Election-focused NGOs Get Big Slice of EU Grants

Election-focused NGOs Get Big Slice of EU Grants
Khmer Times/Maddy Crowell
Sunday, 31 January 2016

Fiona Ramsey, head of cooperation for the Delegation of the European Union. KT/Fabien Mouret

The European Union (EU) last week announced this year’s recipients of 8.2 million euros ($8.9 million) in grants to civil society, with much of the money going to nongovernmental groups whose stated goal is to make the country’s elections more open and inclusive.


“The only new area we opened [this year] was support to the elections, so one of the priorities of the call was organizations that would support either domestic monitoring or domestic observation of the election process or prepare voter education,” explained Fiona Ramsey, Head of Cooperation for the Delegation of the European Union.


Competition was fierce for this year’s grants, with only one in seven applicants receiving funds. EU Ambassador George Edgar said the winners were chosen in part for their work to make Cambodian society – and especially the upcoming 2017 and 2018 elections – more inclusive for marginalized groups, such as disabled people or ethnic minorities.


“I am confident that these new grants will serve to further narrow the development gap for the greater benefit of Cambodians,” Mr. Edgar said. “We believe that these grants will directly benefit the entire nation by strengthening local governance, accountability and inclusive and sustainable growth.”


This year’s grant recipients provide services ranging from helping disabled people register to vote to translating indigenous languages (see inset for full list). Both local and international groups are on the list, bringing the total number of organizations supported by the EU in Cambodia to 70.




With limited funds to distribute, the EU tried to ensure that money only went to NGOs with realistic, well-planned strategies for the next three years. “We try to evaluate how realistic the organization’s project is in terms of actually being able to deliver what it promises,” Ms. Ramsey said.


This funding comes from the Bilateral Cooperation fund, which has a budget of 410 million euros ($444 million) to give out between 2014 and 2020. The next round of grants will be given out in 2017.


Ms. Ramsey emphasized that helping the democratic process is part of the EU’s mission in Cambodia. “We aim to accompany the government in helping Cambodia transition from a least-developed country to a lower-middle income country,” she said. “We believe firmly that democracy is also a condition for transitioning the social development scale.”



This year’s EU grant recipients

•    ActionAid,

•    CARE Osterreich,

•    Deutsche Welle,

•    Fishery Action Coalition Team,

•    Gruppo di Volontariato Civile,

•    Handicap International,

•    NGO Education Partnership,

•    People in Need,

•    People Center for Development and Peace,

•    Redd Barna,

•    Voluntary Services Overseas.