The Ministry of Foreign Affairs promotes the strengthening of civil society in Central and Eastern Europe. The name of the Matra Programme derives from the Dutch for social transformation, 'maatschappelijke transformatie'. Projects are designed to help strengthen institutions and build the capacity of central government, local authorities and, above all, civil society organisations. They also seek to improve interaction between national and local government and civil society, and to encourage consensus on measures to strengthen democracy and the rule of law. Matra is based on the philosophy of institution-building by developing and strengthening twinning networks between the Netherlands and the Matra target countries and encourages 'matchmaking' between Dutch organisations and like-minded 'agents of transformation'.
Armenia and Georgia are eligible to Matra Programme from 2006.

• Transformation, a unique process
• Programme's objectives
• Supported projects
• FAQ's

Event/Project highlights

• Modernised Matra Programme is available as of 2010. New deadlines for submitting small, local initiative projects are 1 April 2010 and 1 September 2010.