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.
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.
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.
No this is a mono-beneficiary grant, so only one organisation can apply. Partnerships are not eligible under this call.
A network of NGOs can apply if the network is a separate legal entity and if the network itself meets all eligibility criteria.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
The call specifies revenue.
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.
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.
VAT can be included in the eligible costs only if it cannot be recovered.
Yes, the budget covers indirect costs with a flat rate of 7% applied on the total direct costs.
Yes, projects can start in 2022. However, the grant agreement needs to be signed before the end of 2021.
No, documents such as Annual Reports submitted with the application will be accepted in national languages if the national language is not English.
CINEA would appreciate submission of applications in English to facilitate the revision process, but it is not a requirement.
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.