Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV)

1 Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) Call for proposals Call for proposals to promote gender equality CERV-2022-GE Version 22 November 2021 Call: CERV-2022-GE Call for proposals to promote gender equality EU Grants: Call document (CERV): 2 HISTORY OF CHANGES Version Publication Date Change Page Initial version (new MFF). Call: CERV-2022-GE Call for proposals to promote gender equality EU Grants: Call document (CERV): 3 CALL FOR PROPOSALS TABLE OF CONTENTS 0. Introduction .. 4 1. Background .. 5 2. Objectives Themes and priorities Activities that can be funded Expected impact .. 6 Objectives .. 6 Themes and priorities (scope) .. 6 Activities that can be funded (scope) .. 7 Expected impact .. 8 3. Available budget .. 10 4.

2 Timetable and deadlines .. 10 5. Admissibility and documents .. 10 6. Eligibility .. 12 Eligible participants (eligible countries) .. 12 Consortium composition .. 13 Eligible activities .. 13 Geographic location (target countries) .. 13 Duration .. 14 Project budget .. 14 Ethics and EU Values .. 14 7. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion .. 14 Financial capacity .. 14 Operational capacity .. 15 Exclusion .. 16 8. Evaluation and award procedure .. 17 9. Award criteria .. 17 10. Legal and financial set-up of the Grant Agreements .. 18 Starting date and project duration .. 18 Milestones and deliverables .. 19 Form of grant, funding rate and maximum grant amount .. 19 EUROPEAN COMMISSION Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers Programme and financial management Call: CERV-2022-GE Call for proposals to promote gender equality EU Grants: Call document (CERV): 4 Budget categories and cost eligibility rules.

3 19 Reporting and payment arrangements .. 20 Prefinancing guarantees .. 21 Certificates .. 21 Liability regime for recoveries .. 21 Provisions concerning the project implementation .. 22 Other specificities .. 22 Non-compliance and breach of contract .. 22 11. How to submit an application .. 22 12. Help .. 23 13. Important .. 24 0. Introduction This is a call for proposals for EU action grants in the field of gender equality under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Value Programme (CERV). The regulatory framework for this EU Funding Programme is set out in: Regulation 2018/1046 (EU Financial Regulation) the basic act (CERV Regulation 2021/6921). The call is launched in accordance with the 2021-2022 Work Programme2 and will be managed by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers (DG JUST).

4 The call covers the following topic: CERV-2022-GE - Call for proposals to promote gender equality We invite you to read the call documentation carefully, and in particular this Call Document, the Model Grant Agreement, the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual and the EU Grants AGA Annotated Grant Agreement. These documents provide clarifications and answers to questions you may have when preparing your application: the Call Document outlines the: background, objectives, scope, activities that can be funded and the expected results (sections 1 and 2) timetable and available budget (sections 3 and 4) admissibility and eligibility conditions (including mandatory documents; sections 5 and 6) 1 Regulation (EU) 2021/692 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 establishing the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (OJ L 156, , p.)

5 1). 2 Commission Implementing Decision C(2021) 2583 final of 19/04/2021 on the financing of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme and the adoption of the multiannual work Programme for 2021-2022 Call: CERV-2022-GE Call for proposals to promote gender equality EU Grants: Call document (CERV): 5 criteria for financial and operational capacity and exclusion (section 7) evaluation and award procedure (section 8) award criteria (section 9) legal and financial set-up of the Grant Agreements (section 10) how to submit an application (section 11) the Online Manual outlines the: procedures to register and submit proposals online via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal ( Portal ) recommendations for the preparation of the application the AGA Annotated Grant Agreement contains: detailed annotations on all the provisions in the Grant Agreement you will have to sign in order to obtain the grant (including cost eligibility, payment schedule, accessory obligations, etc.

6 You are also encouraged to visit the Europe for Citizens Programme Project Results website, REC Programme results webpage and the Daphne Toolkit to consult the list of projects funded previously. 1. Background Leading equally throughout society is one of the three pillars of the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-20253. Achieving gender balance in decision-making and politics is a crucial step towards reaching gender equality. Even if some encouraging progress has been made, women continue to be under-represented in decision-making positions in political life in many EU Member States as well as in the corporate sector4. This situation undermines the full functioning of democratic institutions and processes. It is also an obstacle to women s empowerment and a barrier for economic growth and sustainable development5.

7 Moreover, women's voices and expertise are also under-represented in the media and more generally in public debates, and when women express themselves in these fora they are often confronted with gender stereotypes and sexism. Women s voices must be valued through democratic participation and be heard and equally represented in decision-making processes. This priority of the call for proposals aims at supporting Member States and relevant stakeholders in developing/identifying/disseminating strategies, actions, tools, exchange of good practices to effectively promote gender balance in politics, in public debates and in management and leadership positions in the corporate sector. In particular, the call responds to the engagement of the Gender Equality Strategy to promote the participation of women as voters and candidates in the 2024 European Parliament elections, in collaboration with the European Parliament, national 3 Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 4 5 See Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieving gender equality and empower all women and girls : Call: CERV-2022-GE Call for proposals to promote gender equality EU Grants: Call document (CERV): 6 parliaments, Member States and civil society, including through funding and promoting best practices.

8 Tackling gender-based stereotypes is one of the priorities under the EU Gender Equality Strategy and addressing them is a crucial issue for European societies6. Gender stereotypes, resulting from unconscious biases, are a root cause of gender inequality and affect all areas of society. Indeed, gender stereotypes, as a generalisation of the behaviours and characteristics attributed to women and men, continue to reinforce gender inequality by limiting choices, natural aspirations and personal freedom of both women and men, girls and boys. Young people are particularly exposed to gender stereotypes, be it at school, in extra-curricular activities, through online gaming or social media, but they can equally be powerful drivers of change.

9 Likewise, the advertising and media sectors, often accused of conveying gender stereotypes, can play a strong role in breaking those stereotypes, and positive initiatives should be encouraged7. With this priority of the call, we intend to support projects that will challenge gender stereotypes and address conscious or unconscious gender bias, paying attention to explicit or implicit expectations with regard to roles, behaviours, activities and attributes that society generally considers appropriate for women or for men, girls or boys. The selected projects will run in parallel to an EU-wide communication campaign on tackling gender stereotypes which will be running in 2022. 2. Objectives Themes and priorities Activities that can be funded Expected impact CERV-2022-GE - Call for proposals to promote gender equality Objectives Supporting, advancing and implementing comprehensive policies to promote women s full enjoyment of Rights , freedom from gender stereotypes, gender equality, including work-life balance, women s empowerment and gender mainstreaming.

10 Policy initiative supported: Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025. Themes and priorities (scope) Member State governments, local and regional authorities and their associations, equality bodies, civil society organisations, in particular women s Rights organisations, and other stakeholders (see eligibility criteria in point 6) are invited to submit projects within the following two priorities: 1. Equal participation and representation of women and men in political and economic decision making. The aim of the priority is to promote equal participation and representation of women and men in political decision making (including the equal representation of women and men and in the 2024 European Parliament elections) and in management and leadership positions in the corporate sector.