Equal opportunities and social integration

Projects

[1st June 2010]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

we are pleased to invite you to a Polish – Norwegian Civil Society Forum organised by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway. The conference will take place on 16th June 2010 in Warsaw in Pałac Prymasowski, ul. Senatorska 13/15. Honorary Patronage was taken by Mr. Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament and Ms. Elżbieta Bieńkowska, the Minister of Regional Development.

CONFERENCE AGENDA:

Can civil society exist without non-governmental organisations?
Social engagement in Poland and Norway

Plenary session

10.00 –J.E. Enok Nygaard, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway in Warsaw welcomes the guests
10.05 – A speech by Elżbieta Bieńkowska, the Minister of Regional Development
10.15 – Input of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism into development of the Polish civil society – Ambassador Ingrid Schulerud, Coordinator of negotiations of Financial Mechanisms for 2009-2014, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway
10.30 – Condition of civil society in Poland - prof. Piotr Gliński, Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences and Białystok University, Director of the Polish Sociology Association
10.45 – What makes Norwegians engage socially? – Vanja Bentsen Kleven, Project Manager, Helsinki Committee in Norway
11.00 – Challenges for the Third Sector in Poland from the Norwegian point of view – Birgitte Brekke, Secretary General of Frivillighet Norge – NGOs Association in Norway
11.15 – Q/A
11.30 – Coffe break
11.45 – How to make our society more organised – discussion panel

Participants:

Adam Bodnar – Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights,

Piotr Frączak – Polish Federation of Non-Govenrmental Organisations,

Agnieszka Matan – Local Activity Support Centre,

Vanja Bentsen Kleven - Frivillighet Norge,

Birgitte Brekke – Helsinki Committee in Norway.

The discussion will be moderated by a journalist and columnist Zuzanna Dąbrowska.

12.30 – Questions and opinions from the room
13.00-14.00 – lunch break

During the break the conference participants will see an exhibition presenting the most interesting projects implemented with support of the Non-Governmental Organisations’ Fund.

Session devoted to support to the NGOs provided by the EEA Financial Mechanisms and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism

14.00 - Sidsel Bleken, Counsellor at the Norwegian Embassy in Warsaw welcomes the guests
14.05 – Presentation of the most interesting projects implemented in Poland with support of the Non-Governmental Organisations’ Fund
15.15 – An open discussion about experience from the first years of Norwegian grants for non-governmental organisations in Poland and future views connected with the future financing period.
16.00 – Session closing

Participation in the Polish-Norwegian Civil Society Forun is free of charge after previous internet registration.

NGO Fund Team

We would like to inform you that all calls for proposals are closed within the NGO Fund. Now the contracted projects are in the phase of implementation.

[1st April 2010]

Best wishes
for Easter
from
NGO Fund Team

[12th February 2010]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are pleased to inform you that as a result of receiving an additional tranche of funds from the Ministry for Regional Development, as well as a favourable exchange rate of euro against zloty, we have more resources to disseminate in 2010 within the third call for proposals to Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration.

Considering the decisions of the Steering Committee from 22nd June 2009 and 10th February 2010, we addressed further Applicants, whose applications were below 34th place on the ranking list, with an information about a possibility to finance their project ideas, reserving that the project timeframe is appropriately changed

We have addressed more Applicants that the allocation amount allows, because we assume that some Applicants may not be able to complete their projects in the remaining time (10 months), and according to the Procedures Handbook pt. 3.1 projects implemented within the NGO Fund have to be completed before the end of 2010. Therefore we wanted to make sure that we can allocate the resources as fast as possible.

Currently, until 19th Februaty we are waiting for proposals of updated schedules for the above mentioned applications, which will be later passed on to the Steering Committee Members.

Ladies and gentlemen, the final decision on assigning a grant will be made by the Steering Committee. Soon we will inform you which Applicants are able to complete their projects in reduced time, and which proposals were accepted by the Committee, as well as the number

With best regards,
NGO Fund Team.

[23rd December 2009]

kartka Ladies and Gentlemen,

We would like to inform you that as a result of settling the already completed projects and one of the Beneficiaries declining the grant, we have acquired additional means for reimbursement in the current year, for projects from the ranking list which were submitted for the third call for proposals within Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration.

Following the Steering Committee’s decision from 7th August 2009 we addressed 5 Applicants from below 37th place on the ranking list (229/R/3/2009, 10/R/3/2009, 82/R/3/2009, 121/R/3/2009 and 365/R/3/2009) with an information of a possible grant for their project ideas, with a clause of proper changes in the timeframe.

On 16th December 2009 the members of the Steering Committee unanimously decided to finance the above mentioned projects. Grant contracts will be signed before the end of the current year.

We also inform that after receiving the remaining resources to be reimbursed from the Ministry of Regional Development in the first quarter of 2010 and after settling further completed projects, the Operator will address fiurther Applicants from the ranking list with an information about the possibility for financing.

Ladies and Gentlemen, for the upcoming Christmas we would like to wish you all the best, good health and successes in personal and professional life. Let the New Year bring you interesting challenges and fulfilment of all hopes and expectations.

With best regards,
NGO Fund Team.

[27 November 2009 r.]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We would like to inform you that from 1st December 2009 ECORYS Polska is changin its prepises. Therefore the address will change.

New address of ECORYS Polska:

ECORYS Polska
ul. Łucka 2/4/6
00-845 Warszawa

Please send any correspondence to the new address.

Kind regards,
NGO Fund Team.

[25th August 2009]

Ladies and Gentlement,

we would like to inform you that comments of assessors assessing your Project submitted for the third call for applications In Lot 3 „Equal opportunities and social integration” were sent to you today.

The comments you received will allow you to learn how each element of your application was assessed – what was seen as a strong side and what was an error resulting In decreasing the amount of points received.

We hope that the comments you received will be helpful in preparing further Project and applications. We are deeply convinced that participation in the contest procedure of the NGO Fund and experience doming from it will result in successful applications to other contests.

With kind regards,
the NGO Fund Team

[10 sierpnia 2008]

Ladies and Gentlemen!

For the last time in the NGO Fund I am pleased to announce results of the third call for proposals to Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration.

In the last contest of the integration lot the Operator received 553 applications. Almost 280 applicants submitted their project ideas in the previous calls, and 54 of them have already received funding. This had a great influence over the fact that most of the applications were very well prepared technically and included necessary information to receive high grading for particular criteria. It shows in assessors’ opinions and analysis of results of the technical assessment. Compared to previous calls, this contest had an unusually high number of applications which received high grading. Almost 32% of projects received 150 and more. Therefore, we can make a conclusion that a significant number of Applicants considered the comments from the assessors from previous calls and corrected their applications accordingly. Only 17 applications (3%) received less than 101 points and only 15 projects (less than 3%) were not included in aims and focus areas of Lot III and in the first criterion did not receive the 50% of points required for full technical assessment. The level for receiving a grant was set very high. In order to receive financing one had to acquire at least 171 points. In comparison, Lot II – Environmental protection and sustainable development required 155.5 points.

Unfortunately, as we informed you earlier, this call had a record number of applications with formal errors. 20% (106 applications) of all applications required corrections and over 15% (86 applications) was rejected at the level of formal assessment and did not participate in further assessment process.

Applications submitted by you also had smaller budgets. An average amount of financing applied for was around 300 thousand zł (in previous calls it was respectively 480 thousand and 420 thousand zł). As a result, in the allocation for the last call for Lot III amounting to 2,6 million euro, as many as 37 projects were qualified. In comparison, in the environmental lot which had a similar budget, the resources were sufficient for only 31 applications.

Following the statistics, one can say that despite a high technical quality of the applications, the projects did not significantly vary in topics. Despite a wide variety of topics, the area of support and reinforcement of position of the harmed was the most popular one with 60% of applications. The remaining areas had 10% interest. Also the most represented region was Mazowieckie (27.5% of applications, followed by Małopolskie (9.2%) and Dolnośląskie, Pomorskie and Śląskie (7.7% each). What was a surprise to us is that most projects wchich received financing came from Małopolskie (10 applications) with Mazowieckie as a runner-up (6 projects). Undoubtedly, such statistics were caused by a fact that many Applicants from Mazowieckie have already received financing in previous calls and according to the procedures, assessment of their projects was reduced by 10 points. Considering high technical quality of projects in this contest, and a fact that the level of financing was set at 171 points, reducing by 10 points in many cases caused projects to move below the line.

In order to complete the final call for proposals for Lot III, on 7th August 2009 a Steering Committee’s meeting took place. The meeting consisted of two parts. Subject of the first part was to look into 26 appeals from the Applicants concerning the results of the formal assessment made by the Operator. The second part was aimed at accepting the ranking list and the list of applications which qualified for financing.

As a result of analyses of the appeals, the Committee considered appeal to the application no. 324/R/3/2009 as justified. The project was assessed technically and placed on the ranking list according to the number of points it received. In case of the remaining 25 appeals, the Committee members unanimously sustained the Operator’s decision on rejecting the applications for formal reasons.

In the second part of the meeting, the Committee analysed materials and discussed over them. It considered that there are no reservations concerning the process of assessment of applications and particular assessments of applications. It considered assessors’ grading as competent, and stressed out the quality of comments justifying a given assessment and did not introduce changes on the ranking list. Therefore, as a result of the Committee’s meeting financing for 37 projects was accepted.

During the meeting the Committee also discussed the usage of savings which will appear after the already completed projects are settled and additional resources coming from an advantageous exchange rate of złoty to euro. The budget of the NGO Fund is presented in euro, while the Operator receives the resources exchanged to złoty. Currently it is very difficult to estimate the amount which will be available, because its value will depend on the exchange rate by which the Operator receives financial means at the moment they are required. Exact amount will be known to the Operator in the beginning of the 4th quarter of 2009. Then, depending on this value, the Operator will address further Applicants below the 37th place on the ranking list with an information about a possibility of financing for the projects (after proper modifications of schedules). In case of the exchange rate being kept on current level, one can estimate that financing will be provided to several projects.

Ladies and Gentlemen I invite you to read the ranking list. Because the level was set very high, I would like to congratulate those of you who reached it and exceeded it and therefore are on the list. I also congratulate those of you who took the challenge of preparing an application, but because of limited resources cannot complete their project ideas.

I thank you for your patience in waiting for the final results of the contest and tolerance over small faults which appeared during the last two years of implementation. We succeeded in correcting them thanks to your valuable notes and suggestions. Many times have you contributed to making the procedures and the system more efficient and implementation of the NGO fund more professional. I thank all NGOs for successful cooperation, support and all nice words. I hope that cooperation with us was a valuable and helpful experience which can help you to apply to other contests with a positive result.

With kind regards,
Ngo Fund's Director

List of applications which received granting

[24th July 2009]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

we would like to inform you that assessment of Applications submitted to the 3rd call for proposals for Lot 3 "Equal opportunities and social integration" is being finalised.

Below you can find some information about activities we are currently conducting:

Currently, apart from the ongoing work of assessors who assess submitted projects, we verify incoming documents for applications which required formal corrections.

Unfortunately the number of such applications is higher as compared to previous calls. The number is: 106 applications, which makes it 20% of all submitted applications. Large number of applications requiring corrections postpones completion of the technical assessment, because only formally correct projects are passed on to this stage.

Last week we sent you letters with information about regection of your applications for formal reasons. We regret to inform you that 87 applications had to be rejected. That number is comparable with those from two previous calls.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this last call is surely exceptional from all calls we conducted so far.

Additionally, assessment of applications in the 3rd call proved to be more time consuming than in the previous calls. Many projects submitted in the 3rd call were a continuation of already financed, or the Applicants referred to activities which are being implemented or ones completed. In order to assess such application correctly the assessors asked the Operator to verify information whether the implementation of activities proposed in an application submitted to the 3rd call id dependant on proper completion of activities from previous applications, whether propositions of the new project are coherent with the previous one, etc. We also had cases with applications identical to those which were already being implemented, without changes of the subject area or project implementation dates. In order to provide the highest quality of assessment of all applications, the Operator individually analysed all such cases, passing information on to the assessors. The above also influenced the longer process of assessment of applications.

WE EXTEND THE FINAL DATE FOR SENDING
CORRECTIONS TO THE GRANT APPLICATIONS

Ladies and Gentlemen,

yesterday - on 23rd July 2009 was the final date for sending corrections to grant applications, however because of many motions to extend the final date we decided to extend it up to 30th July 2009. We acknowledge your difficulties in completing the corrections caused by the vacation season and we hope that the additional days will allow you to collect all neccessary documents and signatures.

Please check all faxes and e-mails received.

We would like to add that extension of the final date will not influence the date for completing the call (when informing you about the date for publishing results - 10th August we considered probable extention of the final date for sending corrections).

NGO Fund Operator

[17th July 2009]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We would like to inform you that results of the third call for proposals for Lot III "Equal opportunities and social integration" will be published on 10th August 2009 (Monday) at 12:00.

Steering Committee's meeting (an independent institution which accepts the final form of the ranking list) will take place on 7th August 2009 (Friday).

NGO Fund Operator

[9th June 2009]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

we would like to inform you that we are currently conducting technical and formal assessment of Payment Applications submitted for the third call for Lot III „Equal opportunities and social integration.”

Formal assessment of Applications is conducted at the same time as the technical one and separate (earlier) publishing of results is not planned.

The results of the call will be published in the beginning of July.

Non-Governmental Organisations' Fund Operator

[14th April 2009]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On 27th March 2009 a call for proposals for Lot III "Equal opportunities and social integration" closed. We are pleased to inform you that the third call was also very popular.

We received almost 550 applications. Currently we are registering them. The first phase of registration has ended and the second phase - electronic registration - is taking place. After it is completed you will receive e-mails with information about numbers assigned to your applications.

We will inform you about the course of assessment.

[27th January 2009]

ECORYS Polska
in consortium with Ecotec Research & Consulting Ltd. and ECORYS Nederland B.V.

s an Operator of the Non-Governmental Organisations’ Fund established within the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism

And Norwegian Financial Mechanism

opens the third call for proposals for

Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration

1. Invitation to participate in the call is directed at all non-governmental organisations which fulfil requirements presented in the „Procedures handbook for Non-Governmental Organisations' Fund – Lot II and Lot III” which can be found at www.funduszngo.pl

2. 2. Examples of application documents can be found in Equal opportunities and social integration tab in Downloads for Lot III.

3. The call for proposals opens on 27th January 2009

4. The call for proposals closes on 27th March 2009.

5. Applications are to be submitted at - ECORYS Polska, Racławicka 146, 02-117 Warszawa.

6. Applications are to be submitted at the above address until 27th March 2009 at 5:00 pm delivered personally or by mail (postal stamp date is decisive)..

etailed information connected with the applying procedure is available at the official website http://www.funduszngo.pl/
under Equal opportunities and social integration

and under telephone number +48 22 339 36 36

EURO EXCHANGE RATE FOR III CALL

to Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration

1€ = 4,2976 zł *

* exchange rate by NBP from 27th January 2009

[27th January 2009]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We gladly inform you that the third call for proposals for Lot III - Equal opportunities and social integration is now open.

The budget for the third edition of the competition is 2 600 0000 euro supplemented by resources unused in previous calls. Information about the final amount of means to be reimbursed will be presented before the results of the call , after settling the first quarter of 2009 of projects already being implemented.

Dear applicants, while preparing your applications please read the updated version of the Procedures' Handbook for the Non-Governmental Organisations' Fund, in force since 6th January 2009. (download)

It includes the most necessary information which will be useful while preparing the formal, technical and budget part of the project.

Valuable information concerning financial aspects of the project can be found in Environmental protection and sustainable development tab from 6th January 2009.

Before submitting a grant application to the Operator please check whether your application is complete and has all necessary appendixes. It will help to prevent its rejection for formal reasons. The list of most common formal mistakes is presented in Environmental protection and sustainable development tab from 27th June 2008.

We invite you to prepare projects and to submit applications, wishing you good luck!

Non-Governmental Organisations' Fund Operator

[22nd December 2008]

Nice and cheerful Christmas
and many cheerful moments in the New Year
wishes you the NGO Fund Team

[27 June 2008]
Ladies and Gentlemen
Because of a large number of applications rejected on the formal level during previous calls for applications, below we present the most commonly made formal mistakes, together with examples. It is done in order to avoid similar situations in the call for Applications to Lot II – Environmental protection and sustainable development which closes on 4th July and in further calls next year.

Four main reasons for rejecting Applications during formal assessment:

a) Applicant doesn’t show evidence for providing financial input as presented in the grant Application,

The Applicant is to present documents certifying the amount of means which is not lower than the amount of financial input presented in the Application. In case when the Applicant submits two Applications for one call, in order to certify the financial input, the Applicant is obliged to show owned financial means or credit standing for each project independently. This requirement is also applicable to cases when financial input is provided by a partner or sponsor.

b) incorrect bank statement, which doesn’t explicitly certify that the Applicant has financial means presented in the Application as own financial contribution,

According to pt. 4.3.1. of the NGO Fund Procedures Handbook, the bank or credit union statement has to include information concerning the amount of owned means or credit standing of the Applicant. Presenting other information concerning e.g. turnover, incomes, reliability of the Applicant etc. without giving the amount of owned means or credit standing is insufficient.

Examples of incorrect bank statements >>>more

c) signatures under the grant Application is not compliant with representation shown in the National Judicial Registry record of the Applicant.

The Application has to be signed according to representation shown in the National Judicial Registry record.

In case when an Application is signed in a different manner than shown in the NJR record or documents stating the representation method, Application should be attached with proper power of attorney for a person/persons signing the grant Application, signed according to representation method of the Applicant. Lack of such Power of Attorney (even if a person/persons signing the Application are formally justified to represent the Applicant) will cause the Application to be rejected.

d) lack of any required attachments

It is impossible to supplement complete missing appendixes to the Application.

In case when the project has several partners, lack of one letter of intent will be treated as a lack of a full appendix and will cause the Application to be rejected.

Dear Applicants, before submitting the grant Application to the Operator, please read the Procedures Handbook, and thoroughly check whether your Application and appendixes are complete

NGO Fund Operator

[19 June 2008]

Ladies and Gentlemen

For the first time this year and for the third in total, we are pleased to present the results of the next call for Applications to the Non-Governmental Organisations Fund.

This is second presentation of results within the Equal opportunities and social integration lot. This year, attention paid to the contest was significantly lower (666 of submitted Applications, last year it was 1232 Applications), which was a surprise to us. We expected a greater amount of Applications, both from those Applicants who already submitted their Applications last year, did not receive granting, but basing on comments from the assessors, improved their Applications, and from those Applicants who did not make it on time to prepare their Applications for the previous call. Number of submitted Applications was lower, but their quality greatly improved. Only 28 applications were rejected because of not reaching 50% points for the first criterion of the technical assessment and 31 Applications because of receiving less than 101 points. Most of the Applications which we received were thought over, coherent and detailed and project activities or budgets were presented in a precise and descriptive way.

The thing that became a great disappointment was the number of applications rejected formally – 100 Applications. Despite a detailed overview of the most common formal mistakes made in previous calls which was presented on the NGO Fund’s website, information magazines or on numerous regional meetings – reasons for rejection were similar as those in previous calls. Even modifications and explanations introduced to the Procedures Handbook which presented in a clear and a precise way, together with examples and formal requirements which the Applicant has to fulfil did not prevent from making mistakes. I think that the worst thing that can happen to an Applicant is rejection from the contest because of formal reasons after long and painstaking preparations of an Application without a possibility of technical assessment. Therefore, in order to prevent such situations from happening in the call for proposals for Lot Environmental protection and sustainable development which closes on 4th July, next week we will provide a detailed coverage of all formal mistakes made, together with their examples. Additionally we will return to this topic in the next issue of FOP Letter and other press or internet articles.

Looking at other statistics accompanying the current call we can say that they are comparable with tendencies which are characteristic after three contests, and these are: average size of submitted Application, participation of particular regions in the call, popularity of particular focus areas or participation of Polish of foreign partners. Soon we will present you their detailed analysis.

Today a meeting of Steering Committee took place. The subject of the meeting was accepting the Ranking list and the list of Grant applicants accepted to receive a grant.

The Committee did not introduce any changes on the ranking list and considered the assessment made by assessors’ as competent, and stressed high quality of their assessment and comments justifying their decision.

The Committee also made a stand in the case of last four Applications in the group recommended to receive a grant. The Applications received the same amount of points – 165,5 pts, whereas the Lot’s budget did not allow all these projects to be financed.

After reading the results of assessment made by the assessors and after reading the above mentioned Applications, the Committee members considered the Applications to be comparable in terms of quality and two criteria will decide whether an Application will receive a grant. These were: how the project implements aims of the Non-Governmental Organisations’ Fund (first criterion from the technical assessment grid) and whether the project’s budget fits into the resources left to reimburse in this call. As a result of summing up of points given by each assessor for the first criterion of technical assessment, and after checking the grant amount for which the Applicants applied, Applications no. 75/R/2/2008 and 432/R/2/2008 did not qualify to be granted.

After accepting granting for 23 projects, 58 851 zł was left in the Lot’s budget. These resources were transferred to the Lot’s budget for the third call for proposals.

Eleven Applicants who already received granting in previous calls for proposals for the NGO Fund, submitted their projects also in this call. According to procedures the overall assessment of their projects was reduced by 10 points. Despite lowered score, Application no. 388/R/2/2008 was qualified to be granted.

I would like to congratulate those of you, who after many hardships, and hard work on preparation of Applications will find themselves „above the line” on the ranking list below and those who because of limited amount of resources of the Fund won’t be able to implement their ideas. I hope that time spent on preparing the application will not be lost and experience gained will contribute to acquiring support funds including following editions of the NGO Fund.

NGO Fund Manager

Rafał Szakalinis

List of granted Applications

Ranking list of projects

Applications rejected after formal assessment

Applications rejected after assessment of the 1^st criterion

Applications assessed below 101 points

[13 July 2008]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This week, on 10th June first meeting of the Steering Committee (SC) took place. The SC reviewed appeals of the Applicants to the Operator’s decision on formal rejection.
Next Committee meeting is planned for 19th June 2008. The subject of the meeting will be accepting a ranking list of Grant applications. On that day, after the SC meeting, results of II call for applications to Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration will be presented.

NGO Fund Operator

[30 May 2008]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We would like to inform you that the process of assessment of Grant applications is currently underway. Results of the second call for Applications to the third lot of Equal opportunities and social integration will be presented in two weeks, that is in the iddle of June this year.

NGO Fund Operator

[10 April 2008]

Process of registration of Grant applications submitted within II call for applications to III Lot – Equal opportunities and social integration has been closed. All Applicants received e-mails with information about number of their registered Application. If you did not receive information about registration of your Application, please contact the Operator - tel.: (22) 339 36 36 or e-mail: ngo@funduszngo.pl.

NGO Fund Operator

[1 April 2008]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today the Operator finished registering Grant applications for II call for proposals to Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration. The Operator’s office received 666 Grant applications. In the next days we will inform you about registration of Applications and further steps of assessment of submitted applications.

NGO Fund Operator

[20 March 2008]

Best wishes
for Easter
from
NGO Fund Team

[14 March 2008]
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We have just stopped receiving Grant applications for the second call for proposals within Lot III – Equal Opportunities and social integration.

Until 17:00 141 applications were submitted, which is much less than last year (341 applications until closing the call at 17:00).

This number will rise, because most applications was/will be sent by mail or by a courier before midnight today.

It seems that against expectations, the final number of submitted applications should not exceed the result from last year.

We will inform you about the number of Applications and further steps in selection process.

NGO Fund Operator

[12 March 2008]

Ladies and Gentlemen,
We would like to inform you that the FAQ tab has new answers for questions asked by the Applicants most often. Persons interested in submitting a Grant application for II call for Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration should read the Operator’s answers.

NGO Fund Operator

[29 January 2008]

Statement

Because of new offers of advisory aid and trainings on applying to the NGO Fund of the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism we would like to inform you that ECORYS Polska Ltd. has not authorised any subject to give services or pass information on behalf of the Operator.
We would like to inform you that ECORYS Polska Ltd. will not be held responsible for contents passed by subjects which provide the above mentioned services.

Rafal Szakalinis
Non-Governmental Organisations Fund Manager

Lot II – Environmental protection and sustainable development
Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration

[25 January 2008]
Note!
The Operator has presented a new Grant application on 25th January 2008. The application is in operation during the current call for proposals. All Applicants who work on previous versions of the application should download the Application dated 25_01_2008 in the name of the file. For any questions please contact the Operator (Infoline 22 339 36 36).

We must inform you that all Applicants who submit their Applications on a previous version of the application will be asked to correct their electronic version and submit their applications again, using a current file.

This week two new tabs - Call I and Call II have been added to the Lot III Equal opportunities and social integration. Tab Call I includes information connected with the call from 24 April to 29 June 2007, that is archive application documents, results of the call and current data for the Beneficiaries who received their grants. Tab Call II inclues current application documents for the second call for Lot III

All news will still be placed on the main site of Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration.

Non-Governmental Organisations’ Fund Operator

[11 January 2008]
ECORYS Polska, Operator of Lots II and III of the Non-Governmental Organisations’ Fund, opens the second open call for Applications for Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration.

The call will be open from 11 January till 14 March 2008.

Rules for submitting the grant Applications are described in the amended NGO Fund’s Procedures Handbook.

Downloadable documents which are applicable to this Lot are in Call II tab.

EURO EXCHANGE COURSE FOR SECOND CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR LOT II – EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND SOCIAL INTEGRATION

1€ = 3,5517 zł *

* National Bank of Poland selling rate from 11 January 2008

Non-Governmental Organisations’ Fund Operator

[21 December 2007]
For the forthcoming Christmas, we would like to wish you peace, and some well-deserved rest with the family together with wishes of all the best in the forthcoming 2008!

Non-Governmental Organisations’ Fund Operator

[19 October 2007]
We would like to ask all applicants who wish to receive their copies of the Grant Application to inform the Operator about the date they would like to receive them and to prepare power of attorney documents for persons who are not mentioned in the organisation’s KRS.

Non-Governmental Organisations’ Fund Operator

[17 October 2007]
We would like to ask all applicants who wish to receive their copies of the Grant Application to inform the Operator about the date they would like to receive them.

We would also like to inform you that in upcoming days, the Operator will start sending correspondence to the Applicants, including comments from the assessors which justify the assessment.

Non-Governmental Organisations’ Fund Operator

[16 October 2007] 1st OPEN CALL FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS – LOT III – EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND SOCIAL INTEGRATION - PUBLICATION OF RESULTS

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We would like to congratulate all NGOs, despite the result, for mobilisation and making an effort in preparing such a large number of grant applications. As you all know interest in submitting applications within Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration was extraordinary. In the end, after registering all Applications, we found out that we had received 1232 of them!!! Such interest was greater than the Operator could have imagined.
Unfortunately, despite the interest taken in the Non-Governmental Organisations' Fund, the amount of financial means intended for the call has to remain unchanged and is equal to 5 mln Euro. This is the way the Fund implementation has been designed and it is stated in our contract with the National Focal Point, which is the Ministry of Regional Development. As one can easily count, if the best Applications from the first places on the ranking list applied for the maximum grant amount (set as an equal value of 250 thousand Euros), only 20 of the best applications would have received the grant. In the Lot we are currently summarising, many submitted Applications have proposed interesting project ideas. Ranking list which was created after summing up results of the assessors' assessment shows, that in terms of quality the leading positions were taken by projects applying for larger grant amounts (average value of an application which received a grant was 119 thousand EUR). 42 best Grant Applications were awarded a grant in this call for proposals. I would like to present you how the application assessment process looked like.
Because of receiving a large number of applications, we have decided to make verification process more efficient. We did not want to miss promised closing dates. We conducted administrative, formal and technical assessment of Applications at the same time. Applications which fulfilled formal requirements were directed to technical assessment. In case of applications which required to be supplemented, we contacted the Applicants asking them to supplement their Applications. After collecting all Applications which did not fulfil the formal requirements and unfortunately had to be rejected, we sent an information which included justification for rejection. For 201 Applications rejected for formal reasons, we have received 82 appeals from the Operator's decision. While reviewing the appeals the Steering Committee has accepted 2 of them, and agreed with the Operator over the remaining 199 cases. The Steering Committee included 5 experts who not only had a wide knowledge in the NGO Fund's focus areas, but also great experience in working in the NGO sector. Additionally there were observers from the National Focal Point, Financial Mechanisms Office and the second NGO Fund's Operator, who took part in the Committee's meeting. I am aware that having an application rejected from formal reasons is very unpleasant. Preparing an Application, collecting an appropriate number of appendixes, letters of intent etc. is a very time consuming activity, which often absorbs many persons. Especially that many organisations which applied did not have previous experience in applying for external funding. We tried to prepare our procedures in a way that formal requirements would not be burdensome for small and just starting NGOs. These formal requirements were a complete minimum which we, as an Operator of public means transferred by EEA-EFTA countries and the Polish government, had to implement. On the level of procedures preparation we managed not to have in place such financial securities as bank guarantees, which are expensive and difficult to obtain, or performance guarantees. We did not condition granting on financial state of an organisation or its turnover. We did not use bank analyses verifying the Applicant's financial state, as a basis for receiving a grant. We knew that such criteria would eliminate small and inexperienced organisations, and wanted to avoid it at all costs. At the same time we had to fulfil contractual duties concerning the proper control over disbursement of public means which we had towards the donors. Consequently, formal requirements, for example necessity to present bank information about the amount of means on the beneficiary's account or his credit standing of at least 2% of the project's eligible costs (which was less restrictive than financial bank security), had to be strictly required by the Operator. I assure you that I would be most glad to see all applications competing against each other technically, unfortunately the regulations, which we are obliged to follow, tell us to formally reject incorrect Applications. I encourage those of you whose applications were rejected for that reason to correct your applications and submit them within the next call for proposals for Lot III – Equal Opportunities and social integration in the first quarter of the following year. Technical assessment of applications was made by assessors who have knowledge and experience which allows them to assess Applications in a scope which covers support areas within the Lot. Most of the Assessors came from outside of central Poland which ensured strong regional representation. The Assessors underwent a training on making assessments and formulating notes and comments while assessing applications. Because assessment was made at the Operator's premises we had a possibility to control the quality of the assessments. Additionally, interpretation of NGO Fund's procedures, for which we were asked by the assessors, could be passed on for other assessors during daily meetings. It ensured coherent assessment of applications. In cases when a difference in points given by the assessors was larger than 20% of maximum amount of points, the Application was additionally assessed by the Manager for Collection and Assessment of Applications.Ranking list of projects which passed the technical assessment was presented for the Steering Committee on October, 12^th, 2007. The task of the Committee was to make the final decision on awarding projects with grants. Actions of the Committee were to control and monitor the whole process of technical assessment of applications. A week before the meeting, the representatives of the Steering Committee were presented with a list of rejected applications, ranking list of the applications, summaries of assessors' comments on particular applications, together with individual comments concerning particular criteria. During the meeting the Committee had access to all applications, appendixes and correspondence exchanged with the Applicants. In strictly justified cases, the Steering Committee was entitled to make changes in points within particular criteria of assessed Applications, causing changes in ranking of the projects. The Steering Committee made a unanimous decision on accepting the projects ranking list and awarding grants for the first 42 applications from the list. At the same time the Committee has decided to contact the Applicant from the post no. 43. - „Lazarus”, Elbląg Association of Humanitarian Aid of St. Lazarus with an enquiry whether the organisation is able to provide greater own financial input and complete the project after receiving 288, 572 PLN out of 492, 543 PLN applied for. In case of a negative response this amount will be transferred to the pool designed for the third call for proposals in the first quarter of 2009.The steering committee's decision is final and no appeals are allowed. Ladies and Gentlemen,I would like to congratulate the winners of the contest. However, I feel a lack based on the fact that only 3,4% of you could receive a grant. We would not like your effort to go to waste. In order to prepare your applications for the next calls for proposals better, we will send written information with notes of both assessors concerning assessment of particular criteria and their comments summarising the assessment to all Applicants whose applications have passed the technical assessment. We hope that both, the information above and the support received from the Operator (helpline, individual consultations, information on the Operator's website) will allow you to prepare Applications which will receive a grant in the following call for proposals.I would like to thank the NGOs for great support and kind words directed to us in the last few months. We also thank you for patience in waiting for the final results of the contest and understanding for slight mistakes which appeared while the NGO Fund was being implemented. The first call which is just being finished was the first one and all rules and procedures prepared especially for the NGO Fund were being tested, we can say. The Operator's administrative system, the database and the NGO fund's management were all being adjusted to the needs of the beneficiaries. I think we can be proud of our hitherto achievements in implementing the Fund. At the same time the system and procedures will be modified to ensure even more professional course of the next call for proposals. We invite you to share your opinions, suggestions and notes concerning the procedures or operations of the Operator. All your comments will be carefully analysed and considered in correcting NGO Fund implementation. I would like to finish with a positive information for the non-governmental sector. We now can say that results of the call for proposals for Lot II – Environmental Protection and sustainable development will present themselves better. Within the call we have received 370 applications which ensures a better rate of applications which will be awarded a grant.

The NGO Fund Director
Rafal Szakalinis

[7 September 2007.]
I CALL FOR PROPOSALS – LOT III – Equal opportunities and social integration

First call for proposals in Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration has been closed on 29 June 2007 and 1234 grant Applications have been registered.

The Operator has planned to resolve the contest in three months after the call has been closed. Such short period to assess the applications caused us to resign from dividing the assessment into formal and technical. Applications which were prepared formally correct were directly passed on to technical assessment conducted by two independent assessors. Thanks to that 909 Applications underwent a double technical assessment. Applicants who, as asked by the Operator, sent supplements to their applications, are having their application passed on for technical assessment

Next week, the Operator plans to send information to Applicants whose Applications were rejected from formal reasons and cannot be corrected or supplemented. Correspondence with information about an application being rejected after formal assessment will be sent to all Applicants at the same time. The Applicants have a right to appeal from the formal assessment of their Grant Application in seven working days from the day they receive the letter from the Operator. Each appeal will be .investigated on a Steering Committee meeting. Therefore, in order to make the appeals step more efficient, the Operator has planned to send all notices at the same time so all appeals could be investigated during one Steering Committee meeting. In cases when the Steering Committee accepts the appeal, the Application is passed for technical assessment.

After all appeals are settled and technical assessment is completed, a ranking list of Grant Applications is made. The ranking list will be accepted by the Steering Committee.

After the Steering Committee makes final decisions concerning the Applications, the Operator will publicly present the ranking list of the grant Applications submitted within the Lot III of the NGO Fund and directly informs the Applicants about the final results of assessment, together with the assessors' comments. Publication of the ranking list is being planned for the end of this month

the Non-Governmental Organisations Fund Operator

[16 August 2007.]
Because of many questions concerning assessment of Grant Applications we would like to inform you that formal and administration assessment is in progress. Applicants who, while preparing their Applications, made formal errors which can be corrected or supplemented, will be informed about this fact in two next weeks.
Because formal and technical assessment is conducted at the same time, the Operator will not inform the Applicants about positive results of formal assessment of their application.
It is planned that the projects' ranking list will be published not later than three months after the call for proposals is finished.

the Non-Governmental Organisations Fund Operator

[27 July 2007.]
Since 29 June 2007 r. Applications submitted within Lot III – Equal Opportunities and social integration are being assessed.
Because of the number of submitted Applications, the Operator's office holds place of intensive work connected with Applications assessment. In order to meet the three month assessment period, the Operator has resigned to divide the assessment into two subsequent assessments – formal and technical. Currently formal and technical assessments are conducted at the same time by independent assessors. That is the reason why the Operator did not set the final date when the formal assessment of the Applications will be closed. Next week is the date when the Operator starts contact the Applicants about corrections to their applications.

We would like to remind you that a list of formal errors according to the NGO Fund Procedures Handbook includes the following transgressions:

· lack of an electronic version of the Application,

· lack of appendix elements,

· lack of a copy of the Application, lack of certification to be true with the original,

· lack of signatures on the appendixes.

A code of conduct for the Applicants will be included in correspondence connected with supplementation of the Application. The code will include a proper time frame to send supplements and corrections and contingent appeal procedure.

[18 July 2007 r.]
Last week we have closed the registration of “Grant Applications” sent within Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration of the Non-Governmental Organisations Fund.

In total, 1237 “Grant Applications” have been registered.

Information with numbers given has been sent by e-mail to all applicants, therefore if you have not received electronic correspondence from the Operator, please contact the Operator by telephone (22 339 36 36)

For more information about the number of your Application two pieces of information:

1. Title of a submitted project.

2. The Applicants name.

Currently, applications are being assessed administratively and formally. Information about necessary supplements to the Applications will be sent through e-mai, fax (with information about administration supplements) and e-mail and post (with information about formal errors).

[10 July 2007]
Ladies and Gentlemen,

We would like to inform you that because of a large amount of Grant Applications being submitted (1249 Applications to date) their registration still continues. All Applicants who still did not receive registration information are asked for patience. Time of registration is longer because many administration lacks in submitted applications. Correspondence with application number and information about applications being registered will be sent until 13 July 2007.
Best regards,

Non-Governmental Organisations Fund Team

[4 July 2007]
Today, until noon, further 261 grant Applications have been submitted. Therefore 1 211 Grant Applications in total have been submitted for Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration.

[2 July 2007]

Registration of Grant Applications is underway. Until now 395 Grant Applications have been registered. Recently further 496 Grant Applications have been delivered by mail!

Applications are being registered in our database. Next week, the Applicants will receive an e-mail with confirmation of registration and a number which was assigned for the application.

[29.06.2007]
Ladies and Gentlemen!

We have just finished to collect Grant Applications for the Non-Governmental Organisations Fund, for Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration which were directly delivered to the Operator's office.

In the nearest future we will wait for applications sent by post. All Applications sent on 29 June 2007 will be registered. Until 5 p.m. 341 applications have been registered. In a week we will be able to provide a direct number of Applications submitted to Lot III.

We would like to thank all Applicants for the time spent on preparing and filling their Applications!

With best regards,
the Non-Governmental Organisations Fund Team

[27.06.2007]
We would like to remind you that the final date for submission of applications elapses on 29^th June 2007 at 5 p.m., in cases when the Application is directly delivered to the Operator's office. In cases when the application is sent by post, the postal stamp date is decisive (this means that a letter can be sent until the end of 29^th June 2007).

[27.06.2007]
Because of forthcoming end of the call for Lot III equal opportunities and social integration, we would like to inform you, that we have increased the number of consultants working on our infoline 22 339 36 36 which works between 10.00 – 17.00. It is also a priority for the Operator to give answers by e-mail. In order to increase the quality and to keep time limits as short as possible, we ask you to read the information presented in our FAQ tab.

[25.06.2007]
Our Frequently Asked Questions tab has been supplemented with further questions from the Applicants. :

Should purchase of computers and office furniture be accounted as investment part?

Yes, if by investment activities we mean all purchase – equipment and devices, together with renovation and construction work.

[20.06.2007]
NEWS IN FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Frequently asked Questions include the latest questions which have appeared during the consultations with the Applicants.

[18.06.2007]
CONSULTATIONS ABOUT LOT III – Equal opportunities and social integration
We would like to remind you that the final day to submit applications for Lot III of the Non-Governmental Organisation elapses on 29 June 2007. Therefore Friday, 22 June 2007 is the last day to register for consultations in the Operator's office in the last week of application collection for Lot III.

[17.06.2007]
GRANT APPLICATION
A new version of the application form is available at “Download” site. Changes are slight, therfore IT IS NOT REQUIRED TO DOWNLOAD A NEW FORM. We allow to submit applications in the electronic version on earlier versions of the form. We do not plan to make any new changes in the application form until the end of the current call for proposals for Lot III 0 Equal Opportunities and social integration. The following elements of the application have been changed: 1.5 – text field, has been changed so the project summary of 150 words would fit into it;
3.4.2 – column G describing “amount of activities” has been widened ;
5 – column C, which includes the total amount of costs according to particular groups of costs has been widened. We would like to inform that if there is a problem of a cell being blocked , its cause can be the level of security of Microsoft Excel. In order to change it one should turn on Microsoft Excel and select Tools-> Macros ->Security and in the Security Level tab select “low”. Afterwards, one should close Excel, open it again and open the application.

[17.06.2007]
OWN CONTRIBUTION IN THE BUDGET
We would like to focus your attention at proper indication of own contribution (financial and material) in the project budget. Non-Government Organisations Fund – Lot II and III provides maximum amount of a grant of 90% of the project value. To calculate the actual value of grant to be 90% total financial and material contribution should be inserted into cost groups in point 5 of theGrant Application – from G.1 to G.9. Own financial and material contribution has to be presented in the balance sheet and activities costs in point 3.4.2 of the Grant application. Document Own contribution includes examples on how to present material contribution in particular costs groups. In order to make calculation of proper value of own contribution compared to the amount applied for, we present you a calculator. Another calculator helps to calculate the amount of non-eligible costs in the projext. The amount should be presented in the Grant Application.

[16.06.2007]
„Frequently Asked Questions” tab includes the most frequently asked questions from the Applicants. We invite you to read all answers to questions asked by you.

[12.06.2007]
Thirteen days before the end of the call for Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration we would like to present you with some statistic information connected with the Non-Governmental Organisations Fund.

Since May over 1000 consultations through the telephone have been conducted.
467 answers to e-mail questions have been given.
25 consultations with the Applicants have been conducted at the Operator's office.

The Non-Governmental Organisations Fund's website has recorded:

11 497 downloads of the NGO-Funds Procedures Handbook,
8 690 downloads of the grant application form,
Average amount of persons on the Non-Governmental Organisations Fund's websites at 12 o'clock was 61,89.

[31.05.2007]
Errors connected with subscribtion to the Non-Governmental Organisations Fund Lot II – Environmental protection and sustainable development and Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration have been corrected. We invite all interested in receiving information about Lot II and III to subscribe to the newsletter.

[25.05.2007]
Ladies and Gentlemen!

Four weeks after the call for proposals for Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration has been opened, we would like to present you with a new, detailed and more precise NGO Fund Procedures Handbook.

Regulations and procedures published on 24 April 2007 have not been changed. Applications submitted before these changes have been implemented, that is before 25 May 2007 will be assessed accordingly to the first version of the NGO Fund Procedures Handbook.

Below you can see a list of all changes presented in the Handbook.

1) p. 13 – information about project value has been made more precise, „per one project” has been added:

BEFORE:

The minimum amount of grants which can be applied for is 5 000 Euro.

The maximum amount of the grant which can be applied for is 250 000 Euro

AFTER:

The minimum amount of grants per one project which can be applied for is 5 000 Euro.

The maximum amount of the grant per one project which can be applied for is 250 000 Euro.

2) p. 16 – eligible costs are more precise:

BEFORE:

printing and copying of materials (e.g. preparation of training materials)

AFTER:

printing of training materials (e.g. purchase, printing and copying of materials)

3) p. 16 – one category of eligible costs has been added:

ADDED:

costs of equipment usage and maintenance necessary for project completion.

4) pp. 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 54, – a change of incorrect phrase concerning validity of documents for a more precise phrase stating that documents are valid if „issued not earlier than” a given date

BEFORE:

documents „issued not later” than

AFTER:

documents „issued not earlier” than

5) p. 18 pt. 4.3.2 a phrase „using a justified method” has been crossed out

BEFORE:

Amounts declared as a value of the material contribution gave to be set basing on marked prices and using a justified method

AFTER:

Amounts declared as a value of the material contribution gave to be set basing on marked prices.

6) p. 18 pt. 4.3.2

offering facilities (office space, conference rooms) – if the facility being offered free of cost is necessary to complete the project.

has been expanded with:

Cost of facilities is calculated as a part of expenses made in connection with its usage, proportionally to its size and a number of people working for project completion;

devices and equipment – if it is a property of the applicant or a partner or has been donated to the Applicant or a partner and will be offered.

has been expanded with:

Costs connected with devices and equipment should be calculated according to the rate presenting the level and time of usage of a given device. Depreciation costs can be considered as material contribution only when they concern equipment necessary to complete the project and have been calculated according to accountancy rules and are connected only with the period of a given durable good usage in the time of project completion.

the end of chapter has been expanded with:

The Applicant has to present a statement about detailed information concerning the value of the material contribution. Moreover the Applicant is obliged to gave documents certifying the value/estimation of the material contribution.

7) p. 48 pt. 2.6.3 points 1 and 2 have been extended with „for example” while presenting kinds of financing of project currently completed by the Applicants

BEFORE:

1. Please describe if the Applicant runs any other projects financed by Financial Mechanisms or European Union Funds. Please describe these projects.

2. Please describe if the Applicant currently participates as a partner in other projects financed by the Financial Mechanisms or European Union Funds. Please describe these projects briefly, together with the Applicants role.

AFTER:

1. Please describe if the Applicant runs any other projects financed by, for example, Financial Mechanisms or European Union Funds. Please describe these projects.

2. Please describe if the Applicant currently participates as a partner in other projects financed by, for example, the Financial Mechanisms or European Union Funds. Please describe these projects briefly, together with the Applicant’s role.

8) p. 49 pt. 3.4.2 in sentence „A detailed description of particular activities should be presented” a word „detailed” has been deleted

BEFORE:

A detailed description of particular activities should be presented.

AFTER:

A description of particular activities should be presented.

9) p. 50 pt. 3.4.2 in sentence „Costs of activities completion are divided in particular groups (according to cost groups presented in the budget, which is Appendix 1 of the Application)” a phrase “which is Appendix 1 of the Application” has been deleted.

BEFORE:

Costs of activities completion are divided in particular groups (according to cost groups presented in the budget, which is Appendix 1 of the Application)

AFTER:

Costs of activities completion are divided in particular groups (according to cost groups presented in the budget)

10) p. 53 pt. 5 in the sentence „Financial contribution (item I.2.1) is the amount of own financial contribution of the Beneficiary given for project completion. Its amount cannot be lower than 2% of the project’s eligible costs (2% x item I.2)” there has been a change of the item by which the 2 percent should be multiplied in order to see the own financial contribution. This item has been changed to item I.

BEFORE:

Financial contribution (item I.2.1) is the amount of own financial contribution of the Beneficiary given for project completion. Its amount cannot be lower than 2% of the project’s eligible costs (2% x item I.2)”

AFTER:

Financial contribution (item I.2.1) is the amount of own financial contribution of the Beneficiary given for project completion. Its amount cannot be lower than 2% of the project’s eligible costs (2% x item I)”

11) p. 54 the list of appendixes has been enlarged with a seventh appendix necessary for the Application „7 the Applicant’s Certificate on public support received”

with best regards,

NGO Fund project Team

[21.05.2007]
On 21 May 2007 an updated version of the Application form has been presented. The application form does not include any technical changes, only corrections of its functioning – font on the printout of the first sheet has been enlarged. A new row has been added. It shows office costs (G9), and has been mistakenly deleted during the last update of the file.

NGO Fund project Team

[16.05.2007]
A new version of the Grant Application form has been presented on 16th May 2007. The Application Form to the Non-Governmental Organisations does not include any substantial changes, but only amenities and technical adjustments.

[14.05.2007]
On 14 May 2007 we have enabled you to subscribe to our electronic newsletter. The Newsletter is a tool which we would like to use to inform you about the most important events at the Non-Governmental Organisations Fund in Lot II – Environmental protection and sustainable development and Lot II – Equal opportunities and social integration.

[10.05.2007]
Declaration
Because of an increasing number in counselling and training offers in the field of applying to the Non-Governmental Organisations Fund within the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, we inform that ECORYS Polska Ltd. - the Fund's Operator did not select any entity to provide services and to transfer information on behalf of the Operator. We inform, that ECORYS Polska Ltd. does not take responsibility for contents presented by entities offering the above mentioned services.

Rafał Szakalinis Non-Governmental Organisations Fund Director
Lot II – Environmental protection and sustainable development
Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration

[9.05.2007 r.]
Because many questions connected with preparing an application for the NGO Fund we present a list of the most frequently asked questions along with answers. A list of Frequently asked Questions which will be updated as further questions appear.

[27.04.2007]
Between 26 - 27 April 2007 our company will change its office. Our new office: Current address of the office: ECORYS Polska Ltd. Racławicka 146 02-117 Warsaw
Tel: +48 22 339 36 36
Fax: +48 22 339 36 37

We apologise for any inconvenience!

On behalf of the Non-Governmental Organisations Fund Team

Iwona Burakowska

[26.04.2007]
NOTE!
On 25 April 2007, at 18.00 new updated documents were presented – NGO Fund Procedures Handbook (changes on pages 25, 26, 27, 30 and 31) and the Grant Application form.

[25.04.2007]
On 24 April 2007 roku on the day call for proposals for Lot III has been opened, in Downloads tab, documents necessary to apply are available for download.

[26.03.2007]
Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration Lot III – Equal opportunities and social integration, is aimed at solving urgent social problems which local societies face. One of the main problems is to support initiatives which increase social participation and creation of opportunities for the weakest and discriminated social groups, together with supporting non-governmental in undertaking activities in fields where the role or possiblities of the state are limited. Other activities include support for cultural initiatives and promotion of local and regional development, together with exchange of experience in solving local problems. Equal opportunities and social integration Lot covers following activities:

A. Support and reinforcement of position of the disadvantaged and the disabled
B. Support for sustainable regional and local development
C. Combining cultural heritage protection with local societies development.
D. Vocational activisation of socially excluded groups
E. Activities aimed at increase of social knowledge anout social integration and equal opportunities
Detailed description of these activities is presented in the NGO Fund's Procedures Handbook.
Operator

ECORYS Ltd. in consortum with ECOTEC Research & Consulting Ltd and ECORYS Nederland B.V. has been selected as an Operator of the Equal opportunities and social integration lot. The Operator creates application procedures and collects and assesses applications, signs contracts with the beneficiaries and distributes financial means. Moreover ECORYS Polska monitors completion of projects undertaken by the beneficiaries and their partners, as well as financial control and audit.