Active Citizens Fund

The goal of the Active Citizens Fund was to support civil society and vulnerable groups.

Civil society is an essential condition of thriving democracy. To fulfil this irreplaceable goal, it is necessary to increase citizens’ active participation in the public life and decision making, to strengthen transparency in public administration, to improve civic awareness and media literacy. It is crucial to promote respecting human rights and to give more consideration to the needs of vulnerable groups. There is an ongoing challenge of mobilizing and stimulating participation of youth. The Active Citizens Fund thus focuses on financial support of citizens’ initiatives, boosting efficient collaboration, education and further development of capacities of the civic sector. The programme contributes to the long-term sustainability of the civic sector and its role of promoting democratic principles, active citizenship and human rights.

The Active Citizens Fund programme was carried out as part of the EEA and Norway grant programmes for 2014 – 2021 and it was supported with the amount of EUR 15 million. In the Czech Republic, it is managed by the Consortium consisting of the OSF Prague, the Committee of Goodwill – Olga Havel Foundation and the Scout Institute. The consortium was selected in an open competition by the Financial Mechanism Office. The total amount designated for grant support is almost EUR 13 million (more than CZK 300 million). The calls were open for NGOs registered in the Czech Republic with at least one or two years of active history (depending on the type of the grant).

We empower

capacity building and collaboration of NGOs across the civic sector
partnership of the civic sector and the public; its ability to reach non-active or marginalized groups
advocacy and watchdog activities, civic participation in forming and implementing public policies

We address

the public in peripheries of Czechia and places outside the main hubs of civic activity
NGOs, including those with little experience
marginalized target groups (including the Roma minority) with the goal to empower them

We support

participation of young people

What was achieved

305 supported projects across all 14 regions of the Czech Republic
2 separate pre-defined projects done by the consortium:
Get together, Generate new ideas: Strengthening youth participation in civic activities
Strengthening the capacities, skills and capabilities of civil society organisations in advocacy work
851 applications for grants received (including those that were rejected)
€ 13,534,860 was distributed through 7 calls for proposals over the 5 years of the programme
18% of the total financial support went to structurally affected regions
40% of all supported projects were aimed at strengthening non-profit organisations for a total amount of € 2,636,006
13 international events took place with more than 300 participants from 159 Czech and foreign organisations
2.9 million people supported organisations engaged in improving life in the Czech Republic
807,613 people with disadvantages improved their living conditions thanks to the implemented projects
68% of the organisations cooperated with foreign non-profit organisations during the programme
94% of organizations perceived a positive shift in their chosen area of organization development as a result of the Active Citizens Fund programme
65% of organizations recommended the programme to another organization during their work with the Active Citizens Fund

Programme Outcomes

1

Increased citizen participation in civic activities
2
Strengthened civil society advocacy and watchdog role
3
Vulnerable groups empowered
4
Increased support for civic education and media literacy
5
Increased capacity and sustainability of civil society sector and individual civil society organisations