The European Development Fund (EDF) provides development assistance to the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP).  Information on how to apply is compiled on this webpage and can be downloaded here.

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

The European Development Fund (EDF) provides development assistance to the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). As described in the revised Cotonou Agreement its objective is to promote the economic, cultural and social development of the ACP states, with a view to contributing to peace and security and to promoting a stable and democratic political environment. The partnership is centred on the objective of eradicating poverty consistent with the objectives of sustainable development and the gradual integration of the ACP countries into the world economy. The instrument works in 5-year rounds. The current round is the 9^th EDF which applies to the period from 2000 to 2007. The 10^th EDF goes from 2008 to 2013. On average 3.78 billion € are expected to be disbursed annually, ie 22.7 billion € over the whole period.

Grants

Country specific

Country specific

The main objectives of the instrument are: achieving economic growth, human and social development, promoting cultural values of communities; institutional reforms; environmental sustainability; cross cutting themes such as gender issues, environmental issues and institutional development and capacity building.

The following objectives are relevant for NGOs working in the field of SRH:


The funding priorities are different from one ACP country to another, according to their Country Strategy Papers.

Under the Cotonou agreement non-state actors are eligible for EDF funding. The opportunities for NGOs to access funding, depends on the implementation of the EDF in their country.

top

General guidelines have been prepared by the ACP Secretariat and the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM). The “Cotonou Agreement - A User’s Guide for Non-State Actors” is available from the ACP Secretariat.

Country specific

Country specific

Country specific

Every ACP country prepares a Country Strategy Paper, which describes how the EDF funds will be used. The funds are managed by the National Authorising Officer. For an NGO, there are three ways to access EDF funding, provided the Country Strategy Paper incorporate the following options.

1) Capacity building programmes for non-state actors:

The Cotonou Agreement introduces the possibility to implement a programme for non-state actors to enable non-state actors to play their role in the development process. This programme can fund actions to build the capacity of non-state actors. Activities can include efforts to improve the organisation and representation of non-state actors; to establish consultation mechanisms among non-state actors organisations; to facilitate networking; or to build their capacity for lobbying.

2) micro-projects and decentralised cooperation

• micro-projects are small-scale projects at local level, which have an economic and social impact on the life of the people, meet a demonstrated and observed priority need, and shall be undertaken at the initiative and with the active participation of the local community which shall benefit from the project. The main activities funded are small infrastructure projects, such as building a rural school or a bridge; and income-generating activities. The actors targeted are local communities and grassroots organisations.
• This programme also funds de-centralised co-operation, in particular where such operations combine efforts and resources of decentralised agents from the ACP States and their counterparts from the European Union. The objective is to enable the mobilisation of capabilities, innovative operating methods and resources of de-centralised agents for the development of the ACP State.

In both cases 75% of the project budget can be co-funding, the other resources being provided by the grant beneficiary.

3) Standard EDF projects and programmes:
Non-state actors can also access funds by participating in the implementation of standard EDF programmes, i.e. sector programmes or development projects promoted by their government (and included in the National Indicative Programme). In practice, this means that funds are put aside in these programmes to pay for the services provided by non-state actors in the implementation process.

Depending on how the EDF is implemented.

In order to succeed in accessing EDF funds, check the CSP of your country first. Check whether the priority sectors of the CSP include health. Check whether capacity building programmes for non-state actors and/or micro-projects and decentralised cooperation are envisioned. The second step is to get information on how the EDF is managed in your country. You have to find out how you can access these funds. Find out about calls for proposals or possible tenders.

There are three contact points, where you should be able to obtain the necessary information:

• The National Authorising Officer (NAO). In some countries, NAO offices have a desk for non-state actors (for the addresses of NAO offices, see the guidelines prepared by the ECPDM Annex VIII).
• The Delegations of the European Commission. All Delegations of the European Commission should have one officer specifically responsible for relations with non-state actors.
• In some countries, non-state actors have begun to form their own platforms, umbrella organisations and/or networks to focus on issues related to the Cotonou Agreement. These organisations and networks can be sources of relevant information. Check whether such a body exists in your country. Some non-state actors (e.g. NGOs) have also started to organise themselves at the regional level.

top