This programme provides grants for projects or activities based on private development co-operation initiatives. 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 Spanish Agency for International Co-operation (AECI) is an autonomous organisation assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation via the State Department for International Cooperation (SECI). As an organisation that controls Spanish development co-operation policy, the AECI is responsible for designing, executing and organising development co-operation projects and programmes, either directly, using its own resources, or in collaboration with other national and international bodies and non-government organisations (NGOs).

According to article 4 of its own statute, the AECI has the following aims:

• To contribute to economic growth and social, cultural, institutional and political progress in developing countries, especially those that have historical links with Spain;
• To promote cultural and scientific co-operation with developing countries;
• To ensure agreement on development policies in developed countries, especially within the European Union.

To achieve these aims, the AECI is authorised to carry out the following functions:

• To aid the SECI to define and execute development cooperation policy;
• To promote cultural co-operation and the promotion of Spanish culture in developing countries;
• To design, coordinate and execute development co-operation programmes and projects in the economic, social, cultural, educational, scientific and technical fields;
• To ensure and co-ordinate Spain’s institutional standing in international non-financial development organisations;
• To support and encourage public or private initiatives that contribute to achieving the aims of the agency;
• To conduct and promote awareness of studies relevant to progress in underdeveloped countries;
• To support and collaborate with other ministerial departments in the development of international co-operation programmes and projects.

 

The AECI had a budget of € 574 million in 2006, which represents an increase of 41% compared to 2005.

This scheme provides grants for projects or activities based on private development co-operation initiatives. They can be economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific or professional. Activities can consist of assistance or raising awareness-. They can promote international development co-operation, both in Spain and abroad. Currently, grant programmes are announced three times a year.

Total funding cannot exceed € 5 million per year, for all types of AECI grants, except for humanitarian aid. The amount assigned is only applicable to expenses arising from carrying out the activities for which the grant has been awarded, in accordance with the award concession specifications.

The NGO is not expected to make any contribution.

The following activities are considered priorities:

(1) Development co-operation activities:

• Especially in Latin America; there, the focus sectors are: political stability, sustainable development, social cohesion, urban development, health, water and indigenous programmes. Target countries are those prioritised for regional programmes, Andean countries and countries earmarked for special attention;
• In Mediterranean and Eastern European countries, sub-Saharan Africa and Asia the focus sectors and countries are those set out in the 2005–2008 Spanish Co-operation Master Plan;
• Humanitarian aid;
• Activities to raise awareness of the need for co-operation;
• Cultural and scientific cooperation with developing countries.

(2) Activities that promote and raise cultural awareness, contributing to knowledge of Spanish culture abroad or a closer understanding between Spanish and other cultures, paying special attention to possibilities for cultural exchange and co-operation.

Spanish and foreign citizens can apply for these grants, as well as legal entities and public or private national or foreign entities that comply with the following requirements:

• Individuals must be legally of age.
• Legal entities must be legally constituted.
• For groups of individuals or legal entities with no legal status, each of the individuals or legal entities of which they are composed must comply with the requirements which apply in their case and are also subject to the obligations established in section 3 of article 11 of the General Grant Law.

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Guidelines are to be found on the AECI’s website. They are called ‘manual de justificacion de ayudas y subvenciones de la AECI’.

The maximum duration is one year.

Applications must be presented within 20 working days after publication of the call for proposals. Generally, programmes are published three times a year, in February, June and September.

Applications must be formulated using the models which can be obtained from the AECI information centre (see contact details below) or the AECI website.
The appendix I model must be completed if the grant application is for less than € 60,000, and the model in appendix II if the grant application is equivalent to or greater than this amount. The amount applied for, as well as the budget breakdown included in these appendices, must be expressed in euros.
Applications must be addressed to the General Secretary of the Spanish Agency for International Co-operation and can be submitted at any of the following:

• The General Register of the Spanish Agency for International Co-operation;
• Local government offices;
• Spanish post offices, in an unsealed envelope so the documents inside can be stamped with the submission date, as will be indicated in the post offices concerned;
• By any other means indicated in article 38.4 of the 30/1992 Legal Regulation of the Civil Service and General Civil Service Procedures Law, dated 26 November 1992;

Applications from abroad must be presented at the registry offices of Spanish diplomatic services or consulates, or at AECI registry offices outside of Spain (technical co-operation offices, cultural and training centres). The application must have an entry stamp indicating the date of submission.

The application must be accompanied by the following documentation:

• Proof of the identity of the applicant or representative, if the application is presented on behalf of the applicant;
• A report explaining the project or the activity for which the grant application is made, formulated using the corresponding model from the appendices in the grant award announcement;
• A report explaining the personal, material and infrastructural resources available to the applicant for carrying out the project or activity;
• A report of earlier activities related to those for which a grant is being requested;
• A report of the activities carried out in the previous year, in the case of legal entities;
• The curriculum vitae of the applicant, in the case of individuals;
• Declaration of aid and grants received from the AECI in the preceding five years and their justification, and a declaration stating whether any other pending AECI grant application has been made for the activity;
• Where applicable, documentary proof of compliance with Spanish tax and social security obligations, as established in the rulings of the Treasury and Inland Revenue, dated 28 April 1986 and 25 November 1987. The documents must be valid on the last date for submission of applications;
• In the case of a legal entity, proof of IAE payment, either the last paid receipt or proof of registration if this has occurred in the current year and no receipt has yet been issued.
• Declaration that there is no legal impediment to the person or entity receiving the grants envisaged in sections 2 and 3 of article 13 of the Grant Law.

Spanish

The Fundación Luis Vives provides assistance to NGOs wishing to apply for funding.

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