The Ministry for Foreign Affairs supports neighbouring area cooperation of NGOs with EUR 1.5 million
Press release 62/2009
26 February, 2009
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has granted EUR 1.5 million of assistance for the projects of Finnish NGOs in the neighbouring areas in Russia in 2009. The funding for NGOs is included in the 2009 plan for the use of neighbouring area cooperation assistance confirmed by the government on 12 February. By the decision made last year, EUR 385,842 of the funding for NGOs is already tied to ongoing projects, meaning that assistance granted for new projects amounts to EUR 1,114,158. In the year 2009, the total of 41 projects will receive ministry support.
By the deadline, 30 organisations had filed applications seeking support for 38 projects. The total value of the applications amounted to approximately EUR 1.8 million.
The projects are primarily targeted to the social and health care sector, as well as to the strengthening of the civil society. They are intended for developing, for instance, child welfare, preventative work against intoxicant abuse, mental health work, and status of the handicapped. In addition, some of the projects promote environmental awareness and workshop activities among Finno-Ugric youth, and aim to develop cross-border readiness and first aid activities. Some projects also train people for NGO operations.
The NGO projects are carried out mainly in the Republic of Karelia, the Leningrad region, the Murmansk region, and St. Petersburg.
The project-specific support granted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs varies from approximately EUR 10,000 to EUR 60,000. The share of self-financing required from the organisations is 15 per cent and in projects concerning the disabled 7.5 per cent.
All organisations that applied for assistance will receive a letter informing them about the decision.
The application period for assistance to be granted for neighbouring area cooperation of NGOs for the years 2010 and 2011 will begin in the summer 2009.
Additional information: Counsellor Anneli Puura-Märkälä, tel. +359 9 1605 5625, and Department Secretary Terhi Laurila, tel. +358 9 1605 6015, Unit for Regional Cooperation, Ministry for Foreign Affairs