August 2005, Issue no 39
http://resource.regional.net
impact@regionalnet.org

1. Funding Opportunities

2. Announcements and Upcoming Events

3. Useful Links

NATO - Programme for Security Through Science
Application deadline: September 1, 2005


The NATO Programme for Security Through Science offers support in 2005 for international collaboration on Priority Research topics in Defence Against Terrorism, or Countering Other Threats to Security. Partner Country Priorities as listed will also be considered for support, and will be particularly encouraged if they also fall within the Priority Research Topics already mentioned.

The collaboration supported is between scientists of certain countries of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council or the Mediterranean Dialogue – i.e. collaboration between scientists in NATO-countries and those in eligible Partner or Mediterranean Dialogue countries. Awards are made following consideration of applications received from individual scientists in these countries. The support is channeled through a range of different mechanisms or activities which promote collaboration, networking and capacity-building, while at the same time catalyzing democratic reform and supporting economic development in Partner countries.

Priority Research Topics
A list of the Priority Research Topics in Defence Against Terrorism, or Countering Other Threats to Security as well as Partner-country priorities is provided with the Notes for Applicants. Support for collaboration is now only available in these Priority Research Topics and/or in the Partner-country priorities.

An application that is in BOTH a NATO Priority Research Topic (i.e. Defence Against Terrorism or Countering Other Threats to Security) and a Partner priority area, will take precedence over one of equivalent scientific quality that is in either the first or the second only. Proposals that are in both a NATO Priority Research Topic and a Partner priority area are particularly encouraged.

Applicants from the Partner countries may choose to submit an application in one of the priority topics listed for their country (but not other countries’ priorities), in collaboration with NATO-country colleagues

How to Apply for Support
Scientists in NATO, eligible Partner or Mediterranean Dialogue countries may apply for support under the NATO Programme for Security Through Science. The collaboration must be between scientists in a NATO country and scientists in a Partner or Mediterranean Dialogue country, and in a Priority Research Topic as listed. Application forms and Notes for Applicants are provided for each support activity. Applications may be submitted at any time, but deadlines for submission of applications for support in 2005 have been set.

For 2005, scientists from Bulgaria and Romania, two of the seven new NATO member countries, may choose to collaborate with colleagues in either a NATO country or a Partner or Mediterranean Dialogue country. The special provisions for these two countries are included in the Notes for Applicants. This exception for Bulgaria and Romania has been made on the basis of their GDP per capita.

More information
Website: http://www.nato.int/science/support/notes_applic.htm


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European Commission - YOUTH - Support Measures
Application deadline: September 1/ November 1, 2005


Support Measures aim to help all those involved in youth activities, or interested in youth matters to prepare and develop projects and initiatives related to the YOUTH programme objectives or Actions.

Support Measures are Action 5 of the YOUTH programme. This is the EU’s mobility and non-formal education programme targeting young people aged between 15 and 25 years.
The YOUTH programme consists of 5 Actions:
1. Youth for Europe (Action 1) supports group exchanges of young people aged 15 to 25
2. European Voluntary Service - EVS (Action 2) supports voluntary service for individuals aged 18 to 25
3. Youth Initiatives (Action 3) supports initiatives, which are led by young people themselves
4. Joint Actions (Action 4) offers the opportunity to develop projects linked to the Community Programmes of Leonardo da Vinci (training) and Socrates (education)
5. Support Measures (Action 5) is targeted at people working with young people and offers a package of possibilities for support measures to develop new YOUTH projects and to improve their quality.

The following types of activity are eligible for support:
· Practical training experience (job shadowing) - to allow youth workers to acquire the skills for organising a transnational project by working in a partner organisation for a limited period of time
· Feasibility visits - for project managers to discuss a project idea before submitting an application under Actions 1 or 2
· Contact-making seminars - to bring together potential partners for YOUTH projects
· Study visits - to learn about youth work provisions in other countries
· Seminars - to exchange experience and good practice, consultations or policy development etc. with regard to the YOUTH programme and youth policy
· Training courses - to help those involved in youth work and non-formal education to acquire advanced skills and knowledge for their activities
· Youth information - to support the production and dissemination of information and training material relating to the YOUTH programme
· Transnational partnerships and networks - to create new networks under the YOUTH programme
· Support for quality and innovation - to support participation of young people with less opportunities in the YOUTH programme at national, regional and local levels.
All activities should be non-profit making.

Support measures are open to youth workers; support persons (e.g. youth advisers, assessors, EVS supervisors, mentors, etc.); trainers; information workers, youth officers, managers and policy makers; and all those involved in informal education. Organisations and groups from the statutory and voluntary youth sectors can apply for funding.

Countries eligible to apply:
The programme countries:
· Member States of the EU
· EEA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway
· Candidate countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey
· Other countries also referred to as 'third countries', can participate in activities supporting Youth for Europe and European voluntary service actions, and projects must involve at least two EU Member States. A list of third countries can be found on: http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/program/guide/other_countries_en.html.

More information
Website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/program/guide05_en.pdf
http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/program/guide/action5_en.html
http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/program/lsp_action_5_en.html
E-mail: youth@cec.eu.int


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European Commission - YOUTH - Youth for Europe, Youth Exchanges
Application deadline: September 1, 2005


Youth for Europe Youth Exchanges offer young people the possibility to get in contact with other cultures and other realities. A Youth Exchange brings together groups of young people between 15 and 25 years old from different backgrounds from two or more countries. It provides them with an opportunity to meet and discuss various themes.

Youth for Europe Youth Exchanges is Action 1 of the YOUTH programme. This is the EU’s mobility and non-formal education programme targeting young people aged between 15 and 25 years. The YOUTH programme consists of 5 Actions:
1. Youth for Europe (Action 1) supports group exchanges of young people aged 15 to 25
2. European Voluntary Service - EVS (Action 2) supports voluntary service for individuals aged 18 to 25
3. Youth Initiatives (Action 3) supports initiatives, which are led by young people themselves
4. Joint Actions (Action 4) offers the opportunity to develop projects linked to the Community Programmes of Leonardo da Vinci (training) and Socrates (education)
5. Support Measures (Action 5) is targeted at people working with young people and offers a package of possibilities for support measures to develop new YOUTH projects and to improve their quality.

A Youth Exchange is prepared, planned and implemented by the young people around a certain theme; the exchange should have a thematic concept, e.g. anti-racism, arts, music, fight against drug abuse, information technology.

A Youth Exchange can last from 6 to 21 days and should have between 16 – 60 participants. Each exchange has a host group and one or more sending groups. Participants should be legally resident in a programme country, or countries in other parts of the world also referred to as 'third countries'. The number of participants from each country should be balanced.

Youth Exchanges between programme countries can be bilateral, trilateral or multilateral. They must take place in one of the partner countries involved in the project. Exchanges can be reciprocal, but do not have to be. Each exchange has to be applied for separately. In some cases, multilateral exchanges can be itinerant, i.e. the entire exchange group travels through several countries during the exchange.

The programme countries are: EU Member States, the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and the candidate countries Bulgaria and Romania.
A list of third countries can be found on:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/program/guide/other_countries_en.html

More information
Website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/program/guide05_en.pdf
http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/program/guide/action1_en.html
E-mail: youth@cec.eu.int


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European Commission - YOUTH - Youth Initiatives
Application deadline: September 1, 2005


The Youth Initiatives Action aims to encourage initiative and creativity among young people. It can give young people the chance to try out ideas through initiatives which give them an opportunity to be directly and actively involved in planning and realising projects in their local community.

Youth Initiatives are Action 3 of the YOUTH programme. This is the EU’s mobility and non-formal education programme targeting young people aged between 15 and 25 years.
The YOUTH programme consists of 5 Actions:
1. Youth for Europe (Action 1) supports group exchanges of young people aged 15 to 25
2. European Voluntary Service - EVS (Action 2) supports voluntary service for individuals aged 18 to 25
3. Youth Initiatives (Action 3) supports initiatives, which are led by young people themselves
4. Joint Actions (Action 4) offers the opportunity to develop projects linked to the Community Programmes of Leonardo da Vinci (training) and Socrates (education)
5. Support Measures (Action 5) is targeted at people working with young people and offers a package of possibilities for support measures to develop new YOUTH projects and to improve their quality.

Group Initiatives
Group Initiatives are projects planned, managed and realised by young people aged between 15 and 25. Successful projects:
· are youth-led and managed by young people within their local community
· may help young people develop and gain skills which will help them in their working life
· should have at least 4 participants
· should last between three months and one year
· should encourage equal opportunities and co-operation and have a 'European Dimension'
· should show a potential for networking and establishing partnerships with like-minded groups throughout Europe.

Successful applicants can receive up to EUR 10,000. The grant depends upon the area of priority in which the project falls.

Future Capital
Future Capital aims to give young volunteers the chance to use and build upon experience acquired during their European Voluntary Service (EVS). It is primarily aimed at individuals, but it does allow two young people to apply for the same project as long as they demonstrate the relevant link. The maximum duration of projects is one year.

Applicants must apply within two years of completing EVS and show a link between the proposed project and experience they derived from participating in EVS.
There are three categories:
· Professional Activity - non-profit-making projects or projects which in future intend to become profit-making.
· One-off Projects - short-term activity focused around a particular event or producing a particular product.
· Projects for personal development - projects which involve training and recognise skills the young person had begun to acquire during their EVS. Please note University Courses are not eligible and Language Courses only in exceptional circumstances. Funding cannot replace other sources at local, regional, national or European level.

Successful applicants can receive up to EUR 5,000. The grant depends upon the area of priority in which the project falls.

The EU Member States and the EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and the candidate countries Bulgaria and Romania. Turkey is expected to participate as a full 'Programme country' in the coming years. This action is not open for third countries.

More information
Website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/program/guide05_en.pdf
http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/program/guide/action3_en.html
E-mail: youth@cec.eu.int


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American Councils for International Education - Junior Faculty Development Programme
Application deadline: September 2, 2005 (for applicants from Southeast Europe)
September 9, 2005 (for applicants from Croatia)


American Councils for International Education is pleased to announce the Junior Faculty Development Program (JFDP), a program sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and administered by American Councils for International Education, in collaboration with SIC in Croatia.

In SE Europe, JFDP is open to citizens from Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia & Motenegro (residents in Kosovo welcome to apply), and is intended for young university teachers in the social sciences and humanities.
List of eligible fields for 2005-2006:
American Studies, Architecture & Urban Planning, Arts Management, Business Administration, Cultural Anthropology, Economics, Educational Administration, Environmental Studies, History, International Affairs, Journalism, Law, Library Science, Linguistics, Literature, Peace/Conflict Resolution Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Public Health, Public Policy, Religious Studies, Social Work, Sociology,.

JFDP provides university instructors with a semester-long opportunity to expand their knowledge and expertise in their academic field by attending classes and working with faculty members at universities in the United States. This is a fully funded, non-degree program; participants travel on a US J-1 exchange visa, which stipulates a two-year home residency requirement. Please visit: www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/ for information about the J-1 visa.

More information
Website: http://www.americancouncils.org
http://www.jfdp.org
E-mail:
acie@sbb.co.yu (Belgrade)
aciemont@yahoo.com (Podgorica)
aciepr@yahoo.com (Pristina)
SarajevoACIE@smartnet.ba (Sarajevo)
aciemk@yahoo.com (Skopje)
acie_albania@yahoo.com (Tirana)
sic@sic.org (Zagreb)


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European Cultural Foundation - Project Grants Programme
Application deadline: September 15, 2005


Introduction
Grant-giving in support of independent cultural projects continues to be a core commitment of the ECF. In an enlarged EU where there is a lack of accessible funding for cross-border projects, we remain convinced that grants for small to medium-sized cultural organizations are an essential part of developing collaborative practice and boosting the cultural dimension of a richly diverse Europe. The support we can offer is modest. Yet in recent years new partnerships and a growing synergy between ECF grants, programmes and advocacy work have opened new opportunities: grantees can now influence the Foundation’s work at policy level and we are strengthening our support of projects in regions which fall beyond the remit of many other European funders.

So what are we looking for in 2005?
We want you to keep inspiring us and broadening our perspectives! As before, we will only support projects that clearly relate to our in-house activities. This does not mean that we will apply unnecessarily rigid criteria. It is up to you to explain the link between your work and one of our current areas of interest. We welcome applications that will surprise us, and we are ready to take some risks.

Who can apply?
· Independent cultural organisations (NGOs) from within the EU, Albania, Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Turkey, and Ukraine may apply as lead applicants or partner organizations. All projects should feature at least one country from this group.
· Independent cultural organisations from Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia are also eligible for support, if working together with partners from the EU or its bordering regions (as listed above).
· Collaborations within the EU, across or beyond its new borders, or across the Mediterranean are all possible. We are interested in projects which reflect a confrontation with the unfamiliar or unknown just as much as those which aim to strengthen ties with neighbouring regions.

How many different countries should be represented in each project?
There is no specific requirement regarding the number of countries that should be represented. What we wish to see is evidence of genuine cross-border collaboration in all stages of the project - planning, development and implementation. We are not interested in superficial consortia built for fundraising purposes.
Regional and smaller-scale projects are as welcome as pan-European collaborations. However, we will not usually award grants to local or bilateral projects that could be supported through national or regional funds.

Restrictions
Priority will be given to professional organizations working in the cultural sector on contemporary projects. We do not support commercial organizations, state institutions, amateur organizations, organisations focusing primarily on education, religion or heritage, or projects organized by student bodies.
Individuals, including those seeking scholarship, bursary or residency costs, cannot apply for a project grant. The ECF has two mobility funds which support individual professionals in the cultural sector: STEP beyond and the Roberto Cimetta Fund. Please look at our website for more information and details of how to apply.

What kind of project is eligible for support?
Content: All projects must be relevant to one of the following areas of interest:
· Intercultural competence and collaboration across borders.
· Increased participation in the arts and the media and strategies to break cultural isolation.
· The cultural dimension of EU enlargement.
· Strategies for change within cultural infrastructures.
· Creative responses to current political issues.
· Development of a common public and cultural European space.
Form: As well as relevance to our current areas of interest, we will be looking for the following qualities in your application:
· originality
· high professional standards
· strong mutually agreed partnerships
· impact (beyond specialist or traditional niches)
· sustainability
· experimentation
· accessible and transferable practical results
· European relevance
· a clear and precise argumentation
· a strong communication strategy
· a balanced budget with mixed funding
Restrictions:
We do not support:
· activities that focus only on the academic sector or represent traditional approaches to research and education (e.g. school/university exchanges, scholarships, research or education programmes firmly located within a traditional institution)
· conventional approaches to arts education or art therapy
· awards, competitions
· folkloric events and projects which focus on conserving European heritage
· actions that could otherwise be supported by specialist public and private arts funds (e.g. production costs of a one-off performance or art work, touring of an existing work or operating costs of an organization’s regular activities)
· individual literary works, translations or running costs of an ongoing series of publications or cultural reviews (however, publications documenting your collaborative project may be included in your budget)
· Initiatives based solely on tourism
· Projects that rely entirely on funding from our organisation
· Bilateral or local projects lacking a European dimension
· Organisations whishing to realise a project without strong partners
Please note that festivals will only be supported in exceptional circumstances, where content fits closely with the ECF’s current areas of interest.

How much can I ask for?
ECF grants usually vary between Euro 5,000 and Euro 30,000. The average project grant is Euro 10,000 - 15,000. Since the application process is highly competitive, you will maximize your chances of being awarded a grant by presenting a project which will be supported by a balanced and mixed range of funders.
The ECF cannot support more than 80% of the project’s total budget. Unless your local funding conditions are very volatile and there are no other alternative sources of support, we suggest that you aim to ask the ECF for less than this maximum percentage. We recommend that all applications should include clear arguments explaining why the ECF as a European foundation should support your project.

Competition
Please remember that it will be impossible for us to support every project that offers a link to our current areas of interest: we receive a very high number of applications and, at present, we can only support approximately one in ten proposals. Assessors will select those they consider to be of the highest quality. Their decision (once it has been approved by the ECF’s Board) is final.

Costs covered by an ECF grant may include:
· Travel for project participants (cheapest economy fare ticket available)
· Visa
· Meetings
· Accommodation and meals for participants
· Living costs (or ‘per diems’) calculated on the basis of economic standards in the region
· Fees for artists, experts, translators and interpreters
· Professional materials and rental of space and equipment needed for the project
· Improvements to facilities (e.g. space or equipment) if relevant to the project.
Other costs can only be included with prior special permission. The costs listed above could be part of one particular phase of the project’s realisation (e.g. for preparation, feasibility study, research and development, production or dissemination). Alternatively you could ask us (alongside a mixed range of other funders) to contribute for the overall project. This can be negotiated at a later stage of the application process.
Restrictions
· Operating costs for the day-to-day running of the organisation (e.g. rent of the organisation’s premises, permanent staff costs, electricity, etc.) will not be covered.
· In some cases, the ECF will only award the grant requested when other funders have confirmed their support.

More information
Website: http://www.eurocult.org/
E-mail: eclaassen@eurocult.org (Esther Claassen, Grants Administrator)


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European Commission - Specific projects in the Field of Consumer Affairs 2005
Application deadline: September 16, 2005


PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES:
This call for proposals is for specific projects in connection with the implementation of Article 7(4) (action 18) of Decision No 20/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 December 2003 establishing a general framework for financing Community actions in support of consumer policy for the years 2004 to 2007.

WHO CAN APPLY:
Applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
— the 25 countries of the European Union
— the EFTA and EEA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway
— the acceeding countries: Bulgaria and Romania.

For projects seeking a maximum of 50% Community funding: financial contributions for projects may be awarded to any legal person or association of legal persons, including appropriate independent public bodies and regional consumer organisations, that act independently of industry and commerce and are actually responsible for the implementation of the projects.

For projects seeking a maximum of 75% Community funding: financial contributions may only be awarded to projects proposed by consumer organisations from the new Member States or candidate countries, that act independently of industry and commerce and are actually responsible for the implementation of the projects. They must involve as partners consumer organisations from at least three other eligible countries.

ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES:
All projects must contribute significantly to the achievement of the following three fundamental objectives that are defined in Article 3 of the Decision No 20/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 December 2003 establishing a general framework for financing Community actions in support of consumer policy for the years 2004 to 2007.
- A high common level of consumer protection, in particular through the establishment of common consumer protection rules and practices and the integration of consumer interests in other Community policies
- Effective enforcement of consumer protection rules, in particular through market surveillance, administrative and enforcement cooperation, consumer access to information about services and non-food products and consumer access to mechanisms for the resolution of complaints and disputes
- Proper involvement of consumer organisations in the development of consumer policy and other Community policies affecting consumer interests. For projects seeking a maximum of 50% Community funding project proposals may be submitted relating to any topic or theme that the project partners choose as long as it contributes to the achievement of the objectives above.

For projects seeking a maximum of 75% Community funding, in addition to contributing to the objectives above, projects must aim at speeding up the effective application of the acquis communautaire on consumer protection in the new Member States/candidate

For the period 2004-2007 the Commission proposes to give priority to projects involving consumer organisations from the new Member States and candidate countries.

BUDGET
The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of projects in 2005 is estimated at € 2.5 million.

FINANCING CONDITIONS:
In principle, Community financial support may not exceed 50% of the amount of expenditure linked to the implementation of the eligible activities.

PROJECT DURATION:
The duration of projects should not exceed 36 months.

More information
Website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/tenders/information/grants/projects_en.htm


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Open Society Institute - International Policy Fellowships 2006 - 2007
Application deadline: September 20, 2005


The International Policy Fellowships (IPF) program solicits applications for its 2006 – 2007 fellowships, which support analytical policy research in pursuance of open society goals such as the rule of law, democratic elections, diverse and vigorous civil societies, and respect for minorities. Each year IPF invites research proposals that address critical issues in the development of open societies. Successful applicants will demonstrate originality, sound project design, and the strong likelihood that their project will lead to
significant impact on policy. Fellowships will begin April 1st 2006 and finish March 31st 2007.

IPF seeks to enhance the quality of policy research in the countries where the Soros foundations operate. It emphasizes independent research that is both rigorous and appreciative of practical implications. Analysis and evaluation of existing policy contexts should be based on explicit criteria, and fellows should be able to communicate their ideas and findings in a variety of professional and public settings.

IPF projects are expected to complement and enhance existing OSI activities. OSI programs will have already shown interest in some fellowship topic areas, such as Roma Exclusion, while OSI interest in other topics may be more recent and under development, for instance Combating the Resource Curse. IPF projects should not duplicate existing work, and through effective coordination and communication, IPF projects can strengthen existing OSI fields and contribute to the development of new ones.

Fellows carry out individual research projects within small research teams of 3 to 5 fellows. Under the guidance of a senior policy analyst, fellows will collaborate and share findings and, where possible, create individual web sites, and organize joint meetings to promote and disseminate their work. Each fellow will be expected to produce a substantive policy study and at least two policy briefing papers during the course of their fellowship. All papers will be published electronically with the Policy Documentation Center, while outstanding papers will be published in hardcopy and translated into other languages.

Main eligibility requirements: Applicants should be permanent residents of a country in Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, Africa or Asia. Applicants must be affiliated with a recognized policy-making body, non-governmental organization, university, or research institution. The program does NOT fund student scholarships although, in exceptional cases, proposals connected to the final stages of a PhD dissertation may be considered.

Selection Criteria
· Applicants must be able to demonstrate excellent written and spoken English-language skills.
· Applicants should be able to demonstrate that they can devote the majority of their working time to the project and that other commitments are both complementary to their project and occupy a minority of their time.
· An independent panel of internationally recognized experts will evaluate proposals on the basis of their aims and objectives, research questions, project conceptualization, proposed methodology, contribution to OSI goals, clarity of expression, and qualifications of the applicant.
· Proposals may be country specific or comparative but all should be feasible and justified. Evaluators are looking for innovative proposals that have potential significant impact.
· Candidates who are short-listed will be asked to submit further detailed information including a work schedule, detailed budget proposal, and certified translations of relevant education qualifications.
· The final selection of fellows will be carried out following telephone interviews, which will be held at the expense of IPF, and successful finalists will be notified by January 30, 2006.

How to Apply
Applicants should carefully complete the online application form, which includes a project summary, research proposal (maximum four pages), and a resume/CV including a list of publications. Applicants may also include a letter of reference from an affiliated organization and a writing sample on the chosen topic.

More information
Website: http://www.soros.org/initiatives/ipf/news/ipfcall_20050804


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Council of Europe - Training Modules on European Citizenship 4 - 6
Application deadline: September 20, 2005


The Council of Europe has announced another 3 Training Modules on European Citizenship in the framework of the Partnership Programme on European Youth Worker Training, Research, Youth Policy and Euro-Med Cooperation. The Training Partnership held the first 3 training modules between December 2004 and February 2005 and launches 3 more Modules in 2005. Each training module focuses on one important aspect of the concept and practice of European Citizenship. There will be common elements that all of the modules address, and there will be a specific focus for each of them.

The general aims for these training Modules on European citizenship will be:
· To develop a sense of space and place in contemporary Europe, the skills required to be active agents for change and development, and the knowledge required to make choices within this context
· To support the professional development of youth workers and youth leaders by extending their competencies to integrate elements of European citizenship within their projects and practice and support their role as multipliers with young people.

Objectives of the training modules:
· To provide participants with knowledge and information about the historical role and present function of European institutions and the concepts and formal meanings and expressions of European citizenship
· To enable participants to reflect about European citizenship and European identity and key values and concepts associated with it, such as safeguarding human rights, participation in the development of democracy and respect for cultural diversity
· To develop participants' knowledge and motivation to critically understand the European youth programmes and their potential to support the European citizenship dimension of youth work.

Modules:
Module 4 - European Citizenship: Intercultural Learning, November 14 – 20, 2005, Romania
· The Europe of values
· The European cultural heritage
· The concepts of 'culture'
· The advantages and challenges of Intercultural learning
· The tolerance of ambiguity
· Equality versus diversity
· Migration, immigration and integration
· Dealing with diversity in youth work
· Intercultural learning as integrated part of European Citizenship

Module 5 - European Citizenship: Institutions and Politics, November 21 – 27, 2005, Netherlands
· Ideas and utopias about Europe: a short introduction to the evolution of the European idea
· European integration after 1945: the intergovernmental model - the Council of Europe (history, functions, the youth field)
· European integration after 1945: the supranational model - the European Union (its origins, present functions and institutions, future perspectives, the youth field)
· The Future of the European Union: Ways to address the constitutional crisis and the role of young people therein
· The relationship of institutions to the citizen and their policy towards young people
· Influencing: opportunities and models for young people
· European Youth Policy: The White Paper

Module 6 - European Citizenship: Human Rights, December 1 – 7, 2005, Belgium
· The evolution of human rights (the Universal Declaration, the European Convention)
· The first, second and third generation of human rights
· Aspects of human rights: equality
· Aspects of human rights: social inclusion
· Aspects of human rights: anti racism
· Human rights in youth work
· Human rights education in Europe
· Citizenship and Human Rights in Europe.

Profile of participants:
The module is intended to be an opportunity for further training complementary to previous experience and training for both youth workers and youth leaders who:
· have experience of at least 2 years in youth work (as volunteers or professionals)
· have organised or co-organised at least 1 international youth project
· have experience in developing and managing a project with and for young people
· are directly involved in youth activities with young people
· are supported by their organisation in the application and in their work to integrate European Citizenship into youth work
· are committed to work directly with young people on issues related to European citizenship
· are motivated to undergo training and able to attend the course for its full duration
· are able to work in English
· have a general knowledge and understanding of youth work realities in their countries and a direct involvement with issues of European Citizenship in this context
· are resident in a member state of the Council of Europe or in another country signatory to the European Cultural convention.

Priority will be given to those applicants who, by their previous experiences, are able to contribute to the reflections and discussion on the specific programme contents, and/or plan to integrate European Citizenship and the focus issue of the module for which they apply into youth work following their participation in the training module.

Application & Selection:
Any of the modules can be attended separately, so, for example, attending Module 4 is NOT a condition to apply for Module 5 or Module 6. Interested applicants are asked to apply only for one of the three modules!

Please send your application to the National Agency of the Youth Program in your country for pre-selection. In case there is no national agency representation in your country, please send your application directly to the hosting national agency by the above deadline. Applications sent to the Partnership Secretariat will NOT be accepted.

Travel and other expenses, enrolment fee:
Board and lodging will be provided and paid for by the hosting national agency. For residents of programme countries of the Youth Programme (with national agency representation) travel expenses will be covered by the national agency. For non-programme country residents travel expenses and visa fees will be reimbursed (on presentation of the relevant receipts) by the Partnership Secretariat according to rules of the Directorate of Youth and Sport of the Council of Europe. Payment will be made only by bank transfer after the course.

More information
MODULE 4: Intercultural Learning
ANSIT, Romanian National Agency
Website: www.ansitromania.ro
E-mail: mihaela.vasile@ansitromania.ro (Mihaela Vasile, National coordinator of European Citizenship Module)

MODULE 5: Institutions and Politics
NIZW international centre (Netherlands)
Website: www.programmajeugd.nl
E-mail: g.dekker@nizw.nl (Peter Barendse, National coordinator of European Citizenship Module)

MODULE 6: Human Rights
JINT - Coordination Agency for International Youth Work (Flanders)
Website: www.jint.be
E-mail: iadriaensen@jint.be (Inez Adriansen, National coordinator of European Citizenship Module)

For general information
Website: http://www.coe.int/youth
http://www.training-youth.net
E-mail: ecmodules@coe.int


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Open Society Institute and the Center for Policy Studies, Central European University - International Policy Fellowships 2006 – 2007, Budapest, Hungary
Application deadline: September 20, 2005


Launched in 1998 and affiliated with the Open Society Institute and the Center for Policy Studies (CPS) of the Central European University in Budapest, these fellowships support analytical policy research in pursuance of open society goals such as the rule of law, democratic elections, diverse and vigorous civil societies, and respect for minorities. Each year the IPF program invites research proposals that address critical issues in the development of open societies. Successful applicants will demonstrate originality, sound project design and the strong likelihood that their project may lead to significant impact on policy.

The IPF program seeks to enhance the quality of policy research in the countries where the Soros Network operates, throughout Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and Mongolia, as well as countries in South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. It places strong emphasis on independent research that is both rigorous and appreciative of practical implications. Analysis and evaluation of existing policy contexts should be based on explicit criteria and fellows should be able to communicate their ideas and findings in a variety of professional and public settings.

Applicants are encouraged to submit individual, practical and policy-oriented research proposals in the following subject areas. The product of each fellowship will be a detailed analysis of a major issue to be published in English and translated into other languages.

2006-7 Fellowship Issue Areas:
General Framework: New Frontiers of Democratic Politics
- The Challenge of Wider Europe
- Open Society Promotion in Predominantly Muslim Societies
- Combating Open Society Threats
- Combating the Resource Curse
- Roma Exclusion
- Open Information Policy.

Main Terms of the International Policy Fellowship Award:
- Fellows receive supervision and support from a senior policy analyst
- Fellows are invited to Budapest in April 2006 for initial orientation to the program
- Optional specialized policy research and advocacy training courses in Budapest
- Monthly stipends commensurate with local salaries
- Budget for reasonable research, communications, travel, publication and advocacy costs
- Discretionary funding for conference participation.

How to Apply:
Applicants should carefully complete the online application form found at http://www.soros.org/initiatives/ipf, which includes a project summary, research proposal (maximum 4 pages), and a resume/CV including a list of publications. Applicants may also include a letter of reference from an affiliated organization and a writing sample on the chosen topic.

Those who have no possibility to access the Internet should send an e-mail to fellows@osi.hu to discuss alternate application solutions. Applications sent by mail, fax or e-mail will not be considered unless given prior approval from IPF staff.

More information
Website: http://www.soros.org/initiatives/ipf
E-mail: fellows@osi.hu


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United States Institute of Peace (USIP) - Unsolicited Grants (institutions preferred)
Application deadline: October 1, 2005


AMOUNT NOTE: Most unsolicited grants are one to two years in duration and fall in the range of $25,000 to $45,000, although larger grants are also awarded. The amount of any grant is based on the proposed budget and on negotiations with successful applicants.

ELIGIBILITY: According to its statutory mandate, the institute may provide grant support to nonprofit organizations, official public institutions, and individuals both U.S. and foreign. This could include the following: institutions of post-secondary, community, and secondary education; public and private education, training or research institutions, and libraries. Although the institute can provide grant support to individuals, it prefers that an institutional affiliation be established. When applicants are employed by an eligible institution, such as a college or university, the institute favors grants to the institution rather than to the individual.

ABSTRACT: Unsolicited grants are offered across a broad range of relevant disciplines, skills, and approaches. Topic areas of interest to the institute include, but are not restricted to, international conflict resolution; diplomacy; negotiation theory; functionalism and ‘track two’ diplomacy; methods of third-party dispute settlement; international law; international organizations and collective security; deterrence and balance of power; arms control; psychological theories about international conflict; the role of nonviolence and nonviolent sanctions; moral and ethical thought about conflict and conflict resolution; and theories about relationships among political institutions, human rights, and conflict. The institute sets no disciplinary restrictions. It welcomes proposals of an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary nature.

More information
Website: http://www.usip.org/grants/unsolicited.html
E-mail: grants@usip.org


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Council of Europe - European Youth Foundation, Grants for international youth activities
Application deadline: October 1, 2005


The European Youth Foundation (EYF) is a fund established by the Council of Europe to provide financial support for European youth activities. It aims to encourage co-operation amongst young people in Europe by providing financial support to youth activities. It concerns activities, which serve the promotion of peace, understanding and co-operation in a spirit of respect for human rights, democracy, tolerance and solidarity.

The EYF provides financial support to the following types of activity undertaken by youth NGOs or networks, or by other NGOs involved in the areas of youth work relevant to the Council of Europe's youth policies and work:
· educational, social, cultural and humanitarian activities of a European character
· activities aiming at strengthening peace and co-operation in Europe
· activities designed to promote closer co-operation and better understanding among young people in Europe, particularly by developing the exchange of information
· activities intended to stimulate mutual aid in Europe and in the developing countries for cultural, educational and social purposes
· studies, research and documentation on youth matters.

The EYF may support the following operations:
A. International youth meetings for youth leaders, including seminars, conferences, workshops, camps, and festivals. The EYF will cover up two-thirds of the total cost.
B. Youth activities other than meetings such as studies, research projects and the production of information and documentation on youth issue, for example specialised publications, information campaigns, web sites, and CD-ROMs. The EYF will contribute up to 75% of the total costs.
C. Administration of international non-governmental youth organisations and networks.
D. Pilot projects - youth meetings or activities, which contribute more particularly to priority objectives of the Council of Europe.

Applicants must represent either an international non-governmental youth organisation with branches in at least four Member-States of the Council of Europe, or a national youth organisation co-operating with at least three other national organisations from different Member States. No more than one third of the participants in any project supported by the Foundation should be of the same nationality and no more than one quarter may be over the age of 30. As a general rule, any eligible project takes place in one (or more) Member States of the Council of Europe. Participants and organisers must make a significant financial contribution towards the activity themselves.

A list of the members can be found on: http://www.coe.int/T/e/com/about_coe/member_states/default.asp

More information
Website: http://galadriel.coe.int/fej/index.jsp
E-mail: eyf@coe.int


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Council of Europe - International youth activities held in co-operation with the European Youth Centres
Application deadline: October 1, 2005


The European Youth Centres (EYC) in Strasbourg and Budapest provide instruments for the participation of European youth in the building of Europe. The EYCs carry out a yearly programme of study sessions and other activities held in co-operation with non-governmental and governmental youth partners. The study sessions, symposia and other similar activities reflect the principles of co-management and partnership with young people and their organisations that are at the heart of the youth policy of the Council of Europe.

Eligible activities:
1. Study sessions
· address an issue of contemporary European societies from the point of view of young people, or matters affecting young people and their organisations
· the theme of the study session is proposed and developed by the applying organisation and should contribute to development of the work priorities of the Council of Europe's youth sector
· minimum duration of 4 working days and a maximum of 8 working days
· participants coming from one country must not exceed 20% of the total number of participants. Up to 15% of all participants may come from non-member countries
· study sessions may normally be held in two working languages with simultaneous interpretation
· majority of participants must be under 30 years of age

2. Symposia
Symposia are activities addressing themes and matters of common concern and interest for both the governmental and non-governmental partners of the Directorate of Youth and Sport. Symposia are aimed at knowledge production and contributing to the youth policy development of the Council of Europe.

3. Special projects are activities of an innovative character which fall outside the scope of the study sessions and symposia.
All activities should:
· show a commitment to a European society respectful of its citizens' rights and freedoms and tolerant of their diversity
· aim to reach synergies (multiplying effect) on local, regional, national and/or European level
· relate to youth problems and concerns
· be an experience in participation and planned intercultural learning
· be part of the overall strategy of the applicant organisation, and the results of the activity should be followed up in the organisation's long-term planning
· be prepared, run and evaluated by the same multicultural planning team, with a geographical and gender balance, and in co-operation with the Centre's educational staff
· be documented and its results made available to a wider public
· make good use of the Centre from an institutional and educational point of view
· be non-profit making.

Eligible applicants:
- European/International non-governmental youth organisations with partners or branches in at least 8 European countries
- European formal or informal networks of youth organisations and other non-governmental youth structures bringing together partners from at least 8 European countries
- Sub-regional networks of youth organisations and/or national youth councils and structures involved in youth work, bringing together at least 5 neighbouring countries

More information
Website: http://www.coe.int/T/E/Cultural_Co-operation/Youth/4._Financial_support/Study_Sessions/EYC_Criteria.asp
http://www.coe.int/T/E/Cultural_Co-operation/Youth/4._Financial_support/Study_Sessions/EYC_ApplicationForm.asp
European Youth Centre Strasbourg
E-mail: youth@coe.int
European Youth Centre Budapest
E-mail: eycb.secretariat@coe.int


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Environmental protection NGOs - Call for the submission of proposals under a Community action programme promoting nongovernmental organisations primarily active in the field of environmental protection 2005
Application deadline: October 3, 2005


PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES:
Financial assistance under this Call for Proposals may be provided for activities, which involve contributing to the development and implementation of Community environmental policy and legislation in different regions of Europe.

The Programme will also contribute to the strengthening of small regional or local associations working to apply the ‘acquis communautaire’ in relation to the environment and sustainable development in their local area.

Support from this Programme will target the priority areas from the Sixth Environment Action Programme (2):
— Limiting climate change,
— Nature and bio-diversity — protecting a unique resource
— Health and environment
— Ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and waste.

In addition to the areas mentioned above, implementation and enforcement of Community environmental legislation and environmental education will also remain of interest.

WHO CAN APPLY:
The Programme will be open to the participation of European NGOs established (legally registered) in either:
- the Member States
- Bulgaria, Romania
- Turkey
- Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia.

The Programme is a co-financing instrument. The rate of overall Community assistance shall not exceed 70% of the applicant's average audited annual eligible expenses during the preceding two years in the case of NGOs based in the Community, or 80% in the case of NGOs based in the Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and the Balkan countries, nor 80 % of the applicant's eligible expenses for the current year.

The amount of a grant will only become final once the audited financial statement of the beneficiary has been accepted by the Commission.
Beneficiaries will be selected on the basis of the criteria set out in the information dossier relating to this Call for Proposals and within the limits of the available budget.

More information
Website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/funding/intro_en.htm


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Managing Ethnic Diversity Training Jamboree, November 27 - December 4, 2005, Budapest, Hungary
Application deadline: October 5, 2005


Background
The process of democratization means that more of the decisions that affect people’s daily lives are made at the local level, and that communities have greater opportunities to participate in governance, especially decision-making processes. Broader participation brings new challenges for local decision-makers: they must cope with limited public resources, and the diverse needs and interests of different groups. Thus, they require skills and the capacity to integrate knowledge of ethnicity and diversity, diversity policies, power sharing opportunities as well as conflict prevention and resolution methods into their policy-making activities and service delivery.

Goal
Participants will improve their knowledge and skills in various topics of diversity management meant to support local policy-makers responsible for managing and leading multiethnic communities in making informed decisions.

Specific Objectives
Participants will:
· Deepen their understanding and improve their knowledge in the fields of European frameworks of diversity and diversity management in multiethnic communities
· Deepen their understanding and improve their knowledge in the fields of local level policy making for diverse communities, in the employment of power sharing mechanisms and practices, in the field of responsive and equal access service delivery for diverse communities as well as in the field of conflict management for policy makers of diverse communities.
· Deepen their understanding about the impact of local level policy-makers, their activities as well as the presence or absence of diversity policies and measures on inter-ethnic relations
· Assess the need for such trainings in their countries and elaborate action plans to introduce diversity training for policy makers in national programs and specific contexts.

Selection
Participants from Central and Southeast Europe, Central Asia, and Indonesia are invited to apply. Participants will be selected based on their on-line applications, according to the following criteria:
· Previous training experience and knowledge of different aspects of diversity management
· Experience in working with local governments, civil society organizations or with diverse communities
· Working for institutions that have the capacity to multiply the program at national level
· Good English language skills

LGI actively encourages the application of candidates associated with the national secretariats of the Decade of Roma Inclusion Initiative in the CEE region, with schools of PA and with PASOS policy centers in CEE, SEE and fSU.

Costs
LGI has secured funding to support the participation of 48 trainers selected on a competitive basis, 12 participants for each of the four workshops. LGI will cover their tuition and materials, accommodation, meals and transportation (to and from Budapest) costs.
In addition, 12 self-funded participants will be selected as well (3 for each workshop). Such participants (or their organizations) are expected to cover their travel expenses, accommodation and meals, as well as a tuition fee of 800 USD/participant from European Union and other Western countries and 400 USD/participant from other countries.

More information
Website: http://lgi.osi.hu/
E-mail: aradosits@osi.hu(Angela Radosits, LGI Training coordinator)
kovacsp@osi.hu (Petra Kovács, Ph.D Researcher)
lgitraining@osi.hu (Zsuzsa Katona, Diversity consultant and trainer)


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Fulbright Commission in Romania - Fulbright Teacher Exchange Competition 2006 - 2007
Application deadline: October 10, 2005


The Romanian-American Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program provides opportunities for high school teachers in Romania to participate in direct exchanges of positions with colleagues from high schools in the USA.

The purpose of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program is to help promote mutual understanding, exchange of knowledge and lasting ties between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through educational exchange. By living and working in the cultures of another country than theirs, exchange teachers gain understanding of the similarities and differences in national cultures and international educational systems. Fulbright teacher exchanges result in continuing relationships between schools, and may benefit local communities by providing them with international resources.

Fulbright Teacher Exchange awards are granted through open, merit-based competition, for high school teachers (grades 9 – 12) and lead to direct exchange of teaching assignment. The language of instruction is English, both in the Romanian and the U.S. high schools that participate in the exchange.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
To be eligible for the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program, applicants must have:
- Romanian citizenship
- University degree (diploma/licenta)
- A full-time teaching assignment in a high school of Romania (grades 9 – 12)
- A complete application package (see Instructions for Filling the Application)
- Proficiency in English (interviews will be conducted in English; teachers other than ESL, considered eligible, have to pass a Test of English Language Proficiency/TELP)
Candidates who have been awarded a Fulbright grant in the past are NOT eligible. Candidates who have benefited from extensive professional travel in the US under other programs are not considered a priority

FIELDS:
- English as a Second Language
- Humanities and Social Studies (American literature, history, geography, social studies, education)
- Science (mathematics, physics etc.)

More information
Website: http://www.usembassy.ro/Fulbright/fulbright_teacher_exchange.html


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European Commission DG Education and Culture - Tempus III
Application deadline: October 15, 2005


The Tempus III programme (2000-2006) is the trans- European Union programme for co-operation in higher education in the Western Balkans, the Partner States of Eastern Europe and Central Asia and the Mediterannean Partner countries. The programme supports the process of transformation to market economies and democratic societies in line with the objectives of overall EU co-operation with these countries. Tempus aims to contribute to the development of the higher education systems in the partner countries and their interaction with civil society and industry.

The Tempus programme has developed three main instruments:
1. Joint European projects (JEP) - supports groups of higher education institutions co-operating together ('consortia') over two or three year periods to achieve set objectives. The overall aim of these projects is to restructure and modernise higher education systems and their role in society. Consortia may include universities and also non-academic partners such as companies, public and private business organisations, professional associations, public authorities at local, regional and national level or social partners. Three types of JEPs have been developed:
· Curriculum Development projects
· University Management projects
· Training Courses for Institution building

2. Structural and Complementary Measures (SCM) - provide a framework for short-term responses to particular needs that partner countries must have clearly defined as their priorities. The types of projects which have been developed are:
· Information and dissemination projects
· Training projects
· Pilot projects

3. Individual Mobility Grants (IMG) - provide professors, lecturers, members of staff of higher-education institutes and ministry officials the opportunity to travel to other countries for work, related to the objectives of the Tempus programme. Types of eligible visits are:
· Preparation of a JEP proposal
· Participation in a specific event
· Study period / collaboration on a specific academic subject / dissemination of good practices

The eligible countries under the Tempus III Programme are:
· 25 Member States of the European Union
· Partner States of Eastern Europe and Central Asia or TACIS partners: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan
· Western Balkans or CARDS partners: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro
· Mediterranean countries or MEDA partners: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Syria and Lebanon and Israel on a self-supporting basis.
· Institutions from the following countries may participate but on self-financing basis:
- the Candidate countries : Bulgaria and Romania and Turkey
- countries belonging to the G24 Group: Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Norway, New Zealand, Switzerland , the United States of America.

Deadlines:
· JEP: 15 December 2005
· SCM:15 October 2005 ; 15 February 2006
· IMG: 15 October 2005; 15 February 2006,
Contact the Tempus National Agency in your country for further information: http://www.etf.eu.int/tempus.nsf/Pages/Helpdesk_Local+Contact+Details?OpenDocument

More information:
Website: http://www.etf.eu.int/Tempus.nsf/Pages/Apply for Tempus?OpenDocument
E-mail: tempus@cec.eu.int


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Call for proposals 2006 - Promotion of Active European Citizenship
Application deadline:
October 17, 2005 for projects beginning between 15 April and 31 August 2006
March 1, 2006 for projects beginning between 1 September and 31 December 2006


PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES:
The action programme seeks to strengthen the dialogue between the European Union
and its citizens with a view to encouraging the emergence of an active and
participatory European citizenship. Its objectives related to this specific call are:
• To involve citizens closely in reflection and discussion on the construction of the European Union
• To intensify links and exchanges between citizens from the countries
participating in the programme
• To promote and disseminate the values and objectives of the European Union.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
This call for proposals is designed to support projects in the framework of town
twinning in EU member states and in other eligible countries, which will:
- Engage citizens in the construction of Europe, encourage the dialog on the
future of Europe and contribute to raising European awareness
- Foster new and existing links and networks between local authorities
- Strengthen the dialogue between the citizens of the European Union
- Promote the town twinning idea and disseminate best practice in town
twinning in Europe.

ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES:
The call for proposals is aimed at supporting projects in the following three formats:

Format 1: Thematic conferences in the framework of town-twinning
- Thematic conferences must be aimed at raising awareness of European
policies, values and current political developments in the European Union.
To this end the conference programme should engage participants in the
dialogue on the European policies and their implementation at the local level.
- Conferences should have a defined target group for which the selected
subject is particularly relevant and involve a wide range of community
members active in the subject area (experts, local associations, citizens
groups etc.).
- An application can cover either a one off event or a series of conferences

Format 2: Training seminars on town twinning
- Training seminars must be targeted at the people responsible for town
twinning to enable them to acquire the knowledge and skills needed for
organising twinning projects with a high quality European content. To this end
the seminar programme must cover relevant topics such as:
- Exchange of expertise and best practice in town twinning
- theory and practice of twinning
- Town twinning as a tool to solve local problems and improve the quality of life of local communities
- Treatment of European themes in twinning projects
- Languages in town twinning
- Comparison of twinning work in different countries
- Trans-national co-operation between municipalities at the European level
- Administrative structures and tasks of the local authorities in the European context
- EU support for town twinning.
- An application can cover either a one off event or a series of training seminars

Format 3: Information campaigns to promote town twinning
Information campaigns represent a new element in the framework of Community
action to support Town Twinning. It has been launched to enable suitable
organisations such as regional, national or European associations of local authorities to carry out new innovative actions supporting the development of town twinning. It also enables the promotion of the new community programme 'Citizens for Europe', expected to be adopted by the Council and the Parliament in course of the year 2006.

Information campaigns:
• Must be targeted to municipalities and aimed at promoting the town twinning
idea in Europe
• Must disseminate information regarding the Town Twinning scheme within
the Community action programme on active European citizenship
• Should emphasise the importance of the town twinning movement and its
contribution to the development of active European citizenship. To this end
information campaigns must cover relevant thematic areas such as:
- EU support for town twinning
- Best practice in town twinning
- Town twinning and European identity
- The contribution of town twinning to the European integration
- Future perspectives for the town twinning movement in Europe

Information campaigns can be implemented with the following tools:
- Events promoting the town twinning idea (conferences, seminars, public debates, exhibitions, fairs, etc.)
- Publications
- Audiovisual materials
- Websites
- Tools facilitating partner search and networking

Information campaigns must be targeted to municipalities and aimed at promoting the town twinning idea in Europe through disseminating information regarding the Town Twinning programme and emphasising the importance of the town twinning movement in Europe. Information campaigns must cover at least two eligible countries including at least one EU Member State.

WHO CAN APPLY:
To be eligible the applicant must be an organisation with legal status (legal personality) and be established in an eligible country.
Only the following types of organisations are eligible:
- Municipalities and their twinning associations/committees
- Local and regional governments
- Associations representing local authorities.
Eligible countries: the 25 Member States of the European Union, Bulgaria and Romania.

PROJECT DURATION:
The maximum duration of the projects is 10 months.

FINANCING CONDITIONS:
The grant awarded may not exceed 60 % of the total amount of the project's eligible costs.
The maximum amount of the grant may not exceed EUR 60 000 per project. The minimum grant is EUR 10 000.

More information
Website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/towntwinning/call/call_en.html


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European Commission - Culture 2000
Application deadline:
October 17, 2005 for annual and translation projects
October 28, 2005 for multi-annual projects


OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION
The Culture 2000 programme contributes to the promotion of a cultural area common to the European Peoples. Each year the Community supports annual and multi-annual cultural events and projects carried out in partnership or in the forms of networks. The annual projects must involve cultural operators from at least three States and respectively the multi-annual projects must involve cultural operators from at least five States participating in the Culture 2000 programme.

Under Action 1 (annual projects) Culture 2000 Programme provides support in the field of music and performing arts, cultural heritage, plastic and visual arts, literature and books and translation.
Under Action 2 (multi-annual projects) Culture 2000 Programme provides support in the field of music and performing arts, cultural heritage, plastic and visual arts and literature and books.

2. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
Eligible candidates are public and private organisations with legal status, whose main activity lies in the cultural sphere. Applications may be submitted by organisations established in one of the following countries:
— the 25 countries of the European Union;
— the three EEA/EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway);
— the acceding countries Bulgaria and Romania; the candidate country Turkey.
However, it should be noted that Turkey's participation in the programme is subject to an agreement to be concluded between the Turkish government and the European Commission. Turkish organisations will be eligible as project leaders or co-organisers provided that such an agreement enters into force by the end of the selection process.

3. BUDGET AND PROJECT DURATION
The total budget for projects supported under this call for proposals is approximately EUR 28 million (Action 1 and Action 2).
The Funding requested for annual projects must range from EUR 50 000 to EUR 150 000 and may not exceed 50 % of the project's total eligible budget.
For translation projects, Community funding will cover the translator(s)' fees for all books within the application (minimum 4, maximum 10 eligible books) provided these do not exceed a total of EUR 50 000 or 60 % of the total operation costs.
Funding requested for multi-annual projects must be above EUR 50 000 but not more than EUR 300 000 per year and may not exceed 60 % of the total eligible budget.
The projects have to start before 15 November 2006. The duration of annual projects must not be more than 12 months.
The duration of multi-annual projects must be a minimum of 24 months and must not be more than 36 months.
In exceptional circumstances and provided it is duly justified by the beneficiary, selected projects will have the possibility to extend the project duration by a maximum of 6 months through an amendment procedure.

More information
Website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/culture/eac/index_en.html


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OSCE - 2005 Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, September 19 – 30, 2005, Warsaw, Poland
Application deadline: August 31, 2005


This is the annual OSCE meeting where representatives of governments and civil society from the 55 participating States will review both the implementation of the OSCE’s Human Dimension commitments and the procedures and mechanisms for monitoring and enhancing compliance with these commitments.

All formal sessions of the Meeting will be open for participation by NGO representatives, and NGOs will have equal access to the list of speakers.

The Meeting shall feature three special topic days as follows:
1. The situation of the media in the OSCE region and the role of State and non-State actors in promoting media freedom: The discussions will be centered on OSCE commitments ensuring the individual's freedom of expression, freedom of information, and the freedom of the media. The strategic assumption of these commitments is to place the media fully into the custody of society rather than in the custody of the state, where it has been in most countries before democratization. This session could usefully explore this process and the fundamental democratic function of the media.
2. Methods to prevent and combat torture: The session will deal with the prevention of torture at the State level, as well as the status of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and monitoring of places of detention. The session will also cover issues relating to torture and its prevention within Criminal Justice systems, where discussions will focus on the experiences and ways of prevention of torture in various democracies.
3. Tolerance and non-discrimination: The Special Day will focus on 'multiple forms of intolerance and discrimination'. It addresses the common denominators in discrimination and looks at the sources of discrimination based on multiple grounds. The session aims to bring about an understanding on the complex ways in which different forms and violent manifestations of intolerance and discrimination interact with and reinforce one another.
The second part of the day will look at strategies and 'good practices' for combating discrimination based on multiple grounds.

The new ODIHR document distribution system will allow for written statements and
recommendations to be distributed electronically during the meeting; texts should be forwarded, preferably in advance, to hdim@odihr.pl or submitted during the Meeting to the Documents Distribution counter. These documents will be made accessible on our website after the completion of the Meeting.

The ODIHR is unfortunately not in a position to finance the participation of NGOs in the Meeting, but please find ont he website a list of moderately priced hotels in Warsaw. NGOs are kindly requested to make their own booking arrangements.

More information
Website: http://www.osce.org/odihr/
E-mail: office@odihr.pl


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IPSI BgD multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary conferences


IPSI-2006 Marbella, Spain
Hotel Puente Romano (arrival: 10 February 06 / departure: 13 February 06)
Deadlines: 1 September 05 (abstract) & 1 November 05 (full paper)

IPSI-2006 Amalfi, Italy
Hotel Santa Caterina (arrival: 23 March 06 / departure: 26 March 06)
Deadlines: 1 October 05 (abstract) & 1 December 05 (full paper)

All IPSI BgD conferences are non-profit. They bring together the elite of the world science; so far, we have had seven Nobel Laureates speaking at the opening ceremonies. The conferences always take place in some of the most attractive places of the world. All those who come to IPSI conferences once, always love to come back (because of the unique professional quality and the extremely creative atmosphere); lists of past participants are on the web, as well as details of future conferences.

These conferences are in line with the newest recommendations of the US National Science Foundation and of the EU research sponsoring agencies, to stress multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research (M+I+T++ research). The speakers and activities at the conferences truly support this type of scientific interaction.

Among the main topics of these conferencs are: 'E-education and E-business with Special Emphasis on Semantic Web and Web Datamining'. Other topics of interest include, but are not limited to: Internet, Computer Science and Engineering, Mobile Communications/Computing for Science and Business, Management and Business Administration, Education, e-Medicine, e-Oriented Bio Engineering/Science and Molecular Engineering/Science, Environmental Protection, e-Economy, e-Law, Technology Based Art and Art to Inspire Technology Developments, Internet Psychology.

More information
Website: http://www.internetconferences.net/


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DCAF Young Faces Network - ‘Defining Regional Strategic Objectives and Policy Implications’, October 20 – 23, 2005, Geneva, Switzerland
Application deadline: September 12, 2005


The DCAF Young Faces Network brings together young professionals, NGO activists, journalists and government officials from South-Eastern Europe and gives them an opportunity to engage in a broad debate concerning contemporary issues of global and regional security. It is of vital importance for the security of the region that future policy-makers have personal ties to each other and a common understanding of security issues.

The overarching project objective of the DCAF Young Faces Network in 2005 is to elaborate a Western Balkan Regional Security Strategy. This should be a document which identifies strategic interests and values, security threats, strategic objectives, and instruments, and brings them together. A first step in this work has been already done during a first meeting in Neum on June 22 - 26, 2005. This workshop gave us an opportunity to proceed with defining common strategic interests and values as well as security threats shared by the countries in the region. In Geneva, we will work to identify strategic objectives and policies that should be introduced in the Regional Security Strategy. Furthermore, there will be a third Young Faces conference, planned in Belgrade later in the year, to finalize the document.

This year the meeting in Geneva will, furthermore, offer the unique opportunity to participate at the international conference on Bosnia and Herzegovina 'Ten Years of Dayton and Beyond'.

Applicants for the upcoming meeting in Geneva are required to submit a paper presenting their individual positions on common interests and values of the countries in the region, shared security threats, strategic objectives in the medium term and policy proposals and recommendations in order to implement these objectives. The paper should be based upon the research of the security strategies of the countries in the Western Balkan region, their national policies as well as the policies of the EU and other relevant international actors that are active in the region.

To be considered for the conference, applicants must:
1. Be 35 years old or younger at the time of the conference
2. Be young scholars, NGO activists, journalists or government officials
3. Be a national of the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, or Serbia and Montenegro including Kosovo
4. Hold a graduate degree or possess equivalent experience in a relevant discipline
5. Speak and write fluently in English
6. Submit all of the following by 12 September 2005 through e-mail to info@dcafyoungfaces.net
a. A detailed curriculum vitae (CV)
b. A draft paper in English tackling all of the questions below (12 page maximum, A4 size paper, double spaced, with 2cm margins)
c. A one-page abstract (up to 500 words, in English) outlining the main ideas and principal argument in the draft paper
7. The submission must be formatted using Microsoft Word. Citations should be formatted according to the guidelines set out in the `Chicago Manual of Style';
(http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/search.html, free registration).

Paper topics:
1. What are the strategic interests and values that the countries of South-Eastern Europe share?
2. Which phenomena of the security environment pose security threats to these countries?
3. Define a set of strategic objectives for the region to attain the common interests, protect the values, and counter the threats in the next 5 - 10 years.
4. What policies should implemented by the countries in the region to attain these objectives?
Please make sure that you address all of these questions in your paper. (Participants whose papers were accepted for the Neum Conference can focus on question 3 and 4, while at the same time making a clear reference to their previous writing on the first two questions).
Recommended readings: The list of recommended readings can be found at www.dcaf.ch (click on ‘upcoming events’) or at www.dcafyoungfaces.net (click on ‘news’)

All meals, accommodation, and travel expenses will be covered for all selected candidates.

More information
Website: www.dcafyoungfaces.net
www.dcaf.ch
www.bosnia2005.org/news.html
E-mail: info@dcafyoungfaces.net


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The Romanian Association for American Studies and the Romanian - U.S. Fulbright Commission - 'New/Old Worlds. Spaces of Transition' Conference, February 2 - 3, 2006, Bucuresti, Romania
Application deadline: September 15, 2005


The concept of the New World, operative from the period of Renaissance explorations, contains a particularly rich cluster of concepts which still shape Euro-American perceptions today. The New World - and, by implication, an Old World opposing it - comprehends multiple registers in both theory and practice: conquest, frontier, innocence, margin, center, exceptionalism, imperialism, transnationalism, globalization. Contoured between utopia and reality, the New/Old World, both constructed in memory and experienced in anticipation still constitutes a dominant cultural topos.

Our conference seeks to investigate, from literary, cultural studies, historical, sociological, psychological, economical and political perspectives modes of approaching and disseminating New/Old World structures, from the period of colonization to contemporary phenomena such as globalization.

We invite proposals (100-word) for papers and panels from interdisicplinary perspectives on themes suggested above and on all correlative aspects of the issue of New/Old Worlds.

More information
Website: http://www.usembassy.ro/Fulbright/fulbright_call_for_papers.html
E-mail: roxana_oltean@txmail.ro (Roxana Oltean)
mihaela_precup@yahoo.com (Mihaela Precup)


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iccpr 2006 - Fourth International Conference on Cultural Policy Research, July 12 – 16, 2006, Vienna, Austria
Application deadline: October 31, 2005


Organised by EDUCULT Vienna in co-operation with the International Journal of Cultural Policy, iccpr 2006 will aim to provide an outlet for interdisciplinary and international exploration of the concepts, function and impact of cultural policies. It intends to reflect a broad view of cultural policy encompassing culture as a 'way of life' as well as, in the narrower sense, culture of the arts and cultural industries. It will be concerned with both, the policies of decision makers, of administration and institutions as well as the wider discourses related to the general conditions of culture.

The organisers would be pleased to welcome participants from all parts of the world to reflect a preferably broad range of different experiences and views on cultural policy. iccpr 2006 as a forum for fruitful discussions at global level would like to especially encourage increased participation from Latin America, Africa and Asia as well as South-Eastern Europe and Mediterranean countries. The overall goal is to broaden the circle of attendees and to strengthen efforts and networking in cultural policy research worldwide.

Proposals for paper presentations are invited in the following research areas:
- Theoretical approaches to cultural policy
e.g. political dimensions of cultural policy; interlinkages between cultural policy and cultural theory / cultural studies; interlinkages between arts and science; cultural identities and diversity
- Cultural policy in the social environment
e.g. significance of cultural policy as welfare policy; relation of cultural policy and (urban) development policy; concepts of citizenship and their cultural dimension
- Methodological approaches to cultural policy
e.g. empirical research: financing and statistics; comparative policy research; qualification and consulting
- Economic approaches to cultural policy
e.g. cultural and creative industries; culture and employment; copyright; culture and competition
- Sponsoring and cultural patronage
- Management of culture
e.g. cultural administration and relations between decision makers, administration and institutions; institutionalisation versa de-institutionalisation; impacts of decentralisation and globalisation
- International and inter-cultural approaches to cultural policy
e.g. cultural diplomacy and cultural policies in international relations; cultural policy related to concepts of diversity, migration and assimilation; cultural political changes in countries in transition
- Cultural policy and media policy
e.g. interlinkages of cultural and media policy; the role of new media
- Arts mediation and audience development
e.g. cultural ownership in the context of city development; cultural implications of the knowledge society; audience development and visitors/non-visitors studies
- Cultural policy education and cultural education
e.g. policies of higher arts institutions; mediation of cultural competencies; cultural policy education and curriculum development.

At the Conference, the European Cultural Foundation will award the Cultural Policy Research Award 2006 to a young/early career cultural policy researcher.

Registration Fees
Early bird - until 1 March 2006, 325 EUR
Regular - 1 March - 1 June 2006, 375 EUR
Late Registration - 1 June - 15 July 2006, 400 EUR
Students - until 15 July 2006, 200 EUR

More information
Website: http://www.iccpr2006.com/
E-mail: office@iccpr2006.com


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Association for Cultural Economics International - 14th International Conference on Cultural Economics, July 6 – 9 2006, Vienna, Austria
Application deadline: January 31, 2006


The organisers of the 2006 Association of Cultural Economics International (ACEI) Conference, hosted by the Austrian Association for Cultural Economics and Policy Studies (FOKUS), to take place in Vienna, Austria, on 6 – 9 July 2006, invite the submission of papers on any aspect of cultural economics. Papers are welcome from members and non-members in all areas of the application of economics to the performing and visual arts, heritage, media, cultural industries, cultural policy and related areas. The organizers are especially interested in contributions from Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern Europe.

Contributed paper sessions will include three papers. Suggestions by scholars who wish to organize a group session are welcome, provided that the three papers in the session do not come from the same research center, organization or university. There will also be a session for Ph.D. students/young researchers who wish to make a short presentation on their work.

Please send an Abstract of 100-150 words including your name, mailing address, e-mail address, affiliation and position held, clearly stating the contribution of your paper to cultural economics. The Abstract should be sent by email (as .doc or .pdf) to Paul Stepan at stepan@fokus.or.at with the subject 'ACEI abstract'.

More information
Website: http://www.acei.neu.edu/
E-mail: ACEI@neu.edu


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http://www.animusproject.com


Animus, An International Network for Training in Culture Animation, has launched its website at http://www.animusproject.com. The project, realized in the framework of European Commission Programme Leonardo da Vinci – Transnational Networks and administered by the Institute for Polish Culture at Warsaw University, features the works of nine partner organisations across Europe, looking at the most effective ways in which artists can learn about working with local communities, and aiming to establish a sustainable and spreading network of training institutions in culture animation.


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Minority Rights Group International - Participation in Economic Life: An Advocacy Guide for Minorities in South-East Europe


Economic, social and cultural rights are on the political agenda. In recent years, they have been given increased attention, internationally, and domestically. This guide provides an overview of rights and mechanisms relevant to the participation of minorities in economic life in South-East Europe. It contains examples of best practice and lessons learned by people or organizations advocating for effective economic participation by, or on behalf of, minorities in the region.
Published April 2005, 80pp, ISBN 1 904584 26 8

http://www.minorityrights.org/TrainingManuals/TrainingManual.asp?ID=33
Download the pdf file


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www.resursnicentar.ehons.org


The first issue of Linker (in Serbian) - a newsletter covering issues affecting people with disabilities - is out. It is published by the Resource Center for People with Disabilities of the Novi Sad-based Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization (EHO).

Linker promotes a social model of disability and advocates for the equal opportunities principle for persons with disabilities (PWDs). The first issues is on the topic of employment of PWDs, and it was financially supported by the Vojvodina Secretariat for Labour, Employment and Gender Equality, and the Secretariat for Education and Culture.

In addition to the printed version which can be obtained at any EHO office, Linker was also produced in a CD format, and it is also available in Word and PDF formats at the website www.resursnicentar.ehons.org.


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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/e-nass/ e-nass • e-Network of Academia in Social Sciences


This e-network aims to deepen communication to prompt further inter/trans/multi-disciplinary dialogue within academic community of social sciences, including professionals and students. The members are enthusiastically encouraged to contribute any relevant announcements of Call for Papers, Fellowships/Scholarships, Conferences, Graduate Programs, Websites, Publications, Summer Schools, Jobs, Internships and etc. valuable for the target group. Thus, if you have any scholarly announcement concerning social sciences, please do not hesitate to share it within this global academic network.

The list is essentially generalist to cover all branches of social sciences within a wide geographical range of Eurasia from the mist-shrouded steppes of Central Asia to the sun-drenched European shores neighbouring choppy Atlantic but neither neglecting the oasis-ornamented Middle East nor the rugged-mountains of Balkans and provides numerous links useful for research. Although the primary language of the list is English, contributions in other languages of Latin script are highly welcome. The list, however, discourages any form of discussion or commercial-minded advertisement.


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http://www.tendersinfo.com/


TendersInfo is delighted to announce the introduction of the Discussion Forum, a unique forum focused on projects in the public procurement domain!

We host this forum for our community of buyers and sellers and other participants in the Public Procurement Domain such as NGOs, Consultants, Local Agents, Logistics Providers, Financial Institutions etc. to browse and post focused questions, or actively help others. This forum can be a place for you to seek help from others who are active in the public procurement domain and share your experiences, insights and information. You can also use this forum to post your need for a local agent in a foreign country, find a suitable consultant or joint venture partner, seek inputs from others for your offer document....the possibilities are limited only by your imagination.


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Euroregional Center for Democracy

Semenic Nr. 10
300035, Timisoara
Romania

Tel: + 4 0256 221 471
Fax: + 4 0256 436 633

http://www.regionalnet.org

Editor:
Camelia Cocioba

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