Special Allocations
NGO Block Grant

Latvian NGOs (working in the social sector for the benefit of the mentioned groups)

After Latvia's accession to the EU, foreign support for NGOs has been significally reduced – but needs especially in the social sector are still immense. Analysing funding possibilities for Latvian NGOs and the relevant national / EU strategies, two target groups were identified for the Swiss NGO Fund: Children/youth and elderly people. Children and young people still have limited opportunities to spend their leisure time valuably. Violence among children, at home and at school is an important problem. Elderly people are subject of a high risk of poverty with difficulties to pay for housing, health-care and transport or to participate in leisure time activities.

The NGO fund aims at increasing the life quality of children, young people and elderly people. Therefore, the fund supports NGOs working in the benefit of these groups. Partnerships with public / municipal institutions and with Swiss NGOs contribute to reach the goal.

The Society Integration Foundation (SIF) administers the Fund, organizing one open call for the sub-project implementers. SIF is responsible for the granting mechanism and the monitoring of the NGO projects. External financial audits are done for the NGO fund after two years and at the end of its implementation.

• Established and implemented effective NGO fund management system (including open call, information activities, selection of NGO projects, trainings and consultations);
• Implemented 50 NGO projects (20 of them in partnership with Latvian municipalities / public bodies resp. Swiss NGOs) in the benefit of total at least 1000 persons.