“The specific objective of this call for proposals is to strengthen the institutional and operational capacity of civil society actors within countries, with a particular focus on youth in the context of peace and security,” the document notes.
The grant is divided into two parts. The European Commission will allocate €1.3 million to initiatives in Sri Lanka and the Maldives and €2.6 million to Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal.
European experts note that the selected countries are directly or indirectly affected by crises at the regional level, such as the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya people and conflicts in Myanmar, as well as difficulties in internal reconciliation. The new project aims to stimulate efforts to resolve conflicts in countries through young activists.
“Promote conflict prevention and resolution measures, targeting in particular youth involved in peace and security activities, including through assistance in processes related to confidence-building, mediation, dialogue and reconciliation, and capacity building in this regard,” the program description says.
An expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies, Vladimir Bruter, in a conversation with RT, noted that with the help of such grants, the West creates its leverage in Asian countries.
“The West wants people who will create the right content, the right picture, and who will serve as a model, a base for uniting all the forces advocating for increasing the influence of the West and against the current government in Myanmar,” the expert emphasized.
Previously, the European Commission planned to strengthen the role of youth in preventing conflicts in the Middle East.