Accessing funding: What non-state actors need to know:

Among ACP non-state actors, there is a clear expectation that the current emphasis on participatory approaches will be translated into new opportunities to access EC funding. These webpages provides an overview of the main 'funding routes' that are open to non-state actors in ACP countries. It also explains the basic procedures that are used to access and manage funds under the Cotonou Agreement.

Compared to the previous Lomé Conventions, the Cotonou Agreement offers a considerably wider range of opportunities for non-state actors to obtain EC funding. Before providing practical guidance on how to access these funds, however, it is important to offer some words of caution in order to avoid raising unrealistic expectations. All non-state actors should be aware of some limitations with regard to obtaining EC funding.

It is not possible just to knock on the door and get a project funded
The resources available for the ACP under the Cotonou Agreement cannot be used freely for all kinds of purposes or projects. On the contrary, EDF resources are allocated and planned according to a process and set of procedures, as spelled out in the Cotonou Agreement.

ACP governments have to approve non-state actor programmes:

The EC cannot decide on its own to fund individual projects. In accordance with the principle of partnership that underpins ACP-EC cooperation, ACP governments are in the driving seat in the process of determining and managing aid policies. Clear choices will have to be made on where EC aid resources will be spent, and specified in the National and Regional Indicative Programmes.

This process of setting priorities, together with an estimation of the needs, will also help to determine the amount of funding available to non-state actors in ACP countries or regions. In addition to this, it will also be crucial to properly identify the needs of non-state actors (e.g. during a 'mapping exercise'). In practice, this means that ACP states have a major say in the funding that goes to non-state actors.

The procedures for managing EC aid can be complex:

Non-state actors should not expect a 'quick fix' when it comes to obtaining funding. There are rather complicated procedures that must be followed, and it may take quite a long time - between three and twelve months at least - for projects to be approved. To some extent, this is inevitable, since it takes time to decide on priorities or prepare projects. Such procedures are also a 'necessary evil' if transparency in decision making and accountability for the use of the money are to be promoted.

The two main funding routes: