Introduction to the instruments and thematic programmes for 2007-10 : support to civil society.
Date: 2009-01-27
Institutions: EuropeAid Co-operation Office
Subjects: EU financing, aid programme, civil society, cooperation policy, democracy, development aid, human rights, public safety

EuropeAid

Introduction to the instruments 
and thematic programmes for 2007-10

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Introduction to the instruments 
and thematic programmes for 2007-10

Support to civil society

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(cid:132)  European Commission 

EuropeAid External Cooperation Ofﬁ ce

Rue de la Loi 41, B-1049 Brussels 

Fax: +(32-2) 299 64 07 

E-mail: europeaid-info@ec.europa.eu 

(cid:132)  

Internet

http://ec.europa.eu/world/index_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/index_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/worldwide/index_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/development/index_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/index_en.htm

http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals

(cid:132)   The brochure on the instruments and thematic programmes (2007–10) is available in French, English, Spanish and Portuguese.

(cid:132)   Luxembourg: Ofﬁ ce for Ofﬁ cial Publications of the European Communities

(cid:132)  

ISBN: 978-92-79-07454-7

KQ-70-07-070-EN-C

  © European Communities, 2008

All photographic rights reserved by the EC 

(cid:132)   Reproduction authorised, providing the source is acknowledged.

Printed in Belgium, October 2008

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER 

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Editorial

F reedom, democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, solidarity and social 

cohesion are founding principles of the European Community and form the basis for 
our relations with the outside world.

Within its international cooperation efforts, the European Commission has a wide range 
of programmes and instruments at its disposal, each of which benefits from substantial 
financial support.

The thematic programmes in particular act as a vehicle for European Union values through 
various  means,  e.g.  actions  against  famine,  torture,  the  death  penalty,  HIV/AIDS  and 
illnesses related to poverty, deforestation and global warming, or for the rehabilitation of 
child soldiers and drug abuse victims, or in support of the International Criminal Court, 
for the use of natural resources and fair trade or in favour of raising awareness among the public regarding 
controversial themes such as development cooperation.

Each  year,  more  than  2000  projects,  more  often  than  not  embarked  upon  in  difficult  circumstances  in 
partnership with non-governmental organisations who take responsibility for the action, receive a financial 
contribution from the Commission totalling some EUR 870 million annually.

The  Union,  in  the  name  of  its  citizens,  offers  long-term  solidarity  to  peoples  of  all  nations,  a  commitment 
requiring  responsible  and  effective  use  of  contributions  from  European  citizens,  i.e.  the  Community 
budget. 

Thematic  programmes  represent  a  real  asset.  They  enable  global,  regional  or  trans-regional  interventions, 
as  well  as  interventions  in  politically-sensitive  areas  which  cannot  be  carried  out  under  the  geographical 
programmes.

This  brochure  summarises  the  real  progress  made  over  the  past  fifty  years  through  thematic  actions, 
including the fight against poverty and for peace in the world, led by professionals in development aid from 
the European Commission and made possible through the generosity of all European citizens.

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Mr. Koos Richelle
Director General

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Table of contents

  (cid:132) Instruments and thematic programmes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  p. 7

  (cid:132) EU ﬁ nancing mechanisms  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  p. 8

  (cid:132) The Instrument for Development Cooperation (DCI)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  p. 11 

- Non-state actors and local authorities in development  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  p. 12   
- The environment and natural resources   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  p. 14   
- Migration and asylum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  p. 16
- Food security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  p. 18
- Investing in people.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  p. 20 

(cid:134) Education, knowledge and skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  p. 21
(cid:134) Gender equality  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  p. 22
 (cid:134) Good health for all  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  p. 24   

  (cid:132) The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  p. 27 

- Democracy and human rights   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  p. 28   
- Monitoring electoral processes assistance   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  p. 30   

  (cid:132) Instrument for Stability .   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  p. 33 

  (cid:132) Support to civil society in geographical programmes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  p. 34

  (cid:132) How to obtain funding from the European Commission?   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  p. 35

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Support to civil society

Instruments and thematic programmes

What is a thematic programme?

Civil society at the heart of Commission programmes

A  thematic  programme  is  a  transversal  programme  ﬁ nanced  by  the 
European Commission, which intervenes in areas such as the protection of 
human rights, the promotion of democracy, the eradication of poverty, self-
sufﬁ ciency in food production, education, on ecological and health-related 
projects. They are implemented using a horizontal approach, supported by 
national and regional cooperation programmes drawn up by the Commission. 
Contrary to the geographical programmes, they are not the result of a direct 
negotiation  between  the  state  and  the  Commission,  but  are  proposed  by 
civil society organisations or NGOs in Europe or beneﬁ ciary states.

Thematic programmes, which complement geographical programmes, may 
be used in several situations supporting:

• 

• 

• 

activities  for  different  partner  countries  not  part  of  the  geographical 
programmes;
activities which complement the geographical programmes by supporting 
other  stakeholders  such  as  civil  society  organisations  or  international 
institutions with exclusive competence;
activities  which  imply  a  certain  independence  in  relation  to  the  partner 
country.

Each  thematic  programme  is  regulated  on  the  basis  of  decisions  made 
by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, which specify the 
priorities and respective funding for a period of two or three years. The new 
programming period covers 2007-10.

Practically all the thematic programmes are open to contributions from the 
various civil society organisations, both north and south. Non-state actors are 
privileged partners of the Commission as, besides the support from which 
they may beneﬁ t under the geographical instruments, they are the principal 
beneﬁ ciaries of the thematic programmes. This is underscored by the fact 
that  they  occupy  a  principal  place  in  the  programmes  and  instruments 
managed by EuropeAid:

• 

• 

“Non-state  actors  and  local  authorities  in  development”:  a  programme 
destined solely for them;
“European  Instrument  for  Democracy  and  Human  Rights”:  civil  society 
organisations are seen as key players in promoting human rights as well 
as participative and representative democracy.

What is the role of the European Commission delegations?

The  European  Commission  delegations,  to  be  found  in  most  non-EU 
member countries, play a key role in implementing thematic programmes at 
local level. They take part concurrently in:

consultation with local civil society; 

• 
•  decision-making;
•  managing calls for proposals;
• 
• 

on-the-ground monitoring of implementation;
informing, training and networking of local organisations.

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EU ﬁ nancing mechanisms

The European Union has created ﬁ ve ﬁ nancial instruments for channelling external aid during 
the ﬁ nancial period 2007–13. The European Development Fund, not part of the EU budget, 
supplements these instruments.

European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights
Instrument for Stability 

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Investing in people
Migration and asylum
Non-state actors and local authorities
The environment and natural resources

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European  Instrument  for  Democracy 
and Human Rights (EIDHR) 
The  European  Instrument  for  Democracy 
and  Human  Rights  contributes  to  the 
establishment  of  democracy,  the  rule  of 
law,  and  the  protection  of  human  rights 
and basic freedoms. It is designed to com-
plement  the  other  instruments  available 
for ensuring the implementation of related 
Union  policies,  which  range  from  political 
dialogue to diplomatic procedures, via var-
ious instruments of ﬁ nancial and technical 
cooperation,  including  the  geographical 
and  thematic  programmes.  It  also  sup-
plements  the  interventions,  more  associ-
ated with crisis situations, part of the new 
Instrument for Stability.

Geographical Instruments

Thematic Instruments

Thematic programmes ensuing from the DCI covering the DCI, ENPI and EDF countries

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Support to civil society

Instrument for Development Cooperation (DCI) 
This instrument replaces the array of geographical and thematic instruments created over time. It encom-
passes, ﬁ rst and foremost, cooperation with partner countries and regions selected geographically, namely: 
Latin America, Asia, Central Asia, the Middle-East and South Africa. The second DCI component consists 
of the ﬁ ve thematic programmes discussed in this brochure (in orange on the diagram). The third pillar of the 
DCI regulation is a series of secondary measures favouring the 18 ACP signatories to the sugar protocol, 
which aim to provide support during their adjustment phase in the face of new market conditions linked to 
the reform of Community arrangements regarding sugar.

European Development Fund (EDF) 
Based on the Cotonou Agreement, the linchpin of European Union cooperation with the African, Caribbean 
and Paciﬁ c (ACP) countries, the European Development Fund provides aid for 79 ACP partner countries of 
the Union and for the overseas countries and territories of member states. The tenth European Development 
Fund entered into force in January 2008.

Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) 
This pre-accession instrument provides assistance to countries directly in line to become members of the 
European Union (such as Macedonia, Turkey and Croatia) and the Balkan countries (Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, 
Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro).

European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) 
The  European  Neighbourhood  and  Partnership  Instrument  directs  European  Union  aid  to  17  countries: 
Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, 
the  Palestinian  National  Authority,  Russia,  Syria,  Tunisia  and  Ukraine.  It  is  a  speciﬁ c  component  of  trans-
border cooperation which covers the border regions of the member states of the European Union.

Instrument 

for  Stability  aims 

Instrument for Stability (IfS) 
The 
to 
strengthen  security  in  partner  countries 
where there is an actual or emerging crisis 
(short-term  component).  It  also  guaran-
tees security in stable countries (long-term 
component).

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The Millennium Development Goals adopted in 2000 by the United Nations serve as a guide for European 
cooperation policy.

The 8 MDGs are:

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger;
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education;
Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women;
Goal 4: Reduce child mortality;
Goal 5: Improve maternal health;
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;
Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability;
Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development.

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Support to civil society

The Instrument for Development 
Cooperation (DCI)

Achieving the 8 Millennium Development Goals adopted in 2000 by the United Nations is the mainstay 
of European cooperation. These goals range from reducing extreme poverty by half to universal primary 
education, in addition to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS, all by 2015, and are the guiding light for creating 
a better world.

In cooperation with partner countries and the international community, the European Commission is doing 
much to achieve these objectives, in particular through the Instrument for Development Cooperation 
(DCI). This instrument reafﬁ rms the goals in development cooperation policy, namely, the reduction of 
poverty, sustainable economic and social development and the gradual and harmonious integration of 
developing countries into the world economy.

In addition to providing assistance in different parts of the world, the DCI brings together the ﬁ ve thematic 
programmes  which  aim  to  address  different  global  challenges,  such  as  environmental  protection, 
questions  of  demographic  movement  and  food  security.  These  5  programmes  are  outlined  on  the 
following pages.

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Non-state actors and local authorities in development

Non-state actors and local authorities 
in development
Solidarity with citizens

Supporting non-state actors and local authorities means encouraging local 
participation in development, at both national and local level. It also means 
working for better governance and more participative development which 
is thus more relevant to citizens.

• 

These  organisations  are  a  real  benefi t  given  their  proximity  to  local 
communities and their greater fl exibility when it comes to implementation. 
This  is  why  the  European  Commission  has  supported  their  involvement 
for  many  years  in  the  development  process,  in  particular  as  regards  the 
new  thematic  programme  “Non-state  actors  and  local  authorities  in 
development”. 

The primary aim of this new programme is to strengthen the abilities of non-
state actors and local authorities to provide help. It also serves to co-fi nance 
actions  in  areas  as  diverse  as  rural  development,  health,  environmental 
protection and education, as well as long-term partnerships between civil 
society and local authorities. These initiatives may be grouped according to 
the following three principal objectives:
• 

supporting  actions  aimed  at  a  democratic,  cohesive  and  autonomous 
society in partner countries by enhancing the skills of non-state actors 
and local authorities, supporting populations with no access to resour-
ces or basic services and excluded from the political decision-making 
process, and favouring dialogue between state and non-state actors;

fi nancing 
awareness-raising  and 
educational  initiatives  among  the 
European  population  on  the  topic 
of  development,  by  encouraging  a 
better understanding of the stakes 
involved  and  stronger 
involve-
ment of all in the fi ght against pov-
erty  and  more  balanced  relations 
between  the  differing  regions  of 
the world;
facilitating 
munication between local authority networks and civil society stakehold-
ers, both involved in the European public debate on development. 

coordination  and  com-

• 

The budget for all this?

The programme will be fi nanced by a total budget of around EUR 1.6 billion 
for the 2007-13 period (EUR 213 million for 2008).

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CASE STUDY

Support to civil society

Integrated development project for young people, 
women and displaced populations

(cid:132) Area 

Altos de Cazucá, Soacha Municipality, Colombia

(cid:132) Background

For more than 40 years, Colombia has had to deal with an internal confl ict which has displaced, according to esti-
mates, some 2 to 3 million people who live in very unstable conditions.
The integrated development project for displaced populations was set up in the wake of a huge number of people 
arriving in the Soacha municipality after their land had been confi scated. This project means that these people can 
be taken in, however they also need water and electricity as well as welfare services.
Latent civil war is the underlying problem, quite apart from this already diffi cult situation. Despite the presence of 
public authorities, paramilitary groups are still holding sway, the persecution of community organisation members 
continues and there are countless civilian victims, in particular women and children.

(cid:132) Aim

To create a legal and psychosocial centre for meeting with displaced peoples, to contribute to making their transition 
into local society easier, and to enable them to benefi t fully from their basic rights.

(cid:132) Impact
• 
• 
• 

3 000 people have received legal and psychosocial aid as well as individual, family and community support;
project benefi ciaries are in a better position to defend and promote their rights;
the living conditions of 150 families have been improved.

(cid:132) Commission partners:

• 
• 

Fundación Educación y Desarrollo (FEDES) - Colombia;
ProgettoMondo-Mlal Onlus - Italy.

(cid:132) Commission contribution:

EUR 750 000 for 2006-2008, i.e. 75% of the total budget for this project.

Commission contribution
(EUR)

75%

750 000

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The environment and natural resources

The environment and natural resources
Let’s save the planet together

“The Earth is not a gift from our ancestors; it is a loan from our children” 
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Our  daily  well-being  and  prosperity  depend  on  a  protected  environment 
and the sustainable management of natural resources, but it is the survival 
of our species, and thousands of others, which is at stake. 

Those  most  affected  by  destruction  and  degradation  are  the  poorest,  in 
developing countries. It is therefore no longer merely an ecological issue or 
a matter of local or national concerns: the challenge is now global.

The ecological state of emergency is there for all to see: two-thirds of the 
planet’s main ecosystems are now in a state of degradation or overexploita-
tion. This makes the international community’s efforts in terms of the MDGs 
all the more diffi cult in that several of these population groups depend on 
these ecosystems for their survival.

• 

• 

promote  the 
implementation  of  initiatives 
and  commitments  made  at  both  European 
and international level;
increase  the 
issues in EU external policy;

prominence  of  environmental 

 •  strengthen international governance on the 
environment  and  make  EU  actions  a  key 
part of the process;

 •  broaden the options as regards sustainable 
energy,  in  particular  by  developing  a  legis-
lative  and  administrative  framework  which 
favours  investments  and  businesses,  and 
also by stimulating regional cooperation.

A priority for driving European action worldwide

In addition to the programmes implemented in partnership with the govern-
ments of the different countries concerned, the thematic programme for the 
environment and the sustainable management of natural resources, includ-
ing energy, aims primarily to:
• 

support  the 
incorporation  of  environmental  issues  into  the  fabric  of 
developing countries by means of support to civil society stakeholders;

The budget for all this?

This  thematic  programme  has  a  budget  of  around  EUR  470  million  for 
2007-10, of which EUR 101 million are available for 2008.

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Support to civil society

CASE STUDY

National Forest Programme Facility

(cid:132) Area 

In several countries and regions of the world.

(cid:132) Operation

The National Forest Programme Facility is a funding system which encourages national and local authorities to take 
part in drawing up and implementing National Forestry Programmes (NFPs) in their country. It centres on strengthen-
ing capacities and sharing information and offers information services throughout the world.

(cid:132) Objective

• 
• 
• 

fi nd consensus on forest-related questions at national level;
incorporate sustainable forest management into other sectors, with an emphasis on reducing poverty;
apply international commitments in national forestry plans and policies.

(cid:132) Impact

Since its inception in 2002, the Facility has supported the development and implementation of a wide array of ac-
tivities  connected  to  the  theme  of  global  warming,  sound  forestry  resource  management,  preserving  biodiversity, 
exchange of good practices, capitalisation and information distribution, etc.

(cid:132) Commission partners

• 

• 

the Facility is overseen by a steering committee made up of representatives from benefi ciary countries, the World 
Bank, fi nancial partners, research institutions, NGOs, foundations, the private sector and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO);
57 benefi ciary countries (27 African countries, 14 Latin American and Caribbean countries, 12 Asian and Pacifi c countries, 4 Central Asian 
countries) and 4 regional bodies.

(cid:132) Commission contribution

EUR 3.25 million have been earmarked for 2003-2006. The European Commission is the principal donor to the National Forest Programme Facility. 
In 2006, the project received an extra EUR 4.5 million.

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Commission contribution
(EUR)

56%

4 500 000

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Migration and asylum

Migration and asylum

At a time when more and more people are moving around the globe, often illegally, manage-
ment of migration ﬂ ow is looking set to become one of the major challenges of the beginning 
of the century, for both developing countries and industrial powers. As a response to this, the 
European Union is cooperating with its partner countries under a new programme speciﬁ cally 
designed to tackle the issue of migration and asylum.

Technical and fi nancial assistance for non-EU member countries in the area 
of migration and asylum is the main objective of this thematic programme 
for cooperation. Cooperation with non-EU member countries is not desi-
gned to tackle the underlying causes of migration, but is more concerned 
with better management of the different forms of migration fl ows.

Tackling a multifaceted issue

well-managed labour migration;

This programme deals with the main factors of migration: 
• 
links between migration and development;
• 
• 

fostering the 
promoting 
fi ghting illegal immigration, traffi cking
illegal migrants;
 protecting
promoting asylum policy and the 
tional standards.

• 
• 

 migrants against any form of exploitation and discrimination;
protection of refugees under interna-

 and making it easier to re-admit 

• 

• 

enabling partner countries to 
benefi t  from  the  advantages 
of migration while limiting the 
negative  consequences  that 
migration  may  have  for  indi-
viduals or nations;
implementing  an  approach  which  takes  into  account  both  the 
interests and the rights and interests of individuals.

states’ 

The budget for all this?

The thematic programme for cooperation with non-EU member countries 
covering migration and asylum is intended to run for three years and thus 
covers the period 2007-10. Its budget stands at EUR 205 million. 

Actions carried out under this programme aim to contribute, in accordance 
with the EU’s global approach to migration, to:

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/worldwide/migration-asylum/index_en.htm 

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Support to civil society

CASE STUDY

Protecting asylum seekers

(cid:132) Area 

Croatia and the Western Balkan region

(cid:132) Background

Questions related to asylum are new challenges that the Western Balkan countries must face. In Croatia, Bosnia-
Herzegovina and Serbia asylum legislation is either in its draft phase or has been adopted and recently come in force 
and thus needs to be applied rigorously. 

(cid:132) Objective

• 
• 
• 
• 

bolster the asylum system in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia;
apply international standards on asylum and law enforcement in domestic legislation;
promote human rights;
contribute to the development of regional cooperation.

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e
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g
i
r
d
o
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a
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i

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.
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(cid:132) Impact
• 

the involvement of project stakeholders in activities linked to drawing up a new law on asylum has led to better 
protection of asylum seekers, in line with European Union (EU) standards;
seminars, conferences and other training activities are organised to increase the level of knowledge and account-
ability of stakeholders involved in asylum-related issues;
the fi rst steps towards forging cooperation among police offi cers and NGOs on asylum questions have already 
been taken.

• 

• 

(cid:132) Commission partners

• 
• 
• 

the centre for human rights at Sarajevo University;
the centre for human rights and the Peace Institute in Belgrade;
the legal information centre in Slovenia.

(cid:132) Commission contribution

The Commission has set aside EUR 1 275 000 for the project “Protection of asylum seekers in the Republic of Croatia and the Western Balkan 
Region” for 2005-08, i.e. 78% of the total budget for this project.

Commission contribution
(EUR)

78%

1 275 000

17

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Food security

Food security
Putting an end to food insecurity and extreme poverty

Did you know that more than 800 million people do not have enough to eat 
and that 160 million live on less than half a dollar a day (MDG1)? 

More than a quarter of children under 5 years of age in developing countries 
are malnourished. This impedes their mental and physical development and 
puts the survival of the most vulnerable in danger. 

Food crises are a severe problem for the economies of these countries and 
exacerbate the existing poverty already affecting their people. Social and 
political stability is also sometimes threatened by such crises.

It is thus essential to increase agricultural production in these countries by 
giving priority support to small farm holdings and to agricultural research 
into development as well as to alleviate the chronic problem of access to 
food through structured support actions targeting the poorest populations.

This  is  what  the  European  Commission  is  endeavouring  to  achieve  in  its 
thematic programme on food security.

Feeding the world’s people

• 

• 

innovative  approaches  (e.g. 

promoting 
nutrition, etc.);
encouraging  the  advancement  of  the 
food  security  programme,  and  its  har-
monisation and alignment with develop-
ment partners, civil society and donors.

The budget for all this?

The  budget  for  2007-10  is  just  over  EUR  925  million,  including  aid  and 
administrative costs. The programme does not include the fi nancing of hu-
manitarian food aid, which is now managed by the humanitarian aid serv-
ice of the European Commission (ECHO). The national food security pro-
grammes are covered by geographical instruments.

The programme is guided by the following strategic priorities:
• 

information and decision-making in order to enhance response 

supporting research
, innovation and information distribution in matters 
relating to food security, with a special focus on supporting the enhance-
ment of capacities and scientifi c and technological cooperation;
linking 
strategies;
using the potential of 
responding to food insecurity in 
as in fragile and bankrupt states;

exceptional transition situations as well 

continental and regional approaches;

• 

• 
• 

18

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/worldwide/food-security/index_en.htm 

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Support to civil society

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Education, knowledge and skills 

Investing in people 
Human and social development: everyone’s right

Women,  men  and  children  throughout  the  world  must  be  able  to  beneﬁ t  from  care  and  illness  prevention,  have  access  to 
education and culture, and be respected in terms of their rights and needs. Skills development and access to decent work are 
also included among these rights. It is a question of the lives and well-being of millions of people, as well as the development of 
their country.

This  is  why  the  thematic  programme  “Investing  in  people”  supports  actions  in  six  different  areas,  which  cover  nearly  all  the 
Millennium Development Goals (see page 10):

• 
• 
• 
• 

good health for all
;
;
education, knowledge and skills
gender equality
;
:
other aspects of human and social development such as

• 
• 
• 

employment and social cohesion, (aiming to improve working conditions on an international level);
youth and children (against the exploitation of children and in favour of improving job prospects for the young);
culture (access to culture and cultural diversity).

The budget for all this?

The total budget for the “Investing in people” project is around EUR 130 million per year.
The EUR 1 billion earmarked for this programme for 2007–13 is spread as follows:

•  588 million (59%) for health for all;
•  130 million (13%) for education, knowledge and skills;
•  57 million (6%) for gender equality;
•  222 million (22%) for the other aspects of human and social development (8% for employment and social cohesion, 9% for 

youth and children and 5% for culture).

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Support to civil society

Education, knowledge and skills
A fundamental right and a weapon against poverty

Did you know that 115 million children in the world are without education? 

Education and vocational training give children and adults a real means of creating a chance for themselves to build their own 
lives and fully participate in the economy and modern society, both of which are currently undergoing rapid globalisation.

The 115 million children currently uneducated are mostly from marginalised groups and countries in dire economic or political 
crisis. Girls in general are more affected than boys, in families where the mother has often never gone to school. 

Educating children, keeping them at school and offering them the chance to receive a sound education and high standard of 
vocational training are vital to ensuring that they have access to decent work. 

Guaranteeing primary education for all and developing a solid framework for education and vocational training are the priorities 
outlined in the “Education knowledge and skills” component of the thematic programme “Investing in people”.

What are the aims?

• 

• 

contribute to achieving the 2nd MDG: primary education for all by 2015. This goal is both quantitative and qualitative, as 
it involves promoting access to quality primary education, such that children can become and remain part of the school 
system until the end of the primary cycle; 
help developing countries enhance the skills of their citizens and their opportunities for ﬁ nding a high standard of employment, 
by stimulating education and technical and vocational training.

The budget for all this?

EUR 18 million on average per year under the thematic programme “Investing in people”.

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21

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Gender equality

Gender equality 
“Women carry one half of heaven” (Chinese proverb)

Women  represent  nearly  half  of  the  world’s  population.  Despite  this,  both 
their status and living conditions can vary radically from one region to an-
other. Their lives, whether on a social level or in terms of health, are often 
precarious. Added to this, they are the victims of inequality, discrimination 
and violence on a daily basis. 

• 

In  many  societies,  women  are  responsible  for  the  majority  of  daily  tasks 
linked to food production and accessing resources such as water, and also 
due  to  educating  children  and  caring  for  their  family  or  community  mem-
bers. They thus play a vital role in their community, but also more generally 
in their country’s socio-economic development, due to their work as well as 
the fact that their level of education and autonomy infl uences their behav-
iour and that of their children in relation to health, whether in terms of illness 
prevention or family planning, or in relation to the environment and access 
to information.

The  European  Union  has  made  gender  quality  one  of  the  strategic  com-
ponents of its development policy. In addition to actions carried out by the 
European  Commission  in  cooperation  with  its  national  partners,  the  pro-
gramme “Investing in people” promotes women’s rights and gender equal-
ity with initiatives which aim to:
• 

support 
civil  society,  in  particular  NGOs  and  women’s  associations, 
in  countries  most  affected  by  gender  inequalities,  including  countries 
where  national  laws  or  customs  serve  to  reinforce  these  inequalities. 
The objective is to contribute to increasing respect for women’s rights, 
improve  their  access  to  education  and  culture,  and  provide  them  with 

greater political, socio-economic and 
legal autonomy;
inclusion  of  gender 
promote  the 
equality  when  drawing  up  policy, 
through  by  supporting  political,  leg-
islative  and  fi nancial  initiatives  at 
national,  regional  and  international 
level. 

The budget for all this?

On average, EUR 8 million per year under the thematic programme “Invest-
ing in people”.

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/worldwide/gender/index_en.htm 

22

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CASE STUDY

Support to civil society

Silence is violence: enhancing women’s autonomy

(cid:132) Area 

Botswana

(cid:132) Background

The non-governmental organisation “Women Against Rape” (WAR) provides support for women victims of rape or 
other forms of violence. Rape provokes emotional and psychological trauma among entire families and has devasta-
ting impacts throughout society.
Socio-psychological assistance is the cornerstone of WAR’s activities. The organisation provides support for women 
during legal proceedings, provides training designed to help vulnerable women become more autonomous from an 
economic point of view, and contributes to rehabilitating rapists or perpetrators of other forms of violence against 
women.
WAR also carries out preventative work through education and cooperation with other agencies. The education of chil-
dren on gender equality is an important part of the project “Silence is violence”, which affects the entire community.

(cid:132) Aim
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

socio-psychological assistance and education;
implementation of economic self-suffi ciency;
rapist rehabilitation;
legal support;
awareness-raising in schools;
emancipation and political reform.

(cid:132) Impact
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

255 people benefi ted from the socio-psychological assistance package in 2006;
120 women participated in the training programmes, and 50 are already making use of their skills;
70 abusers were rehabilitated in 2006;
several women have recovered from their traumas and have succeeded in moving forward;
the number of complaints made and cases won has increased.

(cid:132) Commission partner
Women Against Rape

(cid:132) Commission contribution

The Commission has granted EUR 370 000 to the project “Silence is violence”, i.e. 73% of 
the total cost of the project over a period of 30 months.

Commission contribution
(EUR)

73%

370 000

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Good health for all

Good health for all
Did you know that each minute a child dies of HIV/AIDS and another is 
infected with it? 

Malaria,  another  serious  illness  linked  to  poverty,  kills  1  million  people  a 
year, for the most part children. Tuberculosis, which was thought to have 
been eradicated, is now resurging, with resistant strains apparent and vul-
nerability to it engendered by HIV/AIDS. 

• 

In addition to the three main illnesses linked to poverty, there are so-called 
‘neglected’ illnesses, such as those linked to respiratory infections or diar-
rhoeal  diseases.  Women,  who  are  already  severely  affected  by  illnesses 
connected to poverty are very often the fi rst victims of the lack of adequate 
health care provision, in particular when giving birth.

The quality of national health systems and universal access to basic medi-
cal  services  are  essential.  Certain  countries,  in  particular  in  Africa,  suffer 
from a dire lack of medical staff; training for doctors and nurses is vital for 
coping with this, as is keeping trained professionals in the countries where 
they are most needed.

The  thematic  programme  “Investing  in  people”  aims  to  respond  to  three 
major challenges in its ‘Health’ component:
• 

strengthen health systems and improve medical services to respond to 
the human resources crisis and the departure of medical professionals; 
main  transmissible  illnesses  linked  to  poverty  (HIV/
combat  the  three 
AIDS,  tuberculosis  and  malaria)  and  cope  with  the  neglected  and 
emerging  illnesses.  This  will  be  carried  out  together  with  civil  society 
in  the  affected  countries  but  also  in  conjunction  with  the  international 
community;

• 

24

promote 
health  and  the  rights 
of  all  as  regards  sexuality  and 
reproduction  by  following  the 
Cairo  Agenda  (Programme  of 
Action  from  the  International 
Conference  on  Population  and 
Development  [ICPD],  held  in 
Cairo in 1994), in particular gen-
der  equality,  empowerment  of 
women  and  young  people,  procreative  rights,  reproductive  health  and 
the  fi ght  against  HIV/AIDS,  by  providing  medical  products,  supporting 
civil society organisations in the countries with the greatest need in this 
area, and participating in information campaigns.

The budget for all this?

The  programme  “Investing  in  people”  allocates  on  average  more  than 
EUR 80 million per year to health.

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/worldwide/health/index_en.htm 

EuropeAid-HEALTH@ec.europa.eu

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CASE STUDY

Support to civil society

Creating an environment for improving young people’s 
sexual and reproductive health (SRHP) 

(cid:132) Area 

Tajikistan

(cid:132) Background

Tajikistan has a very young population: 70% are under 30 years of age. Young people are particularly at risk from 
sexually transmitted infections given their lack of knowledge about contraception and the diffi culties they face when 
looking for services and clinics able to help and inform them.
On average, more than 12% of women use abortion as a means of contraception. The impact of STDs is signifi cant, 
and cases of HIV/AIDS are on the rise. Use of intravenous drugs is common: 70% of people infected with HIV/AIDS 
use this type of drug. 

(cid:132) Aim

Improve, by 2009, the sexual and reproductive health of 350 000 young people aged 10 to 24 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s 
capital, and in the Yovon and Vahdat districts, through:
• 
better access to health services and information;
• 
better education of young people in the area of sexual and reproductive health;
• 
the updating of social and environmental policy, incorporating support for sexual and reproductive health.

(cid:132) Impact

• 
• 
• 

8 quality clinics designed for young people have been set up;
30 signpost services for guidance, assistance and availability for young people have been created;
clinical staff as well as assistance and guidance staff have been trained in sexual and reproductive health.

(cid:132) Commission partners

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

CARE Nederland;
NGO - Street Children;
NGO - Positive;
NGO - RAN;
Tajik youth support committee.

(cid:132) Commission contribution

For 2006-09, the Commission has granted EUR 1.5 million, i.e. 90% of the total budget 
earmarked for this project.

Commission contribution
(EUR)

90%

1 500 000

25

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26

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Support to civil society

The European Instrument for Democracy 
and Human Rights

Democracy and human rights as ramparts against poverty and conﬂ ict, represents a leitmotiv that the European Union 
defends vigorously across the world, in particular via the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).

The EIDHR, launched by the EU in 2006, is a ﬁ nancial instrument which aims to defend democracy and human rights throughout 
the world. It replaces and builds upon the European initiative launched in 2001. The new instrument aims to promote the universal 
values of democracy and human rights by focusing on, inter alia:

• 
• 
• 
• 

international justice;
support for electoral monitoring;
the rights of indigenous peoples;
the rights of women and children;

Linking continuity and innovation

• 
• 
• 

support for the defenders of human rights;
help in the ﬁ ght against torture;
promoting the abolition of the death penalty.

The EIDHR objectives reﬂ ect the link between continuity and innovation – continuity through the legitimisation of the electoral process 
thanks to the work of European observers, and innovation through new support initiatives for those defending human rights.

The new EIDHR targets ﬁ ve key objectives which consist in:

 and strengthening the regional and international framework for the protection of human rights, justice, the rule of 

 respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;

 the role of civil society in the democratisation process;

• 
• 
• 

• 

• 

improving
strengthening
supporting
law and the promotion of democracy;
building
monitoring electoral processes;
supporting
penalty, torture and children in armed conﬂ ict.

 conﬁ dence in and enhancing the reliability and transparency of democratic electoral processes, in particular through 

  actions  in  areas  covered  by  EU  guidelines:  dialogue  on  human  rights,  defenders  of  human  rights,  the  death 

Support given under the EIDHR supplements other EU policies on democracy and human rights, ranging from political dialogue 
to diplomatic initiatives by means of various ﬁ nancial and technical cooperation mechanisms. 

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Democracy and human rights

Democracy and human rights

As an ardent defender of democracy and human rights, the European Union has made the promotion of 
democracy and human rights one of its main causes throughout the world.

Initiatives supporting democracy and human rights

The  EU  has,  over  time,  developed  a  whole  range  of  instruments  for  pro-
moting democracy and human rights, from political dialogue to diplomatic 
initiatives, or from fi nancial support to technical cooperation, such as:
• 

DCI) and the geographical 

the Instrument for Development Cooperation (
and thematic programmes deriving from it;
the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (
the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (
the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (

IPA);

• 
• 
• 

EIDHR).

ENPI);

EU action in the world is carried out using different forms of support:
• 

strengthening  the  capacities  of  institutions  and  stakeholders  on  the 
ground;
implementation of education and training programmes;
developing awareness-raising activities and networking;

• 
• 

28

• 

• 

the 

and 

dialogue,  with  a  view  to 
ratifi ca-
promoting 
tion  of  international  legal 
instruments 
the 
implementation  of  legis-
lative, judicial and admin-
istrative  reforms  by  a 
country’s authorities;
surveillance  and  protec-
tion  of  rights  as  well  as 
rehabilitation  and 
the 
torture 
reintegration  of 
victims.

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/worldwide/eidhr/index_en.htm 

EuropeAid-EIDHR@ec.europa.eu

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CASE STUDY

Support to civil society

Fighting against impunity and preventing torture

(cid:132) Area 

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay

(cid:132) Background

The populations of Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay underwent periods of severe trauma during the countries’ 
respective dictatorship years. Several years post factum, many individuals continue to experience serious psycholo-
gical problems caused by the incessant violations of human rights sanctioned and even perpetrated by the State.

(cid:132) Aim

To provide psychological and medical assistance to those suffering from psychological or physical scars resulting 
from human rights violations, and to facilitate their return to normal life.

(cid:132) Impact
• 
• 
• 

1 681 individuals benefi ting from medical treatment and helped towards rehabilitation;
32 legislative acts adopted in favour of human rights;
150 initiatives put in place to enhance the skills of the medical personnel in four torture prevention and rehabilitation 
centres;
42 scientifi c publications contribute to raising the level of general knowledge about the social traumas connected 
to human rights violations and more specifi cally to torture. 

• 

(cid:132) Commission partners

 •  EATIP – Equipo Argentino de Trabajo e Investigación Psicosocial (Argentina)
• 
• 
• 

CINTRAS – Centro de Salud Mental y Derechos Humanos (Chile)
GTNM/RJ – Grupo Tortura Nunca Mais – Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
)
SERSOC – Servicio de Rehabilitación Social (Uruguay

(cid:132) Commission contribution

The European Commission has earmarked EUR 1 035 000 for this project which began in April 2006. This represents 
75% of the total cost of the project (EUR 1 380 000).

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Commission contribution
(EUR)

5%
75%

749 819,89 euros
77777444499998888111199999,,,,,,,,,,,,8888888888888888888888888899 eu
1 035 000

29

 
 
 
 
 
Monitoring electoral processes assistance 

Monitoring electoral processes assistance 

Organising periodical elections is the mainspring for securing sustainable development and 
initiating credible democracy. The EU’s instigation of an electoral process in non-EU member 
countries is achieved through assistance projects and observation missions which draw on 
various ﬁ nancial instruments. 

Electoral  assistance  comprises  technical  or  material  support  used  in  the 
electoral process. It may take on various forms, such as:

EU  electoral  observation  missions 
consist in:

• 

• 

• 

• 

professional support allowing a legal framework for elections to be es-
tablished;

general participation in the national electoral body (e.g. making material 
and equipment available to impartial observers);

support in registering political parties and voters;

involvement of NGOs and civil society in several domains, e.g. educating 
voters in civic matters and training local electoral observers;

• 

• 

• 

• 

support in media monitoring and training journalists.

monitoring  the  whole  electoral 
process by deploying teams us-
ing  a  tried-and-tested  method-
ology;

evaluating the strong as well as 
the weak points in the whole electoral process;

formulating recommendations which provide the basis for opting to con-
tinue with assistance beyond the elections, or otherwise.

Electoral observation is the political component of electoral assistance. Its 
main aim is to:
• 
validate
build up
• 
venting fraud and intimidation;
reinforce
contribute

 (if necessary) the electoral process;
 public confi dence in the electoral process, with the aim of pre-

 respect for human rights;
 to confl ict resolution.

• 
• 

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/worldwide/electoral-support/index_en.htm 

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CASE STUDY

Support to civil society

Legislative and municipal elections of November 2006 – 
Presidential elections of March 2007

(cid:132) Place 

Mauritania 

(cid:132) Background

On 3 August 2005, Mauritania underwent a regime change following the non-violent ousting of Colonel Ould Taya, 
who had headed the country since 1984. A military council presided by Colonel Ould Mohammed Vall has held the 
executive and legislative reins since then, with the aid of a constitutional charter adopted the day following the coup 
d’état.

(cid:132) Aim

Since it considered the coup of August 2005 a violation of the principles of democracy and the rule of law (under 
Article 9 of the revised Cotonou Agreement), the actions of the European Union were designed principally to:
• 

secure, with specifi c measures, a commitment from the Mauritanian authorities to hold credible elections, herald-
ing the end of the military political regime (the Mauritanian authorities did indeed commit to this);
contribute to the cultivation of a democratic ethos in Mauritania (in line with the commitments adopted in the con-
text of the Cotonou consultations), in particular by means of assistance programmes;
encourage the instigation of a transparent electoral process which conforms to international standards, including 
the participation of non-governmental stakeholders in electoral monitoring.

• 

• 

(cid:132) Impact

The legislative, municipal and presidential elections of 2006 and 2007 bear witness to a successful transition towards 
democracy which has allowed new, democratically-elected institutions to be put in place, and mark a historical step 
towards the democratisation of political life in Mauritania.

EU actions have signifi cantly contributed to:
• 
• 

putting an end to a swathe of authoritarian regimes characterised by unacceptable violations of human rights and basic freedoms;
helping move the Mauritanian political landscape towards effective pluralism, as well as a better climate of freedom.

(cid:132) Commission partner

International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

(cid:132) Commission contribution

EUR 2 970 000 for both elections (2006 and 2007), i.e. 100% of the total project budget.

Commission contribution
(EUR)

100%

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2 970 000

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Instrument for Stability

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Support to civil society

Instrument for Stability

The European Union, aware of the role of security not only for citizens but also as a prerequisite for development, 
has been working for a long time to ensure the continuity of this principle in partner countries. The Instrument for 
Stability is the Commission’s main thematic tool relating to security in partner countries which are undergoing crisis 
or where one is imminent. 

The Instrument for Stability has two components, one short-term for crisis situations and the other long-term for 
stable situations, which means that external cooperation policies may be implemented. 

What are the aims?

The four objectives are:

for the short-term component:
• 

re-establishing stability in situations of crisis or emerging crisis;

for the long-term component:
• 

response capacities of non-EU member countries to cross-border threats such as terrorism 

strengthening 
and organised crime, including the illicit trafﬁ cking of weapons, drugs and human beings;
ﬁ ghting and protecting against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
pre- and post-crisis capacity building.

• 
• 

The budget for all this?

In force since 1 January 2007, this strategic instrument has a budget of some EUR 2 billion spread over seven 
years. 

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Support to civil society in geographical 
programmes

The thematic programmes are not the only support avail-
able  to  civil  society  organisations  in  the  development 
cooperation initiated by the European Commission. Sup-
port from civil society and, more generally, from non-state 
actors is a strategic priority evidenced by all the geograph-
ical instruments related to development cooperation. The 
need  to  make  sure  the  thematic  programmes  are  com-
plementary  to  the  actions  undertaken  in  the  geographi-
cal programmes is also a principle legally enshrined in the 
Instrument for Development Cooperation.

These  geographical  programmes  share  in  common  the 
fact  that  they  encourage  the  involvement  of  non-state 
actors  in  the  dialogue  with  state  authorities  on  develop-
ment  strategies  and  sectoral  policies,  as  well  as  in  the 
preparation,  implementation  and  monitoring  of  develop-
ment projects and programmes. 

The involvement of non-state actors (NSA) in development 
policy is therefore no longer limited to calling on the latter’s 
services as partners in the implementation of projects. It 
is  more  oriented  towards  setting  up  a  new  partnership 
founded on the exchange of responsibilities between the 
state and civil society in the ﬁ ght against poverty and par-
ticipation in good governance.

Still,  the  process  of  participation  involves  fragile  organi-
sations  with  limited  capabilities  and  sufﬁ cient  experience 
and maturity required to be a real counterbalancing force 
to the state and to defend their interests against donors. 
Their involvement quickly exposes their lack of representa-
tiveness and legitimacy and insufﬁ cient human, analytical, 
technical and ﬁ nancial capacities.

To  enable  them  to  carry  out  their  mandate  as  vital  play-
ers  in  public  life  and  development,  EC  support  aims  to 
strengthen  civil  society  organisations  using  integrated 
programmes  to  bolster  their  capacities.  These  notably 
concern strengthening the internal governance of organi-
sations, their operational and strategic capacities, and their 
abilities to work as part of a network, communicate, and 
also participate in dialogue on public policy guidelines.

The programmes are laid down in the geographical pro-
gramming documents (Country Strategy Papers/National 
Indicative  Programmes).  More  information  can  be  found 
on the websites of the delegations of the European Com-
mission, or alternatively ‘civil society’ representatives within 
the delegations can be contacted.

General site of the delegations 
http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/delegations/intro/web.htm

EuropeAid – Where we work
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/index_en.htm

How to get a grant
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/work/grant/index_en.htm

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How to obtain funding from the European 
Commission?

Support to civil society

In practice, interested parties are invited to regularly con-
sult the calls for proposals to ﬁ nd out when they should be 
able to take part.

Transparency and equitable treatment regarding the level 
of funding are guaranteed by the selection process. Eligi-
bility criteria are laid down at the time of publication and 
adapted to speciﬁ c circumstances.

As  of  2008,  all  potential  beneﬁ ciaries  must  be  regis-
tered in the EuropeAid database PADOR. Registration is 
to  be  carried  out  by  the  organisations  themselves  using 
the  following  link:  http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/work/
onlineservices/pador/index_en.htm

PADOR  contains  all  the  administrative  data  linked  to  the 
experience of an organisation legally registered in a coun-
try  (with  statutes  and  a  ﬁ nancial  account)  as  well  as  all 
the necessary documentary proof. Private persons cannot 
access PADOR.

A manual, a Q&A forum and on-line training are available 
on the same page.

The allocation of EuropeAid funds is made on the basis of 
calls  for  proposals.  For  each  thematic  programme,  spe-
ciﬁ c calls are published annually on the basis of ﬁ nancial 
programming.

These calls may be launched from Brussels or locally by 
one of the European Commission delegations. Full docu-
mentation and explanatory material regarding all calls for 
proposals may be found on the “Funding” pages acces-
sible from the home page of the EuropeAid website.

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C

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