The Council of Europe announces a Call for proposals for grants to coordinate the regional intercultural networks of Famagusta, Limassol and Nicosia, in the framework of the European Union and Council of Europe joint project: “Enhancing structures and policies for intercultural integration in Cyprus”.

The purpose of the grant is the coordination of the Famagusta, Limassol and Nicosia networks and to implement activities from their regional intercultural action plan/strategy to help the integration of migrants into their local community in a range of areas including, but not limited to, participation, education, cultural and social life, employment and occupation.

The indicative available budget under this call for proposals is 60 000 euros (sixty thousand euros). The Council of Europe intends to award 3 grants (one per district) of a maximum amount of 20 000 euros (twenty thousand euros) each.

The grant application documents can be consulted below.

The application form and provisional budget, together with supporting documents must be submitted in an electronic format (Word and/or PDF), in English, to the following e-mail address: [email protected] E-mails should contain the following reference in subject line: Cyprus grants

Applications must be received before 23 October 2023 (midnight - CET). 

• Call for proposals
• Application form (to be completed)
• Estimated budget (to be completed)
• Grant agreement template (for information only)

Any questions regarding this Call for proposals shall be addressed in English - at the latest one week before the deadline - to [email protected], with the subject line: Cyprus Grants questions. Answers to all questions will be also posted on this web news.

QUESTION: As an organisation, we were founded in 2020 but officially registered in 2021. We have proof of actions and activities during the period before our official registration as a non-profit company. With this in mind, would we be eligible to apply for this programme?

ANSWER: The relevant eligibility criteria for the grants is to “have been active for a least 2 years in the field of integration and/or human rights” so the organisation is eligible to apply as it was active from when it was unofficially founded in 2020. 

QUESTION: Who is considered to be the Regional Network? Is it the implementing organisation of the project or the 3 organisations implementing the 3 networks?

ANSWER: The regional network was established by the previous coordinators. It is a combination of representatives of municipalities and communities in the region, CSOs, and interested citizens (students, teachers, businesspeople, sports clubs, migrants, refugees, asylum seekers etc. – each network is different) from the region. The new coordinators will invite the active members of the previous network (contacts will be provided) and can enlarge the network (invite new members/participants) as they see fit.

QUESTION: The Intercultural Cities Index review have already published and the implementing partner of each district will need to complete it?

ANSWER: the ICC Index was already completed for the five regions at the end of 2021 – the new coordinators/implementing partner will complete it again in 2024 to show any improvements in integration policies in the districts (the Index questionnaire and a guide and video on how it is filled in can be found online: https://www.coe.int/en/web/interculturalcities/about-the-index )

QUESTION: The questionnaire to monitor regional integration activities in their region will be developed by each implementing organisation of each district or it is already published?

ANSWER: the questionnaire has already been prepared by the project team and was tested by the previous coordinators.

QUESTION: Who are considered network members for the feedback survey?

ANSWER: See the answer above each regional network has a different list of members.

QUESTION: The survey is to be developed by the implementing partner organisation of each district for their project?

ANSWER: The survey will be prepared by the implementing partners in coordination with the project team (the same survey will be used in the five districts).

QUESTION: Is the Council of Europe exempt from VAT?

ANSWER: In the case of grant agreements, VAT is not paid by the Council of Europe but by the grantee. VAT is considered as an eligible cost where it is not recoverable under the applicable national VAT legislation and is paid by a grantee.