Addressing Root Causes Fund has been launched

Within the broader efforts of the Cabinet in dealing with migration issues, The Netherlands works towards tackling the root causes of armed conflict, instability and irregular migration. Therefore, the Addressing Root Causes Fund (ARC) of €125 million for the 2016-2021 period is open to applications from NGOs.

More and more people leave their homes, because of armed conflict, threats, prosecution or a lack of prospect in their own country. Globally, one in every 122 people is currently internally displaced, a refugee or an asylum seeker. The majority of them find safe refuge in a neighbouring country, but growing numbers of refugees and migrants find their way to Europe as well. Many neighbouring countries that currently receive large numbers of migrants and refugees increasingly have to deal with the negative consequences. Public services cannot keep up with the rise in demand; economic growth comes to a standstill, unemployment rises and tensions in society increase. Many people, who can afford it, travel on to i.a. Europe in search for a better future elsewhere. To be able to provide people with a safe haven and positive prospects for the future in their own country, and to decrease the pressure on overburdened receiving countries, it is essential to work on decreasing the socio-economic and political root causes of these large flows of people.

To apply for a grant from the ARC fund

The ARC Fund is aimed at tackling the root causes of armed conflict, instability and irregular migration and is open to applications from Dutch, international and local NGOs for the following countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Grant applications must be submitted no later than Friday 4 March 2016 at 12:00 PM Dutch time.

See the policy framework, including annexes, and the application form, including annexes, for more information on submitting an application. Should there be any questions in response to the policy framework and application form, you can submit them exclusively by e-mail to DSHARCFUND@minbuza.nl in the following two periods:

- Until Wednesday 20 January 2016, 12:00 PM, after which questions will be answered and published anonymised at the website no later than Wednesday 27 January.

- Until Friday 5 February 2016, 17:00 PM, after which questions will be answered and published anonymised at the website no later than Friday 12 February.