News | Sunday, 21 December 2008

PRINT THIS ARTICLE

NGOs apply for funding retroactively

James Debono
NGOs have been asked to apply for funds retroactively after having lost any hope of EU monies from a civil society fund previously managed by Forum Malta fl-Ewropa.
Having lost hope for any funding opportunities on EU-related projects this year, NGOs were surprise to learn they were being asked to apply for a “refund on expenses” incurred in 2008.
No funds form the civil society fund were issued this year, unlike previous years, until a new call for applications – for retroactive funding – was issued in November by MEUSAC (Malta EU Steering Action Committee), the successor to the Forum.
Being the last year MEUSAC will dish out funds to NGOs and constituted bodies, in 2009 the civil society fund will change into a co-financing fund to assist NGOs when they apply for EU grants.
MEUSAC chairman Vanni Xuereb said this year’s decision was transitional. “We decided that rather than not opening up the Civil Society Fund for 2008 in view of the forthcoming changes, the CSF for 2008 would consist of an opportunity for civil society organisations to be refunded expenses actually incurred in 2008.”
MaltaToday is informed the 2008 process could have been launched in February but a decision was taken to put the process on hold till after the elections.
Xuereb said the future of the civil society fund was one of the first issues tackled by the revived MEUSAC.
This year’s funds covers expenses actually incurred during 2008 by NGOs in order to keep abreast of developments in the European Union; enable them to better educate their members about EU matters and help them participate effectively in the decision-making process at European level. Since the applications are still being processed Xuereb could not reveal the amount of money which will be allocated for the funding of NGOs.

Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below.
Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.