The World Forum for Democracy is a unique platform for political decision-makers and activists to debate solutions to key challenges for democracies worldwide. By identifying and analysing experimental initiatives and practices, the Forum highlights and encourages democracy innovations at the grassroots and their transfer on a systemic level in order to strengthen the foundations of democratic societies. The Forum thus contributes to the evolution of democracy towards more participatory and inclusive structures and institutions. 

The 2020 World Forum for Democracy will debate the issues and generate new ideas for tackling the environmental crisis we face today. 

The theme of the 2020 edition of the World Forum for Democracy is “Can Democracy Save the Environment?”. Our societies have been tested by an extreme and unexpected global challenge in 2020, but while an essential battle is fought against the Covid-19 pandemic, humanity’s greatest existential threat looms ever larger. Environmental damage and climate change have not gone away. The poisoning of our land and pollution in our air and water is still killing plants, animals and humans alike. Rising temperatures and sea levels are on course to render lands uninhabitable and force people to leave their homes and seek new lives. The time to act is now! 

The core content of the Forum will consist of discussions about successful initiatives and actions, which have real-life initiatives as a starting point. General guiding principles will then be drawn to encourage and support future policy responses and field action. In this context, the Youth Department will invite 50-60 young people to participate and engage with decision-makers and opinion-formers in a reflection on the question of Democracy and Information.

Application

All candidates must apply in 2 parts:

1. An online application form 
2. A short 1 minute video should be posted on YouTube, with the link attached to the online application form.

 The applications be submitted on-line before 28 July 2020 CET 13:00 (1 p.m.)

For the application form and more information check HERE.

Related articles:
Climate change is a fact. What can I do about it?

L'articolo CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS – World Forum for Democracy 2020 – Youth Delegation proviene da Youth Networks.

About YouVoteEU platform

YouVoteEU is a participatory platform that connects millions of citizens throughout Europe with civil society organisations, candidates and political parties. Moreover is an interactive public space where citizens can discover parties’ and candidates’  positions on issues of great interest to the public, and organisations can make an impact by contributing to the public debate. Hence, this platform is a virtual arena where your organisation will be able to inform voters about your ideas and your proposals.
If you are looking for a place where you can engage voters and hold candidates accountable for their electoral pledges, you are in the right place! Sign up to YouVoteEU here.

How does it work

By setting up your free profile on the platform, you can publish proposals that citizens can vote and comment, communicating clearly your position on relevant issues to large groups of voters. Similarly, these proposals will also be highlighted on the homepage and in the news/blog section of the website. You will also be able to lobby the candidates and push them towards goals and values in accordance to your mission and objectives, thanks to support of the citizens on the platform. In addition, as an organization you will be able to vote and comment on the candidates’ proposals, thus influencing their commitments, and hold them accountable for their electoral pledges. Because so your positions matter and thanks to our platform you will be able to influence the EU elections debate.

The YouVoteEU platform was created by a partnership made up of ECAS, Riparte Il Futuro, VoteWatch Europe, Vouliwatch and Collegium Civitas in the framework of the You Vote EU project, which is aimed at stimulating the participation of EU citizens in the 2019 European Parliament elections and increase the understanding of current and future EU policies.

L'articolo YouVoteEU : the New Platform for the 2019 European Elections proviene da Youth Networks.

What type of activities the strands supports

The strand – Democratic engagement and civic participation offer grants to:
– Activities covering civic participation, focusing in particular on European Union policies
– Initiatives developing opportunities for mutual understanding, intercultural learning, solidarity, societal engagement and volunteering at EU level

For that reason, it includes three specific measures:
Town twinning – supporting projects bringing together citizens from twinned towns. By mobilising citizens at local and EU levels to debate on concrete issues from the European political agenda, this measure will seek to promote civic participation in the EU policy making process and develop opportunities for societal engagement and volunteering.
Networks of towns – providing funding to municipalities and associations working together on a common theme in a long term perspective, and wishing to develop networks of towns to make their cooperation more sustainable
Civil society projects – supporting projects gathering citizens in activities directly linked to EU policies, providing an opportunity for direct participation in the policy making process. Funded activities may include: promotion of societal engagement and solidarity, gathering of opinions, volunteering.

Type of grants available under the umbrella of Europe for Citizens

For actions with a limited lifetime during which proposed specific activities are implemented
Town twinning (town/municipalities and non-profit organisations representing local authorities):
* The maximum eligible grant for a project is 25 000 EUR
* The maximum project duration is 21 days
Networks of towns (Town/municipalities or their twinning committees or networks, other levels of local/regional authorities, federations/associations of local authorities, non-profit organisations representing local authorities:
* The maximum eligible grant for a project is 150 000 EUR
* The maximum project duration is 24 months
Civil society projects (Non-profit organisations, including civil society organisations, educational, cultural or research institutions):
* The maximum eligible grant for a project is 150 000 EUR
* The maximum project duration is 18 months

In order to apply, you must create an EULogin (European Commission Authentication Service) account. Furthermore, each organisation involved in your project (applicant and partners) must register in the Participant portal and receive a Participant Identification Code (PIC). The PIC will be requested in the application form. To access the Participants’ portal, you will need your EULogin username and password.
Finally, create your official electronic application form, also called the eForm. To create your eForm, your will be asked to go through the follow steps, without interruption:
* Select the funding opportunity
* Even more select a language option
* Select the organisation(s) participating in your proposed activity (applicant and partners)
* Even more create the application eForm
* Above all save the application eForm to your local computer or network drive
* Finally fill in the e-form and save regularly

Your project has better chances to be approved it it has consistency with the objectives of the Programme and Programme strand, quality of the activity plan of the project, a good dissemination plan and a real impact and citizen involvement.

Read more here.

L'articolo Europe for citizens – how to access the Programme proviene da Youth Networks.

How to apply for the advocacy grant

One-to two-page letters of inquiry or concept notes can be sent to  latinamerica@opensocietyfoundations.org.
Your letter should include:
1 A paragraph about your organization and its mission
2 A description of the project(brief summary of the main objectives and proposed strategies)
3 The total amount of support being sought for the project, and the proposed duration of the project.
4 The letters of inquiry can be submitted in English, Spanish or Portuguese
5 There’s no deadline. The applications are reviewed on ongoing basis
6 Most noteworthy the Latin America Program makes every effort to review letters of inquiry within six weeks
7 If you have not received a response from us after that time, please assume that your letter of inquiry is not being considered.
8 Furthermore, only those inquiries that staff members consider will receive a response.

What types of grants do the Open Society Foundations award?

Every year, Open Society awards grants for a wide range of activities, everything from small project grants to general operating support.
In some circumstances, the organizations flexibility in how they use the funding, while in others situation, they can offer grants for specific projects. Even more, another type of grants is the one dedicated to individuals, rather through scholarships and fellowships. Even more, Open Society is able to make recommendations to the Open Society Policy Center for 501(c)(4) grants in support of policy advocacy (lobbying).

Profile of the organisations

Formally established organisations can access funding directly. Seems like the informal organizations or networks can receive grants through intermediaries (fiscal sponsors, fiscal agents). Each program within the Open Society Foundations has its own strategy and process for selecting grantees. Organizations or individuals whose values, goals, and work align with their strategies may inquire with the relevant program.

Search more calls here or read more about the program here.

L'articolo Advocacy grants for Latin American non-profits proviene da Youth Networks.