Call for the Selection of Grass-roots Organisations Who Will Receive Financial Support in Armenia, Armenian Caritas

Terms of Reference

Armenian Caritas Benevolent NGO

In the framework of the EU funded “Recognise. Protect. Realise.” Project

Call for the selection of grass-roots organisations who will receive financial support in Armenia.

Project Summary: Recognise. Protect. Realise.

As the number of people fleeing persecution, war and poverty continues to rise, many of them have lost their lives during transit while those who manage to make it are confronted with insurmountable problems ranging from social to economic marginalization and inequality. Many of them are not legally protected, nor do they receive humanitarian support. Therefore it is crucial to provide assistance and protection to these already vulnerable people against exploitation and abuse. The RPR action contributes to this by defending, respecting and promoting human rights particularly of marginalized and disadvantaged asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in Lebanon and Armenia. The action applies the human rights based approach based on the view that this will mitigate the global migration and refugee crisis. The action is coordinated by Caritas Austria and executed by its partners, Caritas Lebanon and Armenian Caritas. The three organisations have a long standing relationship, and therefore, have created a cross-border consortium to provide solutions for refugees and migrants in each country as well as for Syrian-Armenian refugees still living in Lebanon and Syria who intend to migrate to Armenia. The action is funded by the European Union under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).

Overall objective of the action

To contribute to the defence of human rights of asylum seekers, refugees, persons in refugee-like situation and migrants in Lebanon and Armenia.

Specific objectives/outcomes

SO1: To advocate for policies aiming at the protection of rights of migrants (incl. asylum seekers, refugees, persons in refugee-like situation) and to monitor the implementation of respective policies

SO2: To enhance the abilities of migrants (incl. asylum seekers, refugees and persons in refugee-like situation) to access their rights and to prevent negative impacts resulting from migration

Objective of the sub-grant

The overall objective of the sub-grant is to strengthen grass-roots organisations and CSOs in Armenia which are either advocating for rights of migrants, refugees and persons in refugee-like situation or are active in providing services to them.

Sub-grant scheme

Two grants will be given to two NGOs and grass-roots civil society initiatives in Armenia with a maximum eligible amount of EUR 20.000 per sub-grant. The funds will cover costs related to organisational capacity building as well as strengthening service delivery.

Expected results

The sub-grant scheme is expected to target and contribute to some of the outcomes identified below:

Results related to organisational capacity building:

• The capacity of the beneficiary organizations has been strengthened in the area(s) of: advocacy, communication and PR, project management, fundraising, organization’s strategic planning and management etc.

• CSO mandate and policies are clearly defined

• Organizations are capable to perform and deliver services

• Organizations internal practices and values are correctly aligned with their external work and values

• Approaches are adopted that enable them to engage with those they serve

• Good practice is collected and shared with the aim of being replicated

• Targeted groups feel supported, and that their voices are well represented by the beneficiary organizations

• CSO networks and coalitions have been built

• CSO is able to engage in public dialogue as well as monitor government and donor policies and practices

• Measures and practices live on after funding ends

Results related to strengthening service delivery:

• Service delivery schemes and mechanisms of the beneficiary organizations are improved

• Innovative economic integration approaches of migrants, refugees and persons in refugee-like situation are developed and implemented by the beneficiary grass-roots organizations

• Social entrepreneurship approach is used in service delivery processes

• Labour rights of migrants, refugees and persons in refugee-like situation are promoted through advocacy and/or economic integration activities

Proposed activities

In order to achieve the overall objective of the sub-grant, the following activities are eligible for funding. Applicants can select from below the activities they wish to apply for.

Activities related to organisational capacity building:

• Capacity-building and training for organization’s staff in: communication and public relations; fundraising, advocacy, project management, etc.

• Organisational strengthening through alignment of strategy, structure, management processes and people

• Beneficiary organizations participate in meetings; actively engage in public discussion and dialogue related to issues of rights of migrants and refugees

• Networking and coalition-building among CSOs

• Actively engage in the monitoring of government and donor policies and practices.

• Actively participate in advocacy activities

• Increase the role of CSOs in political dialogue

• Take part in and/or organize awareness raising events/actions

• Cooperation with local media - articles and interviews on migrants and refugees rights, promotion of services for migrants and refugees

• Ensure participation and representation of marginalized refugees and migrants at the regional and national level working with local government agencies and authorities

• Communication and visibility activities

Activities related to strengthening service delivery:

• Provide direct support to refugees and migrants to enhance economic integration

• Establish and/or equip a platform/network/space for migrants, refugees and persons in refugee-like situation to promote economic integration initiatives using Social entrepreneurship approach

• To advocate for improvement of employment and/or business opportunities for migrants, refugees and persons in refugee-like situation

Costs and financing

Armenian Caritas will close a conditional grant agreement with the sub-grantees. In this agreement the sub-grantees will commit to follow the financial rules of Caritas and will also allow a Caritas finance officer to carry out financial checks and control visits. The payments will be done in two instalments (1st instalment – 70% (after signing the agreement), Final instalment – 30% (after submission of financial report). Before receiving the second instalment the grantees will have to submit a financial report. The financial reports and justifying documents of the sub-grantees will be checked by a Caritas financial officer. The sub-grantees are not required to make any pre-financing of activities.

Time Plan

The following is an indicative time plan:

• Invitation for proposal: 16.01.2018

• Submission of proposal: 16.01.2018 – 16.02.2018

• Selection of the grass-roots organisations: End of February, 2018

The profile of grass-root organisation

The selection of the grass-root organizations will be done according to the below mentioned conditions:

• Applicants must be active in Armenia

• Preference will be given to applicants that represent the Syrian-Armenian community

• Applicants must be able to demonstrate experience in working for migrants and refugees rights

• Applying organisations have basic internal systems of quality assurance and management

Application procedure

Armenian Caritas invites applications from interested grass-roots organizations working with migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and persons in refugee like situation in Armenia.

Grass roots organizations wishing to participate should submit their application of no more than four pages according to the template to (email address: l.stepanyan@caritas.am; robert.moosbrugger@caritas.at) or (post address: Armenian Caritas Yerevan office, 34 Chaykovsky str., apt. 23, Yerevan, Armenia) before February 16, 2018 by 17:00.

Applications must include details on how the organization meets the eligibility criteria set above. The following documents should be enclosed:

• a copy of the state registration certificate of the applicant;

• description of the background of the applicant;

• Project description according to the template:

Please note: "Armenian Caritas" BNGO will invite for the interview only the short-listed applicants from the first documentary stage.