[{"bbox": [85, 129, 710, 163], "category": "Section-header", "text": "# 4 IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS"}, {"bbox": [85, 194, 383, 226], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 4.1 Financing Agreement"}, {"bbox": [97, 242, 1032, 269], "category": "Text", "text": "In order to implement this action, it is not envisaged to conclude a financing agreement with Ecuador."}, {"bbox": [85, 282, 512, 314], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 4.2 Indicative Implementation Period"}, {"bbox": [97, 329, 1134, 411], "category": "Text", "text": "The indicative operational implementation period of this action, during which the activities described in section 3 will be carried out and the corresponding contracts and agreements implemented, is 40 months from the date of adoption by the Commission of this Financing Decision."}, {"bbox": [97, 434, 1123, 490], "category": "Text", "text": "Extensions of the implementation period may be agreed by the Commission's responsible authorising officer by amending this Financing Decision and the relevant contracts and agreements."}, {"bbox": [85, 528, 442, 559], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 4.3 Implementation Modalities"}, {"bbox": [97, 586, 1133, 665], "category": "Text", "text": "The Commission will ensure that the EU appropriate rules and procedures for providing financing to third parties are respected, including review procedures, where appropriate, and compliance of the action with EU restrictive measures."}, {"bbox": [232, 693, 574, 721], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### 4.3.1 Direct Management (Grants)"}, {"bbox": [97, 736, 386, 763], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Grants: (direct management)**"}, {"bbox": [97, 775, 340, 803], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**(a) Purpose of the grant**"}, {"bbox": [97, 813, 1134, 891], "category": "Text", "text": "This grant seeks to contribute to (mainly Specific Objective 2) the strengthening the quality of democracy by promoting citizen's participation throughout the entire electoral cycle, as well as transparency as a permanent exercise."}, {"bbox": [97, 906, 403, 934], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**(b) Type of applicants targeted**"}, {"bbox": [97, 944, 1134, 1025], "category": "Text", "text": "Certain areas have been identified in which the implementation of this action could achieve better results as well as guarantee complementary results, if they are implemented through highly specialised local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with proven experience, strengths and results on the following areas:"}, {"bbox": [135, 1038, 1134, 1093], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Grupo FARO (lead agency): on the issues of electoral debates, regulatory development and transparency in spending on social networks in electoral campaigns."}, {"bbox": [135, 1105, 854, 1134], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Esquel Foundation: on the issues of participation and equality approaches."}, {"bbox": [135, 1146, 1134, 1200], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Citizen Participation Corporation: on issues of social accompaniment and monitoring of gender-based political violence."}, {"bbox": [135, 1213, 1134, 1267], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Citizenship and Development Foundation: on the issues of monitoring financing for political parties and monitoring fake news."}, {"bbox": [97, 1278, 1134, 1360], "category": "Text", "text": "All these NGOs are established in Quito, however through their respective networks and past project's implementation, they have also territorial presence in several provinces of the country. Through this strong network, the project can guarantee to be implemented nationwide."}, {"bbox": [97, 1372, 417, 1400], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**(c) Justification of a direct grant**"}, {"bbox": [97, 1409, 1134, 1597], "category": "Text", "text": "In view of the expertise of the four specialised institutions that are active in promoting the democracy sector in the country, the Delegation proposes to give a consortium of NGOs a direct grant, allowing an intervention that will pursue a common objective, with each institution specialising in their specific area of knowledge, applying and strengthening already developed tools, without duplicating activities. This grant is justified because these entities are the only ones with experience in the implementation of initiatives towards strengthening the democratic system. Based on their past projects, they have generated actions to strengthen the electoral system and its institutions, to incentivize the active role of citizens throughout the entire electoral cycle, and to promote the transparency"}, {"bbox": [1027, 1680, 1145, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 27 of 32"}]