Financing for projects initiated by French CSOs working for international solidarity is based on an annual grant budget allocated by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. It is managed by the CSO Partnership Division in AFD’s Strategy, Partnerships and Communication Department.

This mechanism recognizes the right of initiative and independence of CSOs. Its main objective is to cofinance field projects or programs led by French CSOs, which focus on structuring and building the capacities of local civil society organizations.

It also cofinances actions of general interest conducted by French CSOs, particularly in terms of structuring French associations and development education actions in France.

The eligible CSOs are associations under the Law of 1901 or non-profit associations governed by the Alsace Moselle Law, trade unions under French law (Law of 21 June 1865) conducting development actions, and French non-profit foundations that implement international solidarity actions.

Every year, a call for expressions of project intentions invites CSOs, for two months (May-June), to submit a financing request for the following year. Once their project intention has been preselected, CSOs can submit their project in due course, according to their own timetable.

The French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM), whose secretariat is managed by AFD, has a mandate to support innovative operations in the fields of climate change, biodiversity, international waters and land degradation.

FFEM focuses on integrated and cross-cutting approaches for all global environmental issues. Its activities give a group of actors – CSOs, research institutes, companies, local authorities – a better understanding of issues that link the environment and development. Within this wide range of development actors, FFEM seeks to strengthen sustainable partnerships between CSOs, donors and governments, as they ensure that the actions it supports are maintained over time.

FOR THE SMALL-SCALE PROJECTS OF AFRICAN CSOs

Through its Small-Scale Initiatives Program (PPI), FFEM supports CSOs in African countries working to protect biodiversity and fight against climate change. In this way, the program contributes to improving the governance of these processes, which gives it significant recognition in the African sphere of conservation.

FISONG, which is managed by AFD’s Operations Department, is a “call for ideas” based on themes defined in consultation with NGOs, with the aim of bringing about innovative practices led by both French and non-French civil society.

This financing tool is complementary to the CSO Initiatives mechanism. It is launched via biannual competitive calls for projects open to international CSOs. It finances a maximum of 90% of project amounts or innovative methodologies. In addition, since 2016, CSOs which benefit from FISONG can have free assistance (awareness-raising, personalized follow-up, capitalization, etc.) to ensure that gender is taken better into account in their project.

FISONG projects focus on capitalization to ensure that methods and results are disseminated among other development actors, create synergies between AFD and international solidarity organization on themes, sectors and geographical areas of common interest, and improve the coordination of public policies with the initiatives of non-governmental cooperation.