The EEA and Norway Grants are funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (the “Donors”). Through the EEA and Norway Grants, the Donors work closely with partners in fifteen EU Member States in Central and Southern Europe and the Baltics (the "Beneficiary States"), to contribute to reducing social and economic disparities in the EEA and strengthening bilateral cooperation.
The programme areas and funds agreed in Protocol 38d on the EEA Financial Mechanism (2021-2028) and the corresponding Agreement between Norway and the European Union on the Norwegian Financial Mechanism (2021-2028), will contribute to these objectives. These programme areas and funds, including the EEA Civil Society Fund, have been elaborated in the "Policy Framework of the EEA and Norway Grants", commonly (and hereafter in this Manual) referred to as the "Blue Book". Key elements of the Fund description in the Blue Book are included in the Programme Implementation Agreement.
Bilateral cooperation will be operationalised through collaboration with donor entities at the programme level, donor project partners at the project level, and through bilateral funds set aside in each of the Beneficiary States. Further information on the EEA and Norway Grants (‘the Grants’) can be found at www.eeagrants.org.
Support to civil society has been a key priority for the EEA and Norway Grants since 2004. For the funding period 2021-2028, ten percent of the total financial contribution is set aside for a Civil Society Fund. The Fund is made available to all the fifteen Beneficiary States, with the objective of supporting a vibrant and resilient civil society that protects and promotes democracy, the rule of law and human rights.
Key entities involved in the EEA Civil Society Fund
The Financial Mechanism Office (FMO) is the Brussels-based secretariat for the Grants. The FMO is affiliated to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and reports to the Foreign Ministries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
The FMO has been entrusted with the role of Programme Operator (PO) of the Civil Society Fund.
The role of the Programme Operator is to select and contract the Fund Operators (FOs) in the Beneficiary States, monitor compliance with the legal framework of the Civil Society Fund and follow up on the progress and quality of programme development, implementation, and closure.
The Financial Mechanism Committee (FMC) is the decision-making body for the EEA Grants. The FMC consists of representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. The FMC draws up and passes policy, regulations, and guidelines, approves all programmes, and ensures monitoring, control, and evaluations. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA) is the decision-making body for the Norway Grants.
Donor State Embassies covering the Beneficiary States, take part in the dialogue between the Donor and Beneficiary Sates and play an important role in communicating the results of the Grants.
Donor Contact Points (DCPs) are civil society organisations in the Donor States facilitating bilateral relations between civil society and other entities in the Donor States and the Beneficiary States. The Fund Operator shall consult the DCPs in the development of their bilateral plan. The Fund Operator shall also consult the DCP on the implementation on bilateral activities, in accordance with their bilateral plan. DCPs support the Fund Operators in the planning and implementation of bilateral activities, informing about open calls in the Donor States, and facilitating project partnerships with donor entities.
International Partner Organisations (IPOs) work on strengthening capacity for good governance, democracy, human rights, and rule of law. The IPOs provide expertise and strategic advice in their fields to the Donors and the FMO.
Project Promoters (PPs) are civil society organisations established in the Beneficiary States having the responsibility for initiating, preparing and implementing a project.
Project partners are entities actively involved in, and effectively contributing to, the implementation of a project.
Donor project partners are project partners whose primary location is in Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Norway. Donor project partners play an important part in achieving the bilateral objective of the EEA and Norway Grants.
The figure below gives an overview of the organisational structure and working relations.
Model of of the organisation structure and primary working relations
