Our goal

Strengthened capacity and cooperation in the Beneficiary States and across the region to promote democracy, the rule of law, human rights, social inclusion, resilience and the European green transition

Rationale for the support

International organisations and institutions are crucial for promoting and upholding the fundamental values of European cooperation.

They can provide support to follow up on key areas to foster resilient and strong democracies in cooperation with Beneficiary States, and regionally by working with established networks.

Beneficiary States may benefit from input in the preparation, outreach, implementation and monitoring of programmes within the EEA and Norway Grants.

International Partner Organisations and institutions may contribute to improving the results of programmes and activities and ensuring their alignment with international and European standards, including EU law and policy.
 

Areas of support

  • Democracy, rule of law and human rights
  • Good governance
  • Access to justice
  • Green governance
  • Civic engagement and information integrity, including media literacy and safe journalism
  • Human rights in the digital sphere and AI
  • Gender-based violence and violence against women
  • Hate speech and hate crime
  • Social inclusion, equality, and non-discrimination
  • Roma
  • LGBTIQ+
  • Strengthening national human rights institutions, equality bodies and ombuds institutions
  • Education for democracy/ civic education
  • Cultural expression and historic narratives
  • Free media/safe journalism
  • Minority rights and history

How the objective will be addressed

The Fund will aim to contribute to the thematic priorities of promoting democracy, rule of law, and human rights; social inclusion and resilience; and the European green transition, with a particular focus on the first-mentioned priority.

This Fund provides a flexible tool for Beneficiary States to benefit from International Partner Organisations’ input at the national, programme and project levels.

Beneficiary States will be invited to take part in transnational initiatives, based on voluntary participation. Through transnational cooperation facilitated by the International Partner Organisations, the Donor and Beneficiary States will benefit from knowledge sharing and peer learning.

Cooperation can take various forms, including strategic advice to Donor and Beneficiary States, participation in programmes and projects under nationally managed programmes, designing and implementing pre-defined national or transnational projects, and initiatives in the form of a conference, study or survey.

National human rights implementation can be strengthened through support in adhering to judgments from the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice. It can also be strengthened through support to domestic mechanisms for good governance and human rights protection.

Good governance can be promoted through more efficient and green public governance systems, inclusive policymaking, fighting corruption and economic crime, strengthening public procurement, and protecting civic space.
 

Key actors and beneficiaries

The key actors will be International Partner Organisations or institutions established by them, including among others, the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. The Donor States can choose to designate additional actors.

Beneficiary States can benefit from contributions at the national, programme and project level or through transnational initiatives, ultimately improving the outcomes for their end beneficiaries.