Posted On: March 29th, 2024

The CSOsAct4Dev Project aims to strengthen Bhutanese CSOs as independent actors of good governance and development in order to contribute to an inclusive, participatory, empowered, and independent civil society. The Project is funded by the European Union and is co-funded and implemented by Helvetas Bhutan and Bhutan Media Foundation (BMF).

In this regard, under the Project’s Grant Fund Facility, Helvetas Bhutan and BMF invite grant project proposals from CSOs, CBOs and groups/networks of CSOs under the following categories:

1. Socio-economic empowerment initiatives for vulnerable groups, especially women, youth, Persons with Disabilities and the LGBTQI+ community (and groups whose vulnerabilities have been worsened by COVID-19) in pursuing advocacy actions and/or sustainable social enterprises.
2. Sustainable revenue models under: a) innovative ideas to enhance revenue sources for CSOs or b) public-private partnerships.
3. Research applicable to the Bhutan CSO context that could contribute to policy advocacy.

Eligible activities may include events, studies and research, publications, panel discussions, media engagement, and other initiatives that are clearly aimed at meeting objectives under the core categories.

Applicants may apply for grants with a floor level funding of EURO 5,000 and a ceiling of EURO 10,000. The implementation period for grants shall be for a minimum period of 3 months and a maximum period of 18 months.

Project proposals can be submitted in either English or Dzongkha and must follow the grant application formats available at http://www.csogrant.bt. Proposals that do not follow the outline of the application formats and that are received after the deadline will not be accepted. The project proposal shall be accompanied by:

–           A valid certificate of registration for CSOs

–           A letter of recommendation from the head of a relevant statutory agency and/or the Gup (elected county head) in the community/county/district for CBOs

Soft copies of applications shall either be emailed to csogrant@helvetas.org OR hard copies sent via post to:

HELVETAS Bhutan

P.O. Box 157, Changangkha

11001 Thimphu, Bhutan

Phone +975 2 32 28 70

The last date for the submission of proposals is 30^th April 2024, 5 pm BST, after which proposals shall not be considered. For further details on the Grant Fund Facility including eligible entities, assessment criteria and areas of support kindly refer the Grant Fund Guideline.