The Regional Environmental Center provided small grants totaling 150,000 EUR to support 55 projects run by NGOs in 6 Central and Eastern European countries along the Danube River. The grants aimed to enable NGOs to contribute to pollution reduction, raise environmental awareness, and strengthen cooperation. Projects addressed issues like nature protection, water quality research and monitoring, and policymaking. However, high demand showed a need for more funding to support regional cooperation and address wider environmental issues in the Danube countries.

1. Danube Small Grants
Entela Pinguli
Grants Manager
THE REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
for Central and Eastern Europe

2. Danube Small Grants
What?
Small Grants for NGOs in 6 CEE countries of the
Danube Region which:
•Support activities with a local environmental impact
& contribute to pollution reduction;
•150,000 EUR available to 6 Countries ( app. 25,000
EUR per country and <5000 EUR per grant);
•Application in national language;
THE REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
for Central and Eastern Europe

3. Danube Small Grants
Objectives:
To support projects which:
• Enable NGOs to contribute to pollution
reduction;
• Reinforce NGO participation on community
based pollution measures and increase
awareness raising;
• Strengthen multi-stakeholder cooperation at
the national level.
THE REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
for Central and Eastern Europe

4. THE REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
for Central and Eastern Europe
Danube Small Grants
How ?
• Open announcement - published in 6 REC Bulletins;
• Competitive - open Call for Tender;
• Transparent decision making - independent expert panel
(LAB);
 Fair and open towards applicants - announced
evaluation criteria;
 NGO Service oriented - reflects the NGO situation
throughout grants management time;
 Well monitored on content and finances - good
reporting forms and clear procedures.

5. Danube Small Grants
THE REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
for Central and Eastern Europe
Results:
55 Small NGO projects successfully implemented in 6
countries dealing with the following issues:
•Nature protection of the Danube watershed - 17
projects
•Aspects of the Water quality research - 8 projects
•Awareness raising and promoting education - 24
projects
•Water quality monitoring - 3 projects
•Policy making - 3 projects

6. Danube Small Grants
THE REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
for Central and Eastern Europe
Lesson learned:
• There is a great NGO demand for support in order to contribute
to Danube Environmental development
- amount requested in 6 countries - 401 863 USD (98 prop)
- amount available awarded - 150 000 USD (56 %);
• The amount available for a grant impacts the type of the Project
and the environmental impact as well (Local, National or
Regional)/ hotspot approach;
• There is a need for
- addressing the region wide environmental issues;
- promoting NGO crossborder cooperation
- assessing the NGO needs in the Danube Countries
- supporting local authorities cooperating with NGOs

7. Danube Small Grants
THE REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
for Central and Eastern Europe
Lesson learned:
• There is a great NGO demand for support in order to contribute
to Danube Environmental development
- amount requested in 6 countries - 401 863 USD (98 prop)
- amount available awarded - 150 000 USD (56 %);
• The amount available for a grant impacts the type of the Project
and the environmental impact as well (Local, National or
Regional)/ hotspot approach;
• There is a need for
- addressing the region wide environmental issues;
- promoting NGO crossborder cooperation
- assessing the NGO needs in the Danube Countries
- supporting local authorities cooperating with NGOs