The Transition Promotion Program, established in 2005, is a democracy assistance financial instrument of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. This program aims to support democracy and human rights, using the Czech Republic’s experience with the social transition and democratization.

The Czech Republic is also one of the founding members of the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC), a community of states that proactively advocate for media freedom, the safety of journalists and media workers, and speak out against impunity for those who attack journalists or prevent them from practicing their profession.

Local Transition Projects (LTP) are one of the instruments of the transition promotion program of the Czech Republic. Projects are identified by the respective Embassies of the Czech Republic (through applications submitted by potential implementers) and approved by the headquarters - Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs (CZ MFA).

In Armenia, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Yerevan manages the grants program, while local organizations (e.g. NGOs) implement the projects. The foreseen budget per project is 100 000 - 500 000 CZK (roughly 4 000 - 20 000 EUR).

Please, read all the instructions below thoroughly before applying.

 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• The applicant must be a registered local subject with legal personality in Armenia, whose basic activity is not profit making.
• Implementer must be eligible to sign a contract with the CZ MFA that establishes jurisdiction of Czech laws and Czech courts.
• Czech financial contribution per project is 100,000 CZK – 500,000 CZK (co-financing from other sources is desirable), the budget must not exceed this amount. Most of the awarded projects receive about 350 000 CZK for funding. We strongly encourage you not to aim at the highest possible threshold of funding.
• We also strongly encourage you to limit personnel and travel expenses, because exaggerated expenditures for salaries and travel reduce chances for funding.
• Funds are allocated to non-political and non-governmental groups only. The implementing organization should be a local Armenian NGO. For-profit (business) companies, universities or state institutions can not apply.

 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• In line with the Human rights and Transition Promotion Policy Concept of the Czech Republic, project proposals should focus on the following topics:
• - Civil society – support to civil society including human rights defenders.
• - Information – support freedom of speech, access to information, media freedom and independence.
• - Participation – promotion of citizens’ involvement in public decision-making processes at all levels (local, regional, national).
• - Rule of law / legal state – support the development of democratic institutions. 
• - Equality – support equality and non-discrimination. 
• - Support to human rights in connection with employment and/or environment issues.
• Only in case of projects aimed at supporting independent media: projects can be aimed at direct support to proven media outlets that adhere to the basic principles of editorial independence and are facing a difficult financial situation. The projects should focus in particular on the direct support of these media, rather than on strengthening the professional capacity of journalists, which should already be significant and guaranteed at the chosen media outlet. The project may also focus, for example, on media education, including fight against disinformation. The support can take place either indirectly through cooperation with a local NGO, or in the form of direct cooperation with the respective media outlet.
• Each applicant may submit only one proposal.

 

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

• Formal requirements.
• Human Rights relevance of the project to Armenia’s needs and priorities. More sophisticated projects have a higher chance of success.
• Cost effectiveness and efficiency (including amount of co-financing).
• Feasibility and sustainability of project results.
• Effectiveness of project results, logic of the project.

 

IMPLEMENTATION:

• Implementation of the project can be started only after signing the contract (expected in March 2025).
• Project implementation must not exceed October 31, 2025 (project billing must also be done by this date).
• The financial amount approved for the implementation of the project in CZK is also binding for the conversion into foreign currency.
• Tangible assets of the project should be marked with the logo of Czech Transition Promotion Program. In the case of a project's intangible assets, it is always necessary to mention the financial support of the Czech Transition Promotion Program.
• The transfer of funds between items in the approved identification form must be justified in writing to Embassy and described in the final report.

 

TERMINATION:

• The project implementer is obliged to submit a written final project report, including financial report to the Embassy no later than one month after the end of the project,
• The photo documentation of the project outcomes has to be attached to the final report by the implementer.

 

HOW TO APPLY:

Application package must be delivered in both electronic AND paper versions.

The electronic application must include:

• 1. Identification form filled in English - typed on a computer, saved in Excel format (.xls/.xlsx).
• 2. Copy of the certificate of legal registration of the applicant (legal person) - scan, saved in PDF format (.pdf).

 

The paper application must include:

• 1. Identification form filled in English - typed on a computer, printed, stamped and signed by the authorized person.
• 2. Copy of the certificate of legal registration of the applicant (legal person).

 

Submission terms: In order to be considered eligible, the application must be delivered before the deadline both electronically and in hard copy.

Step 1 - electronic submission: The electronic application must be delivered by e-mail to yerevan@mzv.gov.cz using subject line "Local Transition Project proposal 2025."

Step 2 - hard copy submission: The paper application must be delivered physically to the Czech Embassy, Nalbandyan 48/1, Yerevan in a sealed envelope labelled "Local Transition Project proposal 2025."

Failure to submit the proposal with budget in CZK will result in automatic rejection of your application.

No other annexes than the Identification Form and the Copy of the certificate of legal registration are required! Submission of other unnecessary documents will result in automatic rejection of your application.

The deadline for submission is Thursday October 24, 2024 at 14:00. Every application will be registered; the Embassy will not confirm the submission of individual applications. Applications submitted/delivered after the deadline will not be considered.

 

 

Indicative exchange rate between AMD and CZK valid for October 2024 is as follows:

1 AMD = 0,06 CZK (i.e. 100000 AMD = 6000 CZK)