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, 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. 

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 10^th of October. The questions received by the deadline and answers to them were published on 17^th 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 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)

For questions related to the identification at the service, please contact the customer service of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency

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) (unofficial translation in English) 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

Government Report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy submitted to Parliament

Report on International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation submitted to Parliament

Government of Finland Report on Human Rights Policy

Guidelines of the Finnish Foreign Service for Supporting Human Rights Defenders

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

Results Based Management (RBM) in Finland's Development Policy : Managing for Sustainable Development Results - Guiding Document

Finland’s policy on the prevention and elimination of sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment in development cooperation and humanitarian assistance

Ministry's Guidance note on the prevention and elimination of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in development cooperation and humanitarian assistance