Background	Project Duration
Grant Size	Deadline
Own Contribution	Application Forms
Funding Priorities	Application & Procedures
Grantmaking Criteria	Languages
Guidelines	Tips

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes co-financing grants to NGOs (Italian and from other EU Member States) which have formal accreditation under Italy’s ‘Law 49’. Approximately 150-200 NGOs have this status. Project funding is provided for a maximum of three years. Information EAS grants are primarily aimed at educating and sensitising beneficiaries on development issues. In addition, Italian NGOs can receive grants as implementing agencies for projects identified and designed by the Directorate General of Development Cooperation (Direzione Generale per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo, DGCS). These grants are awarded by the relevant geographical offices of the DGCS based on criteria such as the NGOs’ previous experience.

Co-financing: The maximum grant given by the MFA is €840,000 for a three-year project, €560,000 for a two-year project is and €280,000 for a one-year project. In the case of projects promoted jointly by two or more NGOs (joint projects), the maximum contribution is €1,650,000 for a three-year project, €1.1 million for a two-year project and €550,000 for a one-year project. Costs for buildings and/or equipment must not exceed 40% of total costs.

Development Education EAS grants: The maximum grant is €100,000. In the case of joint projects (between two and six NGOs), the maximum amount to be awarded is €275,000. In the case of projects initiated by at least seven NGOs, the maximum amount is €375,000.

Projects proposed by NGOs can usually be co-funded by 50% of project costs, but in special cases up to 70%. At least 15% of the total project costs have to be borne by the NGO’s own funds; other donors may contribute the rest. In the case of a consortium of NGOs, the NGO responsible for the consortium must guarantee a contribution of 15% of total costs. NGOs can also receive grants as implementing agencies for DGCS identified and designed projects. Selection of these grants, under the responsibility of the relevant geographical office of the DGCS, is made based on cost and previous experience

The general priorities are the following:

• Population, women and development
• Protection of childhood and youth
• Social communication and information
• Strengthening of institutional capacity
• Good governance
• Promotion of enterprises
• Job creation
• Social projects which promote the return and integration of refugees and emigrants.

In addition for Development Education EAS Projects:

• Must help to raise awareness of Italy’s contribution to development and the fight against poverty
• Must be sustainable, especially when it is oriented to achieving activities that, having already received public assistance for a number years (periodical publications, documentation centers, etc). It should gradually insure autonomous sources of funding
• Must be a joint venture involving the participation of NGOs with different specialisations

The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs grants funds to NGOs (Italian and from EU Member States) which have been formally accredited, according to Law No. 49. A formal approval procedure is applied, so the NGO must comply with the following criteria:

• The applicant must be registered as an organisation according to Articles 14, 36 and 39 of the Italian civil code.
• It must be focused on development assistance for developing countries.
• It must be a non-profit organisation.
• The applicant may not belong to an economic, financial or business organisation.
• The applicant must declare that the NGO is able to conduct the planned projects with suitable and available personnel.
• The NGO must have at least three years’ experience with developing countries in the area for which formal approval has been sought.
• Periodic inspection by the Head of the Office for Development Co-operation must be permitted.
• An annual report concerning the progress of the current programme must be submitted.

Please, follow the special guidelines Progetti promossi da Ong Procedure di presentazione e gestione  (projects promoted by NGOs – procedures of submission and management) and Progetti Info/EaS promossi da ONG - Procedure di presentazione e gestione (Info EAS projects promoted by NGOs – procedures of submission and management). Both can be obtained from the DGCS or retrieved from the internet at: http://www.cooperazioneallosviluppo.esteri.it/pdgcs/italiano/LeggiProcedure/Idoneita/pdf/manuale.pdf and http://www.cooperazioneallosviluppo.esteri.it/pdgcs/italiano/Partner/Ong/pdf/Progetti_Info_EaS.pdf

The maximum project duration is normally three years.

Development Education EAS Projects: The maximum project duration is normally one year.

No deadline applies.

The application forms are enclosed together with the special guidelines Progetti promossi da Ong
Procedure di presentazione e gestione (projects promoted by NGOs – procedures of submission and management) and Progetti Info/EaS promossi da ONG - Procedure di presentazione e gestione (Info EAS projects promoted by NGOs – procedures of submission and management).

Both can be obtained from the DGCS or online at: http://www.cooperazioneallosviluppo.esteri.it/pdgcs/italiano/LeggiProcedure/Idoneita/pdf/manuale.pdf and http://www.cooperazioneallosviluppo.esteri.it/pdgcs/italiano/Partner/Ong/pdf/Progetti_Info_EaS.pdf

Once Office VII of the DGCS has received the applications, it checks within 75 days if they are complete and compliant with the given guidelines, schemes and required inputs. The project is checked with regard to the programme aims/goals consistency, sustainability of the intervention and prioritised criteria.

Any correction or addition to the documents submitted by the NGO is requested in writing by Office VII within 30 calendar days from receipt of the request sent by the NGO. The proposals are sent to the Central Technical Unit and to the relevant Italian embassies within 30 days of receipt.¹ The embassy sends its opinion within 30 days, stating its view concerning objectives of the project.

The Central Technical Unit reviews the project’s technical and economic features within 90 days. Any correction/or addition to the documents during the assessment phase must be made in writing to the Central Technical Unit with a copy to the Office VII within 60 days from the receipt of the draft document sent by the Office VII.  

Finally, the approved project is transmitted by the Office VII to the Steering Committee responsible for the final decision within 30 days. Within 15 days after the approval of the Steering Committee, the NGO is required to submit the grant application.

The applicant should take into account that the above-mentioned processes may well take longer to be completed.

Italian

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