1.The partners eligible for financial assistance under this Regulation include:
administrative authorities and agencies at national, regional and local government levels;
local authorities and other decentralised bodies;
local communities, NGOs, community-based organisations and other not-for-profit natural and legal persons from the private sector;
regional organisations;
international organisations, such as the United Nations and its agencies, funds and programmes, as well as development banks, financial institutions, global initiatives and international public-private partnerships;
research institutes and universities.
2.Without prejudice to paragraph 1(e), Community financial assistance shall be available to partners whose head office is located in a Member State or in a third country that is a beneficiary or potential beneficiary of Community assistance under this Regulation, provided that this office is the actual centre directing business operations. In exceptional cases, this office may be located in another third country.