Seventeen organisations benefit from EU grants

The CSOs received support totaling TT$5 million to implement three projects. This was the first time the delegation has engaged with so many CSOs simultaneously, and with such a large purse.

The CSOs received their grants at a recent ceremony at Sagicor Financial Centre, Queen’s Park West, Port-of-Spain.

The projects included strengthening civil society engagement in a more environmentally sustainable, socially just, inclusive, accountable and resilient model of development and governance in TT; a sexual culture of justice: LGBTQI and GBV partnerships, capacity and efficacy to promote and protect rights in TT; cultural rights to foster respect for human rights and freedoms against gender-based violence and LGBTI discrimination.

These projects were being funded under two thematic budget line allocations which were geared towards supporting civil society actions – the CSO/Local Authorities and the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights.

EU head of delegation Aad Biesebroek acknowledged the work being done by CSOs in TT, saying this additional support was in recognition of the key role they played in the advancement of human rights and development.

“We are encouraged by the commitment of these groups to come together to achieve their common goals,” Biesebroek said.

Biesebroek said he observed that most CSOs stood out thanks to their capacity and passion to reach out, empower, represent and defend vulnerable and socially excluded groups and trigger social innovation.

The EU proposed an enhanced and more strategic approach in its engagement with these groups, including requesting that they form consortiums to implement their proposed projects.