Igor Vidačak, Ph.D., Head of the Office, expressed contentment with the great number of application for Info Days by welcoming the participants also from the Croatian Government vice president Slobodan Uzelac, prof, Ph.D. In the introduction, he used the opportunity to make a review of the current system of funding of CSOs projects and programmes. Emphasizing the purpose of this Info Days is information exchanging, he invited the attendees to give their feedbacks on good parts, the space for improvements and what in the present system of financing of CSOs projects and programs from the State Budget should be changed, concerning the administrative questions, as well as the reel needs on the field. The link for the presentation.

The area of protection and promotion of human rights and gender equality
 
GOVERNMENT OFFICE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
The Call for proposals of CSOs in the area of protection, respect for and promotion of human rights for a financial support within the available funds of the State Budget for the year 2010 in the position of the Government Office for Human Rights.
 
Contacts: Tatjana Vlašić, expert assistant                            Danijela Glaube, advisor
            tvlasic@ljudskaprava-vlada.hr                      danijela.gaube@ljudskaprava.vlada.hr
                        tel: 01/4877 672                                            tel: 01/4877 665
 
The named Government Office representatives expressed their pleasure with the cooperation of the Office and the CSOs working in the area of protection and promotion of human rights. They pointed out that the cooperation is not related only to funding of their programmes and projects, but also, to counselling regarding preparation and approving of various strategies, programmes and Laws of the Office working area. The Call for the year 2010 was published on 15 February and the deadline is the Wednesday, 17 March 2010. Considering the financial crisis, the amount this year is a bit decreased in relation to previous years.

Among standard applying conditions, 2 new have been stressed out: the organisation have to fulfil its contractual obligations to all donors from the State Budget/public sources and have to be registered in the Register of Non-profit Organisations of the Ministry of Finance. The advantage in funding will, among others, have organisations working directly with beneficiaries involving them in the development and monitoring of the project, organisations that apply a project which is in line with the measures from national strategies/programmes and operational plans. It is also related to the organisations that develop international cooperation, especially cooperation with European Roof Organisations and networks dealing with the human rights, as well as the organisations that are able to prove/document co-financing of the project by the local and/or regional self-government. More details on the call are on the link (https://udruge.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/UserFiles/File/Ljudska%20prava.pdf) .
 
Questions:

• Giving the fact the deadline is 17 March and it was stated the Decision on financing is to be made some 45 days after, so we would like to know when should we schedule the start of the project?

Considering the fact it is needed the project would last at least six months and the deadline for completion is 31 December, the last deadline for the start of the activity is June. Also, it is almost impossible to plan the implementation of all offices from the Office funds, it is already necessary to obtain co-financing from another source.
 

• Is it allow to use a part of funding for employing persons on project?

There is a instruction that up to 25% of the budget should be planned for financing salaries of the project manager, but the advantage will have projects that plan to employ persons through employment contract. Those are also recommendations of the GOfNGOs for development of the system of financing of CSOs projects and programmes.
 

• The maximum amount of HRK 45.000,00 envisaged in this Call is too small to cover the salary for the expert, like speech therapist or defectologist. Also, it is hard to maintain the continuity in work without even ensure their regular salary, since it is about the direct work with beneficiaries. There should be a continuity in work.

We are aware of those problems and need of creating system of institutional grants, but according to low funds this year, the call goal would not be institutional capacity of the CSOs. The idea of this call is to support the quality projects that will ensure other sources of funding of certain project activities with that limited funds.

CROATIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICE FOR GENDER EQUALITY
Call “Promotion of knowledge and awareness on gender equality through printed and electronic media - books, brochures, manuals, videos, educational and promotional films, radio jingles and others”
 
Contact: Government Office for Gender Equality
                        ured.ravnopravnost@vlada.hr
                        tel: 01/6303 090
 
Tamara Šterk, advisor in the Office, presented the future call proposal for funding of associations projects and programmes that are active in the area of gender equality. The proposal was made by associations the Office mostly cooperates with. Mentioning the call theme is a bit unusual she explained that it is a result of less available funds, but also associations need, because many of them pointed out those activities can be hardly financed through other calls. The Call is plan to be published in June 2010 and the total amount of funds is HRK 200.000,00. The range of support is from 10.000,00 to 50.000,00, and the deadline of implementation is 6 months, from September 2010 till February 2011. Detailed information on this call is on the link (https://udruge.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/UserFiles/File/Ppt0000002%20%5bRead-Only%5d.pdf) .


 Questions:

• What is the proof for the activity in the area of gender equality?

The association have to register its work in the area of gender equality, i.e., the area of gender equality have to be defined in its Statute.

• Does the named call consider the web portals as well?

The call can consider the web portals too, in the case if the content promoting knowledge and awareness on the gender equality is on the web portal.

• Since a lot of associations work in the area of fighting against discrimination, which concerns the gender equality as well, including the fact those associations have been facing a lot of violations of women’ rights, we are interested to know why the legal documents on anti-discrimination are not included within this call, so as that associations could apply to this call, as well?

Advocating and promoting of human rights and the fight against discrimination are broaden than the notion of gender equality itself, so as those association are eligible to apply to the named call.

• In relation to the need of submitting three offers regarding sub-contracting of creating the promotional materials, we would like to know how we could expect the delivery of the offers in the case of the lowest amounts, for example in relation to the financial support of HRK 10.000,00 and the amount of contracting of HRK 2.000,00?

The amount of HRK 10.000,00, the lowest is intended to co-financing big projects, which have ensured the most of the amount and need just a smaller part of their own contribution. Such an amount is understood it will not be sufficient for co-financing so as no expected collecting three offers for it.

• Considering the growing need of co-financing and using of diverse sources for implementing projects and programmes, why not introducing between the state administration bodies the system of recommendations which should not be binding, however, nevertheless would have some force when requesting co-financing?

Given the fact not all calls are published in the same time by the state administration bodies, in many cases there is a possibility to have a feedback from others, already, finalized calls. Also, some bodies - like the Government Office for Human Rights itself - take opportunity of written recommendation for the CSOs they have already cooperated.

• Is there a possibility to co-finance the cross-border project through this call?

If the association, the leading project Beneficiary, is registered in the Republic of Croatia (RoC), and the project meets all other conditions, there is no reason that project would not be considered in this call evaluation process of applications submitted to this call.


MINISTRY OF JUSTICE:
Call for financing of projects of the Associations authorised to provide Free Legal Aid and Faculties of Law intended to Law Clinics form the funds for providing Free Legal Aid for the year 2010
 
 The Head of the Department for Free Legal Aid of the Ministry of Justice, Jana Butora, presented call for financing associations authorised for providing free legal aid, published and closed at the beginning of the year, on 15 January. The new call will be launched at the end of this year, for the year 2011. The Ministry of Justice has started the last with the calls, among all bodies - the donors to the CSOs projects and programmes, but it is also special in relation to the goal of solving problems - availability of legal aid in court and other administrative proceedings to the Croatian citizens of weaker property status. In order the association could apply to the Ministry call, it should defined providing of free legal aid as activity in its Statute, as well as to be authorised for providing that aid by registration in the Ministry of Justice special Register. Detailed information on this call are available on this link.  (https://udruge.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/UserFiles/File/Pravosu%c4%91e-BPP.pdf)

Questions:

• In the case the association, i.e., its members have the need for such aid which they can’t afford, can that association be eligible for this Ministry call?

No, this call is intended to association that provide such a help and not to those who receive it. In addition, associations have to be authorised and registered for providing of legal aid. That means they should have defined Free Legal Aid delivery in their Statutes, as well as to have a lawyer for implementing legal aid activities.

• Could you give us a list some of several organisations registered for free legal aid delivery?

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia, the Association Source from Tenja, the Serbian Democratic Forum and others. A list of all organisations authorised to provide free legal assistance can be found on the Ministry website (https://mpudt.gov.hr/besplatna-pravna-pomoc/6184).

• Do you have data on the number of applications submitted by associations that were funded in the previous call?

Out of 2.600 approved cases 600 were implemented by the associations. Such big difference does not reflect preference of the legal profession as such. It is a reflection of the fact the citizens have greater need for representation in court and the associations could only provide the primary legal aid.

• Can we apply to this call of the Ministry of Justice in order to provide funds for employ a lawyer in the association?

In order to be authorised provider of the free legal aid, firstly you need to register to the Ministry of Justice. With that registration, you are eligible for this call and according to the conditions as any other registered associations. In other words, you can employ a lawyer but you can’t count on covering the cost of his work through the funds you get from the Ministry call.


Support to National Minority Associations:
 
COUNCIL FOR THE NATIONAL MINORITIES:
Public call to the National Minorities Associations and Institutions to propose programmes in the fields of Information and Publishing, Cultural Amateurism and Events, Programmes resulting from Bilateral Agreements and Contracts to be co-financed from the State Budget of the RoC in the year 2010.
 
The Council for the National Minorities representative, Tibor Varga, explained to the Info Days attendees, the Council publishes the Public Call to propose programmes for National Minorities in November every year for funding in the next year. The Call for the year 2010 was finalized, but the new Call will be launched in November for the next year. In the October 2009, the new Criteria for defining financial support for the programmes for the National Minorities Associations and Institutions. One of the main formal criteria is the registration of association as the National Minority Association and its continuing acting for two years. The Council also organises educational seminars for National Minorities Associations in order to prepare for as quality as possible application to the Public call. The seminars are more often organised in April, i.e. June.
 
Questions:

• What is the amount of the maximum and the minimum support within the Public Call and where the results of the Call are published?

The support range is not strictly defined and the final amount allocated to programme depends on its quality. The results of the Call are published during March on the Council for National Minorities website, as well as in the Official Gazette.
 

GOVERNMENT OFFICE FOR NATIONAL MINORITIES
Call for financing programmes of conserving Roma traditional culture
 
The Office for National Minorities representatives (the Office), Diana Eterović Rusmir and Alen Tahiri, presented the Call that is launched by the Office once a year based on the National Roma Programme with the aim of preserving of Roma traditional culture. The selections of programmes for funding is carried out by an expert working group constituted of the Roma National Minority representatives and experts from cultural, ethnographic and similar institutions. The formal conditions include mandatory registration of an association that must be active in the RoC. The advantage of financing has those associations that have not been funded by the Office until the announcement of the call, those who have financially and programmatically properly operated in the previous period and those who lack certain key segments for the preservation of the tradition. The technical equipment and overhead expenses are not financed by this call. The associations that have representatives in the expert working group cannot be financially supported by this call, as well. Regarding the financing of purchase of instruments and costumes, the current maximum amount of the funds is HRK 20.000,00, for the dramatic activity it is HRK 15.000,00. The minimum amount awarded within this call is HRK 5.000,00. The total amount of this Call is HRK 200.000,00 and the launching is planned to be in May 2010. The deadline for the execution of contractual obligations is six months.
 
Questions:

• Where the call is published?

Since it is an invitation call, the invitation letter is sent to all Roma associations registered for cultural activity in the RoC. By that letter the Roma associations are informed on the published call so as they are invited by this letter to participate in the call.

• Does it mean that the association, in the case of changing its Statute, have to submit the Office that decision?

Yes.
 
Area of accession of the RoC to the European Union (EU) and Promotion of the Friendship Societies:
 
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
Call for the Associations Projects intended to informing and educating citizens about the EU

Ivana Buršić, on behalf of the Directorate for supporting the process of Croatia’s accession to the EU pointed out that Directorate already has been cooperation with the CSOs due to the nature of their work. Since this year has been determined as the year of finalization of negotiation and that is necessary to strengthen and intensify the public debate over their results and prepare citizens for referendum, the aim of this year's call is to encourage public discussion at local levels, aimed at as much as possible, as part the prescribed topics. The total amount of the call is HRK 250.000,00 with a grant range from HRK 10.000,00 to HRK 50.000,00. The Call will be published on 1 March and will be open for 30 days. More detailed information is on the link (https://udruge.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/UserFiles/File/MVPEI-informiranje%20o%20EU.pdf) .

Questions:

• Is the activity of organising workshops for a smaller group of participants, who would then disseminate the knowledge they have acquired in the environment in which they operate, will be acceptable within the framework of this Call?

No, it is not possible applying organising of workshop for smaller group of participants. This Call goal is to organise public discussion, lectures, debates and round tables that will gather greater number of interested citizens, i.e. broader public.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND EUROPEAN INTEGRATION 
Call for proposals for programmes/projects of Friendship Societies for the financial support within the available fund from the gambling planned in the State Budget of the RoC

Contact: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration
                Independent Service for Croats abroad and culture
                Department for Croats abroad
                hrvati.inozemstvo@mvpei.hr
                drustva-prijateljstva@mvpei.hr
                tel: 01/ 4896 323
 
The representatives of the Ministry Periš and Livljanić presented the public calls through which the Ministry finance the associations’ programmes and projects registered in the RoC that acting in the area of fostering cooperation and friendships among countries - friendship societies. The Call is published based on the Croatian Government Regulation on the criteria for establishing beneficiaries and the method of apportionment of part of the revenue of Gambling and in accordance with the Ministry Regulations on the Terms and Procedures for Financial Support Programmes of Friendship Societies Programmes. It is also in accordance with the Code of Positive, Standards and Measures to provide financial support to Associations. The calls are launched twice a year, and during the year 2010 have been planned for April and December. Detailed information on the Call is on the link (https://udruge.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/UserFiles/File/prezentacija%20Natjecaj%20drustva%20prijateljstva%20MVPEI.pdf).
 
Questions:

• Is it obliged for the association that apply to this Call be registered as “Friendship Society”?

The Government Regulation defining apportionment of part of the revenue of Gambling provides to the Ministry a part (3,45%) on the activity A776056 - Friendship Societies Programmes of the RoC for the last two years. The association applying to this Call does not have to be the friendship society on the title, but the basic activity should be related to fostering cooperation and friendship among countries, which should be visible from the association’s Statute.

• Is there predetermined amount at the disposal of the Ministry for the allocation of funds to associations/societies when publishes the call?

Since, there is a percentage determined by the Government Regulation each year (3,45%), that amount changes during the year, depending on gambling payments. The expert committee has the exact data on the current amount when adopts the draft Decision on financing.

• Will the associations informed on the Call outcome in writing and what it is stated in the letters?

To the associations that did not meet conditions for the asked call documentation, in the letters submitted it is stated documents they did not provide, explanations regarding the association’s activities, in the case the association did not meet the Call’s conditions according to their Statute. Also, sometimes the associations are given opinions relate to the project presented, but also suggests some other state administration bodies that allocate funds to CSOs, according to the specific area of their activities.

• When the call is launched?

The call is launched twice a year and that usually in April and December. This year, the Call will be published in October or November instead of December, for the technical reasons only so as the funds would not be transferred to the next year

Area of care for people with disabilities, social care and health protection
 
MINISTRY FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE:
Public Calls for projects, programmes and one-off grants of Directorate for Medical Affairs
 
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, this year as last year will have the joint call in the area of health and social welfare, which is planned to be launched in the second half of March 2010. Through the mentioned call three sort of grants will be given: one-off grants, grants for projects with the duration up to 12 months and grants for multiannual programmes. The listed calls are based on the number of strategic documentation. Mirjana Znaor, Ph.D. emphasized that they were motivated by good experiences in previous period, so they decided to publish again the call for multiannual programmes in order to ensure the continuity in funding social services. The mandatory requirement for applying for the multiannual programmes call is the employment of one person and the priority for financing will have difficulty employing groups, especially people with disabilities.

The Ministry representatives have drawn attention this way to several important things when applying Call for proposals: the needed is to attentively reading the text of the call, especially the final notes related to the documentation to be enclosed with the application; the deadlines must be observed and the project activities and the project or programme financial part must be explained in a high quality manner.
 
It was pointed out that the special electronic address will be established during the March 2010 intended to the questions related to the call and the most frequent questions with answers will be published on the Ministry web pages. In the Call the number of individual grants and range will be defined and for the multiannual programmes in the area of social care, the minimum of allocate amount will be HRK 200.000,00.

In addition, some novelties in the project/programme budget structure are specified, such as:

• amounts for material expenses will be decreased (10%),
• amounts for activities will be increased (50%),
• payments for salaries (15%) and fees (15%) will be separated,
• expenses for equipment necessary for the project/programme implementation, will be limited on 10% of the project/programme total funds

 In particular, the need of submitting a photocopy of the OIB with each application is emphasised. The Ministry representatives in briefly presented the monitoring and evaluation findings, implemented on a sample of 50 associations, or 100 projects and programmes funded by the Ministry in 2008. On the basis of that findings some irregularities in financial management by the CSOs have been established. Due to that, the following advices are giver to the organisations:

• it is necessary to save and submit all documentation which can be as a proof for implemented activities
• the accounting records must be kept in accordance with the applicable Regulation on the accounting of non-profit organisations
• the activities should be planned as precise as they can be in order to avoid the re-allocation
• it is necessary to organise the treasury business, i.e. to make the majority of payments through the organisation’s account
• employment through multiannual programmes should be in accordance with the applicable Ministry Regulation, as well as the Collective Contract for the area of social care
• bookkeeping service fees need to be uniform

The presentations of the call are available on the link.

Questions:

• If the association is already the Ministry beneficiary, the two-annual grants, is there a formal obstacle to it also being funded through the said call for the three-year programme?

The association can apply to the call for grants in 2010 no matter being beneficiary of two-annual support for the activities. It is important the association meet one of the major formal conditions and that is existence, i.e., acting, of three years in the area for which applies.
 

• Last year, the Association  was financed with HRK 60.000,00 for the core activity through the Ministry call and through the call for one-off grants it was able to employ one person until 31 December 2009. Is it now possible to provide for the financing of the salary and contributions for that person through the core activity or is it necessary to reapply for the one-off allowance?

In the case this would be suggested and envisaged by application budget, the Ministry expert working groups will decide on the mentioned situation through analysis of the association report, as well as the explanation submitted along with the application. It is important to emphasize the Ministry admitted every justified situation, so as employment of an expert person in the association within the approved budget for the core activity.

• Is it necessary to employ the new person considering the Call for multiannual programmes?

Within the multiannual programmes we will support employment of expert persons. It is necessary to retain those already employed and then considering about the new employments. In that context there is need to support suggestions that already employed persons would be project managers at the same time and for that would be paid through their regular salaries. and for that would be paid through their regular salaries.

• Do you consider the vocational associations are somewhat disqualified in the Ministry’s calls given the disproportion of the number of projects between vocational and other associations?

No, since the vocational associations could apply to the calls for one-off grants and for support directed to the organisation to participate on congresses.

• Can this year calls of the Ministry be considered also for the capital investments to social welfare?

Not exactly, but the activities related to the support to capital investments can be funded in the case they were envisaged in the applied programme activities.
 
At the end, the Ministry representatives took opportunity to draw attention to the Info Days participants of financing their projects from the EU funds. They invited them to follow the information on the calls at the Ministry website, as well as GOfNGOs and the Central Agency for Financing and Contracting, on regular basis, since the calls  in the area of social services delivery in the areas of state special attention are expecting to be published at the end of March and beginning of April 2010.

MINISTRY OF FAMILY, WAR VETERANS AND INTEGENERATIONAL SOLIDARITY
Call for proposals for associations dealing with the problems and meeting the needs of persons with disabilities and associations contributing to the fight against drugs and all forms of addiction in the Republic of Croatia for financial support from part of the gambling revenues for 2010

The Ministry representatives - Zvjezdana Bogdanović and Martina Štabi - pointed out that, even though the Personal Assistant Project was very successful last year, it was not possible to expand the number of beneficiaries due to the fact the funds for the mentioned Call were envisaged only from the State Budget, which was the limiting factor. For that reason, one of the envisaged Call priority for the financial support from the Gambling this year is the area related to the personal assistants. The funds are ensured for education of new personal assistants as well as for their substitutes, but also funds for annual leaves for personal assistants. It was mentioned that the legal regulation for that area has been prepared, but it is necessary to ensure bigger budget line so that process of approving the mentioned regulation will need the time. Martina Štabi presented the part of the Call related to the fight against drugs abuse and explained priorities stressing out that the association can apply a maximum of two projects to this Call no matter which priorities they are, but the application will be rejected in the case of applying more than two projects on formal conditions. More details are available on this link.
 
Questions:

• When the Call will be launched and when the funds will be approved?

The Call will be launched very soon, maybe the next week. The funds will be approved with the date the Applicant organisation wrote in the Application form, which indicate the beginning of the project activities implementation. That means that activities whose implementation started from the year beginning, no matter if the application possibly were evaluated later.

• Is it possible to procure the communicator through the priority area A3 - ensuring support to overcome communicational barriers?

Communicational skills are a very broad term and that priority before was focused only on interpreter, but now it is considered broaden so any kind of communication improving can be financed. In that context purchasing of communicator can be financed and this not as a purpose of the project but only as one of the project activities which will make possible project implementation by that purchase, the communicator in this case.

• Why the Calls for financing personal assistant have age limitation?

Due to the financial limitation, the certain criteria needed to be set up. Also, with the comparative analysis of personal assistants projects in ten European countries it has been identified that all have the identical age limitation - 18 - 65 years old. It should be taken into consideration that the beneficiary who turned 65 was not excluded from the project, but certain limitation should have been set up from the start. That does not mean that those limitations will exist after adopting legal regulation for this area.

• Considering the increasing need to use European funds, in the context of insufficient capacity of associations related to language and project management, is it possible to finance capacity building in this area through this Call?

The Priority Area B3 - expert support to the associations of persons with disabilities organisational capacity development is intended to finance such activities.



26 February 2010

Area of democratisation and civil society development and consumers protection:
 
NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT:
Support to the civil society development in the RoC - public consultation on the support upgrading
 
The National Foundation director, Cvjetana Plavša-Matić mentioned that the Foundation started public and electronic counselling with the CSOs on the improvements concerning the support to the civil society development during February that will last until the end of March. Former forms of support provided by the National Foundation can be classified in three categories:

• Supports dividing in financial and non-financial,
• Cooperation in the area of research, non-profit media projects, knowledge exchanging, as well as international development aid, and
• Partnerships that promoting regional development, firstly, by establishing regional networks of organisations.

Improvements of National Foundation support will be visible through more clear profiling of calls as well through starting the programme for the development of philanthropy and culture of giving. Through the discussion in the continuation the criteria for financing non-profit-making media, the one-off support for co-financing approved projects and programmes under the Europe for Citizens and Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation programmes, the future Social Entrepreneurship Fund, institutional support, the introduction of a system for requesting additional documentation when applying for National Foundation calls, as well as regional networks including the education they provide in relation to EU funds were informed. The counselling results can be found on the National Foundation web pages at the end of March.


MINISTRY OF ECONOMY, LABOR AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP:
Call for financial support to the consumers protection associations for implementing the project “Free advice for consumers” and “Informing and education of consumers”
 
Ruža Merker firstly referred to projects of consumer information and education for which the call will be launched during the month of May. That Call shall follow on from the projects have been implemented through number of years within the cooperation with the Ministry of economy, labour and entrepreneurship with CSOs. The priority areas will continue to be the area of pubic services, such as health, municipal services and similar. The Call related to the free counselling of consumers will be published during March. In the case of the mentioned Call, it is actually institutional support where the programme is contracted for three years with annual evaluation and re-signing of the contract after each evaluation. The mentioned contracts in this cycle will be more quality prepared in order to determine more clearly and in detail rights and obligations of the contract signatory. Taking into account the pervasive economic crisis, it was emphasised that the financial support received for the implementation of the project has so far employed 9 people in all the counselling centres, as well as a number of external associates on the basis of a work contract. The envisaged funds amount to HRK 1.329.000,00 for free consumer advice projects, and HRK 300.000,00 for projects related to consumer education and information. The more detailed information on the Call is available on the link.

The Area of meeting the children, youth and families’ needs:
 
MINISTRY OF FAMILY, WAR VETERANS AND INTERGENERATIONAL SOLIDARITY:
Call for project proposals for financial support from the part of the revenue of the Games of Chances for the year 2010 to the associations dealing with problems and meeting persons with disabilities (PWD) needs and associations contributing to the fight against drugs and all forms of addiction in the Republic of Croatia
 
Martina Štabi, on behalf of the Ministry of Family, War Veterans and Intergenerational Solidarity, has explained the importance for joint call for project proposals dealing with the PWD needs and those contributing to the fight against addiction, emphasizing that way the funds for publishing the Call are saved.

On the basis of the Action plan for the Narcotic Drugs Abuse Prevention from 2009 to 2012 and National Youth Programme from 2009 to 2013 the priorities were drafted in the areas: E) Support the projects aimed at the youth addiction prevention (alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, betting and similar). The areas are partly changed in comparison to the year 2009 and the new areas were added E-1) addiction prevention through organised spending of free time, informal education, volunteering promotion, organised of educational trainings and workshops, E-2) addiction prevention through youth informing and E-5) education of youth educators and networking program in the field of addiction prevention and healthy life styles including organisation of regional and national conferences. It was also pointed out the that marking three important days (International Day of Combatting Narcotic Drugs Abuse, 26 June; International Youth Day, 12 August and Month of Fight against Addiction from 15 November to 15 December) have to be planned within the projects applied to the area priority E).
 
Questions:

• What in concrete means that calls for Info-Centres/Youth Clubs related to the State Budget? Will the individual call be published or those projects should fit into the presented Call? Will the individual Call for project and programmes of associations for youth and youth associations will be published?

The funds for Info-Centres, i.e., Youth Clubs were planned in the State Budget but, at the moment we cannot talk about the total value of that call and when it will be published. The Call for the project and programs for associations of youth and youth associations was also on the State Budget positions, as well. However, those funds were withdrawn by one of the former rebalance. We are not in the position to say now about that call in the future, but the Ministry has recognized the need of funding such projects and programmes. For that reason the funding areas, as well as possibilities of funding through the presented Call have been extended, so as the majority could fit within the framework of that Call. In addition, the possibility of funding through the Agency for mobility and EU programmes for whose work the Ministry ensured 200.000 EUR for the year 2010. For the year 2011, with the full-time access to the Youth Programme, the amount of 2.000.000 EUR will be ensured. In line with that the Agency funds have been growing within the Youth in Action Programme, so it is needed to try to apply as soon as possible in order to gain the necessary experience and skills to manage more complex and more expensive projects in the coming years.

• What about the calls for projects and programmes aimed at children and families?

Those calls are also related to the Budget funds on which we don’t have concrete information.

• Can the War Veterans Association that deal with addiction prevention among youth apply to the presented Call?

Yes, but the funds of the Directorate for War Veterans within the Ministry are much more significant.

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE, EDUCATION AND SPORT:
Call for co-financing of sports programmes during summer and winter holidays “Open School” and
Call for financial support to projects of associations in the area of non-institutional upbringing and education of children and youth for the Scholl Year 2010/2011.
 
Contacts: Fadila Gracin                     Ljiljana Zahrastnik-Žućul
Tel: 01/4594 392                                           01/4595 378
                                                                           udruge@mzos.hr
 
Ministry of Science, Education and Sport, tel: 01/4596 000
 
Fadila Gracin presented the Call “Open School” which is planned to be published at the end of March or at the beginning of April. The total available amount is HRD 700.000,00 which is 50% less funds than was available in 2009. The sports unions can apply, as well as other legal and physical persons registered to perform a sports activity aimed at children and youth, if meet other programme criteria that will be defined in the Call documentation. The prescribed forms will be available on the Ministry’s website. Copy of the registration decision, proof of the insured space for the implementation of the programme (if the sports programme is implemented in the school premises, the consent of the principal is required) and the biography of the programme manager should be submitted along with the application. Detailed information on the Call is available on the link.

Ljiljana Zahrastnik-Žužul presented the Call for financial support to the projects of associations in the area of non-institutional upbringing and education of children and youth. She explained that each application goes through three levels of evaluation, bearing in mind that almost 30 - 40 % of applications are rejected due to non-compliance with formal requirements. After the number of applications non-compliant with the call requirements is settled, those will be assessed by the expert commission by giving certain number of points. In general, three commission’s members assess one project and the arithmetic mean of their points is taken. It should be also mentioned that the projects are assessed in percentages so the grade is objective. On the basis of the arithmetic means the rank list is made. Based on the a.m. list, the Call Committee suggests to the Head of the Ministry how to allocate funds, as the final stage in evaluation of the submitted applications. The Call areas for the school year 2010/2011 will be almost identical to the areas of last school year. The priority in assessing will have projects in the following areas: preventing violence among children and youth, disabled children and youth, preventing corruption, gender equality, as well as entrepreneurship. The publication of the Call is planned during April to be ended in May and it will be open a bit more than 30 days (probably 40). The application is electronic and the PID (personal identification number) and the Register of non-profit organisations number must be entered in the form from this year. The total value of the Call is 5.000.000,00 HRK and the source is the part of the revenue of Game of Chances. The final decision on the number of projects to be applied to the Call has not yet been approved, but it is most likely to be a single project. Please find more on this Call on the link.
 
Questions:

• Is it possible to apply more projects to the Call “Open School”?

Yes, important is that the submitted projects are aimed at children and youth in primary or secondary school.

• What is a financial support range in the Call “Open School”?

The range is not defined, but important is the association has the highest quality programme and secured as much funds as possible for its implementation.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associations:

• When the project should be ended regarding the Call in the area of non-institutional upbringing and education?

The project that is approved by the Call procedures is to be implemented during the next school year. For example, projects that will be approved during 2010 will start with the implementation in the school year 2010/2011, which will be clear from the Call title. Also the activities are related to the school year.

• Last year in the forms for electronic application the nationality of the project manager was requested to be filled, which actually belongs to the protected data. What about this year?

These are really protected data. The Ministry uses them for internal statistical analysis and comparison with data on associations co-financed by the Government Office for National Minorities. In any case, that field is not obliged to fulfil when applying.

• The entrepreneurship is also listed among the priority fields. Could that be explained more in detail, what kind of project activities is about?

It is about the activities of education and informing of children and youth on individual general aspects of entrepreneurship in order to develop the creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship spirit from the early, i.e., younger age.

• If the association deals with educational activities, but working only through web portals, does meet formal conditions to apply to the Call?

Yes it certainly meets the Call conditions if deals with educational activities. However, the Committee for Call for proposals decides on the quality of the project and final funding.

Culture
 
MINISTRY OF CULTURE:
Public Call for proposals in the area of nature protection for funding from the State Budget in the year 2010
 
Ljiljana Vrbanec from the Directorate for Nature Protection presented already published Public Call in the area of nature protection, open till 11 March, which is - unlike previous years - focused on limited area of nature protection. Its goal is to fund projects, which will, as a result have created action plans for protection of endangered species according to IUCH criteria within the Strategy and Action plan of Biological and Landscape Diversity of the Republic of Croatia implementation. Annual amount of funds for this Public Call depends on the funds envisaged by the State Budget and it ranges from HRK 250.000,00 to 500.000,00. The range of individual grants goes until HRK 50.000,00 including the lowest support amount is not defined. However, this year, bearing in mind the importance of the Call goals, the most common amount will be HRK 50.000,00. More information on this Call is available on the link.

MINISTRY OF CULTURE:
Call for proposing of public needs programmes in the field of culture in the Republic of Croatia for the year 2011.
 
Boris Jurinić presented the Call for proposing of public needs programmes in the field of culture in the Republic of Croatia for the year 2011. It will be published in summer current year for grants aimed at activities in next year. The Call for 2011 is planned to be published at the beginning of June 2010 and will be open about 50 days. The Call for 2010 has practically ended, i.e., it is open several days for several specific areas.
Eligible for this Call are independent artists, artistic organisations, institutions in culture, legal and physical persons which work activities in the area of culture in the Republic of Croatia, citizens and associations, as well as the units of local and regional self-governments. Moreover, in the Ministry there has been a discussion for several years now on the possibility of publishing the call for associations only. However, it is questionable whether such call would be justified, since there is a great possibility that funds thus allocated will be less than the amount the associations receive in such a system. The funds are ranged from HRK 1.000,00 to 10.000.000,00, but the average amounts are ranged from HRK 50.000,00 to 100.000,00. The applying is electronic and during that time the help-desk is established in the Ministry to receives questions and answers to those. The FAQ together with the answers will be published on the Ministry’s web page. Detailed information on this Call are on the link.

Questions:

• Which special areas of the Call are always opened and until when?

The Call for cultural projects in international cooperation is open until 15 March. The Call for individual projects in publishing is still open, like in the area regarding the purchase of books, which is open the whole year.

• Are there any grants for the work’s space costs?

The Ministry of Culture is granting supports only to professional and national parent associations and that based on the legal obligations. Nevertheless, there are discussions in the Ministry on the possibilities of granting standards institutional supports, which will cover of the associations work’s space costs. However, there is no such a possibility at the moment.

Other areas
 
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION, SPATIAL PLANNING AND CONSTRUCION
Call for proposals for environment and spatial protection

Jasmina Serdar on behalf of the Ministry of Environment Protection, Spatial Planning and Construction mentioned that the Ministry supports work of associations, schools, societies, retired persons, institutions for special needs, kindergartens, fire-fighters’ societies. Organisations that regularly and timely reported on the funds allocated to them were given priority to continue receiving financial support. Also, priority was given to the projects which were funded in continuation and successfully implemented, which affected on beneficiaries permanently and systematically, which were implemented in cooperation with partners and similar. The Call in 2010 has been planned to be published during April or May. The total envisaged value is HRK 2.000.000,00. Other information on the Call are available on the link.

Questions:

• Does the Ministry finance projects related to the energy efficiency?

Yes, but we also refer interested to the Environmental and Energy Efficiency Fund which publishes calls in that area and the CSOs are eligible.

• What is the dynamics of the payment after the project approval?

After the project is approved the budget compliance should be done and the budget become the part of the Contract. The payment should be made in a month or two after the process of the budget compliance.

• Do some of the project activities have to be funded from other source?

The Ministry approves the funds for all the activities in the compliant budget. The co-financing activities from other sources is not the condition for the approval of the project.

• What is the maximum number of projects the association can apply for this call?

Two projects.



MINISTRY OF TOURISM:
Calls to support of CSOs projects and programmes in the area of tourism
 
Representatives of the Ministry of tourism, Sanja Bareza and Dajana Kolundžić gave a brief overview of the Ministry’s current programmes through which the CSOs projects were financed past years. Sanja Bareza said that programmes were not defined yet bearing in mind the financial situation. She also emphasized the hope the programmes will be the same as last year, by its number and content. The publication of the calls could start in a month. Out of nine presented programmes, only the Co-financing of the professional association and other non-profit organisations in the area of tourism programme is intended to the associations. It is aimed at the education programmes and professional programme activities related to the tourism. Other programmes are not intended exclusively to the associations and are implemented by different Directorates within the Ministry and whose contact are written in the leaflet available on the link bellow. The funds for the calls will be most likely at last year’s level. The Ministry’s representatives pointed out having good experiences with associations as programmes beneficiaries. Also, the Ministry were motivating them for self-financing through presenting various touristic products. The leaflet with the programmes titles and contacts is available on the link.   

Questions:

• Is it possible to bring tourists to the premises the association arranged with its own funds and by that ensure a part of the self-financing?

Every association can be engaged in economic activities which have to be proscribed by iths Statute and compliant with all the positive regulations related to the specific economic area. In the context of possible financing of such project by the Ministry of Tourism, it is important to offer to the tourist certain service through the project.

• Is the Croatian National Tourist Board within the scope of work of the Ministry of Tourism

The Croatian National Tourist Board is independent body. Nevertheless, within the Ministry of Tourism there is a Directorate for the Tourist Board Administration, which offer all the information on the Tourist Boards functioning. Also, it is possible lodge any complaints about their work.

MINISTRY OF THE SEA, TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Call for project proposals of associations for financial support within the available funds of the State Budget at the position of the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure

Ljubica Ajduković Ugarković on behalf of the Ministry gave a brief overview of the call, which they intend to publish for the third time, in April 2010. The mentioned call is published once a year and is open for 30 days. The Call is specific for the fact that only associations are eligible to apply to it. The mentioned Call is published once a year and is open for 30 days. This Call specificity is that only associations registered on the islands can apply, no matter the area of activities or programme field they apply. It is possible to apply only two programmes, out of which only one will be financed, which will be assessed by the Committee established for that purpose. The overall objective of the Call is to decreasing of depopulation on the islands. Total planned value of the Call is HRK 500.000,00 with the support range from HRK 5.000,00 to 30.000,00.

Questions:

• What project activities are considered for funding by the Ministry?

That depend on the creativity of the association. If it is registered on some of Croatian islands and the programme contribute to decreasing of depopulation on the island, the Committee will decide on its quality. In accordance with that assessment the decision will be made on possible financial support.

MINISTRY OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, FORESTRY AND WATER MANAGEMENT
Social and Economic Recovery Programme of the Republic of Croatia
 
On behalf of the Ministry the mentioned Programme was presented by Gordana Gorupić Šarić, expert for social development. It is about Croatian Government and World Bank joint project started back in 2005 and ends on 30 June 2010. Project components are divided in the community investment, demining, institutional development and project self-management. The sub-components are social inclusion, economic recovery and the small communal infrastructure. The project is implemented in several counties in the regions of Dalmatia, Banija/Kordun, as well as Slavonija and for now its the total value is 60 million EUR. Although the project implementation is near the end, the additional 15 million EUR has been requested and the confirmation is pending and which can be expected to be distributed through the components in equal percentages as the original amount. If the additional funds will be approved, the publishing of the call can be expected in July and will probably be open more than 30 days. The potential applicant are businessmen, cooperatives, as well as associations. Also there is a possibility for the specific education for the interested potential applicants. More detailed information on the link.

Questions:

• What is the difference between the total value of the projects and the value of the grants?

The difference is actually the Beneficiary’s self-financing amount.

• Does it mean it is necessary to ensure co-financing?

Ensuring of the part of the own resources is necessary, and depending on the area in which you apply for the project, the percentage of own resources ranges from 10 to 15 percent of the total value of the project.

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Public call for support to the organisation of events in 2010 and the call within the IPARD programme - LEADER

Marin Kukoč presented one of the segments within the IPARD programme, called LEADER, in front of the Ministry. This programme goal is to establish 15 LAGs - specific and specialized civil society organisations (LAG - Local Action Group) - on the territory of the Republic of Croatia, in order to developing of local communities through implementation of sustained developing strategies on the LEADER approach principle  “bottom up”. The plan is to publish the Call until the end of the year, but the details are not agreed upon yet. Niko Čubela gave the basic guidelines of the Public Call for support manifestations in the year 2010. He emphasized that the support in the past years was awarded through a public tender, but this year the Public Call has been planned, due to less planned funds for more beneficiaries. This Call beneficiaries are not only the associations but also other subjects, such as local and regional self-government units. According to the plan, it is to be published till the end of March. The detailed criteria for applicants should be yet determined. It has been planned the retroactive payment, i.e., approval of the funds for covering expenses for already held manifestations in this year. Please find the details on these calls on the Ministry web page.
 
Questions:

• Can the Ministry ensure the funds for already existing LAGs until the Call within the IPARD programme will be published?

Unfortunately, that will probably not be possible.

• When is the adoption of a Rulebook for Measure 301 expected?

The mentioned Rulebook will be already likely adopted during the next week.

• Giving the establishing of 15 LAGs have been planned by the presented LEADER approach, how you comment the fact 13 or 14 had already been established?

The Call that will be published in the context of the presented programme concerns the funding of the LAGs to which the developing strategy was approved by the Ministry.
Since the Rulebook that prescribed the basic guidelines for creating such strategy has not been adopted yet, no support has been approved yet.

• What is the IPARD agency? How should the developing strategy look like?

IPARD Agency is actually the Agency for payments in agriculture in the context of the projects funded from the EU funds. The criteria for creating of developing strategies will be prescribed by special Rulebook which is planned to be adopted in the middle of March.

• Does the Ministry financially support the newly established cooperatives?

The Ministry has encouraged and financially support newly established cooperatives for many years and significant funds were allocated in the area. The Ministry’s priorities are currently defined with other strategic documents so as the funding of cooperatives has been placed in the background. Nevertheless, the cooperatives can apply to the calls that will be published within the IPARD programme, as well as they can been financed from other bodies budget, on the national, local and regional level.

 

News