Call for evidence-based advocacy projects
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About this call
The EEA Civil Society Fund in Croatia is launching a Call for Evidence-Based Advocacy Projects with the aim of strengthening the role of civil society organisations in democratic processes and public policymaking. The Call is designed to contribute to the achievement of: Outcome 1 – Strengthened democratic values and the rule of law, and Output 1.1 – Increased participation of civil society organisations in democratic processes at the local, national and European levels. All projects submitted under this Call must clearly demonstrate how they contribute to the achievement of this Programme outcome and output. The Call is intended for organisations that seek to strengthen democracy, the rule of law and the protection of human rights through research, public policy analysis, monitoring the implementation of legislation and public investments, and strategic advocacy. Particular emphasis is placed on the generation of high-quality and credible evidence that can serve as a foundation for policy recommendations, dialogue with decision-makers, and advocacy for change in the interests of citizens and communities. The Call responds to a number of challenges increasingly faced by civil society organisations in Croatia, including limited opportunities for meaningful participation in decision-making processes, insufficient resources for research and advocacy, weakening institutional participation mechanisms, hostile narratives and disinformation, and inadequate cooperation between civil society, academia and other relevant stakeholders. Supported projects should demonstrate how collected data, research findings and analyses will be translated into concrete advocacy actions aimed at improving public policies, increasing institutional transparency and accountability, and strengthening civic participation. Projects are expected to contribute to more effective and influential participation of civil society organisations in public consultations, institutional dialogue and other democratic processes at the local, national and European levels. Funding will be provided for projects that include applied research, public policy analysis and monitoring, the development of advocacy strategies, structured dialogue with decision-makers, independent assessments of public policy impacts, the dissemination of findings and recommendations, and the strengthening of cooperation between civil society organisations, academia, the media and other relevant stakeholders.
Who can apply
All eligible applicants, partners and project proposals must abide by the common values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, and comply with the fundamental rights and obligations enshrined in relevant instruments and standards. Eligible applicants are CSOs that are established and registered in Croatia and fall within the following definition: A non-profit voluntary organisation with a non-commercial purpose, independent of local, regional and central government, public entities, political parties and commercial organisations. Religious institutions and political parties, social partners or profit-distributing cooperatives are not eligible applicants. More specifically, eligible applicants must meet the following general conditions: Are non-profit, being organisations that have not been created nor operate to generate personal profit. Although it may have paid staff and may engage in revenue-generating activities, it does not distribute profits to its members nor to its board. Where revenue-generating activities are undertaken, these do not represent the purpose of the non-profit organisation, but are a means to support its mission and values; Have members who do not have any direct commercial interest in the outcome of the work of the organisation or of its commercial activities, and the organisation does not pursue the commercial or professional interests of its members. This definition therefore excludes trade- and professional associations, where the aims and purposes of the association is to further the specific interests of its members only; Are voluntary in nature, formed voluntarily by groups or individuals, and where the organisation is membership based, membership is not compulsory for any group or individual. Conducts transparent financial operations validated through Register of Non-profit Organizations (RNO) with Croatian Ministry of Finance or provide sufficient evidence of the transparent financial operations by other means. More specifically, and in line with national laws and regulations, following types of CSOs are considered eligible if they fulfil the above principles: Association – established, registered and operating in accordance with the Law on Associations (Official Gazette 74/14, 70/17, 98/19, 151/22) Foundation - established, registered and operating in accordance with the Law on Foundations (Official Gazette 106/18, 98/19, 151/22) Artistic organisation – established in accordance with the Act on the Rights of Self-Employed Artists and the Promotion of Cultural and Artistic Creativity, and registered in the Register of Artistic Organisations (Official Gazette 43/96,44/96, 127/100, 177/04) Cooperative – registered in the Register of Non-Profit Organisations and established in accordance with Article 66(1) of the Cooperatives Act (Official Gazette 34/11, 125/13, 76/14, 114/18, 98/19) Organisations falling outside the above categories may be considered eligible on a case-by-case basis if they fulfil the principles described above. Detailed information on eligible applicants is available in Call Text and Guidelines for Applicants, chapter 3.1