Agents for Citizen-Driven Transformation (EU ACT)

Specific Objective 1: To strengthen civic engagement in public policy formulation, sectorial reform and public financial management.

Expected Results:

• Complement EU sectoral programmes on health/nutrition/resilience (NIP focal sector 1) for improved, regular and meaningful engagement of civil society with relevant stakeholders in public policy and institutional reform processes;
• Complement EU sectoral programmes on energy (NIP focal sector 2) for improved, regular and meaningful engagement of civil society with relevant stakeholders in public policy and institutional reform processes;
• Increased engagement of civil society in budgetary and public finance management processes at all levels so as to ensure citizen driven outcomes within the NIP focal sectors;
• Improved civil society engagement on trade policy formulation and competition policy.

Specific Objective 2: To strengthen the capacity of civil society actors to be more effective drivers of change.

Expected Results:

• Organisational capacities of civil society actors strengthened, especially governance, accountability structures, internal control, accounting systems, as well as project management;
• Financial sustainability of civil society actors strengthened through knowledge of and access to a varied stream of fund-raising mechanisms including alternative business models and engagement with private sector actors; 
• Civil society actors better able to contribute to policy reform processes in an effective way through strengthening of dialogue, lobbying and advocacy skills;
• Capacities of civil society actors at the grassroots level through mentoring, seed grants, etc., are built.

Specific Objective 3: To enhance civil society credibility, transparency and accountability.

Expected results:

• A more effective, simplified and stream-lined regulatory framework resulting from multi-stakeholder dialogue is developed;
• Civil society is better informed and more compliant with requirements under the resulting regulatory framework (both internal and external regulations);
• Enhanced self-regulation of civil society, which makes for more credible actors and environment.

Specific Objective 4: To promote civil society driven innovation and reform initiatives in the focal sectors and states of the 11th EDF.

Expected results:

• Innovative models of service delivery established;
• Innovative public-private partnership and corporate social responsibility initiatives identified and promoted;
• Strategic grassroots and state level small-scale initiatives emerging under the focal states and sectors identified and promoted;
• Enhanced support for strategic measures to civil society on trade policy formulation and competition policy initiatives. 

Main Accomplishments to date:

• The Financing Agreement was signed in April 2018.
• The programme will be implemented by the British Council. A PAGoDA is being signed with the British Council to implement an inception phase from July-December 2018. The objective of the inception phase is to provide a clear strategic approach and programme design to achieve the overall programme objectives.

Source of funds: 11th EDF

Total budget (EUR):  15M

Implementing period:  5 years (2018-2023)                              

Implementing agency:  British Council               

Geographical region: Nationwide