The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) shall be reopening the NGO Co-Financing Fund (NCF) following a successive first call earlier this year. Around €1.5 million in co-financing have been allocated to this scheme since it was established nine years ago.

This scheme assists voluntary organisations in co-financing projects financed by European funds, providing the percentage of co-financing that European funds do not cover.

For the second call, the allocation will once again stand at €150,000 in additional funds - effectively doubling the fund from last year.

This was announced by the Minister for Inclusion and Volunteering, Julia Farrugia, during a visit to the Victoria City Foundation in Gozo, a voluntary organisation which runs the cultural heritage centre at Il-Ħaġar - Heart of Gozo, mainly through volunteers. This Foundation has benefitted from the NCF in previous years.

Minister Farrugia highlighted the government's commitment to strengthen and invest in the voluntary sector. She described the NCF to be a "crucial instrument" that allows voluntary organisations to obtain necessary funding and carry out positive, innovative projects which range across different sectors, e.g., social, environmental, cultural, educational, etc.

"As a government, we will continue working to ensure that voluntary organisations have the support they deserve to continue making a difference," she said.

The Chief Executive of the MCVS, Mauro Pace Parascandalo, noted that a need was felt for NCF funds to be increased in a way where organisations utilising European funds are supported fully.

"The first call closed after a few days and this testifies to how much this call was needed," he said.

This fund complements European funds - this includes funds from the European Union, EEA grants, Norway grants, bilateral agreements, and Council of Europe funds.

Applications for this second call of the NCF scheme in 2025 will open on the website vofunding.org.mt from Wednesday, 9 April 2025 at noon and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The scheme will close once all funds are exhausted. Organisations applying for funding must be registered and compliant with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations.