SOCIAL INNOVATION AWARD 2021 - Call for applications

Carpathian Civil Society Platform is driven by the common vision to strengthen a vibrant, pluralistic, and rights-based civil society in the territory of the Carpathian Euroregion. The Platform supports collaboration among those civil society organizations who work for the most marginalized and vulnerable communities in the Carpathian Euroregion. It is aimed to strengthen the influence and weight of civil society by capacity development with creating networks for local and interregional networks, exchange of experience, knowledge and best practices of social innovation.

Civil societies are playing a pivotal role in reconfiguration of social practices (adaptation of models, changing current practices, introducing or scaling up methods) in response to socio-economical and ecological challenges aiming to improve the societal well-being of communities where they are active. To recognize the diverse efforts of CSOs in the Carpathians, the founding partners of the Carpathian Civil Society Platform, the Fundacja Brama Karpat, Poland, ETP Slovakia, Carpathian Foundation – Hungary and Carpathian Foundation – Ukraine launches the Social Innovation Award giving an opportunity to civil actors to introduce their community-based initiatives implemented within the last two years.

The Carpathian Civil Society Platform invites formal and non-formal civil society organizations from the Carpathian Euroregion to submit the description of their accomplished initiatives along the following topics:

mobilization of the social, cultural and economic potential of the community;
social inclusion and integration;
development of new social networks and social partnerships;
promotion of voluntary work in society;
collaboration and partnership among CSOs, local governments and businesses;
development of community philanthropy and social responsibility;
cross-border co-operation among CSOs, which contributed to local problem solving

The application should contain the following information:

brief introduction of the applicant’s organization /when it was established, main goals, activities etc.) (half page)
description of the challenge/issue/problem addressed by the innovation (1 page)
description of the process of the implementation of the innovation – how it was implemented (1 page)
the main achievements of the innovation / what has been achieved/ (1 page)
how the innovation will be sustained? What is the future of the innovation/what are the plans for the future (1 page)

Beside of the written application, we welcome photos, short video presentation related to the innovation.

Social Innovation Award prize

One winner will be awarded in each respected country. The Award ceremony will be held in the upcoming inter-regional event of the Platform, where the winners will have an opportunity to introduce their innovation. The organizers will publish a brochure with the descriptions of selected social innovations.

Criteria for eligibility

The applicants must be legally registered civil society organizations or not registered informal groups based and operating in the Carpathian Euroregion, namely:

Hungary: Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Hajdú-Bihar, Heves, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg and Nógrád counties

Poland: Lesser Poland Voivodeship (Malopolska), Podkarpathia voivodship

Slovakia: Kosice and Presov regions

Ukraine: Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv and Zakarpatska oblasts

Application outside of the above regions and branches of large NGOs are not eligible.

Proposal evaluation

Priority will be given to organizations operating in the rural areas of Carpathian Euroregion demonstrating clear bottom-up approach in their innovations and has tangible results.

A jury composed by the funding members of the Carpathian Civil Society Platform will evaluate the applications according to the following criteria (20% each):

relevant presentation and information on the background of the innovation why it was initiated
description of the main tangible results and impact of the innovation on the community; how it contributed to the long-term goals of the community
clear description of methods used during the realization of the project;
convincing explanation on the innovativeness of the project;
how the innovation can be sustained