What are the possible project structures? 1) Bi-and tri-lateral third country EVS projects - Bi-or trilateral third country EVS projects are projects involving sending and host organizations in two or three countries. 2) Multilateral third country EVS projects - Multilateral third country EVS projects are for networks of partners working together between Program countries and third countries. Any non-governmental organization, network, association or local authority, with partners in at least 4 countries can apply. Who can participate?

Third-country EVS projects must involve at least one EU Member State.  Young people from the Program countries can participate in an EVS project in a third country.  Young people from third countries can participate in an EVS project in a Program country but cannot do EVS in another third country.  Young people from Mediterranean partner countries can participate in an EVS project in an EU Member State only.  Young people from EFTA/EEA and pre-accession countries cannot participate in one-to-one EVS activities in third countries (and vice versa).  Hosting volunteers from a Program country in other Program countries must not be part of a third-country application, but has to be submitted under a different application (see sections D.9).

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What are the specific criteria for bi- or tri-lateral third country EVS projects?

In addition to the general aims and criteria outlined in chapter D and in section H.1, third-country EVS projects should comply with the following specific criteria:

• Project partners
  Projects involve sending and host organizations in two or three countries.

• Number of volunteers
  1-4 volunteers per application. No more than two volunteers from the same country per host organization.

• Length of voluntary service period
  Normally, 6-12 months. In view of visa difficulties, shorter third-country projects might be eligible, with a minimum of 3 months.
  Short-term activities (3 weeks to six months) are eligible only if aimed at facilitating access to European Voluntary Service for young people with fewer opportunities.

• Training
  Training sessions form an integral part of each EVS project. Pre-departure and on-arrival trainings, as well as mid-term meetings, and possibly also a final evaluation meeting, have to be organized for all volunteers (as set out below and in sections D.5).

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What are the specific criteria for multilateral third country EVS projects?

In addition to the general aims and criteria outlined in chapter D and in section H.1, these projects must comply with the following specific criteria :

• Project content:
  The project needs a strong and coherent thematic content.The project should represent an effort to become involved in new activities and to widen the scope of experience

• Project partners:
  There must be at least three sending organizations in three different countries and at least two host organizations either in the same country or in two different countries.Projects submitted should involve a number of partners (20%) who have not participated in EVS projects before.

• Number of volunteers:
  A minimum of 5 and a maximum of 20 volunteers, originating from at least three countries.A maximum of four volunteers per host organization and no more than two from the same country.

• Length of voluntary service period:
  Normally, 6-12 months. In view of visa difficulties, shorter third-country projects might be eligible, with a minimum of 3 months.
  Short-term activities (3 weeks to six months) are eligible only if aimed at facilitating access to European Voluntary Service for young people with fewer opportunities.

• Training:
  Training sessions form an integral part of each EVS project. Pre-departure and on-arrival trainings, as well as mid-term meetings, and possibly also a final evaluation meeting, have to be organized for all volunteers (as set out below and in sections D.5).

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How to initiate an EVS project with third countries?

Unlike for EVS projects in Program countries as described in section D.9, there is no database of host organizations for EVS in third countries.

If you are a volunteer

If you do not yet know any host organization, you should start by identifying a potential sending organization in your country which has contacts with organizations in the country where you would like to do your voluntary service.

If you already know a host organization which is interested in having you as a volunteer, you should bring this organization into contact with a potential sending organization in your country.

Once the partnership between sending and host organizations is established, you can jointly develop your project and prepare a grant application, which has to be submitted by an organization based in a Program country or in a Mediterranean partner country. You could also contact European Youth NGOs which, in some cases, may be looking for volunteers for already approved EVS projects. National Agencies (or National Coordinators) might be able to help you in your search for suitable organizations.

If you are a sending or host organization

The starting point for a third-country EVS project is often an existing partnership between sending and hosting organizations. This partnership can be based, for example, on cultural exchange initiatives, town twinning, partnerships between international youth organizations, solidarity initiatives or development cooperation.

Approved Host Expression of Interest is required for every host placement in program countries.

Before approval as host organization (only for organizations in Program countries): As a first step the host organization fills in the Host expression of interest (HEI) form and submits it to the National Agency (please check with your National Agency regarding when to submit your expression of interest). Please note that an approved Host Expression of Interest is valid for a maximum of 3 year, and not just for a single project. It does not however automatically guarantee that any subsequent project application/s will be approved for funding.

In some cases, National Agencies or National Coordinators might be able to help you identify partner organizations, especially as far as organizations in the EU and in the Mediterranean partner countries are concerned. Sending and host organizations (in some cases together with a coordinator) jointly plan the project and prepare the application. The volunteer, if already identified, should be involved in the preparation of the application, but it is also possible to identify the volunteer after the project has been approved.

How to organize training sessions?

It is the responsibility of the organization coordinating the project (i.e. the applicant organization) to ensure that all volunteers involved in a project receive pre-departure and on-arrival training, as well as attend mid-term meetings, and possibly a final evaluation meeting, either on an individual basis or in group sessions.

Training sessions organized by the National Agencies must be made use of wherever possible, both for volunteers from the Program countries (pre-departure training) and for volunteers from third countries (on-arrival training and mid-term meeting). On-arrival training taking place in Program countries might be organized by the coordinating organizations themselves only on condition that at least 5 EVS volunteers participate and the training follows the guidelines provided by the European Commission. On-arrival training taking place in third countries must be organized by the coordinating organizations themselves.

For projects taking place in South East Europe training sessions might be organized by the South East Europe Resource Centre, for more information see www.mladina.si

For information on how to apply, see section H.1.