Imħabbra għajnuna finanzjarja għall-għaqdiet volontarji biex jipparteċipaw fuq skala Ewropea u internazzjonali

Il-Kunsill Malti għas-Settur tal-Volontarjat (MCVS), permezz tal-Ministeru għall-Inklużjoni, il-Volontarjat u d-Drittijiet tal-Konsumatur, għadu kif ħabbar il-Fond għas-Soċjetà Ċivili (Civil Society Fund) 2023, li hija għajnuna finanzjarja bil-għan li tiġi ffaċilitata l-parteċipazzjoni tal-għaqdiet volontarji f’fora Ewropea u internazzjonali. Dan jinkludi kollaborazzjoni ma’ għaqdiet barranin, inkluż sħubija f’assoċjazzjonijiet, networks u konfederazzjonijiet, attendenza f’konferenzi u laqgħat, u kif ukoll taħriġ fuq dimensjoni Ewropea.

Il-baġit ta’ din is-sena għal dan il-fond huwa ta’ €125,000, fejn fi tmien snin, minn meta beda s’issa, ġew allokati għalih aktar minn miljun ewro. Kull applikazzjoni sottomessa tista’ tieħu sa massimu ta’ €6,000, sa massimu ta’ 80% tal-ispejjeż eliġibbli. L-għaqdiet volontarji jistgħu japplikaw billi jżuru s-sit elettroniku vofunding.org.mt. L-applikazzjonijiet ser jintlaqgħu mit-Tnejn 17 ta’ Lulju sa nofsinhar tal-Ħamis 7 ta’ Settembru 2023.

Matul l-attività l-MCVS ħabbret ukoll pjattaforma diġitali fejn il-proġetti kollha approvati u li jingħataw fondi mill-Kunsill ser ikunu jistgħu jiġu segwiti b’mod dejjem aktar strutturat, trasparenti u anki simplifikat għall-għaqdiet. S’issa l-pjattaforma diġitali kienet għall-fażi tas-sottomissjoni tal-applikazzjonijiet, u allura issa din ser tkun qed tiġi estiża għat-tul kollu tal-proġett inkluż sal-fażi tar-rappurtar u dokumentazzjoni neċessarja sabiex jingħalaq b’suċċess kull proġett.

Waqt l-attività li fiha tħabbar il-fond, il-Ministru għall-Inklużjoni, il-Volontarjat u d-Drittijiet tal-Konsumatur Julia Farrugia Portelli, saħqet kif il-Gvern qed jinvesti aktar fit-tisħiħ tal-ħiliet tar-riżorsa umana tal-għaqdiet volontarji Maltin u Għawdxin. Il-Ministru Farrugia Portelli saħqet li huwa kruċjali li l-għaqdiet volontarji jimpenjaw ruħhom u jikkollaboraw b’mod attiv ma’ organizzazzjonijiet oħra, mhux biss fil-livell lokali iżda wkoll fil-kuntest Ewropew. Dan l-impenn jiżgura li dawn l-għaqdiet ikollhom vuċi fid-diskussjonijiet Ewropej li jappartjenu għall-oqsma tal-kompetenza tagħhom.

Is-Sinjura Gertrude Buttigieg, Chairperson tal-Kunsill, qalet “Din hi skema popolari mal-għaqdiet, fejn għal ħafna minnhom il-livell Ewropew huwa mezz ta’ kif jimirħu u anki jkunu minn ta’ quddiem f’fora internazzjonali ma’ kollegi u peers minn pajjiżi differenti. Dan anki jgħinhom isaħħu l-ħiliet tal-organizzazzjonijiet rispettivi tagħhom u joħolqilhom opportunitajiet ġodda, inkluż fondi Ewropej”.

Is-Sur Mauro Pace Parascandalo, Kap Eżekuttiv tal-Kunsill, stqarr li, “Apparti dan il-fond, qed inħabbru wkoll l-estensjoni tal-pjattaforma diġitali, li hija riżultat tax-xogħol kontinwu tal-kunsill sabiex ikollna sistemi dejjem aktar simplifikati u ċari għall-għaqdiet li japplikaw b’suċċess u allura jkunu qed jimmaniġġjaw il-fondi li jingħataw. Fil-ġimgħat li ġejjin, ser inkunu qed nikkomunikaw magħhom ħalli nispjegaw is-sistema kif ser taħdem fid-dettall”.

L-iskema ta’ finanzjament tas-Civil Society Fund (CSF) hija inizjattiva mmexxija mill-Kunsill Malti għas-Settur tal-Volontarjat fi ħdan il-Ministeru għall-Inklużjoni, il-Volontarjat u d-Drittijiet tal-Konsumatur. Aktar informazzjoni tista’ tinkiseb fuq vofunding.org.mt.

Financial assistance announced that helps voluntary organisations participate at international level

The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS), through the Ministry for Inclusion, Voluntary Organisations and Consumer Rights, announced the Civil Society Fund (CSF) 2023, which is financial assistance with the aim of facilitating European and international participation amongst voluntary organisations. This includes collaborations with foreign associations, including membership in associations, networks and confederations, attending conferences and meetings, as well as training related to European programmes.

The budget for this year’s funds is €125,000, where in eight years, since it began, more than €1 million has been allocated to the fund. Every application submitted can be given up to a maximum of €6,000, up to a maximum of 80% of the eligible expenses. Voluntary associations can apply by visiting the website www.vofunding.org.mt. The applications will be available from Monday 17th July to noon on Thursday 7th September 2023.

During a launch activity, MCVS also announced a digital platform where all the projects approved and funded by the Council will be able to be monitored in a more structured, transparent, and even simplified manner for associations. Until now the digital platform has been used for submitting applications, but it will be extended for the entire duration of the project, including the reporting and documentation phase necessary to successfully close each project.

Minister for Inclusion, Voluntary Organisations and Consumer Rights Julia Farrugia Portelli emphasised how the Government is investing more in strengthening the skills of the human resources in Maltese and Gozitan voluntary organisations. Minister Farrugia Portelli emphasised that it is crucial that voluntary organisations commit themselves and actively collaborate with other organisations, not only at a local level but also on a European level. This commitment assures that these associations will have a voice in European discussions which belong within their areas of competence.

Gertrude Buttigieg, Chairperson of the Council, said: “This is a popular scheme with organisations, where for many of them the European level is a means of thriving and also being at the forefront in international forums with colleagues and peers from different countries. This also helps them strengthen the skills of their respective organisations and create new opportunities, including European funds.”

Mauro Pace Parascandalo, Chief Executive of the Council, stated: “Apart from these funds, we are also announcing an extension of the digital platform, which is a result of the continual work of the council to have an ever simplified and transparent system for voluntary organisations which successfully apply and are then able to manage the funds they are given. In the coming weeks, we will be communicating with them to explain how the system will work in more detail.”

The Civil Society Fund is an initiative by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector within the Ministry for Inclusion, Voluntary Organisations and Consumer Rights. More information can be found on www.vofunding.org.mt.