The Delegation of the European Union (EU) in Venezuela announced the opening of the call for projects that promote the circular economy and improve access to essential basic services, with a budget of 8.9 million euros (about 10.4 million dollars).
The EU indicated, in a press release reported by the EFE agency, that the call is aimed at civil society organizations (CSO).
“This call has the main objective of empowering Venezuelan CSOs, recognizing their fundamental role as key interlocutors in their communities and their ability to implement innovative solutions at the territorial level,” added the European bloc.
The financing is divided into two main areas of action. The first batch of circular economy aimed at projects that promote sustainable resource management, waste reduction and support for social enterprises that apply circular models, especially those led by women and young people.
This area has an endowment of 4,960,000 euros, the delegation noted.
The second lot, on access to basic services, seeks to improve in an equitable, inclusive and sustainable way access to services such as drinking water, sanitation, hygiene and basic energy in vulnerable communities with an allocation of 4 million euros.
How to participate?
The EU maintained that all proposals must mandatory integrate approaches to gender equality, youth participation, reduction of inequalities and the principle of a just green transition.
Likewise, the delegation indicated that organizations that wish to obtain more information about this call can participate in the virtual information session of the May 12 at 10:00 local time..
«All information about the call, including objectives, eligibility criteria, fundable activities and application procedures, is available at the Guide for applicants and its annexespublished on the website of the Delegation of the European Union in Venezuela,” he added.
A breath of air
This call from the EU comes to give a breath of air to CSOs in Venezuela that were subjected to tight control by the government of Nicolás Maduro. In 2024, Maduro’s administration approved the Law on Supervision, Regularization, Performance and Financing of Non-Governmental and Related Organizationspublished in the Official Gazette No. 6,855, which strictly regulates the constitution, registration and operation of NGOs in Venezuela. This regulation requires detailed financial control, especially of foreign funds, and requires organizations to register with the Ministry of the Interior.
At the time, the law was strongly promoted by the Minister of the Interior of the government of Nicolás Maduro and who is still in office, Diosdado Cabello, after alleging that the majority responded to opposition campaigns financed from abroad. Even though the exact number of civil organizations that stopped operating or closed their doors permanently is unknown, the temporary cessation of a large number of NGOs can be seen.
With information from EFE
