Dear sections,

 

We are excited to announce a new Microgranting Scheme which you can benefit from during this year! The opportunity is supported through the CERV programme of the European Commission, as part of the operational grant JEF Europe receives thanks to the programme.

 

➡️  What is Next Generation JEF?

The objectives of the Next Generation JEF microgranting scheme are to support JEF Europe’s grassroots by awarding grants that would enable JEF’s sections to implement actions in their respective member states, tailored to their specific needs within their local context. Sections will be required to tackle intersectional barriers through their proposed action, in order to further diversify JEF Europe’s membership, ensuring that more social groups are better represented across the JEF network. By empowering young JEF activists locally, the scheme ultimately aims to help bring their ideas to a European level. 

 

The actions are supposed to contribute to at least one of the following impact areas:

– strengthened capacity to protect and promote EU rights and values;

– more supportive environment for CSOs and rights defenders such as national

human rights institutions;

– better developed advocacy and watchdog role of CSOs;

– increased involvement of CSOs in policy- and decision-making processes with

local, regional, and national governments;

– increased citizen awareness of EU rights and values;

– strengthened regional cooperation within civil society.

 

Through a series of training sessions in April and May, the scheme also aims to guide and help sections to implement their proposed actions, and to strengthen their skills and abilities.

 

➡️ How does it work?

Through the Next Generation JEF microgranting scheme, your section can apply for two types of grants to implement your action: either a small scale grant of €500 or a large scale grant of €3000 – €5000, depending on your section’s needs and capacity.

 

You can propose any kind of action with any particular theme and for any duration as you wish, as long as it fits within JEF Europe’s vision and goals and especially if it targets issues and events relevant for the organisation, such as the upcoming European Elections in 2024. You therefore have the freedom to apply with an action that reflects specific issues you face within your member state. 

 

Combating intersectional barriers: This is intrinsically linked to your participation in the scheme. As a non-partisan organisation, we aim at ensuring full access and participation, reflecting the basic right of everyone to be heard. Therefore your section will be asked to consider the inclusiveness of your planned action, as well in the internal structures of your section. Click here for more information on how you can adopt an intersectional approach through your action. 

 

Defining your needs through a SWOT analysis: After filling out a SWOT analysis in the Application Form below, your section’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats will be analysed. This will help us understand your needs and lay the basis for further guidance.

 

Developing competences through webinars on selected topics: The Secretariat and invited experts on the specific topics will organise webinars on the following topics for all sections, even those not selected for the microgrant. These are meant to improve the essential skills needed for the smooth running of your section and your planned action, and also to develop new competences in a range of topics that fits your needs and expectations: 

 

1. Financial and Project Management

How can we organise projects and events in order to reach our goals? How can we prepare a budget and manage our funding effectively? 

 

2. Public Relations & Communications 

How to market our planned actions in order to ensure maximum engagement? How do we use social media tools to help us do this? 

 

3. Membership Recruitment  & Intersectional Approach

How can we grow our section? How can we combat intersectional barriers in our section and in our actions? 

 

➡️  Application and selection process

National sections as well as candidate sections of JEF Europe can apply. Since the scheme is funded by the European Commission’s CERV funding though, applications are unfortunately only open for sections located inside the European Union. 

 

To apply, please fill the Application Form.

 

When filling in the application form linked above, you will need to describe your proposed action, fill in the SWOT analysis, and mention what intersectional barriers you aim to target and how, and also submit an estimated budget in spreadsheet format. 

 

A Board of Advisors, specifically selected for this scheme, will then choose a total of 10 sections, based on needs and motivation that will benefit the most from this programme. We will then ask you to sign an Implementation Agreement and pre-pay part of the grant. 

 

After your action, you will need to send us your invoices for all expenses incurred via post and submit an activity & financial report, where you will have to provide detailed descriptions of the actions implemented, supplemented by the necessary evidence such as photos, screenshots of the communications for the event as well as tangible proof of each action’s impact on removing intersectional barriers. After this process, we can then calculate your final grant. (e.g. you applied for €400 but only spend €300, we will ask you to reimburse us the €100 unspent (or without invoices). It is therefore important to keep all your invoices and be as realistic as possible when proposing your action.

 

➡️ Timeline

The deadline to sign-up is 31st March 2023. The action can start right after your section receives the confirmation from JEF Europe, but its full implementation is tied to the signing of the Implementation Agreement.

 

The training sessions will start in April and last till May. The chosen sections will be expected to implement their project and submit their activity & financial report by 31st November 2023.

 

We are looking forward to receiving your applications and to supporting your JEF section further!  

 

Please, feel free to contact Andrew at andrew.micallef@jef.eu or Judit at judit.lantai@jef.eu if you have any questions or need any further information.