Grant Scheme for EU-Turkey Intercultural Dialogue (ICD)

Grant Scheme for EU-Turkey Intercultural Dialogue (ICD)

This Programme is co-funded by
the European Union and the Republic of Turkey

Contracting Authority: Central Finance and Contracts Unit

Grant Scheme for EU-Turkey Intercultural Dialogue (ICD)

Guidelinesfor Grant Applicants

Budget line: 22.02 03 01

Reference: TR2014/DG/04/A3-02

EuropeAid/159328/ID/ACT/TR

Deadline for submission of Concept Notes: 10.04.2018

NOTICE

This is a restricted call for proposals. In the first instance, only concept notes (Part A of the grant application form) must be submitted for evaluation. Thereafter, lead applicants who have been pre-selected will be invited to submit a full application. After the evaluation of the full applications, an eligibility check will be performed for those which have been provisionally selected. Eligibility will be checked on the basis of the supporting documents requested by the Contracting Authority and the signed ‘declaration by the lead applicant’ sent together with the full application.

Table of contents

1.Grant Scheme for EU-Turkey Intercultural Dialogue (ICD)

1.1. Background

1.2. Objectives of the programme and priority issues

1.3. Financial allocation provided by the Contracting Authority

2.Rules FOR thIS call for proposalS

2.1. Eligibility criteria

2.1.1.Eligibility of applicants (i.e. lead applicant and co-applicant(s))

2.1.2.Affiliated entities

2.1.3.Associates and Contractors

2.1.4.Eligible actions: actions for which an application may be made

2.1.5.Eligibility of costs: costs that can be included

2.2. How to apply and the procedures to follow

2.2.1.Concept note content

2.2.2.Where and how to send concept notes

2.2.3.Deadline for submission of concept notes

2.2.4.Further information about concept notes

2.2.5.Full applications

2.2.6.Where and how to send full applications

2.2.7.Deadline for submission of full applications

2.2.8.Further information about full applications

2.3. Evaluation and selection of applications

2.4. Submission of supporting documents for provisionally selected applications

2.5. Notification of the Contracting Authority’s decision

2.5.1.Content of the decision

2.5.2Indicative timetable

2.6. Conditions for implementation after the Contracting Authority’s decision to award a grant

3.LIST OF annexes

15 January 2016Page 1 of 29

e3a_guidelines_en.doc

Grant Scheme for EU-Turkey Intercultural Dialogue (ICD)

1. Grant Scheme for EU-Turkey Intercultural Dialogue (ICD)

1.1.Background

Intercultural Dialogue[1] (ICD) is defined as a common understanding of “an open and respectful exchange of views between individuals and groups belonging to different cultures that leads to a deeper understanding of the other’s global perception”. The importance of the concept of the intercultural dialogue, has beenreferred in a variety of documents, such as the “European Commission’s Agenda for Culture in a Globalising World”, the “Culture Programme 2007-2013” and the “White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue” publishedduring the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008.

During the past decade, a number of geo-political, economic, cultural and social developments both in Europe and in Turkey (e.g. globalisation, geopolitical changes, the EU enlargement process, migration flows, the advent of new means for communication) have resulted in such topics to be assigned a more prominent place in European political agendas, i.e. intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity and social cohesion being assigned a more prominent place in European political agendas[2].

With reference to a new strategy to put culture at the heart of international relations, adopted in June 2016, ICD constitutes the agenda of the EU’s structured dialogue with civil society. In addition to various programmes undertaken by the Commission during the years 2011-2014, a group of experts appointed by national governments met for voluntary policy coordination and to discuss the role of public arts and cultural institutions in the promotion of cultural diversity and ICD.[3]

In the field of culture and international relations various terms are used interchangeably, such as public diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, soft power, international cultural relations, external cultural relations, cultural exchange, and cultural export. EU institutions, national cultural relations agencies, cultural institutes and CSOs in this regard need to work together to build a joint strategy based on the values of such significant concepts of reciprocity, mutual understanding, shared responsibility, global cultural citizenship etc.[4]

With regard to the recently adopted 2030 Agenda[5] acknowledging global citizenship, cultural diversity and ICD as overarching principles of sustainable development and for the EU's neighbourhood and enlargement policies, culture is becoming more and more a vector for economic growth, along with synergies with other fields in which public and private sector and civil society should be more and more involved[6].

There is a strong belief that cultural variety / diversity is a mainspring for sustainable development for individuals, communities and countries, as well as an opportunity for the European societies along with a focus on the role of cultural institutions in the promotion of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. Inother words,cultural institutions play a pivotal role in connecting people and in building a more cohesive and open society as well as in fulfilling the need to engage broader parts of the population in achieving their core mission of ensuring the transfer of cultural diversity and heritage across generations.[7]

In parallel to these developments, Turkey has numerous strategies and action plans in different sectors at political, economic, professional, cultural and educational level. The areas of civil society dialogue andICDhave been raising Turkey’s level of recognition within the EU and enhancing the level of understanding of the Turkish citizens’ on the EU, its values and policies. At the same time, dialogue assists citizens in being more involved in political, cultural and economic development, since the debates, which surround Turkey's membership are equally cultural as they are about economics, politics or security[8].

Hence, supporting civil society dialogue between Turkey and the EU Member States is a key priority under the EU financial assistance to Turkey. Within this regard, the Ministry for EU Affairs (MEU) has implemented the “Civil Society Dialogue between the EU and Turkey (CSD) Project” since 2008 with the aim of promoting cooperation among civil societies in the EU and Turkey.While the implementation of CSD-V is foreseen in the last quarter of 2018, four phases ofCSDhavebeen implementedwith different thematic approaches.

First phase of the ProgrammeCSD-I(TR0604.01)has been implemented along with i) Towns and Municipalities, ii) Professional Organisations, iii) Universities, and iv) Youth Initiatives. As the follow-up of the first project, CSD-IIhas been implemented (TR0703.01) in two different thematic areas “Culture and Arts” and “Fisheries and Agriculture” and for participation to small-scale CSO events.While CSD-III (TR2010/0135.01) focused on the themes of political criteria and the media, CSD-IV (TR2011/0135.15) has been implemented in the following 9 focal areas: environment, energy, consumer and health protection, justicefreedom and security, right of establishment and freedom to provide services, regional policy coordination of structural instruments, enterprise industrial policy, agriculture and fisheries and education.

CSD Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture (TR0803.03) isanother grant scheme, which was implemented under the CSD umbrella, but specifically relating to actions in İstanbul as the city was selected as the European Capital of Culture for year 2010 with the decision of EU Council of Ministers of Culture held on 13 November 2006.

CSD Cultural Bridges(TR0703.02)was implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2009-2010, building upon on the EU Member States’ expertise and directly involved the EU cultural institutes/offices and their Turkish partners in the EU-Turkey Civil Society Dialogue. It strengthened contacts and mutual exchange of experience in the field of culture in the EU Member States and Turkey by providing direct grants to four cultural institutes’ projects; namely, “KaleidoscopEurope” project of the Italian Institute of Culture, “European Literature Goes to Turkey / Turkish Literature Goes to Europe” of the Goethe Institute, “My City” project of the British Council and “Digital Bridges” project of the French Cultural Institute have been successfully implemented.The programme increased dialogue and partnerships between the cultural actors in Turkey and in the EU.

As a continuation of above-mentioned projects, "EU-Turkey Intercultural Dialogue" project isco-funded by the EU and the Republic of Turkey within Annual Action Programme for Turkey for the year 2014 within the framework of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA)-II, under civil-society sub-sector that is under “Democracy and Governance” sector. The project includes grant and technical assistance components. This 'Guidelines for Grant Applicants' describes the objectives, priorities and eligibility rules of the Grant Scheme.

The institutional framework of the Grant Scheme includes the MEU, Yunus Emre Institute (YEI) and the Central Finance and Contracts Unit (CFCU) of the Republic of Turkey. The MEU, as the Lead Institution of the civil society sub-sector will be responsible for the overall coordination of the Project. YEI, as the End Beneficiary of the Project, will be in charge of technical implementation, management and sustainability of the Project and monitoring of the grants awarded under the overall supervision of the CFCU. The CFCU, as the Contracting Authority for the Project, is responsible for the administrative and financial implementation of the Grant Scheme. The CFCU has the ultimate responsibility for the correct use of grant funds and is responsible for tendering, contracting and payments.

1.2.Objectives of the programme and priority issues

The global objective of this call for proposals is to form an effective network among the cultural institutes of EU and Turkey through intense cultural exchange in the framework of collaborative activities.

The specific objective of this call for proposals is to enhance intercultural dialogue between civil societies in Turkey and Europe in the area of culture and art, along with collaboration, development and implementation of long term multinational / multilateral joint cultural initiatives and communication and promotion activities.

The proposed action(project) should fall in one or both of the below mentioned priority areas:

• Developing and implementing long-term multinational/multilateral joint cultural initiatives in Turkey and in the EU to contribute to mutual understanding;
• Increasing the visibility of EU-Turkey civil society dialogue[9] in Turkey and in the EU Member States.

1.3. Financial allocation provided by the Contracting Authority

The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR2.000.000. The Contracting Authority reserves the right not to award all available funds.

Size of grants

Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the followingminimum and maximum amounts:

• minimum amount: EUR 300.000
• maximum amount: EUR 500.000

Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum percentages of total eligible costs of the action:

• Minimum percentage: 50% of the total eligible costs of the action.
• Maximum percentage: 90 % of the total eligible costs of the action (see also Section 2.1.5).

The balance (i.e. the difference between the total cost of the action and the amount requested from the Contracting Authority) must be financed from sources other than the European Union Budget or the European Development Fund[10].

1. 
   Rules FOR thIS call for proposalS

These guidelines set out the rules for the submission, selection and implementation of the actions financed under this call, in conformity with the Practical Guide, which is applicable to the present call (available on the Internet at this address

2.1.Eligibility criteria

There are three sets of eligibility criteria, relating to:

(1)the actors:

• The 'lead applicant', i.e. the entitysubmitting the application form (2.1.1),
• itsco-applicant(s) (where it is not specified otherwise the lead applicant and its co-applicant(s) are hereinafter jointly referred as "applicants") (2.1.1),
• and, if any,affiliated entity(ies)to the lead applicant and/or to a co-applicant(s). (2.1.2);

(2)the actions:

Actions for which a grant may be awarded (2.1.4);

(3)the costs:

• types of cost that may be taken into account in setting the amount of the grant (2.1.5).

2.1.1.Eligibility of applicants (i.e. lead applicant and co-applicant(s))

Lead applicant

(1)In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:

• be a legal person, and
• be established[11] in a Member State* of the European Unionor established in Turkey or an eligible country according to the IPA Regulation[12], and

*For British applicants: Please be aware that eligibility criteria must be complied with for the entire duration of the grant. If the United Kingdom withdraws from the EU during the grant period without concluding an agreement with the EU ensuring in particular that British applicants continue to be eligible, you will cease to receive EU funding (while continuing, where possible to participate) or be required to leave the project on the basis of Article 12.2 of the General Conditions to the grant agreement.

• be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the Action with the co-applicant(s)and affiliated entity(ies), not acting as an intermediary and
• benational institute of culture ornational body that is aEUNIC member[13]before the submission deadline of this grant scheme and engaged in cultural activities beyond their national borders[14].

(2) Potential applicantsmay not participate in calls for proposals or be awarded grants ifthey are in any of the situations listed in section 2.3.3 of the Practical Guide;

In PartA, section 3 of the grant application form (‘declaration by the lead applicant’), the lead applicant must declare that the lead applicant himself, the co-applicant(s) and affiliated entity(ies)are not in any of thesesituations.

The lead applicant must act with at least oneco-applicant as specified hereafter.

If awarded the grant contract, the lead applicant will become thebeneficiary identified as the Coordinator in Annex G (Special Conditions). The Coordinator is the main interlocutor of the Contracting Authority. It represents and acts on behalf of any other co-beneficiary and coordinate the design and implementation of the Action.

Co-applicant(s)

Co-applicant(s) participate in designing and implementing the Action, and the costs they incur are eligible in the same way as those incurred by the lead applicant.

Co-applicant(s) must satisfy the eligibility criteria as applicable to the lead applicant himself.

In addition to the categories referred to in section 2.1.1 (lead applicant), the following institutions are also eligible as co-applicants:

• CSOs[15] from Turkey (associations; foundations; federations/confederations of associations or foundations[16]), or
• CSOs from EU Member States or other eligible countries according to the IPA Regulation except Turkey (associations; foundations; federations/confederations of associations or foundations established as not-for-profit companies/charitable organizations[17]), or
• Universities from EU Member States and/or Turkey and/or other eligible countries according to the IPA Regulation[18].

Co-applicant(s) must sign the Mandate in Part A section 4 and Part B section 4.2 of the grant application form.

If awarded the grant contract, the co-applicant(s)will become beneficiaries in the Action (together with the Coordinator).

It is highly recommended to have tools signed between lead applicants and co-applicant(s) (such as agreements, protocols) to sustain the partnershipafter the completion of the project.

There is no maximum number of co-applicants but careful consideration should be given during the identification of co-applicants to ensure that each co-applicant has a clearly defined role in the project and has seen the submitted application as well as the budget for a smooth implementation of the project if awarded grant.

• The lead applicant must act with at least one co-applicant.
• Partnerships among the represantative offices of EUNIC members and/or headquarters can be possible but their involvement is not considered as sufficient alone to comply with the application criterion regarding having co-applicant(s).
• In order to be eligible, lead applicants must have at least one CSO and/or university co-applicant from Turkey.
• Lead applicants from eligible countries according to IPA regulation (except Turkey) must have at least one co-applicant from EU Member States and one CSO and/or university co-applicant from Turkey.

2.1.2.Affiliated entities

The lead applicant and its co-applicant(s) may act with affiliated entity(ies).

Only the following entities may be considered as affiliated entities to the lead applicant and/or to co-applicants:

Only entities having a structural link with the applicants (i.e. the lead applicant or a co-applicant), in particular a legal or capital link.

This structural link encompasses mainly two notions:

(i) Control, as defined in Directive 2013/34/EU on the annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings:

Entities affiliated to an applicant may hence be:

-Entities directly or indirectly controlled by the applicant (daughter companies or first-tier subsidiaries). They may also be entities controlled by an entity controlled by the applicant (granddaughter companies or second-tier subsidiaries) and the same applies to further tiers of control;

-Entities directly or indirectly controlling the applicant (parent companies). Likewise, they may be entities controlling an entity controlling the applicant;

-Entities under the same direct or indirect control as the applicant (sister companies).

(ii) Membership, i.e. the applicant is legally defined as a e.g. network, federation, association in which the proposed affiliated entities also participate or the applicant participates in the same entity (e.g. network, federation, association) as the proposed affiliated entities.