Making an application

Besides application to the EAF as described below, we herewith would like to inform you that for organisations from Ukraine, the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Croatia, currently there is also a possibility to apply to the Dutch Government Service for Land and Water Management (DLG), which in cooperation with the EAF is implementing a project aiming at the realisation of PEEN via land purchase/lease action. The deadline for proposal submission to the DLG is the 1st of April 2008. More information on the terms for this application

Application to the EAF

Before making you application, please read the description of the types of projects which are supported. If you think that your organisation qualifies for a subsidy from EAF, please download the application form . The secretariat will guide the applicant during the application process to ensure that the information provided is correct and provide the Board with the material that is needed in order to reach a decision.

• Deadlines for proposals are: the 1st of March 2008 and the 1st of August 2008
• Applicants are advised to firstly send a brief description of the proposed project: 2 to 3 pages. This will give EAF the possibility to see if the proposal fits with the criteria before investing your time in writing a full proposal.

Necessary documents for proposal submission:

• All applications must be supported by a letter of support from a regional or national government
• Five copies of the application form must be submitted together with: a general map of the country showing the location of the project area, a detailed map of the project area, and photographs or slides of the area
• A copy of the annual report of the applicant organisation

The decision-making process

When completed to the satisfaction of the secretariat, the application is passed to the Board for a decision. All funding for a project, even those that may take several years, are fully financed in the year of application. The Board may accept an application as submitted or conditional upon other information being provided. In some cases, the Board may demand changes, including budgetary ones, to the proposal. Of course, the Board may also reject some proposals.

Following approval

Once a decision has been reached on a project, the secretariat writes to the applicant with the result. If the project has been accepted for funding, the applicant is sent a contract. The contract lays down all the conditions required of the applicant in relation to the proposal submitted. Each action funded by the EAF is specially assisted and monitored by one of the EAF partners which acts as liaison organisation with the group carrying out the action.

Every six months, the applicant must submit a progress report, and after twelve months a financial report of the year's activities must be sent to the secretariat. The remaining twenty per cent of the allocated money is forwarded to the applicant in the final year of the project upon satisfactory submission of all reports. On completion of the project, it is expected that each applicant will submit a final financial statement which is a legal requirement for the Fund.