Applications Invited for Project Intentions (AMI) for Locally Governed CSOs

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About the Organization

The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group funds, supports and accelerates the transitions to a fairer and more sustainable world. Focusing on climate, biodiversity, peace, education, urban development, health and governance, our teams carry out more than 4,200 projects in France’s overseas departments and territories and another 150 countries. In this way, we contribute to the commitment of France and French people to support the sustainable development goals.

AFD Group implements France’s policy in the areas of development and international solidarity. The Group includes Agence Française de Développement (AFD), which finances the public sector and NGOs, as well as research and education in sustainable development; its subsidiary Proparco, which is dedicated to private sector financing; and Expertise France, the technical cooperation agency.

About the Grant  

AFD is launching its annual Call for Expressions of Project Intentions (AMI) in order to shortlist projects to be co-financed in 2025 led by CSOs in countries eligible for official development assistance according to the list established by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC).

This call for projects falls within the scope of the French Orientation and Programming Law on Development and International Solidarity passed on August 4, 2021 by the French parliament and the goals of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ strategic document “Civil Society and Civic Engagement” 2023-2027.

The strategic orientations of this call are based on the conclusions of the Presidential Council for Development (CPD) and the Interministerial Committee for International Cooperation and Development (CICID), both held in 2023. As well as on the AFD's Strategic Orientation Plan (POS V) which will shortly be presented to the Board of Directors, and on the AFD and CSOs roadmap, currently being renewed for the period 2024/2027.

Within this framework, the target for the concentration of the financial effort of French ODA is at least 50% for the least developed countries (LDCs) in 2024-2027. The following themes are the priority objectives of French official development assistance:

• Combating climate change;
• Preservation of biodiversity, in particular forests and oceans;
• Youth, education and vocational training;
• Primary health and resilience to health risks;
• Innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly between young people in Europe and Africa;
• Food sovereignty, particularly in Africa;
• Human rights, democracy and the fight against disinformation;
• Equality between women and men, in particular by supporting feminist organisations and those promoting women's rights;
• Migration, in particular combating human trafficking.

As of 2022, the AMI has fallen within the scope of Article 2 of the above-mentioned law, which states in its preamble that “policy for inclusive development and combating global inequalities is defined and implemented in the framework of multi-stakeholder partnerships. In this respect, France fully recognizes the role, expertise and added value of local and regional authorities, civil society organizations, both from the North and the South, involved in the policy for inclusive development and combating global inequalities, and of all non-governmental stakeholders.”

The law therefore stipulates that civil society organizations (CSOs) in countries eligible for official development assistance may benefit from direct financing from AFD if they meet various conditions. Implementing Decree no. 2022-571, published on April 19, 2022, explains the application of this article.

CSOs registered in countries eligible for official development assistance according to the list established by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) may now, under certain conditions, apply for direct co-financing from AFD for their projects through the CSO Initiatives (CSO-I) mechanism:

• This year, locally governed CSOs (including unions) are eligible as long as they have been financed at least once for a completed project (either directly or via a French or international CSO) by an entity of the AFD Group (DPA/OSC, Operations Department, and Expertise France) regardless of the amount received. Or by a French embassy as part of annual funding of more than €100,000 (Fonds Equipe France (ex-FSPI) projects, for example).
• Projects to structure local CSO sectors (SMA) and projects focusing on sustainable development and global citizenship education (sometimes referred to as global education) carried out in the countries will be encouraged and may therefore be supported.
• AFD respects the respects the right of initiative accorded to CSOs, allowing them to propose projects that they have defined themselves.

Local CSOs may submit a single project intention (on their own or as part of a consortium) with two possible options:

• A new phase of a project already supported by the AFD group if the implementation of the previous project is considered satisfactory by the AFD group, with a geographic and thematic scope that is stable over time, and may be renewed once where appropriate.
• A new project, with a different geographic or thematic scope from the previously-funded project, which may be renewed up to twice. The maximum project duration is three years, and is renewable. Project intentions submitted to AFD for this call must promote and strengthen local stakeholders and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Moreover, project intentions aimed primarily at: i) gender equality, transforming gender-based social relationships and strengthening feminist civil society organizations, ii) amplifying young people’s voices and empowering them to take action, iii) climate and biodiversity issues will be given priority in the final decisions of the Call for Expressions of Project Intentions. AFD will also pay particular attention to the project's communication component in order to increase the visibility of actions and impacts for beneficiaries.

The maximum AFD co-financing rate is set at 90% of the total project budget.

Eligibility

Co-financing requested from AFD is granted to CSOs founded under one of the following legal forms:

• Associations or non-governmental organizations (including unions) founded in accordance with the legislation in force in the country concerned, that are non-profit and work in the field of sustainable development, already supported by the AFD group, directly or through a French partner.
• Non-profit national, regional or international platforms that work in the field of sustainable development and whose headquarters are located on a long-term basis in one of the countries affected by their work, in accordance with the legislation in force in the country, already supported by the AFD group via a French partner.

How to Apply

Projects must now be submitted online only via the Oscar portal.

CSOs who wish to seek financing for projects in 2025, through the 2024 Call for Expressions of Project Intentions of the CSO Initiatives Mechanism, must submit their project intentions and administrative documents online.

Timetable for submitting project intentions: From Friday March 15 to 6 pm CET on Monday May 13, 2024

on the Oscar website - https://oscar.afd.fr

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