Annual operating grants 2026 to support EU level Networks active in the area: "Rights of persons with disabilities"

The CERV-2025-OG-DISA-SGA grant opportunity is part of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) aimed at supporting EU-level networks focused on the rights of persons with disabilities. This call targets annual operating grants for 2026, promoting the protection and monitoring of these rights. It specifically encourages the activities of civil society organizations at local, regional, national, and transnational levels, linking to key European strategies, including the European Pillar of Social Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Eligible applicants include non-profit civil society organizations, European networks, and NGOs actively engaged in disability rights advocacy. A critical eligibility requirement is the possession of a signed Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA), which must be submitted alongside the Specific Grant Agreement (SGA) proposal. The call accommodates single applicants and does not necessitate a consortium, although a demonstrated transnational reach is essential.

The grant application process is a single-stage open call, with applications due by 27 August 2025 at 17:00 Brussels time. The evaluation period will last from August to October 2025, after which successful applicants will receive information in October, leading to grant agreements being signed by December 2025.

Financial support will cover various operational costs necessary for implementing policies, mutual learning programs, and awareness campaigns surrounding disability rights. The funding amount is variable and typically ranges from €200,000 to €1,000,000 annually, depending on the network's size and project scope. There is no explicit co-funding requirement mentioned in the call details, and success rates are expected to be moderate, reflecting the competitive nature of EU grants.

The overall aim is to strengthen pan-European disability rights advocacy by funding established networks, helping them fulfill their roles in implementing EU strategies through various activities, including data collection, public engagement initiatives, and cooperation with authorities. This initiative ultimately seeks to enhance social rights in Europe, ensuring individuals with disabilities can fully enjoy their rights.

The EU Funding & Tenders Portal presents a call for proposals for annual operating grants in 2026 to support EU-level networks active in the area of rights of persons with disabilities. The call is titled "Annual operating grants 2026 to support EU level Networks active in the area: Rights of persons with disabilities" and its reference number is CERV-2025-OG-DISA-SGA. It falls under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV). The type of action is CERV-FPA-OG CERV Operating Grants Framework Partnerships, and the type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is CERV Specific Operating Grant [CERV-SGA-OG]. The deadline model is single-stage.

The planned opening date for the call was 17 June 2025, and the deadline for submitting applications is 27 August 2025 at 17:00 Brussels time.

The objective of this call is to promote, protect, and monitor the rights of persons with disabilities by providing financial support to EU-level networks of civil society organisations active in this area at local, regional, national, and transnational levels. This initiative aims to contribute to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), the European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 (ESRPD), and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). It also supports the Commission in putting the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 into practice. Civil society organisations are expected to support the implementation of the ESRPD at EU, national, and local levels by collecting and exchanging data and good practices, cooperating with public authorities, implementing mutual learning activities, and organizing communication and engagement activities to raise awareness of the ESRPD and promote the rights of persons with disabilities in Europe. The ultimate goal is to build a stronger social Europe and ensure that people with disabilities can fully enjoy their rights.

The admissibility conditions are described in section 5 of the call document. The eligible conditions are described in section 6 of the call document. Proposals for operating grants (CERV-2025-OG-DISA-SGA) should be submitted in parallel with proposals for Framework Partnership Agreements (CERV-2025-OG-DISA-FPA). Applicants must first submit the FPA proposal and then use their FPA submission number in the SGA proposal. Only applicants who have a signed Framework Partnership Agreement are eligible to receive an operating grant. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in section 7 of the call document. Evaluation and award processes are described in sections 8 and 9 of the call document.

The indicative timeline includes: Publication of the call on 17 June 2025; Deadline for submitting applications on 27 August 2025 at 17:00 (Brussels time); Evaluation period from August to October 2025; Information to applicants in October 2025; and Signature of the grant agreement in December 2025.

The call document and annexes include the call document itself, application form templates (Standard application form (CERV OG) available in the Submission System), Model Grant Agreements (MGA) (Operating Grants MGA), CERV Work Programmes, CERV Regulation 2021/692, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The topic stages, opening date, deadline, and indicative number of grants are specified for CERV-2025-OG-DISA-SGA - CERV-FPA-OG CERV Operating Grants Framework Partnerships, which is a single-stage process with an opening date of 17 June 2025 and a deadline of 27 August 2025.

LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics after logging into the Portal, as well as any user having an active public Person profile. The submission system is planned to be opened on the date stated on the topic header.

Applicants are advised to read all provisions carefully before preparing their application. For help related to this call, applicants are instructed to contact the provided email address or URL. Additional resources include the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – Submission of proposals, the IT Helpdesk for technical questions, and the Online Manual for a step-by-step guide through the Portal processes.

In summary, this EU call for proposals aims to provide operating grants to EU-level networks of civil society organizations that are actively working to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities. The call is part of the CERV program and aligns with the European Pillar of Social Rights and the European Disability Strategy. To be eligible, applicants must first secure a Framework Partnership Agreement and then use its submission number in their operating grant proposal. The application process involves submitting proposals through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, adhering to specific admissibility and eligibility conditions, and meeting financial and operational capacity requirements. The call follows a single-stage submission process with a deadline of August 27, 2025, and successful applicants can expect to sign a grant agreement by December 2025.

Eligible Applicant Types: EU-level networks of civil society organisations active in the area of rights of persons with disabilities at local, regional, national and transnational level.

Funding Type: Grant, specifically an operating grant (CERV-2025-OG-DISA-SGA).

Consortium Requirement: It appears that a single applicant is required, but the applicant must have a signed Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) to be eligible for the operating grant. The operating grant (SGA) proposal should be submitted in parallel with proposals for Framework Partnership Agreements (FPA). The FPA submission number must be used in the SGA proposal.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The call targets EU-level networks, suggesting eligibility within the European Union. The networks should be active at local, regional, national, and transnational levels.

Target Sector: Rights of persons with disabilities, civil society, social rights, and implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), the European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 (ESRPD), and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the focus is on the European Union, as the call targets EU-level networks.

Project Stage: The call is for operating grants, which implies that the projects are likely at the stage of implementation and operation, rather than initial research or development.

Funding Amount: The specific funding range is not mentioned in the provided text.

Application Type: Open call.

Nature of Support: Money, specifically operating grants.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be single-stage, but there is a prerequisite of having or applying for a Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) in parallel. This could be interpreted as a two-step process where the FPA is the first step.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The provided text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This opportunity is an EU call for proposals under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV), specifically targeting annual operating grants for 2026. The call, titled "Annual operating grants 2026 to support EU level Networks active in the area: 'Rights of persons with disabilities' (CERV-2025-OG-DISA-SGA)," aims to promote, protect, and monitor the rights of persons with disabilities. The funding is intended for EU-level networks of civil society organizations operating at local, regional, national, and transnational levels. These networks should contribute to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

To be eligible, applicants must be EU-level networks of civil society organizations. A crucial requirement is that applicants must have a signed Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) or be in the process of obtaining one. Proposals for operating grants (SGA) must be submitted in parallel with proposals for Framework Partnership Agreements (FPA), and the FPA submission number must be included in the SGA proposal.

The call was published on 17 June 2025, with a deadline for submitting applications on 27 August 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The evaluation period is scheduled for August to October 2025, with information to applicants in October 2025, and the signature of the grant agreement in December 2025.

The application process is single-stage, but the FPA requirement adds a preliminary step. Applicants need to prepare an application form (CERV OG), which is available in the Submission System. Additional documents, such as the CERV Work Programmes, CERV Regulation 2021/692, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and the EU Grants AGA, are also required.

The call aims to support the Commission in implementing the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 and to deliver on the European Pillar of Social Rights. Civil society organizations are expected to support the implementation of these initiatives by collecting and exchanging data and good practices, cooperating with public authorities, implementing mutual learning activities, and organizing communication and engagement activities to raise awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities in Europe. The ultimate goal is to build a stronger social Europe and ensure that people with disabilities can fully enjoy their rights.