European Investment Bank (EIB) to aid Commission in its endeavors
The OPP (Open Partnerships Program) is a funding initiative that supports the development of sustainable civil society structures in Eastern Partnership and Russia countries. This program, run by the German Foreign Office, offers one-year funding for projects, with exceptions made for up to three years in justified cases.
Interested parties can submit their project ideas during October/November before the funding year on a dedicated website. After evaluation and assessment of funding prospects, formal funding applications can be submitted at the beginning of the funding year.
The minimum annual application amount per project is 50,000 EUR. Funding can be received in Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine), Russia, Germany, France (for German-French projects), and Poland (for German-Polish projects). In exceptional cases, funding can also be received in third countries/other countries.
It's important to note that only German organizations can receive funding, always in tandem with civil society partners in the program countries. State institutions are excluded from funding, as are measures involving them.
The OPP program prioritises projects that pursue at least one of the following overarching goals: strengthening pluralism and resilience, promoting value discourses and human rights, creating future prospects and democratic transformation, supporting dialogue and approximation.
For more information about the OPP program and funding opportunities, please contact [email protected].
While there are no specific calls for funding explicitly targeting German organizations and civil society partners in Eastern Partnership program countries and Russia in 2024, the available information does not detail relevant 2024 funding opportunities for these target groups in that region. Some civil society initiatives and dialogues like the Petersburger Dialog exist but have been criticized for limited genuine civil society representation. Recent funding calls mentioned focus on other regions or broader themes without explicit reference to 2024 support for democracy strengthening in these countries.
Expenses for evaluations are eligible for funding. Events do not have to be evenly distributed across all participating countries. In general, annual funding is provided for one-year projects, but exceptions can be made for up to three years in exceptional cases.
The OPP program aims to foster cooperation between democratic, non-state actors from Germany and Eastern Partnership or Russia countries, and contributes to the strengthening and rebuilding of democratically oriented civil society and networks in the region. The funding priorities are adjusted and set annually in coordination with the competent foreign representations and country desks in the Foreign Office.
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