Is this call to address financial crisis due to COVID-19 or to support the Green Deal? Why the limit of € 700,000 revenue for applying NGOs?
This call was initially created as a response to an NGO initiative that underlined the financial crisis for NGOs induced by the COVID-19 Pandemic. At the same time EASME also wanted this call to be a vehicle to further support NGOs to help achieve targets and priorities under the EU Green Deal. So the call has a double purpose. Even if this call will not be accessible for all NGOs, we consider it complementary to existing national support schemes and in line with what EASME is able to process. See also next question.
If one of the nine eligibility criteria is not met, can we still apply?
At the moment of submitting your application your organisation needs to meet all the eligibility criteria as indicated in the application guidelines. Please be reminded that criterion 7 ‘have a total revenue equal to at least € 700,000 in 2019 and/or an average number of permanent staff of 10 in 2019’ allows for some flexibility. It can be either or. It was formulated this way to ensure that both NGOs with a small team but high budget are eligible as well as NGOs with smaller budget but overall more staff.
What if my organisation is already a beneficiary of another LIFE traditional project or plans to apply for funding under the Green Deal? Can we apply?
Yes, you can apply. The only restriction for this call is if your organisation receives a LIFE operating grant. Then your application will not be accepted. If your organisation currently receives funding through LIFE action grants, or from other Green Deal funds, there is no problem. You can apply.
Can we apply in a partnership with other organisations?
No this is a mono-beneficiary grant, so only one organisation can apply. Partnerships are not eligible under this call.
We are a network of NGOs with different member organisations, can we apply?
A network of NGOs can apply if the network is a separate legal entity and if the network itself meets all eligibility criteria.
What is considered a permanent staff member?
A permanent staff member is someone that has a contract working for the organisation and registered on their payroll. Whether they are full-time or part-time is not important.
How do we prove we are active as an NGO at national level?
Through your past portfolio and previous (annual) activity reports, you should be able to demonstrate that you have previously already taken actions across the national territory and not just on a local scale.
Could activities involve more countries or the whole EU?
Yes, an EU wide operating NGO is more than welcome to apply under this call. The reference to national NGO (or regional operating NGO in larger EU Member States – please see section IV.2, point 6. in the Guidelines for applicants for more details) is a minimum reference, so the scope of actions can be wider in more than one EU Member State. The same is valid for an NGO based in one Member State but also operating in other EU Member States.
Administrative and financial questions
See general questions about administrative and financial questions
What about personnel costs if we are based in one country but carrying out activities in other countries?
For personnel costs, the staff needs to be in the accounts of the organisation (as employees or natural persons with a specific contract). If activities are needed in another EU Member State to reach your project aim, then personnel costs of staff on the organisation payroll are eligible.
Is in-kind contribution accepted as co-financing under this call?
No, in-kind contribution is not eligible under this call. The 40% co-financing can come from your own resources, co-financers or from other third parties. So co-financing is not necessarily only funding from the NGO itself but it must entail a financial transaction. For example, if your NGO pays staff costs, this qualifies as own contribution. Co-financing can come from a public or private entity and should be destined specifically for the project. Co-financing from other EU funds is not allowed. If your NGO receives funding from a grant or through subvention other than an EU funding sources, it can be considered co-funding (own funding) if destined specifically for the project.
Could the co-financer be a public institution such as university, city council etc?
Yes, the co-financing can come from a private or public entity. It should be destined specifically to the project. If your NGO receives a grant or subvention and you decide to use part of this grant to finance some project actions, then it is considered as your own funding. If it is specifically destined to the project, it is co-funding.
What kind of financial documents do we have to provide to show a negative trend in revenues for 2020, since our financial year ends in spring 2021?
For list of documents see section IV.2.1. of the Guidelines for applicants, page 8- 9. Given your financial year calendar, it is acceptable that the organisation provides draft documents of the balance sheet of profit and loss already set up at that point in time. The NGO also has to include a self-declaration with the application. Later in the process, at revision stage the approved versions of final financial reports can then still be requested by EASME.
Please clarify if you consider 10% (or 100.000 EUR) loss in revenue or income?
The call specifies revenue.
Are sub-granting schemes possible under this call?
Yes, financial support to third parties is possible. More information and the eligibility criteria to comply with are available on page 14 of the application guidelines. The maximum amount allocated to any third party involved may not exceed EUR 20,000 and the total amount of such costs overall may not exceed EUR 100,000 during the lifetime of the project.
Can we include the cost of volunteers in the proposal?
There are some limitations for volunteer costs. This is a new feature under LIFE. In principle, maximum 50% of total eligible budget can be foreseen for volunteers and total volunteer expenses cannot be more than 100% of the other eligible costs. Unit rates for volunteers are defined in the application guidelines (page 25). A volunteer does not receive a salary, they can declare working days and claim related costs based on the unit rates. More details also on page 15-16 of the guidelines.
What about VAT?
VAT can be included in the eligible costs only if it cannot be recovered.
Full Costs/Recovery/Overheads (organisational costs) is partly met by the flat rate of 7% of the direct costs of the project?
Yes, the budget covers indirect costs with a flat rate of 7% applied on the total direct costs.
Can projects begin in 2022 or must they begin in the second semester of 2021?
Yes, projects can start in 2022. However, the grant agreement needs to be signed before the end of 2021.
Do we have to translate documents if the originals are not in English?
No, documents such as Annual Reports submitted with the application will be accepted in national languages if the national language is not English.
Do we have to apply in English?
CINEA would appreciate submission of applications in English to facilitate the revision process, but it is not a requirement.
The LIFE 2020 NGO4GD_Financial Application Forms_corrected are protected and we cannot add cost lines in the F Forms, what can I do?
The Financial Forms are indeed protected and it is not possible to add any new cost lines. If you require more space, you can copy paste the relevant tab (Form F3, F4, F5 etc) into a separate excel document where a detailed breakdown of costs can be provided per Work Package. However, make sure that the data provided in the protected financial forms is the consolidated data as this will have an impact on the calculations in the F0 Form.