Could you clarify whether international organizations (IO) that are part of the UN system are eligible for applying as lead bidder or co-bidder under EEA and Norway grants 2021 - 2028?
Please note that we cannot and will not provide eligibility assessments ahead of the deadline for bid submission. However, as described in the Terms of Reference, all organisations in the consortium must be independent of governments, political parties and religious institutions. Organisations that are, or appear to be, dependent on or influenced by political parties, local, regional and central government or religious institutions, will not be considered as independent.
In addition to an assessment of the formal/legal independence of the organisation, the requirement may, on a case-by-case basis, also be assessed based on the effects of, inter alia
- Board members (statutory board members as well as members of the Steering Committee set up to lead the Fund Operator consortium), and
- Decision-making procedures and funding sources.
Any consortium members with links to government entities or political parties should disclose these in their consortium member statement, and include all measures that will be taken to maintain their independence from the same. The FMO will assess the independence of the consortium member based on this information as well as other available information.