The launch event of the NGO Fund of the EEA/Norwegian Financial Mechanism was held at Merlin Theater on the 10th of April 2008. A consortium of four grant making foundations – lead by HEPF- has won the right to distribute this 6 million EUR Fund between 2008 and 2011.
“Civic organisations play an important role in democratisation processes through enhancing public participation in it”, said Elisabeth Walaas, State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She stressed that civil society needs resources to be able to contribute to the reduction of social and economical inequalities. She expressed her hope furthermore that the NGO Fund will also create new cooperation opportunities for Hungarian and Norwegian civic organisations.
A great interest in the Fund has already been obvious at the launch event which drew more than 200 people, where also the Financial Mechanism Office, the embassy and eight Norwegian civil organisations were represented.
