Civil society plays a key role in upholding the common values on which the EU is founded: the rule of law, fundamental rights, and democracy. Supporting civil society organisations is instrumental to contribute to a thriving civic space to uphold those values and rights as well as to contribute to checks and balances of healthy democracies. 

The call for proposals for civil society organisations active on protecting and promoting Union values precisely aims to support civil society organisations at local level to pursue their crucial work for our Union of values.

The purpose of this call for proposals is to select and support a limited number of intermediaries in EU Member States, that will:

1. build the capacities of a large number of civil society organisations (CSOs) active at local, regional and/or national level,
2. provide them with financial support (i.e. through cascading grants).

The priorities of this call are:

• To strengthen the capacity and resilience of CSOs to protect and promote Union values including democracy and the respect of the rule of law;
• To support CSOs in their efforts to protect, promote and raise awareness on fundamental rights and democratic values;
• To support dialogue, transparency, and good governance, also in cases where space for civil society is shrinking.

Applications must include the provision of financial support to CSOs active at local, regional, and national level, which promote and protect fundamental rights and Union values, and which carry out activities in the fields covered by the CERV programme. Proposals should be based on and include a thorough assessment of the CSOs landscape in the country(ies) covered, the challenges they face, the opportunities they can leverage and their needs.

Link to apply and call document

Budget: 74.5 million EUR

Deadline to apply for funding: 7 March 2024

Online info session: 7 December 2023 at 14h00 CET (click here to join) 

For additional clarifications you can write to: EACEA-CERV@ec.europa.eu.