Creative Force Middle East and North Africa
The Creative Force Middle East and North Africa Program is part of Sweden’s strategy for development cooperation with the Middle East and North Africa (see the link Strategy MENA in the right hand column), the overarching objectives of which are stronger democracy and greater respect for human rights; and sustainable development that improves conditions for peace, stability and freedom in the region.
The program is financed under the Swedish Government’s Special Initiative for Democratization and Freedom of Expression, administrated by Sida (see the link Strategy Democratization and Freedom of Expression in the right hand column).
Program objectives
Creative Force Middle East and North Africa aims to promote freedom of speech and the development of democratic structures, with particular emphasis on women’s rights. These aims shall be achieved via mutual learning processes and sustainable networks between actors in the fields of culture, media and related sectors in Sweden and the program countries listed below.
More specifically, the program is intended to help achieve one or more of the following objectives:
- Enhanced mutual, capacity-building processes and sustainable networks between actors who use culture and other creative tools to promote a greater awareness of democratic values and human rights.
- Improved opportunities for freedom of opinion and expression through greater access to the means of cultural and artistic expression.
- Greater access to information and the right to communicate through the creation of new arenas and forms of communication.
- Greater equality and non-discrimination by means of approaches that promote cultural diversity and human rights.
SI will give precedence to projects with a communicative dimension which possess the potential for wider dissemination and which will help to shape opinion and encourage discussion of the issues raised. SI gives special priority to activities which create greater space for exchanges of opinion.
Program countries
Creative Force Middle East and North Africa is available for collaborative initiatives between Sweden and Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank/Gaza and Yemen.
Projects may be carried out in Sweden and/or in one or more of the program countries. Priority will be given to initiatives that are carried out in program countries and to regional collaborations.
Funding will normally not be granted to projects to be carried out in countries or regions which the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs advises against visiting. SI advises all Swedish partners who have been granted funding to follow the Travel recommendations of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (see the link Travel information in the right-hand column).
Target group
The primary target group for Creative Force funding are actors for change and opinion-makers in the fields of culture, media and related sectors. These should work with creative processes which will help to achieve the program objectives. Examples of these are representatives of the cultural sector who work to promote basic democratic values and human rights, representatives of independent journalism/media and new forms of communication, opinion-makers and defenders of women’s rights.
The final beneficiaries of Creative Force initiatives are groups/individuals whose circumstances are characterized by lack of respect for human rights and freedoms. Creative Force has a special focus on women, children, young people and minorities.
Eligible applicants
Applicants may be civil society organisations, foundations, public sector agencies, private sector agencies or other professional actors. Private individuals may not apply for funding under the program.
It is always the Swedish partner in a collaboration who is formally responsible for the application and legally accountable vis-à-vis the Swedish Institute. The application should, however, be formulated jointly by both/all the partners.
Types of funding and duration
Creative Force Middle East and North Africa offers two types of assistance:
- Seed funding is available for such purposes as contact visits, exchanges of experts and planning trips. The maximum duration is 12 months from application deadline. The maximum amount that can be applied for is SEK 100,000.
- Funding for Collaborative projects is available for initiatives with a maximum duration of 24 months from the application deadline. Sums that can be applied is in the range SEK 100,000 − SEK 300,000/year (maximum SEK 600,000). For project that runs for more than 12 months, approved interim reports are required for the disbursement of additional funds.
Please address any enquiries about the program Creative Force Middle East and North Africa to Jesper Werner +46-(0)8-453 79 63.