Co-financing operations with European non-governmental development organisations (NGOs) in fields of interest to the developing countries

OBJECTIVE: to lay down procedures for the management of operations co-financed together with European NGOs in developing countries and in fields of interest to such countries (medium-term cooperation and development). SUBSTANCE: together with European NGOs, the Community co-finances operations designed to: . meet the basic direct needs of disadvantaged people in developing countries (operations proposed by NGOs and implemented together with their partners in the countries concerned), the aims being to alleviate poverty as well as enhancing the target group's quality of life and own development capacity; . sensitize and inform public opinion in Europe about the problems of developing countries; . reinforce cooperation and coordination among NGOs in the Member States and between them and the Community institutions. - Beneficiaries: all developing countries. - Agents of cooperation: all NGOs (non-profit-making organizations) which are properly constituted and have their headquarters in the same Member State and obtain the majority of their funding in Europe. Priority will be given to NGOs with a significant capacity to mobilize funding for development and with experience in this area. - Operations to be implemented: . development: essentially local social and economic development in rural and urban areas; development of human resources; institutional support for local partners. Particular attention will be given to the strengthening of civil society (promotion of human rights and democracy), women and sustainable development; . awareness enhancement: operations highlighting the interdependence between the European Community and developing countries, in a bid to mobilize support for more equitable North-South relations and to encourage cooperation between NGOs; . coordination: support for the development of exchange and communication networks. Community co-financing will cover investment and operational spending in foreign or local currency (including NGO administrative costs). NGOs will systematically encourage their local partners to contribute financially (or possibly in kind) according to their means. - Form of aid: non-repayable grants. - Decision-making procedure: the Commission will have sole responsibility for managing operations under the Regulation. - Information: an annual report must be submitted to the European Parliament and Council containing a summary of the operations financed in the course of the year, an evaluation of those operations, and general guidelines for the future (presentation of independent evaluations etc. where appropriate). - Budget: the financial statement makes provision for an amount of ECU 174 m in 1996 (this type of cooperation does not have a specific duration and is therefore renewed annually). �