The Call for Proposals for International Non-governmental Organizations (INGOs)
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (MFA) announced a Call for government grant applications for International Non-governmental Organisations (INGOs) for support in Development Cooperation in the area of Human Rights in September 2024. This Call for Proposals targeted project applications for years 2025-2026 in the following thematic focus areas: Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination; Human Rights Defenders in Defence of Democracy; and Business and Human Rights.
Finland’s foreign and security policy is based on the rule of law, human rights, equality and democracy. Finland’s support to INGOs contributes to Finland's Government Programme, foreign policy, development policy and international human rights policy in sectors that are of strategic importance to Finland. Finland’s support to INGOs is guided by the goals and principles of Finland’s development policy in accordance with the goals of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.
The Call for government grant applications was organized at Applyforgrants.fi(Link to another website.), which is an online service for government grant applications administered by the State Treasury. The Call for government grant applications was open from Monday 30 September 2024 10.00 (Finnish time) until Monday 28 October 2024 23.59 HRS (Finnish time).
To apply for government grants and in order to handle other grant-related matters, you must log in to the Applyforgrants.fi service. Foreign applicants need to log in to the service as private individuals. Instructions on identification at the service can be found on suomi.fi-website(Link to another website.).
Inquiries
The government grant applicants had the opportunity to send questions related to e.g. the substantive focus, eligibility or criteria of the Call for government grant applications by 10th of October. The questions received by the deadline and answers to them were published on 17th October and are available through the following link: Questions and answers We encourage all prospective applicants to familiarize themselves with this document.
For questions related to the service and technical issues of the Applyforgrants.fi(Link to another website.) online service, please contact the Applyforgrants.fi customer service: tuki.haeavustuksia@valtiokonttori.fi. Customer service available by telephone Mon-Fri from 9:00 till 16:00 (Finnish time):
+358 295 50 3760.
Please see also: Guide for foreign applicants (pdf)(Link to another website.)
For questions related to the identification at the service, please contact the customer service of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency(Link to another website.)
Support to INGOs is discretionary government funding granted by the MFA and subject to annual parliamentary approval in Finland. The Act on Discretionary Government Transfers (Valtionavustuslaki 688/2001(Link to another website.)) (unofficial translation in English(Link to another website.)) is applied to all INGO support procedures and the use of the grant.
Relevant Links
An example of a agreement made between the Ministry and the Organisation receiving government grant
Finland's Government Programme(Link to another website.)
Government of Finland Report on Human Rights Policy(Link to another website.)
Theories of Change and Aggregate Indicators of Finland’s development policy
Human Rights-Based Approach in Finland's Development Cooperation
Cross-cutting objectives in development policy