The Project Management Unit in partnership with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the EU Delegation in Pretoria, organised a workshop in May to present guidelines for Calls for Proposals (CfP), prepared by the Human Dynamics team of experts. The workshop was held at the premises of DIRCO in Pretoria on 14 May. The Guidelines provide information on eligibility criteria for funding, the process for accessing support (including the deadline for submission), as well as project implementation and reporting.
The event allowed the Dialogue facility project team to support eligible applicants to prepare their requests for funding, and various sessions were held on the formalities and particulars of the process. The Dialogue Facility seeks to support the strengthening of policy dialogue between the European Union and South Africa. The importance of this project and our work was brought into sharp focus a day earlier, on 15 May, when the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council held a meeting with the President of the African Union Commission. Ministers agreed on three fields of cooperation, which represent an evolution in the relationship between the two organisations; adding peace and security to the EU - Africa partnership, working on crises in the region that influence security in the EU - and the importance of young people and women.
‘’ Our relationship is moving from a traditional Aid approach to a real partnership in all fields, from climate change to security, economic development, migration and humanitarian support’’, Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, remarked at the meeting with Moussa Faki Mahahat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission. The Council also held a more general debate on Africa-EU relations. Foreign ministers welcomed a joint communication by the High Representative and the Commission on a renewed impetus for the Africa-EU Partnership. The discussion was in preparation for the EU-Africa Summit in November which will focus on the youth.