02-06-2021 12:47
The Programme Operator of Programme “Local development, poverty reduction and enhanced inclusion of vulnerable groups”, funded by the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021, plans to launch the Call for project proposals “Early childhood education and care”.
Estimated call launching: June 2021
Estimated call closure: September 2021
The call will be published in UMIS 2020 and on the website of Programme “Local development, poverty reduction and enhanced inclusion of vulnerable groups” – https://www.eeagrants.bg/programi/mestno-razvitie/pokani
The aim of the forthcoming call is to contribute to increasing the quality of life, social inclusion and early childhood development through support for the creation and implementation of a center/complex of services (hub) of functional services for children from vulnerable groups, particularly from Roma communities.
The budget of each individual project can be from 200,000 (two hundred thousand) euros to 500,000 (five hundred thousand) euros, with a total estimated budget of 6,029,412 euros. This procedure does not require co-financing by the applicant.
Eligible applicants: Municipalities in Bulgaria with at least three socially isolated communities with children aged 0 – 6 not less than 300. Municipalities in disadvantaged areas with a percentage of Roma population above 5% will be prioritised.
The project may be implemented in partnership with other municipalities to achieve the general goals. The planned activities should be addressed simultaneously to the representatives of the vulnerable groups from all municipalities that are partners in the project. Each municipality may participate (as an applicant or partner) in only one project proposal.
IMPORTANT! The project shall be implemented in partnership with a non-governmental organisation established in Bulgaria working in the area of Roma social inclusion, early childhood care, education and/or social activities and having the necessary experience, as defined in the Selection criteria.
IMPORTANT! The applicant could use assistance for the preparation of the project proposal from the National Association of Municipalities in Republic of Bulgaria, which will provide expert help under the GALOP project, financed by the EEA Grants.
Eligible partners from Bulgaria: public authorities, municipalities, associations of municipalities and non-governmental organisations. Partners that are not municipalities may take part only in up to three different projects.
Eligible partners from the Donor States – Republic of Iceland, Principality of Liechtenstein and Kingdom of Norway, other Beneficiary States or a country outside the European Economic Area that has a common border with Bulgaria: public or private subjects, governmental and non-governmental organisations pursuant to Article 7.2.2 of the Regulation on the Implementation of EEA FM 2014-2021.
Any international organisation or body or agency thereof, may be an eligible partner.
The participation and inclusion in the project and the implementation of activities by partner(s) from the Donor States is not a mandatory condition; however, it is supported and encouraged in relation to the main goal of EEA FM 2014-2021 to improve the bilateral relations between Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and the beneficiary state.
Project activities should cover measures for early childhood education activities, early childhood development and care activities, social inclusion activities, measures to engage and activate parents, encourage the participation of families, municipalities, NGOs and relevant local stakeholders, development and delivery of didactic materials, the achievement of the results should be ensured by project experts – pedagogues, Roma educational mediators, psychologists, social workers, medical specialists, etc. Eligible are activities for repair of premises that will be used for the purposes of the projects, supply of furniture and equipment, activities for management and exchange of experience and good practices with organisations from Bulgaria and the Donor States.
On June 10, 2021 the Programme Operator of “Local development, poverty reduction and enhanced inclusion of vulnerable groups” Programme funded by the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021, will hold an Information Day in connection with the forthcoming publication of a Call for project proposals “Early childhood education and care”, explaining to potential applicants technical details of the Application Guidelines.