About the subsidy scheme Social Initiatives Transatlantic Slavery Past for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom

These pages contain information about the scheme for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom (SUMS-C). For more information about the scheme for the European Netherlands you can go to this website.

A budget of €29,333,333 has been made available for the scheme intended for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.

The subsidy scheme is intended to enable organisations engaged in the topic of slavery past to develop further. The subsidy scheme also offers the opportunity to contribute to awareness and better understanding of the impact of the slavery past through projects.

Objectives
Activities and social initiatives that make a substantial contribution to at least one of the objectives set out in the government response of 19 December 2022 are eligible for a subsidy:

• gaining a better understanding of the impact of the slavery past and counteracting the consequences of the impact of the slavery past in the present;
• the processing of the slavery past;
• the promotion of knowledge and awareness of the slavery past; or
• the recognition and commemoration of the slavery past.

Subsidy applicants
Not-for-profit legal entities established in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom can submit an application. The activities and social initiatives must take place in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.

Natural persons are not eligible for the subsidy.

Not-for-profit legal entities from the European Netherlands are also not eligible for this subsidy scheme. They can apply for the subsidy scheme for Social Initiatives Transatlantic Slavery Past in the European Netherlands.

Subsidy categories

The scheme provides four categories for which subsidies can be applied for:

Category 1: The professionalisation of applicants operating in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom with a maximum duration of one year and working towards the objectives specified in the scheme. In this category, a subsidy of USD 10,000 is granted per application. 

Category 2: Small-scale social initiatives in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom with a maximum duration of one year and contributing to the objectives set out in the scheme. In this category, a subsidy of at least USD 10,000 and at most USD 25,000 is granted per application.

Category 3: Medium-sized social initiatives in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom with a maximum duration of four years and contributing to the objectives set out in the scheme. In this category, a subsidy of at least USD 25,000 and at most USD 125,000 is granted per application.

Category 4: Large-scale social initiatives in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom with a maximum duration of four years and contributing to the objectives set out in the scheme. In this category, a subsidy of at least USD 125,000 and at most USD 500,000 is granted per application.

Subsidy-eligible activities
Several activities can be eligible for a subsidy under the four available categories.

Category 1 – professionalisation: education, courses or training aimed at increasing knowledge and skills for the performance of administrative tasks or the establishment or improvement of the administrative organisation of the applicant. In addition, the building or improvement of the website of the applicant, with the aim of promoting activities that are in line with the objectives of this scheme, may be eligible for a subsidy under this category. The condition is that the applicant for this subsidy must be engaged in activities for the purposes of the subsidy scheme. This must be evident from the articles of association of your organisation or otherwise be demonstrated in a plausible manner.

Category 2 – small-scale social initiatives: various projects related to the slavery past, the organisation of meetings or events that contribute to the processing of the slavery past, projects for education and artistic expression, including exhibitions and performances. Condition for these and subsequent categories is that the projects benefit the descendants of the enslaved (community) and focus on the objectives of the subsidy scheme.

Category 3 – medium-scale social initiatives: various projects related to the slavery past, the organisation of meetings or events that contribute to the processing of the slavery past, projects for education and artistic expression, including exhibitions and performances.

Category 4 – large-scale social initiatives: various projects related to the slavery past, the organisation of meetings or events that contribute to the processing of the slavery past, projects for education and artistic expression, including exhibitions and performances. Only projects with a lasting or long-term impact or with a wide reach that highlight the slavery past and the shared history are eligible for this category.

Attention: this overview is a summary of the activities. Consult article 7 of the scheme for a complete overview.

Periods
There are two application periods per category. You can only submit a subsidy application during these periods.

All times are local to the Netherlands and follow the applicable time zone:

• CET (Central European Time) from late October to late March

• CEST (Central European Summer Time) from late March to late October

Attention: the overview above is subject to change, the application periods can be modified due to circumstances. Consult the subsidy scheme for the latest overview.