The European Commission's Delegation to Egypt - EU-Funded Co-operation Programmes

EU/Egypt Programmes

Funding opportunities

I. EU ACTIVITIES FINANCED FROM THE EU BUDGET

The European Union's activities in the Mediterranean region are mostly carried out through a call for proposals or procurement procedure. The following sections provide general information on who can benefit and how to benefit from the EU funds available to different actors in the Mediterranean region. It is important to note that the information provided below is of an indicative nature. The specific criteria for participation in the calls for proposals and tenders are determined by the relevant notice published in conjunction with each call or tender and it is only that information and those criteria included that have legal bearance.

All substantial tendering opportunities and contribution schemes managed by EuropeAid are published in the Official Journal of the European Union and announced on the European Commission's EuropeAid Co-operation Office website.

1.1. EU ACTIVITIES MANAGED BY EUROPEAID

The majority of the EU supported activities in the Mediterranean region, financed or co-financed from the EU budget, is carried out through the MEDA programme for both bilateral and regional co-operation.

The Mediterranean Partners are also eligible to participate in some other programmes or initiatives along thematic lines, which are also financed or co-financed by the EU budget.

For all these EU programmes managed by EuropeAid, additional information, including tender procedures and announcements, can be found at the following websites:
EuropeAid Co-operation Office:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/index_en.htm
Tender Procedures: www.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/tender
/gestion/index_en.htm
Search engine for calls for tenders and for proposals:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/cgi/frame12.pl
EuropeAid Co-operation Office organigram:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/general/org_graph_en.pdf
Official Journal of the European Union:
http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/search/search_oj.html
The European Commission Delegations in the Mediterranean Region:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/med/link_deleg_en.htm

Mailing address: The European Commission, EuropeAid Co-operation Office, 1049 Brussels, Belgium
The European Commission Switchboard: +32 2 299 11 11.

The MEDA Programme

The establishment of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership between the EU Member States and 12 Mediterranean Partners in 1995 provided a comprehensive and cohesive framework of co-operation for the activities supported by the European Union in the Mediterranean. The MEDA programme (budget line B7-4100), as the main financial instrument of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, supports a set of measures and objectives set by the Barcelona Process aiming at supporting economic transition, developing a better socio-economic balance, and fostering regional integration for free trade by the year 2010 through a multi-sectoral approach. The MEDA programme, currently in its second programming period (2000-2006) with a budget of € 5,350 million, consists of bilateral co-operation and regional co-operation instruments.

A large part of the resources are channelled through bilateral funding to the eligible Partners: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia and the Palestinian Authority. The rest of the resources are devoted to regional activities.

Who might benefit from the MEDA projects?

The beneficiaries may include States and regions as well as local authorities, public agencies, local or traditional communities, organisations supporting business, private operators, co-operatives, mutual societies, universities, associations, foundations and non-governmental organisations.

How to benefit from the MEDA programme?

The European Commission in collaboration with the Mediterranean Partners defines the priorities for each country in the Country Strategy Papers and in the National and Regional Indicative Programmes. For the region as a whole, a Regional Strategy Paper and a Regional Indicative Programme is also established. In accordance with the priority areas, the list of projects financed each year is included in the yearly National Financing Plan for each Partner and the region.

These projects are then announced regularly and throughout the year in the European Commission's EuropeAid Co-operation Office's website. The criteria for participating in each call for tender or call for proposals are included in the relevant documentation, also available from EuropeAid's website. After the announcement, the projects are managed by the European Commission Delegations in the Mediterranean countries.

Where to obtain additional information?

EuropeAid Co-operation in the Middle East and the Southern Mediterranean Region:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/med/index_en.htm
Information on the EU's Middle East and Mediterranean Policy:
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/med_mideast/
intro/index.htm
Information on the MEDA Programme:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/euromed/MEDA.htm

This programme is mainly co-ordinated by the EuropeAid Co-operation Office, Directorate B Southern Mediterranean and the Middle East, Unit B1 Co-ordination for the Mediterranean Region. E-mail: europeaid-info@cec.eu.int

The Middle East Peace Process (MEPP)

The Middle East Peace Process aims to help to provide a solid foundation at the civil society level for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. It gives priority to initiatives that have a potential to act as a bridge between large audiences in Israeli and Arab societies in order to promote mutual understanding. It also aims at creating channels of communication on informal levels and to support civil society initiatives.

In the context of the Middle East Peace Process, EU funded projects are mainly financed through the Community Operations Connected with the Israel/PLO Peace Agreement (B7-420).

How to benefit from MEPP projects?

Following the announcement of a call for proposals, proposals can be submitted in accordance with the instruction given in the notice. The notice and the relevant documentation will be available at the European Commission's EuropeAid website.

Where to obtain additional information?

Additional information can be obtained at the following websites:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/med/regional/
middleeastpeaceprcs_en.htm
http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgc/aides/forms/
aidco11_en.htm
The European Commission Delegations in the Mediterranean Region:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/med/
link_deleg_en.htm

Further information can also be obtained from the European Commission Delegations in the region and from EuropeAid Co-operation Office, Directorate B Southern Mediterranean and the Middle East, Unit B2 Centralised operations for the Mediterranean.

European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)

European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (budget lines B7-701 and B7-702) provides aid to projects in the EU and third countries. Activities principally aim at promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms, supporting the democratisation processes, and providing support for measures to promote respect for human rights and democratisation by preventing conflict and dealing with its consequences.

The total budget of the initiative is € 150 million for the period 1999-2004. The EU level of contribution might vary between € 300,000 and 1,500,000.

Who might benefit from European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights?

Regional and international organisations, non-governmental organisations, national, regional and local authorities and official agencies, EU-based organisations and public or private-sector institutes and operators might benefit from the initiative with the condition that their headquarters are either in an EU Member State or in the beneficiary third country.

How to benefit from European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights?

Eligible partners might submit proposals following the call for proposals announced in the European Commission's EuropeAid website. In addition, projects developed with international and regional organisations, including the specialised UN agencies, might also benefit from the available funds.

The European Commission launches calls for proposals under EIDHR throughout the year. The announcements for relevant call for proposals are listed at the EuropeAid website under the heading 'other' of the tender search engine.

Where to obtain additional information?

For more information on the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR):
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/eidhr/index_en.htm

Additional information on the initiative can be obtained from the EuropeAid Co-operation Office, Directorate F Horizontal operations and RRD (Relief, Rehabilitation and Development Link), Unit F3 Democracy, Human Rights and Thematic Support. Additional information on micro-projects can be obtained from the European Commission Delegation in the beneficiary country in question.

Decentralised Co-operation

Decentralised co-operation operations and initiatives in the developing countries (budget line B7-6002) aim to promote a more participatory approach to development, responsive to the needs and initiatives of the populations in the developing countries, to contribute to the diversification and reinforcement of civil society and grassroots democracy in the countries concerned and to the mobilisation of decentralised co-operation agents in the EU and the developing countries in pursuit of these objectives within the structured programmes. All developing countries are eligible for operations to promote decentralised co-operation.

Who might benefit from Decentralised Co-operation programme?

Decentralised co-operation agents in the European Union or the developing countries, namely: local authorities, non-governmental organisations, local traders' associations and local citizens' groups, co-operatives, trade unions, women's and youth organisations, teaching and research institutions, churches and any non-governmental associations likely to contribute to development and that are located in a EU Member State or the beneficiary country, might benefit from the available funds.

How to benefit from Decentralised Co-operation programme?

The launch for a call for proposals for decentralised co-operation is announced in the European Commission's EuropeAid website. All the necessary documentation is also published with the notice. The announcements for relevant calls for proposals are listed at the EuropeAid website under the heading 'other' of the tender search engine.

Where to obtain additional information?

EuropeAid's Decentralised co-operation programme's website:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/ong_cd/
intro_coop_en.htm

Additional information can be obtained from the EuropeAid Co-operation Office, Directorate F Horizontal Operations and RRD (Relief, Rehabilitation and Development Link), Unit F2 NGO co-financing.

Co-financing with non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

Co-financing with non-governmental organisations programme (budget line B7-6000) aims, among others, at co-financing European NGOs' activities in developing countries particularly in the fields of strengthening civil society and participatory development, promotion and defence of human rights and democracy, the role of women in development, and sustainable development. Protection of threatened cultures, especially endangered indigenous cultures and protection and improvement of the circumstances and of the rights of children in the developing countries are also among the priorities of the programme.

Who might benefit from Co-financing with NGOs programme?

The NGOs, whose headquarters are located in an EU Member State, whose co-financed operations are mainly decided by their headquarters and whose main funding originates in the EU, can benefit from the programme. Priority is given to networks and consortia of NGOs that prove their ability to support development operations proposed by the partners in the developing countries and the nature and scope of its links with similar organisations in the developing countries. Consequently, the NGOs in the partner countries where the operation is planned to take place can also benefit from the programme but only upon the initiative of a European NGO and in collaboration with a European NGO.

How to benefit from Co-financing with NGOs programme?

The launch for a call for proposals is announced in the European Commission's EuropeAid website. All the necessary documentation is also published with the notice. The announcements for relevant calls for proposals are listed at the EuropeAid website under the heading 'other' of the tender search engine. In general, the launch for call for proposals takes place once a year.

Where to obtain additional information?

EuropeAid's website for Co-financing with NGOs programme:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/ong_cd/
intro_ong_en.htm

Additional information can be obtained from the EuropeAid Co-operation Office, Directorate F Horizontal Operations and RRD (Relief, Rehabilitation and Development Link), Unit F2 NGO co-financing.

Food Aid and Food Security

This world-wide Food Aid and Food Security programme (budget lines B7-2000 and B7-2010) aims at bringing assistance to developing countries facing food deficit problems - temporary and mostly structural - linked to poverty. This programme is particularly active in post-crisis situations and implements the link that must exist between relief, rehabilitation and development. Eligible countries are food-insecure countries, countries in situations of crisis, post-crisis or structural food shortage. The EU contribution levels usually vary between 90% for NGO programmes and 100% for grant aid programmes.

Who might benefit from Food Aid and Food Security programme?

Beneficiary country governments, international agencies and Northern and Southern NGOs as well as the NGO network EnronAid might benefit from the programme.

How to benefit from Food Aid and Food Security programme?

In the case of NGOs, a call for proposal is announced at the European Commission's EuropeAid website. All the necessary documentation is also published along with the notice. For international organisations and governments, a financing application is necessary prior to financing agreement. The relevant information can be obtained at the EuropeAid website under thematic programmes and projects.

Where to obtain additional information

European Programme for Food Aid and Food Security:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/foodsec
/index_en.htm
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/resal/

Additional information can be obtained from the EuropeAid Co-operation Office, Directorate F Horizontal Operations and RRD (Relief, Rehabilitation and Development Link), Unit F5 Food Security and Thematic Support.

Promotion of the full integration of the environmental dimension in the development process of developing countries

With the aim of integrating the environmental dimension into the development process, this programme (budget line B7-6200) promotes implementation of the policies, strategies, tools and technologies in line with sustainable development. The programme has a budget of € 12 million per year and the EU contribution covers the totality of the project costs only in a limited number of cases.

Who might benefit from the programme?

International organisations, states, regions, regional bodies, decentralised departments, public agencies, private operators, non-governmental organisations, co-operatives, local communities, that have their headquarters either in the EU or the beneficiary country, might benefit from the available funds.

How to benefit from the programme?

The launch for a call for proposals for the programme is announced in the European Commission's EuropeAid website. All the necessary documentation is also published with the notice. The announcements for relevant call for proposals are listed at the EuropeAid website under the heading 'other' of the tender search engine.

Where to obtain additional information?

In addition to announcements for calls for proposals and tenders at the EuropeAid website, the European Commission's Secretary General's grants website provides additional information on this programme at the following website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgc/aides/
forms/aidco18_en.htm

Further information can be obtained from the EuropeAid Co-operation Office, Directorate F Horizontal Operations and RRD (Relief, Rehabilitation and Development Link), Unit F4 Social and Human Development, Environment and Thematic Support.

Promotion of the conservation and sustainable management of tropical forests and other forests in developing countries

This programme (budget line B7-6200) aims at promoting the conservation and sustainable management of tropical and other forests in developing countries through raising the status of forests in national policies, promoting the production and use of wood and non-wood forest products from sustainably managed resources, ensuring the participation of forest-dependent people in policy formulation. The programme has a budget of € 30 million per year and the EU contribution is normally 80% of the total eligible cost of a project.

Who might benefit from the programme?

International organisations, States, regions and regional bodies, decentralised departments, public agencies, private operators and industries, co-operatives, local communities, non-governmental organisations and associations representing local people, in particular forest-dependent people might benefit from the funds available under the programme. The beneficiaries have to be based either in an EU Member State or in the beneficiary developing country. Though the international public sector organisations and other duly justified cases are eligible even if their headquarters is outside the EU and not in an eligible developing country.

How to benefit from the programme?

Grants are generally awarded following a call for proposals. The launch for a call for proposals for the programme is announced in the European Commission's EuropeAid website. All the necessary documentation is also published with the notice. The announcements for relevant calls for proposals are listed at the EuropeAid website under the heading 'other' of the tender search engine.

Where to obtain additional information?

Integration of gender issues in development co-operation

This programme (budget line B7-622) aims at supporting the mainstreaming of gender analysis in all areas of development co-operation, supporting and facilitating the inclusion of actions addressing major gender disparities, and developing and promoting local public and private capacities in developing countries for mainstreaming the gender dimension in the development effort. The programme has an average budget of € 2 million per year and the EU contribution covers the totality of the project costs only in a limited number of cases.

Who might benefit from the programme?

Public authorities, government agencies, decentralised departments, regional bodies, universities, research centres, traditional and local communities, trade unions, non-governmental organisations, public utility associations, associations representing local people (particularly women), co-operatives and agricultural and craft-based credit institutions might benefit from the funds available under the programme. The beneficiaries have to be based either in an EU Member State or in the beneficiary developing country.

How to benefit from the programme?

Grants are generally awarded following a call for proposals. The launch for a call for proposals for the programme is announced in the European Commission's EuropeAid website. All the necessary documentation is also published with the notice. The announcements for relevant call for proposals are listed at the EuropeAid website under the heading 'other' of the tender search engine.

Where to obtain additional information?