This round of funding also marked the start of the three-year mandate period of the expert group. Chair of the funding meeting, Rasha Shaaban, notes that the decision-making process went smoothly, with some interesting discussions. Applications with a broad geographical representation from across the Nordic Region were given priority.
“Overall, we received several good applications and look forward to more applications from Åland, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland in the coming rounds. Among the applications that were granted funding are projects that aim to have a long-term impact on society,” explains Rasha.
Civil society is needed to deliver on Vision 2030
Demos was established by the Nordic Council of Ministers to strengthen Nordic civil society co-operation as part of the Nordic governments’ shared vision to make the Nordic Region the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030. The Nordic dimension of the projects and how they relate to social, ecological, and economic sustainability were therefore criteria that the experts scrutinised particularly closely.
“We discussed at length diversity, minority issues, and how Demos can support young people. In particular, we talked about the dialogue between young people and politicians,” says Rasha.
Her general advice to applicants is to focus on the budget:
“A good and clear budget is a must for a project to be granted funding,” says Rasha.
Examples of projects awarded funding
The expert group wanted to reach a broad sector of civil society, and granted funding to the following projects:
- Læti! Félagasamtök’s Rock Camp Greenland project brings together musicians from Iceland, Norway, Canada, and Greenland for a five-day rock camp in Sisimiut, Greenland to empower female, non-binary, and trans young people through music. The camp promotes creativity, self-confidence, and Nordic co-operation before culminating in a concert.
- The Future of Nordic Journalism project by the Nordic Journalism Centre (NJC) focuses on the future of Nordic journalism and aims to strengthen the ability of Nordic journalists to cover current pan-Nordic issues such as climate, defence, and security for the benefit of the region’s citizens.
- The Sail For Democracy project, organised by the Youth 2030 Movement, brings together young people from Sweden, Finland, and Åland. On board a ship, young people discuss common challenges and approaches to youth empowerment. Decision-makers gather for workshops in the ports.
The application window for the next round of Demos funding will open in August.
See all the projects that received funding in this round here!