CSO INITIATIVES PLATFORM
Do you represent a CSO that implements an international solidarity project? Find out more about the AFD's CSO Initiatives Facility.
Objective: to co-finance projects or programs in the field aimed at supporting the capacity building of local civil society organizations, and to co-finance actions of general interest for CSOs in the fields of association structuring (SMA) and education for development and international solidarity (ECSI). The CSO Initiatives Facility is based on an envelope of grants allocated each year by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. It recognizes the right of initiative and the independence of CSOs.
Eligible CSOs:
- French associations under the Law of 1901 (and no profit associations governed by Alsace Moselle law) that have been existed for more than three years.
- Syndicates under French law (law of 21 June 1865) involved in development initiatives, which have existed for more than three years.
- French foundations recognized as being in the public interest and implementing international solidarity initiatives, which have existed for more than three years.
- Organizations governed by local law, registered in countries eligible for official development assistance (according to the list drawn up by the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC)), which have been financed at least once directly or via a French CSO on a project completed by an AFD Group entity, regardless of the amount received.
Eligible geographies: all countries eligible for official development assistance according to the list drawn up by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the OECD (with priority given to priority countries for French cooperation), but also France for projects of education for development and international solidarity (EAD-SI), promotion or structuring of partnerships (SMA).
Procedures: once a year, AFD publishes two calls for project proposals (one for French CSOs and one for local CSOs in partner countries) inviting CSOs to submit a funding request for the following year. The call is opened for a period of two months (from mid-March to mid-May). Once their project intention has been pre-selected, CSOs submit their project between the following months of October and May.
Amount of the CSO project: the total amount of the project must be greater than or equal to €500,000; projects with a total amount between €300,000 and €500,000 may be declared eligible only in the case of specific and justified geographical and/or sectoral contexts.
AFD co-financing (%): the co-financing rate for "field" projects using French public funds, including AFD, Expertise France, the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM), the French Development Innovation Facility (FID) and French ministries (central and decentralized services), is :
- For French CSOs: a maximum of 80% of the overall project budget, all tools combined (field projects, consortiums, program agreements, multi-year partnership agreements).
- For local CSOs: 90% of the overall project budget.
Find below the documents useful for your request for financing:
SMALL-SCALE PROJECTS
Is your CSO leading a project with an amount below €300,000? AFD supports two dedicated programs:
- The facility managed by the Micro-Project Agency. The Agency cofinances projects and assists project initiators with the preparation, supervision and evaluation of their initiatives. Find out more
- The Support Program for International Solidarity Organizations from Immigration (OSIM), led by the Forum of Migrant International Solidarity Organizations (FORIM). FORIM cofinances and supports local development microprojects with an amount below €120,000. Find out more
SMALL-SCALE INITIATIVES PROGRAM – BIODIVERSITY
Do you represent an African CSO working to protect biodiversity and combat climate change? The French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM) offers you its Small-Scale Initiatives Program (PPI). Find out more