Dutch Fund for Regional Partnerships - NFRP-Matra

What is the NRFP-Matra programme?

Countries that want to join the European Union (EU) must meet strict conditions. Some countries in the Eastern Partnership have an association agreement with the EU, which also has strict terms. The NFRP-Matra programme supports these countries in taking the necessary steps to meet the EU's conditions. The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) work with external parties to offer support services. These include knowledge, advice and network access.

As part of the NRFP-Matra programme, RVO handles the implementation of 2 subprogrammes:

1. Subsidy programme Matra Government to Government (Matra G2G);
2. Matra Rule of Law (RoL) training programme (RoLT).

For more information about these subprogrammes, see the Matra Government to Government (Matra G2G) webpage.

For whom?

NRFP-Matra is for:

• Governments of (potential) candidate member states preparing for EU memberships;
• Governments of Eastern Partnership countries;
• Organisations that play a part as experts, trainers or implementing parties in projects enhancing the rule of law and democracy in partner countries. Examples are Dutch government institutes, non-departmental public organisations, legal entities with statutory tasks, knowledge institutes, training institutes and NGOs.

Partner countries

NFRP-Matra's sub-programmes are for:

• Countries preparing for EU memberships: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine;
• Countries in the Eastern Partnership with a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement: Armenia.

How NRFP-Matra helps

In the partner countries, NFRP-Matra helps:

• Tackle corruption and organised crime;
• Reorganise judiciary and civil services;
• Improve the position of minorities;
• Ensure fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of expression and information; and
• Ensure a reliable and effective government.

Subsidy programme Matra G2G

Do you represent a civil society organisation or knowledge institute based in the Netherlands? If so, apply for a subsidy from the subprogramme Matra Government to Government (Matra G2G).

Responsible Business Conduct (RBC)

Your project must follow the international Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) guidelines. We take RBC into account when assessing your funding application. We ask you to:

• follow OECD guidelines;
• show how you conduct your operations following these OECD guidelines;
• carry out a proper risk analysis of social and environmental risks;
• state the measures to prevent and reduce these risks.

During the project, you must report on RBC risks and state the measures you are taking or plan to take to prevent and reduce these risks.

Dutch companies must complete an RBC self-assessment as part of the application process. The Dutch government uses this scan to check whether a company is aware of and follows the OECD guidelines. This assessment is a requirement for approval of your project.

On our website, you can read more about RBC and due diligence.

SEAH conditions

To be eligible for subsidies, SEAH conditions apply. RVO expects you to have your own integrity policy as well as procedures to implement this policy. In addition, you are required to report any incidents of (sexual) misconduct or abuse of power during RVO-funded projects. For further details, please visit Sexual misconduct and abuse of power | RVO.nl.