The objective of this call is to protect, promote and raise awareness of rights by providing financial support to civil society organisations active at local, regional, national and transnational level in promoting and cultivating those rights.
The call thereby also aims at strengthening the protection and promotion of Union values including respect for the rule of law and contributing to the construction of a more democratic Union, democratic dialogue, transparency as well as good governance.
The call intends to support the 2026 annual work programmes of framework partners (European networks, civil society organisations active at EU level and European think tanks), and to increase the capacities of the framework partners to contribute actively to the development and implementation of EU policies.
Scope:Framework partners are expected to help to achieve at least one of the following objectives:
• Building the capacity of national, regional or local organisations working in the areas covered by the grant;
• Building and increasing the capacity of network partners to develop coherent and coordinated activities that promote the relevant policy objectives;
• Expansion of the network's reach, including new partners;
• A measurable increase in the impact of the network's activities in the relevant policy areas;
• Providing a link between research and policymaking at European level, which helps find solutions to problems;
• Facilitating interaction between citizens, academia and decision-makers.
Under the re-granting option, network members that receive a grant from a framework partner are expected to help to achieve at least one of the following objectives:
• Strengthened capacity to protect and promote rights and EU values;
• A more supportive environment for CSOs and human rights defenders, such as national human rights institutions;
• A more developed advocacy and watchdog role for CSOs;
• Increased involvement of CSOs in policy- and decision-making processes with local, regional, and national governments;
• Increased citizen awareness of EU rights and values;
• Strengthened national, regional and local cooperation within civil society.
Conditions
1. Admissibility conditions:
as described in section 5 of the call document.
2. Eligibility conditions:
as described in section 6 of the call document.
Nota bene: for this call, proposals for operating grants (CERV-2025-OG-SGA) should be submitted in parallel with proposals for Framework Partnership Agreements (CERV-2025-OG-FPA). You must first submit the FPA proposal and then use your FPA submission number in the SGA proposal.
Only applicants who have a signed Framework Partnership Agreement are eligible to receive an operating grant.
3. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion:
as described in section 7 of the call document.
4. Evaluation and award:
as described in sections 8 and 9 of the call document.
5. Indicative timeline:
as described in section 4 of the call document.
Publication of the call: 24 October 2024.
Deadline for submitting applications: 5 February 2025 17:00:00 (Brussels time).
Evaluation period: February - June 2025.
Information to applicants: August 2025.
Signature of Grant Agreement: November 2025.
