The program is administrated by the Human Rights & Transition Policy Department that functions as a kind of  “implementing agency”. Its annual budget amounts to 2 mil EUR.

The majority of funds (roughly 90% of the annual budget) are distributed through a call for proposals scheme announced usually in autumn each ear. Successful applicants are notified before the end of the year so that the grantees have enough time to properly reflect evaluation committee’s comments and implement the project in time. Due to the Czech state budget regulation, the program works on a calendar year basis, however, eligible duration of projects ranges from 9 to 36 months. Only Czech NGOs are eligible. Each applicant has to secure at least 10% co-financing. Remaining funds (10% of the annual budget) are distributed during the course of the year by Czech Embassies in target as well as non-priority countries or directly by the MFA HQ (mandate contracts). It also enables us to co-finance projects supported by major foreign donors, such as EC (especially EIDHR), USAID or UNDP.

Target countries

The program has 11 priority countries:

Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Myanmar, Cuba and Vietnam.

Thematic priorities

In accordance with the Concept of the Czech Republic’s human rights and transition promotion policy, the TRANS Programme focuses on the following thematic priorities:

(1) supporting civil society, including human rights defenders;

(2) promoting the freedom of expression and information, including the freedom of the media;

(3) promoting an equal and full political and public participation;

(4) supporting institution-building in the area of the rule of law;

(5) promoting equality and non-discrimination;

(6) promoting human rights in employment and in the environmental context.

These priorities are described in more detail in the Human Rights and Transition Promotion Policy Concept of the Czech Republic.

Human Rights ann Transition Promotion Policy Concept (PDF, 201 KB)