BOND's EC Funding Group (ECFG)
The ECFG meets regularly to keep up-to-date on EC funding issues. This is BOND members' opportunity to swap information on EC Funding experiences and for the ECFG Chair to report back from CONCORD meetings with EuropeAid.
Terms of Reference for the EC Funding Group
Issues discussed include:
- Preparation of EC applications and the technicalities of applying to 21-02-03 (the "Co-financing with NGOs" Budget Line)
- EC reporting
- Changes to the General Conditions and Guidelines for 21-02-03, and to the Standard Contract.
- Programme contracts - progress of the EC's new funding tool
- Direct funding of southern NGOs
- EC "deconcentration" process (decentralisation of decision-making & contract management to EC delegations in country)
- EC Budget
- Financial Perspectives (EC's Multi-annual financial framework, equivalent to UK's Comprehensive Spending Review)
- Consultation on key policy issues related to EU Funding.
The ECFG members are the first to be notified when the BOND secretariat receives EC funding information e.g. launches of Calls for Proposals.
See ECFG Latest News for updates on the group's activities.
The EC Funding Group Steering Group members are:
- Chair: Gloria Mella, Save the Children UK (interim)
- Alison Sizer, Health Unlimited
- Mark Castellino, ADRA UK
- Jenny O'Brien, Oxfam
Please email funding@bond.org.uk for more information or to be added to the mailing list.
CONCORD Group on NGO Funding for Development and Relief (FDR)
BOND's ECFG Chair is the BOND representative on CONCORD's Group on NGO Funding for Development and Relief, and attends quarterly meetings between the group and EuropeAid staff from Unit F2, Co-financing with NGOS.
Role of CONCORD's FDR
The FDR seeks to contribute to the main objectives of the new confederation CONCORD.
In addition, its (DRAFT) Terms of Reference include the following mandate:
- Policy work: The policy work of the Group shall focus on EU funding policies and priorities, on the allocation of funds to these priorities (including analysis of statistics) and on the EU funding process and organisation.
- Lobbying work: The role of the FDR shall be to lobby on all problems relating to EU funding (procedures, delays, transparency, efficiency, communication and information policy) on the basis of the positions developed through the policy work
- Information work: Regarding information, the role of the FDR members shall be to inform their constituency on the issues covered under the political work.
- Communication and dialogue with the EC: The role of the FDR shall be to analyse, react and comment on the processes, proposals, rules, statements and papers put forward by the EC. As far as possible its role should also be to discuss them with the EC before their finalisation through a proper consultation process. NB. This mandate is taken from the FDR's Draft Terms of Reference which are currently provisional and are subject to approval under CONCORD's governance procedures.
For more information contact funding@bond.org.uk