The NGO-fund worth 1,7 million Euro was established in Slovenia in January 2008 through the support from EEA Grants. Both Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway contribute to the EEA Grants, whereas a total amount of 18,5 million Euro is given to Slovenian projects, including the NGO-fund.
At the City Museum each of the 21 winners of the NGO-fund presented their projects and they described what they would use the given money on. All of them showed huge gratitude for the large amount of money given to them through the NGO-fund.
The NGO-fund is given to various voluntary organisations. It focuses on cultural heritage conservation, health and child care, development of human resources and protection of the environment and sustainable development. Of the 21 projects 7 of them have partners in Norway and one of them on Iceland.
Non-governmental organisations are an important component of a democratic society and they are necessary to give a special attention and support for their work. The NGO-fund is not only a financial contribution but an excellent opportunity for cooperation between the donor states and recipients. The bilateral relations between Slovenia and Norway have strenghtened considerably since 2004 mainly because of the EEA Grants.
Later this spring new guidelines for the next round of the EEA Grants (2009-14) will be given, and new Slovenian projects can apply for new grants.