General information

The NGO Programme “Democracy and Human Rights” is part of the implementation of the EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 by which the donor states, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, contribute to the alleviation of economic and social inequality in the EEA.

Amount of grants

Funding distributed through EEA Grants for 2009 – 2014 term alocated  for Slovakia is 80,75 million euro, of which is 42,4 million euro is donated by Norway and 38,35 million euro by EEA. 

The grants are intended for non-governmental organisations, research and academic institutions, private and public sectors in 12 latest EU member states, Greece, Portugal and Spain. The donor countries run a range of support activities and programmes can run until 2016. There is a wide cooperation with the donor states and activities are possible to run until 2016.

Key priority areas for Slovakia:  

1.       Adaptation to climate change
2.       Green industry innovation
3.       NGO Fund
4.       Local and regional initiatives
5.       Cross‐border cooperation
6.       Cultural and natural heritage
7.       Scholarships
8.       Decent work and tripartite dialogue
9.       Domestic and gender‐based violence

NGO Fund

NGO Fund had been set up as part of EEA Financial mechanism 2009 – 2014 to strengthen development of civil society, to increase support for social justice, democracy and sustainable development.

By establishing the Fund, donor countries of Iceland, Lichtenstein and Kingdom of Norway help to reduce economic and social disparities in European Economic Area while strengthening bilateral relations between donor countries and Slovakia.

The Fund was presented to NGO representatives on February 25, 2013. (www.eeagrants.org).

In Slovakia, the Fund operates two different programmes: Democracy and Human Rights Programme  administered by Open Society Foundation and Active Citizenship and Inclusion, administered by consortium of Ekopolis Foundation, SOCIA Foundation and Children of Slovakia Foundation. The Fund operates with a budget of EUR 7.4 mil.

Democracy and Human Rights Programme administered by the Open Society Foundation, provides funding to NGO projects in four areas:

• Democracy, good governance and transparency.
• Human rights including minority rights.
• Gender equality and fight against gender-based violence.
• Fight against discrimination, racism and xenophobia.