Applications to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for grants for Peace- and state building in the Western Balkans

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hereby announces an opportunity to apply for grants for peace- and state building projects in the Western Balkans. The deadline for submission is 1 March 2011. Read more about the guidelines and how to apply here.

The Western Balkans Section of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revised its procedure for grant applications as of 2011.

Grant applications must be made in the attached form. The deadline for submission is1 March2011.Applications submitted after this date will possibly be considered during the second half-year of 2011 and only if there is available funding.

The projects must be in line with the objectives of the grant scheme, as set out in the budget proposal (Proposition No. 1 (2010-2011) to the Storting), and the grant scheme rules.

The Ministry calls attention to the fact that parts of the grant scheme are administered through separate programs/funds with their own guidelines and deadlines. Potential applicants are asked to familiarize themselves with these guidelines in order to determine which application regime would be correct depending on the priority area and size of the project in question.

As a rule, applications should be sent by email to: post@mfa.no with a copy to: s-vb@mfa.no. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs form S01 should normally be used for applications for grants under this scheme. The grant scheme rules, application form and additional information can be found here.

More information about application requirements can be found in the grant scheme rules, and in application form S01 and the accompanying instructions.

Please note that as a part of the planned scaling down of Norwegian support to the region, the budgetary allocation has been reduced from NOK 575 in 2010 to NOK 500 in 2011. In addition, 60% of the allocation for 2011 is already tied to signed agreements. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to increase the efficiency and improve the follow up of the development cooperation by reducing the number of projects and concentrate the effort in fewer sectors.

Applicants should be aware that:
•applications of less than NOK 500 000 will be processed only in exceptional cases
•projects of more than NOK 1 million p.a. will be given priority
•programs as well as initiatives running for several years will be given priority, especially in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo

Geographical and thematic priority areas in 2011

It is possible to apply for support to projects in the following priority areas within the respective geographical areas:

Bosnia-Herzegovina:
•Good Governance, including the Justice Sector: Support will be given to institution building within different levels of the administration, with main emphasis on further consolidation of the State level. Priority will be given to projects within the justice sector
•Defence- and Security Sector Reform: Norway will continue her active support to the defence- and security sector reform. The support will be concentrated on reorganization projects and reform of central institutions. The gender perspective and implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 1325 will be prioritized. The support to humanitarian mine clearing will be continued up to 2014.
•Private Sector Development: Priority will be given to follow up of the existing incubators for the ICT-industry, support for establishing new innovative milieus and capacity building to further EU- integration
•Education: There will be an extended engagement in the education sector in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Prospective programs will be developed in cooperation with the authorities of BiH. It might therefore not be possible to start up any possible initiatives before second half of 2011.