Life+ Information & Communication
Overview
LIFE+ Information & Communication will co-finance projects that implement communication and awareness raising campaigns on environmental, nature protection or biodiversity conservation issues, as well as projects related to forest fire prevention (awareness raising, special training). The maximum co-financing rate will be 50%.
Such campaigns should primarily be national or transnational, and should be linked to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental policy and legislation.
LIFE+ will have a total budget of roughly €300 million per year during the 2007-2013 period.
LIFE+ Information & Communication also aims at contributing to forest fire prevention and suppression within the EU. Special training for agents involved in forest fire prevention and awareness raising campaigns for rural populations affected by forest and woodland fires can therefore be considered for funding under this heading.
LIFE+ Information & Communication aims to:
- Implement communicate and use awareness raising campaigns on environmental, nature protection or biodiversity conservation issues
- Raising awareness for forest fire prevention
- Special training for agents involved in forest fire prevention
Focuses on:
- Ensuring regular and effective information flow to provide the basis for policy decisions on the environment, and to provide accessible information to citizens on the state and trends of the environment
- Disseminating information, raising awareness and develop specific skills on environmental issues, including forest fire prevention
- Co-financing for projects 50% (maximum
There is no fixed minimum project budget size. But the EC does seem to favour the co-financing of large, ambitious LIFE+ proposals with a substantial budget, with the average grant awarded been in excess of € 1 million.
There is NO pre-determined project duration for a LIFE+ project. Be aware it must be long enough to complete all actions and objectives set out in the project plan. Therefore most projects last 2-5 years and for the 2010 call, the Commission has indicated that it would favour proposals dealing with halting the loss of biodiversity.
Funding
The overall budget for LIFE+ 2007 - 2013 across the EU is €2.143 billion. At least 50 %of this amount shall be allocated to measures to support the conservation of nature and biodiversity. The UK Budget over the lifetime of the LIFE+ Programme is €20 million.
Eligibility
- Only the EU 27 countries are eligible at present, although third country participation is possible later
- LIFE+ is open to all legal persons, public or private, commercial or non-commercial, that are legally established in the EU.
- Project proposals can either be submitted by a single entity or a partnership from one or more of the 27 member states of the EU.
- Member States are responsible for forwarding all project proposals to the Commission, setting national priorities and objectives
How to apply
Registered organisations within the European Union will be encouraged to bid for a slice of the funding. They include:
- Local authorities;
- Other public bodies;
- Private commercial organisations;
- Private non-commercial organisations, including NGOs.
Applications to the programme will be invited in the form of an annual call for proposals from the European Commission. For more information information, and access to the various application guides and draft papers, please visit the following link: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm
Defra, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has contracted Beta Technology Limited to provide a national contact point service to assist organisations and individuals to access LIFE+ funding. The web link below provides information about the LIFE+ programme, together with an outline of the assistance available to help you with your application.