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International civic activity
21.08.2020

Local Climate Justice Activism in Central and Eastern Europe

The Open Society Institute – Sofia Foundation launches a call for proposals by civil society organisations seeking to support the inclusion of so far marginalized and excluded groups and communities to address climate justice issues in the countries of Central Eastern Europe.

The Open Society Institute – Sofia Foundation (OSIS) with the support of Open Society Foundations (OSFs) and in cooperation with the Open Society European Network (OSEN), consisting of civil society organizations in Central and Eastern Europe, launches a call for proposals by civil society organisations seeking to support the inclusion of so far marginalized and excluded groups and communities to address climate justice issues in the countries of Central Eastern Europe.

The climate justice perspective links human rights, social justice, and general principles of equality with the transformation of our economies to ensure environmental sustainability. There is a growing need for an inclusive discussion about a fair distribution of the burdens and benefits of climate adaptation. To date, citizens of Central and Eastern Europe have largely missed out on and risk being left behind in these conversations, despite being significantly affected by future decisions and policies. Furthermore, the fallout of the Covid-19 crisis will bring about unpredictable consequences and will likely create tensions between job preservation and climate change policies.

The eligible countries include Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The eligible applicants should meet each of the listed conditions: registered civil society organisations or non-formal groups represented by a registered civil society organisation; not-for-profit organizations, driven by open society values such as democracy, equality and climate justice; non-partisan organizations; based in the eligible countries.

The call for proposals prioritizes projects led by local, grassroots climate justice activists and local CSOs with activities taking place outside of capital cities, while not excluding capital-based organizations and groups.

The supported projects will receive grants up to $25,000 and their duration should not be longer than 12 months. The application deadline is 15 September 2020.

For more information about the requirements, submission guidelines and other relevant information, please refer to the text of the call for proposals and the application templates: here.