EPIM Rolling Call for Proposals ‘Seizing opportunities to advise European asylum policies and practices’

This call for proposals is currently closed.

The latest suspensions of the right to asylum in multiple Member States in the framework of Covid-19 protection measures show once more that European asylum politics and practice move fast, especially in times of emergency. The design of EU asylum policies as well as their implementation and translation (or lack thereof) into national, bilateral, regional and local policies and practices have direct impact on the lives of people who seek international protection.

Whether in emergency conditions or in regular times, civil society organisations at all levels play a key role as watchdogs, protectors of the rule of law and promoters of alternative policy approaches, based on their experience on the ground.

Through this Call for Proposals, EPIM aims to support (transnational) partnerships of civil society organisations active at EU, national, bilateral, regional and/or local levels. The support is for their efforts to seize (urgent) opportunities to advise European asylum policies and practices. In light of existing and future EU asylum law, policies, frameworks and human rights standards, projects should aim to:

promote feasible (evidence-based) alternatives; and/or
put forward thought-provoking ideas, and/or
react to policy proposals and practices to safeguard the right to asylum and prevent backtracking.

Proposed projects should contribute to ensure that all migrants are able to access European asylum systems that are humane, fair, effective and capable of offering protection.

This is a rolling Call for Proposals: eligible civil society organisations are invited to submit concept notes anytime for a maximum budget of 40,000 EUR and a maximum duration of 18 months.

How to submit your application

Concept notes can be submitted online at https://nef-europe.optimytool.com/en/ and will be reviewed every 3 months starting from 4 May 2020. In case the opportunity you intend to seize, the emergency and/or risks you intend to address are urgent and particularly time-sensitive, please feel free to indicate it in your concept note. Only shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit full applications.

You can find more details on how to apply in the following documents:

EPIM Guidelines for the submission of a concept note (PDF)
EPIM application form (PDF)

Please refer any questions you might have to EPIM Senior Programme Manager, Sophie Ngo-Diep at sophie.ngo-diep@epim.info.