Call for proposals 2011 for indirect actions under the multi-annual Community Programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies (Safer Internet)

This call invites proposals for actions to be financed under Decision No 1351/2008/EC adopting a multi-annual Community Programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies ( the Safer Internet programme).

The Safer Internet programme is based on four actions:
(a) ensuring public awareness;
(b) fighting against illegal content and tackling harmful conduct online;
(c) promoting a safer online environment;
(d) establishing a knowledge base.

Proposals may be made for one or more parts of the call.

The indicative total available for this call from the 2011 budget is €14,132,240. Funding will be provided in the form of grants.

The call is open to all legal entities established in the Member States and in Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway. It is also open to legal entities established in other countries under the conditions set out in Article 2 of Decision 1351/2008/EC, provided that a bilateral agreement is signed. Legal entities from other countries and international organisations may take part in projects at their own expense. Legal entities established in Russia may take part in Action 1.1 (Safer Internet Centres) of this call under the conditions specified in the Work Programme and in thematic networks and knowledge enhancement projects under the same conditions as entities established in Member States (but not as project co-ordinators).

CALL PARTS

Action 1 and action 2: ENSURING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND FIGHTING AGAINST ILLEGAL CONTENT AND HARMFUL CONDUCT ONLINE
7. Identifier: 1.1. INTEGRATED NETWORK: SAFER INTERNET CENTRES

The Programme promotes the set up of Safer Internet Centres all across Europe to co-ordinate activities and to bring together a variety of stakeholders to ensure action and facilitate transfer of knowledge.

All Safer Internet Centres will develop awareness raising material, organise campaigns and information sessions for children and young people, parents, carers, social workers and teachers to enable children and young people to make responsible use of on-line technologies.

The awareness actions will address issues related to harmful content, contact and conduct as defined in section 2.2. They will also address the opportunities and risks of services using new distribution forms, such as peer-to-peer services, broadband video, instant messaging, chat-rooms, social networking sites and access to content and interactive information and communication brought about by the rapid take-up of the internet, mobile phones and game consoles by children. They will take into account the related issues of protection of privacy and personal data, consumer protection, information, and network security (viruses/spam).

In addition, the Safer Internet Centres should also include hotlines where the public can report illegal content and/or helplines where parents and children can obtain advice on how to deal with harmful contact (grooming), harmful conduct (cyberbullying), harmful content and uncomfortable or scary experiences related to their use of online technologies.

The tasks of the Safer Internet Centres are set out in further detail in the Work Programme.

This call part (Identifier: 1.1. INTEGRATED NETWORK: SAFER INTERNET CENTRES) will be only open for proposals for setting up a Safer Internet Centre in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Spain, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and Russia.
The call for proposals may also be opened for countries which have signed a bilateral agreement or where negotiations have been opened.

Funding will be at 50% of eligible costs, which may be increased up to 75% for public bodies, SMEs and non- profit organisations.

8. Identifier: 1.2. INTEGRATED NETWORK: EUROPEAN CO-ORDINATION OF SAFER INTERNET CENTRES

To ensure maximum co-operation and effectiveness of awareness-raising, hotlines and helplines actions across Europe, the 2011 call is also open for a network co-ordinator to provide logistical and infrastructural support for the Safer Internet Centres, ensuring European-level visibility, good communication and exchange of experience so that lessons learnt can be applied on an ongoing basis.

The tasks of the network co-ordinator are set out in further detail in the Work Programme. In view of the different nature of the tasks of awareness activities, hotlines and helplines, specific tasks of each component are foreseen in the Work Programme.

In addition to the specific tasks of co-ordination of each component, the network co-ordinator will:
- provide a single, comprehensive web portal to provide visibility for awareness activities, helplines and hotlines with a collection of relevant information and resources with content such as news services, articles, monthly newsletter,
- disseminate statistics and information about the awareness, helplines and hotlines activities and the results of the network throughout Europe,
- develop a governance structure for the network,
- provide European coordination of Safer Internet Centres’ Youth Panels and organise a pan-European meeting of members of the Safer Internet Centres’ panels,
- coordinate the organisation of regional meetings by Safer Internet Centres,
- coordinate the exchange schemes for experts or organisations from countries outside the EU in agreement with the European Commission,
- ensure and maintain a close working relationship with the awareness, hotline and helpline coordinators to ensure consistency and the effectiveness of overall programme operations,
- take part in meetings organised by the Commission, the Safer Internet Forum and other relevant events, coordinating input/feedback from awareness centres, hotlines and helplines; ensure synergy between the integrated network, thematic networks and other funded projects by participating in the network coordination group.

Overall co-ordination and the specific tasks of co-ordination will be part of a single grant agreement.

A joint proposal may be made by not more than three different organisations.

Funding will be at 100% of direct eligible costs (as defined in the model grant agreement), but without indirect costs (overheads).

Action 3: PROMOTING A SAFER ONLINE ENVIRONMENT

9. Identifier: 3.1. THEMATIC NETWORK: NGO NETWORK FOR CHILD PROTECTION ON THE INTERNET

The Programme invites proposals to set up a thematic network of European non-government organisations representing children's rights and welfare to develop a concerted approach by sharing experience and best practices, and by developing joint strategies, in order to ensure that the needs of children are taken into account in discussions about the internet and new media in Europe, as well as in relevant international fora.

Funding will be at 100% of a reduced set of eligible costs (direct costs of co-ordinating and implementing the network) for thematic networks

Action 4: ESTABLISHING A KNOWLEDGE BASE

10. Identifier: 4.1. KNOWLEDGE ENHANCEMENT PROJECT: TESTING TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH CHILDREN AT RISK

Proposals are invited for a pilot knowledge enhancement project with the following objectives:
1. to identify and further develop targeted training and awareness-raising tools (eg. video clip/online game and material) for professionals working with children at risk as defined in section 6.1 of Safer Internet 2011 Work Programme ( 7 );
2. on the basis of the above, implement a training programme(s) on the target group;
3. measure the effectiveness of the approach through an ex ante survey on the awareness level of the target group and surveys at 3, 6 and 12 months after the training has taken place. The assessment methodology should involve both a quantitative as well as qualitative approach.
Knowledge enhancement projects will be funded at 100% of direct eligible costs (as defined in the model grant agreement), but without indirect costs (overheads).

The deadline for receipt of all proposals is 4 May 2011.

Further information is available on the Commission’s Safer Internet site.

Reference: 2011/C 71/05

(Added 2011-03-05)