Projects are designed to help strenghten institutions and build the capacity of central government, local authorities and, above all, civil society organisations. They also seek to improve interaction between national and local government and civil society and to encourage consensus on measures to strenghten democracy and the rule of law. Matra is based on the philosophy of institution-building by developing and strenghtening twinning networks between the Netherlands and the MATRA target countries in Central and Eastern Europe and encourages matchmaking between Dutch organisations and like-minded agents of 'transition'.

The MATRA programme consists of several subprogrammes each with its own criteria regarding eligible applicants, selection and financing. For deadlines, eligible themes, activities and applications, please check the website of the MATRA programme of  the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

MATRA for Good Governance

Good Governance is promoted through the strenghtening of institutions and building the capacity of civil society organisations, local government, nature management orgnisations, political parties and local communities. Twinning networks between those organisations are strengthened. The MATRA for Good Governance is subdivided into sub programmes.

+ MATRA Project Programme  MPP

The focus of this programme is twinning: direct co-operation between local non-governmental organisations and Dutch NGOs. Grant rounds are organised, during which Dutch organisations can submit proposals to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

+ MATRA KAP (small Embassy programme)  Matra Kap

Small-scale local initiatives are given modest financial support by the Embassy. The programme supports the establishment of small NGOs and provides limited contributions to help NGOs fund activities in the areas of, f.e., knowledge transfer, culture, public information provision or education. Proposals can be sumitted up to a total amount of EUR 15.000,--

+ MATRA Political Parties Programme

This programme provides support for the transformation of young democracies into multi-party political systems. Training of young party leadership is of particular concern. Twinning between Dutch political parties and their counterparts in Albania is one of the formulas. More information:  matra@minbuza.nl

MATRA for European Co-operation

+ Matra Training for European Co-operation (MTEC) 

This programme provides short-term training and academic courses. See brochures: downloads at the left.

For more information go to  www.cross-agency.nl 

+ MATRA Flex 

Matra Flex provides financial resources for exchanges between ministries and their agencies in order to strenghten the network for European cooperation at the governmental level.

+ The National Contact Point Twinning geared at promoting dutch participation in the EU twinning programmes.  ncp@minbuza.nl

For more information, please visit the EVD website:  www.evd.nl