Call for proposals for the Fund for Local Cooperation 2025 is open
The Fund for Local Cooperation (FLC) of the Embassy of Finland in Bucharest is an instrument for funding non-profit projects in the Republic of Moldova. The call for project proposals is opened on 17.4.2025 and will be closed on 25.5.2025 at 23.59 (UTC+3).
The FLC of the Embassy of Finland is an instrument of Finnish development cooperation. The FLC contributes towards the goals of Finland’s development policy.
What is the Fund for Local Cooperation?
Fund for Local Cooperation (FLCs) of the Embassy of Finland is an instrument of Finnish development cooperation. FLC provides small grants to local organizations of the partner country with a specific focus on civil society.
The FLC projects should be implemented with the human rights-based approach. This means that human rights are systematically integrated in the means and objectives of projects supported by the FLC.
FLC Project Thematic Areas
This year the call for Project Proposals is looking for projects contributing to the following objectives of the Embassy’s FLC Program:
1. Freedom of expression and media diversity are strengthened, and media literacy is increased through support to priority areas:
- enhancing capacity building of independent media
- enhancing critical thinking and media literacy; resisting disinformation
2. The rights of women and girls are realized through strengthened participation in the society and in the economy through support to priority areas:
- promoting women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities in economic life
- supporting the end of all forms of violence against women and girls
- supporting education and awareness raising on sexual and reproductive health and sexually transmitted infections
3. The role of youth in society is strengthened through increased access to education and economic participation through support to priority areas:
- promoting youth’s access to education
- promoting youth’s full and effective participation and opportunities in economic life
- special consideration will be given to projects targeting youth not in education, employment or training (NEET)
The Embassy encourages applicants working outside of the capital area to apply for the FLC fund. Concerning the FLC objective areas 2 and 3, the Embassy invites project proposals that aim to support women, girls and youth in vulnerable positions including persons with disabilities.
Funding information
Award amounts will range from approximately 25,000€ to 55,000€. Project duration is limited up to two years with the last acceptable closing month of the project being August 2027. A maximum of 4 - 6 projects will be selected following this call. The Embassy reserves the right to allocate potential surplus FLC grant funds to FLC project(s) selected during this FLC round or to other FLC related costs.
Eligibility criteria for FLC partnership
Eligible partners for the FLC include legally registered host country's non-governmental organizations, science and technology communities, universities and other educational and research institutions, independent media, public bodies and cultural institutions (for example, museums, libraries and theatres), chambers of commerce and commercial associations, organizations engaged in the promotion of export and investment, businesses, cooperatives, interest groups of companies and employees, foundations or religious communities.
Application is assessed only if it fulfils all the following criteria:
- Application arrived on time
- Application is signed and stamped
- Applicant is a registered organisation
- Applicant is an FLC eligible organization
- Application includes a project plan with a results analysis, risk analysis and budget
- Applicant has provided the latest annual report (whole organisation) including financial report
- Applicant has provided the latest audit report (whole organisation)
- Project (theme, organisation) is ODA eligible
- Project output contributes to the expected outcome of the FLC Programme's objective (i.e. sector/theme) in question
- Activities to be funded are at least Human Rights sensitive.
- In the case of a private sector applicant, the applicant has included in the application the Private Company Application Form
- The applicant covers at least 5% of the project costs. In the case of a private sector applicant, the applying company covers at least 30 % of the project costs.
Selection criteria
The projects will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Alignment with the FLC program objectives and the Finnish development policy.
- Application of Human Rights Based Approach and Cross-Cutting Objectives.
- The project activities are relevant, realistic and contribute to the desired objectives.
- Project outputs are clearly defined with indicators.
- The project adheres to the principles of results-based management.
- Potential risks are identified and measures for risk management are outlined and relevant.
- The organization has administrative and financial capacity and prior relevant experience in the same sector.
- Project budget is clear and line with the activities. The costs are reasonable.
The Embassy may prioritize projects and organizations working outside the capital area and projects in rural areas. Furthermore, the Embassy prioritizes projects targeting marginalized communities, including persons with disabilities.
How to Apply
The deadline for submitting applications is 25.5.2025 at 23:59 hrs local time (UTC +3). Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
The applicants must use the application form in Attachment 1, that needs to be signed and stamped and attach the obligatory documents described in the application form. All applicants use the same application form to guarantee that all key facts are presented and to allow for better comparability.
The signed and stamped application form should be accompanied with the following attachments:
- Project budget
- Copy of registration
- Latest annual report
- Latest annual financial statement
- Latest audit report
In addition, private sector applicants should additionally submit the Private Sector Application Form (Attachment 2) alongside the documents listed above.
The project application should include clearly defined expected result(s) including targeted project outputs and outcomes; realistically planned and well-detailed project activities that contribute to the desired results; project budget that is in line with the activities and with the experience of the applicant; outline experience and management capabilities of the applicant.
The following links provide guidance on what MFA Finland means with these concepts.
Results-Based Management(Link to another website.)
Human Rights Based Approach
Crosscutting Objectives(Link to another website.)
The projects cannot be fully funded with the FLC grant. The applied grant can cover maximum of 95% of the eligible costs. For private sector projects, the applied grant can cover a maximum of 70% of the costs. The applicant can make local contributions in cash, in kind or as work contributions.
Projects are the main target of the FLC. The fund can be used for core funding only in exceptional well-argued cases. In case the applicant applies for core funding, the Project Plan is replaced by the organization's Action Plan and a budget, which indicate the area of activities that will be funded from the FLC grant.
The application form and the attachments should be written in English. The applications must be signed, stamped and dated. Please note that applications without a signature, date and stamp will not be considered. The attachments should be named in English and so that they accurately reflect their content (f.e. Attachment 1: Project budget).
Deadline
The application form and attachments should be sent to the Embassy latest 25.5.2025 at 23:59 hrs local time (UTC +3).
How to send the application to the Embassy
The applications can be sent in electronic format to the Embassy. Applications should be in PDF format and can be submitted via email to projects.buk @ gov.fi.
Please find further information on the procedures for applying for the FLC on from the Guidelines for the FLC partners (Attachment 3, Attachment 4).
In case questions arise, they can be addressed to projects.buk @ gov.fi. The questions that have arrived before 4.5.2025 will be published on this site with answers by 6.5.2025. The questions that arrive before 18.5.2025 will be published on this site with answers by 20.5.2025. The questions will not be answered individually via email to make sure all applicants have access to the same information.
Answers to questions sent before 4.5.2025
Answers to questions sent before 18.5.2025
Selection Process
Eligible applications must meet all the compulsory requirements of the assessment criteria described above. Those applications meeting all the compulsory requirements will be submitted for technical assessment.
For those applications accepted for technical selection, the Embassy emphasizes the quality of the project and the financial/administrative capacities of the organization. Based on the competitive scoring results, the Embassy will finally approve the best applications for funding.
The Embassy reserves the right to demand modifications to the shortlisted project applications if they lack relevant information, if they need improvement to guarantee expected results, or if they are not in line with the relevant rules and regulations.
Estimated timeline
Assessment of the applications, the shortlisting and the pre-selection process is scheduled to take place between June and July. Selected candidates will be contacted for the finance and administrative capacity assessment before a final funding decision will be made. All applicants will receive either a negative or a positive decision. The earliest starting date for a project is estimated to be in September 2025.
FLC Funding Cannot Be Granted:
- To Finnish Non-Governmental Organizations, friendship associations in Finland, Finnish Government agencies or public bodies, Finnish municipalities nor to Finnish businesses
- To the Government, ministries or municipalities of the host country
- To an unregistered association or organization
- To support the activities of a political party
- For basic research
- For single cultural events (that have no permanent development impact)
- For humanitarian aid
- In the form of a grant, scholarship or assistance for the applicant’s personal use
- For purchasing land
- To a fund
- For building the capital of microcredit systems
Find more information in the Attachments below