Grant-making for the Norwegian Financial Mechanism

Submitted by balázs on 2011-06-08

Successful launch of the Hungarian NGO Fund

press release of 10.04.2008.

A new fund that will contribute to strengthen the civil society in Hungary was recently launched on a big conference in Budapest. The NGO Fund will be available for projects within the sectors of environment, social cohesion and health and children. - Civil society and NGOs play a crucial role by ensuring broad public participation in democratic processes and acting as a critical corrective to the state, said state secretary Elisabeth Walaas in her opening speech. 

Walaas expressed the importance of providing the civil society with the space and opportunity and resources so that they can contribute to the long-term goal of reducing social and economic disparities in Europe. We hope that the funds allocated to Hungary will create new opportunities for cooperation between NGOs in Hungary and Norway.

The Hungarian NGO Fund is close to €6 mill, and is mainly supported by the EEA Grants where Norway is the largest contributor. Hungary contributes with 10% of the allocations.

The Fund will contribute to strengthening the civil society by supporting projects within four thematic groups: environment protection and sustainable development, civil liberties and capacity building, social cohesion and health and childcare and cultural heritage.

There is big interest for the NGO Fund in Hungary. More than 200 participated at the launch in Budapest 10. April. 2008 representatives from Norwegian NGO organizations participated at the conference. One of the main goals of the fund is that it shall result in different kinds of project cooperation’s. The Launch made it possible for the Norwegian and the Hungarian NGOs to meet up and discuss possibilities for future cooperation projects.

The Hungarian Environmental Partnership Foundation is the Fund operator and is implementing the fund in a consortium with three other organizations. There will be two open calls. The first call open until 9th of June, will include micro and macro grants, up to €80.000. The second call will be launched in the first quarter of 2009 and will include only small-scale grants up to €25.000. Information seminars will be held in the districts soon.