Erasmus Capacity Building – Everything You Need To Know

Erasmus Capacity Building Projects – your opportunity!

• Have you ever thought that you have so many ideas in the field of youth, but lack of resources to implement them?
• Have you ever wanted to significantly improve the skills of your organisation members or youth you work with?
• Have you ever considered strengthening your work methods (by introducing new approaches)?
• Have you ever been looking for ways to learn the good practices of other countries? 
• Have you ever wanted to go abroad and share the knowledge (skills) with your colleagues from all over the world?

If you answered (some of the) questions YES, you should consider involving your organisation in Erasmus capacity building projects in the field of youth. More information – below.

What is a Erasmus capacity building (CBY) project?

It is an international project which aims to promote cooperation and mobility activities between Programme Countries and Partner Countries that will have a positive and long term impact. Such project lasts from 9 to 24 months.

Good example: ‘2nd Chance’ Erasmus capacity building project.

Within a CBY Project you can find:

1. Capacity Building Activities

Main aims: enhance abilities of youth workers, support development of youth work, strengthen youth cooperation. Examples: Conferences, workshops, meetings, games, round tables, large-scale youth events, seminars, development of youth work methods, tools, materials, training modules, Youthpass, awareness campaigns, communication schemes, etc.

2. Mobility Activities

Main aims: foster exchange of good practices, equip participants with new skills. Examples: Youth Exchanges, Volunteering activities, Mobility of Youth Workers

Benefits to take part in a Erasmus capacity building project:

• Financial support to your organisation/activities;
• Opportunity to learn good practices from other organisations (based in Europe and other continents);
• Boosted skills of your employees/beneficiaries;
• Development of cultural awareness;
• Gaining new knowledge & experience;
• Improvement of foreign language skills.

What funds are available for CBY projects?

Maximum grant: 150.000 EUR. It covers:

• Maximum 80% of the estimated real costs (20% of your own funding is needed)’
• 100% of the mobility activities.

Budget = combination of unit (mobility) costs and estimated real costs.

What are the criteria used to assess an Erasmus capacity building project?

1. The applicant can be any public or private organisation active in the education, training and youth fields or the socio-economic sectors. That means, the organisation can apply for a capacity-building project if it is:

• Non-profit organisation, association, NGO; 
• National Youth Council;
• Public bodies at local, regional or national level.

2. Organisation must have been legally registered for at least one year.

3. Organisation  (and every potential project partner organisation) needs to have/obtain PIC number. It can be obtained here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/how-to-participate/participant-register

Looking for a way to stand out with your PIF? Read this post.

What countries can participate in CBY project?

The eligibility of individuals and organisations depends on the country in which they are based. Eligible countries are divided into two groups, Programme countries and Partners countries.

Programme Countries: EU Member States + Turkey; Republic of North Macedonia; Iceland; Liechtenstein; Norway; Serbia. Organisations from these countries can be leading the CBY projects. 

Partner countries: Regions 5 to 14 ACPALA, Caribbean; Pacific; Asia; America; Africa; Industrialised countries (for the list, see pages 175-190 and pages 22-24 of the Programme guide: https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/resources/programme-guide_en). If your country falls within one of those regions, your organisation can be a partner in CBY project.

Who can be partners in a CBY project?

Examples:

• NGO’s
• a school/institute/educational center; 
• a social partner or other representatives of working life, including chambers of commerce; 
• craft/professional associations and trade unions; 
• a higher education institution; 
• a research institute; 
• a foundation; 
• an inter-company training centre; 
• a cultural organisation, library, museum.

If your organisation’s type is one of those mentioned above, you can be a partner in CBY project.

How to find someone who is looking for CBY project partners?

1. https://www.salto-youth.net/tools/otlas-partner-finding/
2. http://eupartnersearch.com/Default.aspx
3. https://epale.ec.europa.eu/lt/partner-search
4. Facebook, LinkedIn. There are different groups called “Erasmus + partners” (and similar). Here you can not only see the posts of organisations which are looking for potential partners of CBY projects, but also promote your organisation and express a wish to become partners in one of such projects.

Check our blog post on how to find a reliable Erasmus+ partner here.

How does submitting an Erasmus Capacity Building Application work?

1. The applicant and all partners must have a PIC number issued through the registration on the Participant Portal: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/how-to-participate/participant-register
2. The application form has to be filled-in and submitted (in one of the EU official languages). eForm can be downloaded here: https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/PPMT/)
3. There is a list of compulsory annexes/attachments: 

• Detailed Description of the Project (here you have to describe in detail your project necessity, goal, objectives, expected impact and other matters);
• Declaration on honour;
• Timetable for each planned activity (e.g. mobility of youth workers);
• Budget.

Templates of annexes: https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus/funding/capacity-building-in-field-youth-2020_en

Deadlines

A capacity-building project can be submitted only once a year. It is usually January/February. This year, the deadline is: 05/02/2020, 5 pm CET (Brussels time). The results are to be expected approx. 6 months after the submission of the application.

Do you have any questions? Contact us (hi@akt.lt) & we will gladly have a chat with you.

Looking for a partner? Consider us – see our PIF (it’s safe to say we have considerable experience and expertise).