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EEA and Norway Grants

EEA and Norway Grants programme „Local Development and Poverty Reduction” allocates a total of 22 million euros to social security and regional development. The activities focus on physical activity of children, social welfare, educational support services to local governments, introducing restorative justice measures when dealing with children and youth at risk and preserving cultural heritage in historic town centres.

EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021

The Programme Operator of the programme is the Ministry of Social Affairs in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Culture. The Implementing Agency of the Programme is the Shared State Service Centre.

The Donor Programme Partners are the Norwegian Public Health Institute, the Norwegian Directorate of Health and the Norwegian Directorate of Cultural Heritage. 

The programme budget is 22.1 million euros, of which 10.6 million euros is the contribution of European Economic Area Financial Mechanism, 8.25 million euros comes from the Norwegian Financial Mechanism and 3.3 million euros is allocated from the Estonian state budget. Approx. one 1/3 of this falls under the policy areas of the Ministry of Social Affairs, the activities of the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Justice make both up to 26% of the programme budget while the Ministry of Culture policy activities receive 16% of the budget.

Additionally, opportunities to foster cooperation with the donor countries in order to exchange best practices and acquire new knowledge, will be enabled, that - in turn - will contribute to the reduction of economic and social disparities in Estonia and set better conditions for economic growth.

During the EEA and Norway Grants period 2014–2021 altogether six different programmes totalling 68 million euros have been agreed upon and will be implemented in Estonia. Investments will be targeted to the rise in competitiveness, cyber security, environment and climate, health care, science and education, social security, cultural heritage protection as well as civil society.

The Memoranda of Understanding between the EEA and Norway, which regulate the implementation of financial mechanisms in Estonia were signed on May 9, 2017 by the Norwegian Minister of EEC- and EU affairs Mr Frank Bakke-Jensen, the Ambassador of Iceland Ms Kristín A. Árnadóttir and the Estonian Minister of Health and Labour Mr Jevgeni Ossinovski. 

Programmme "Local Development and Poverty Reduction"


The Ministry of Social Affairs of Estonia will - in cooperation with Ministry of Education and Research, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Culture - implement a programme "Local Development and Poverty Reduction". The budget of the programme is 22 176 470 EUR, including the national co-financing covering 15% of the total amount. Additionally, 125 000 EUR will be sidelined for promoting bi-lateral relations between the donor states and Estonia.

Here you can find information on the activities to be implemented within the programme as well as on the projects financed though the programme. 

General information

  • Programme Operator 
    The Ministry of Social Affairs in coopetation
    with Ministry of Education and Research, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Culture.
  • Donor Programme Partners 
    Norwegian Institute of Public Health,
    Norwegian Directorate of Health,
    Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage. 
  • Programme Budget
    EEA Grants contribution 10,6 million EUR, 
    Norway Grants contribution 8,25 million EUR, 
    Estonian national co-fianancing 3,3 million EUR.
  • Programme Implementation Deadline
    April 30, 2024

Programme intervention areas

  • Public health - physical activity of children, local
    governments as public healt promoters, socio-health
    integrated services, coercive psychiatric treatment; 

  • Gender equality and gender based violence - 
    virtual centre of expertise, victim support system
    development, public awareness on domestic violence and trafficking in human beings, programme for sex buyers;

  • Children and families, juvenile offenders -
    implementation of restorative justice, voluntary
    reconciliation, family mediation;

  • Support services in education and youth work -
    transition programmes from basic education to VET,
    support services provision for disadvantaged children
    and youth across school levels, smart youth work;

  • Cultural heritage preservation - renovation of
    buildings with historical value, capacity building in preservation and management of cultural heritage.

Objectives

  • The overall objectives of the programme are: 
    • Greater socio-economic cohesion in Europe;
    • Closer and better bi-lateral relations between Estonia and the donor countries.
  • Programme modalities: 
    • Pre-defined projects;
    • Open Calls for Proposals as well as Small Grant Schemes;
    • Bi-lateral activities;
    • Activities organised by the Programme Operator.

Last updated: 23.01.2024