Appui à une société civile congolaise forte et inclusive pour la gouvernance démocratique, la redevabilité et le développement durable

The European Commission has published a restricted two-stage call for action grants EuropeAid to strengthen Congolese civil society for democratic governance, accountability and sustainable development with a total budget of €4,755,000. Concept notes must be submitted online via the PROSPECT system by 20 April 2026 13:00 Brussels time, and shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit full applications by 17 July 2026 13:00 Brussels time. Eligible lead applicants are legally established non-profit civil society organisations from eligible countries, primarily those registered and headquartered in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with co-applicants and affiliated entities permitted. All application documents and templates are provided in French on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and PADOR registration is required at the full application stage.

Résumé succinct

Action grants pour renforcer la société civile en République démocratique du Congo afin d'améliorer la gouvernance démocratique, la redevabilité et le développement durable.

Budget:Budget indicatif total: €4,755,000 pour subventions d'action. ¹

Qui peut postuler:Organisations de la société civile locales établies en RD Congo (statut juridique national requis). Les candidatures peuvent inclure codemandeurs et entités affiliées conformément aux lignes directrices.

Objectifs financés:Renforcement des capacités des OSC, participation citoyenne, gouvernance démocratique, redevabilité, inclusion sociale et actions favorisant le développement durable au niveau national et local.

Modalités et critères clés:

Soumission en ligne obligatoire via PROSPECT; respect des lignes directrices et formulaires Annexes A1/A2/B/C fournis en français. PADOR (enregistrement) requis pour demandeurs, codemandeurs et entités affiliées.

Dates importantes:Date limite note succincte (concept note) via PROSPECT: 20 April 2026, 13:00 heure de Bruxelles. Date limite pour demande complète (si invité): 17 July 2026, 13:00 heure de Bruxelles (voir lignes directrices).

Montant et forme de financement:Subventions d'action couvrant coûts réels et/ou financements non liés aux coûts selon les dispositions de l'appel; plusieurs indicateurs FNLC possibles et exigence d'évaluation/rapportage selon le contrat type.

Comment postuler:Toute candidature doit être déposée en ligne via le portail des opportunités de financement et appels d'offres de la Commission européenne PROSPECT/Portal EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

1. 1Type d'action: Action Grants EuropeAid
2. 2Zone géographique: République démocratique du Congo
3. 3Langue des documents: français (documents fournis en FR)
4. 4Soumission: obligatoire via PROSPECT; PADOR requis

Documents essentiels disponibles:Lignes directrices pour les candidats, annexes A1 (concept note), A2 (demande complète), B (budget), C (cadre logique) et G (contrat type) — publiés sur la page de l'appel.

Footnotes

1. 1Voir les lignes directrices et formulaires (Annexes A1/A2/B/C/G) publiés sur le portail des opportunités pour détails sur éligibilité, calendrier et modalités de financement: Call documents.

Title:Appui à une société civile congolaise forte et inclusive pour la gouvernance démocratique, la redevabilité et le développement durable. Reference: EuropeAid. Programme: Civil society organisation. Call status: Open for submission. Geographic focus: Congo (Democratic Republic of). Total call budget: €4,755,000. Funding instrument: Action Grants. Contracting authority: European Commission. Electronic submission via PROSPECT is mandatory.

Official opportunity page and documents are available through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and linked annexes, including guidelines, application templates, budget, logical framework, contract model, declarations, and identification forms EU Funding & Tenders Portal entry. PROSPECT support is open Monday to Friday, 08:30–18:30 Brussels time, excluding Commission holidays.

What the Call Seeks to Fund

This call aims to strengthen a strong and inclusive Congolese civil society for democratic governance, accountability, and sustainable development. Actions are expected to support human rights, democracy, good governance, youth support, child rights, inclusion of persons with disabilities, and environmental sustainability as transversal dimensions. Proposals should demonstrate clear logic of intervention, strong stakeholder engagement, credible monitoring and evaluation through a logical framework, and robust risk management. Financing modalities may be cost-based, include financing not linked to costs (FNLC), or a combination, aligned with Annex K.

Key Dates and Deadlines

• Concept note (restricted procedure): 20/04/2026 at 13:00 Brussels time. Online submission via PROSPECT only.
• Full application (by invitation): 17/07/2026 at 13:00 Brussels time.
• All timestamps in PROSPECT appear in Brussels time. IT helpdesk hours: Monday–Friday, 08:30–18:30 Brussels time, excluding European Commission holidays.

Templates and Mandatory Annexes

Applicants must use the official forms and annexes provided with the call. The most relevant templates and their purpose are described below. All are accessible through the portal’s Documents section.

• Lignes Directrices_Guidelines for grant applicant restricted (fr)_186040: Governs eligibility, financial provisions, evaluation, and conditions.
• Annex A1. Note succincte de présentation – Concept note: Summary of action, relevance, initial stakeholder mapping, logic of intervention, cross-cutting issues, indicative budget/contribution (where applicable), and lead/co-applicant identification.
• Annex A2. Demande complète – Full application: Detailed description (up to 18 pages), methodology (up to 5 pages), indicative action plan (up to 4 pages), sustainability (up to 3 pages), logical framework (Annex C), budget and financing sources (Annex B), experience, and mandatory declarations.
• Annex B – Budget: Cost-based budget sheets with categories for human resources, travel, equipment and supplies, project office, other costs and services, support to third parties (if authorised), indirect costs (up to 7%), and contingency (up to 5%). Includes justification sheet and sources of financing.
• Annex C – Logical framework and activity matrix: Results chain (impact, outcomes/realizations, outputs), indicators with baselines and targets, data sources, and assumptions; plus the activity matrix linking inputs and indicative amounts to outputs.
• Annex D – Identification forms: For private/public law bodies and for natural persons (entity identification and banking details), to be used where relevant for contracting. Legal entity details and bank account evidence are required.
• Annex F – PADOR offline registration form: For organisations unable to register online in e-Calls PADOR at the time of submission of the full application.
• Annex G – Standard Grant Contract (fr): Contractual terms, including reporting, payments, visibility, audit, verification of expenditures, and special conditions.
• Annex H – Declaration of honour on exclusion and selection criteria (fr): Must be completed by the lead, co-applicants, and affiliated entities.
• Annex J – Information on the tax regime applicable to grant contracts (fr): VAT and other indirect tax eligibility and required proofs in DR Congo context.
• Annex K – Clarifications on financing not linked to costs (fr): Guidance on FNLC design, budgeting, indicators, validation, and third-party evaluation.
• Annex L – Auto-évaluation SEA-H (fr): Self-assessment questionnaire on Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment policies and procedures.
• e-Calls PADOR privacy statement (fr): Data processing and retention for registration.

Budgeting and Cost Eligibility Snapshot

• Indirect costs are capped at a maximum of 7% of eligible direct costs excluding the project office line, per budget template guidance.
• Provision for contingencies is capped at a maximum of 5% of eligible direct costs, subject to prior authorisation for use.
• Volunteer work may be declared as eligible costs separately from direct costs (does not apply to indirect costs calculation) and can represent up to 50% of all sources of financing; the EU contribution cannot finance volunteers’ work.
• Per diems are real costs unless using authorised simplified cost options; indicate the country where incurred and comply with organisational travel policy and Commission per diem ceilings where applicable.
• Taxes, including VAT, are eligible if non-recoverable. There is no tax exemption agreement between the European Commission and the Democratic Republic of the Congo for this action. Beneficiaries must demonstrate that taxes are non-recoverable through official evidence or qualifying exceptions, as detailed in Annex J.
• Procurement under the grant must comply with the PRAG rules and Annex IV of the grant contract model; competitive procedures and complete procurement files are required.
• Financing not linked to costs (FNLC) is permitted if authorised by the guidelines. Indicators selected for FNLC must be in the logical framework and mirrored in the FNLC budget sections; payments are tied to validated results against predefined indicators and unit amounts.

Submission and IT Requirements

• Electronic submission via PROSPECT only; postal or hand delivery is not permitted.
• All dates and times are Brussels time. Applicants must plan for IT helpdesk availability and avoid last-minute submissions.
• PADOR registration: Prior registration in e-Calls PADOR is obligatory for lead applicants, co-applicants, and affiliated entities at full application stage. Where online registration is not possible, submit Annex F (offline form) with the application.
• Participant Identification Code (PIC) may be required in the application forms; consult the Participant Register.
• Data protection: Personal data are processed in line with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725; see the PADOR privacy statement and the PROSPECT data protection notes.

Categorisation and Structured Information

Eligible Applicant Types

Eligible applicants are civil society organisations and non-profit entities active in governance, accountability, human rights, and sustainable development. This includes NGOs, community-based organisations, networks, platforms, and foundations constituted under eligible national laws. The call emphasises local organisations established under the national law of the concerned country with headquarters in eligible countries; to be considered an eligible local organisation, statutes must show establishment under the domestic law of the target country. Public law bodies and private law bodies may participate where consistent with the guidelines and subject to the standard identification forms and eligibility checks. Natural persons are not presented as eligible applicants in the call materials. International organisations’ eligibility must be verified in the official guidelines (section 2.1.1). Co-applicants and affiliated entities may participate under the same eligibility rules and must complete the relevant declarations (Annex H) and affiliations statements.

Funding Type

Grant. Action Grants under EuropeAid with the possibility of funding via cost-based reimbursement, financing not linked to costs (FNLC), or a combination, as authorised by the guidelines and Annex K.

Consortium Requirement

A consortium is allowed. The templates and declarations provide for a lead applicant with co-applicants and affiliated entities, but the call does not state a mandatory consortium requirement. Single-applicant proposals are typically permitted unless the guidelines specify otherwise. Each co-applicant must provide a signed mandate to the lead at full application stage; affiliated entities must provide affiliation declarations.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility)

Geographic focus is the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Organisations must be established in eligible countries as defined in the call guidelines. To be considered a local eligible organisation, statutes must show establishment under the domestic law of the concerned country and headquarters in an eligible country. The action must be implemented in eligible locations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Target Sector

Governance, democracy, accountability, civil society strengthening, human rights, inclusion (including persons with disabilities), youth and child rights, environmental sustainability, and sustainable development. Cross-cutting dimensions include gender equality, democracy, good governance, environmental integration, and SEA-H prevention and response.

Mentioned Countries

Congo (Democratic Republic of). European Union is referenced as the funder and legal framework origin.

Project Stage

Implementation of development actions with clear results chains. Proposals should cover design, development of activities, delivery and validation of outputs and outcomes, monitoring, evaluation, and sustainability planning. Not research-focused; oriented to operational civil society strengthening, policy engagement, service delivery, capacity building, advocacy, and accountability mechanisms.

Funding Amount

Total call budget:€4,755,000. The minimum and maximum grant size per project, as well as the EU co-financing percentage, must be checked in the official guidelines (section 1.3 and 2.1.3) which define funding ceilings and floors. Indirect costs may not exceed 7% of eligible direct costs (excluding the project office line). A contingency reserve up to 5% of direct eligible costs may be included. Volunteer work can be costed as eligible unit costs but cannot be financed by the EU contribution and is excluded from indirects.

Application Type

Restricted open call with a two-stage application:concept note followed by full application upon invitation. Electronic submission only via PROSPECT. PADOR registration is obligatory at full application stage. Declarations on honour and eligibility must be provided.

Nature of Support

Money. Non-repayable grants disbursed according to the contract’s payment schedule, which may include pre-financing, interim payments, and balance, tied to acceptable reporting and (for FNLC) validated achievement of indicators.

Application Stages

2. Stage 1:Concept note (Note succincte de présentation, Annex A1). Stage 2: Full application (Demande complète, Annex A2) by invitation after concept note evaluation. Contracting follows evaluation and award.

Success Rates

Not specified in the call documentation. Applicants should refer to any published Questions and Answers or statistics if later provided by the contracting authority.

Co-funding Requirement

The EU co-financing rate and co-funding obligations are defined in the guidelines (section 1.3). The call documents allow for both cost-based and FNLC financing modalities. EU funding may not cover certain items (e.g., volunteer work) and cannot finance recoverable taxes. Where full financing is exceptionally allowed, justification is required as per Annex A2 and guidelines.

Compliance, Eligibility, and Due Diligence Requirements

• Exclusion and selection: Declaration on honour (Annex H) confirming no grounds for exclusion under PRAG section 2.4 and no EU restrictive measures.
• SEA-H safeguards: Completion of the self-assessment questionnaire (Annex L) and measures to strengthen internal policy and procedures on sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment.
• Tax regime in DRC: VAT and other indirect taxes are eligible only if non-recoverable; no overarching exemption exists with DRC. Evidence or permitted exceptions must be provided per Annex J.
• PADOR registration and validation of legal entity and bank account details (Annex D) are required before contracting.
• Procurement and financial verification: PRAG rules apply; audit and verification of expenditures may be required based on thresholds. For FNLC, third-party evaluation may be required per Article 2.11 and Annex K.
• Visibility: EU visibility obligations apply as per 2022 guidelines; necessary visibility costs must be minimal and embedded within relevant activity budgets, not as a stand-alone budget line.

How to Apply: Structure and Content Expectations

Stage 1: Concept Note (Annex A1):Provide a concise action summary; objectives (overall impact and specific outcomes); target groups and final beneficiaries with quantified estimates where possible; expected outputs; main activities; relevance to call objectives and priorities; country and sector needs and constraints; synergies with EU and other initiatives; stakeholder analysis and consultations; cross-cutting issues integration (human rights, disability inclusion, gender equality, democracy, governance, youth, child rights, environment, HIV/AIDS if relevant); indicative timeline. Include lead applicant details and, if required, EuropeAid ID and PIC.

Stage 2: Full Application (Annex A2):Description of the action (up to 18 pages): context and relevance, problem and needs analysis with data; stakeholder mapping; detailed logic of intervention linking activities to outputs and outcomes with indicators; risk assessment and mitigation; cross-cutting issues; and publications to be produced. Methodology (up to 5 pages): implementation methods, inputs, procurement, organisational structure and team by function, roles of applicants and stakeholders, monitoring and evaluation (internal/external), communication and visibility, and FNLC monitoring modalities if applicable. Action plan (up to 4 pages): semester-by-semester Gantt with responsible entity. Sustainability (up to 3 pages): technical, economic, social, policy, and environmental durability, including replication and scaling potential. Logical framework (Annex C) and budget (Annex B) with justification and financing sources (including co-funding). Experience: recent similar actions and other actions in the last 3 years for lead, co-applicants, and affiliates. Mandates and affiliation declarations; legal entity and bank identification forms; PADOR registration evidence; and declarations on honour.

Budgeting and FNLC Integration:For cost-based budgets, complete all required sheets with unit, quantity, and unit value per budget line; ensure detailed descriptions and alignment with the narrative and activity plan. For FNLC, define outputs or outcomes and their indicators in the logical framework, specify baselines and targets, list data sources, and transpose indicators into the FNLC budget with unit payments and partial achievement scales where relevant. Where FNLC is used, third-party evaluation is generally included unless justified otherwise, per Annex K.

Audit, Verification, and Reporting:Interim narrative and financial reports follow the Annex VI models. Cost-based components may require expenditure verification by an independent practitioner using the Annex VII-A terms of reference and transaction/error tables. FNLC components rely on agreed indicators, data sources, and, where stipulated, third-party evaluation. Payment requests use the standard template (Annex G, Annex V). All reports must ensure EU visibility and comply with PRAG and contract conditions.

Evaluation and Award (Indicative)

Concept notes are assessed for relevance, design coherence, EU value added, and alignment with call priorities. Shortlisted applicants are invited to submit full applications, which undergo detailed evaluation of methodology, feasibility, stakeholder engagement, risk and M&E robustness, logical framework quality, budget consistency, cost-effectiveness, and compliance with eligibility and exclusion criteria. Final award decisions are subject to verification of supporting documents and adoption of the Standard Grant Contract terms.

Administrative Essentials and References

• PRAG reference for exclusion and selection criteria applies; adherence is confirmed via Annex H declarations.
• Measures restrictive of the EU: Applicants and affiliates must not be subject to EU restrictive measures under PRAG 2.4.1.
• Data protection: See PADOR privacy statement DPR-EC-02167 and PROSPECT/DG INTPA notices.
• Participant Register and PIC: See EU Participant Register for guidance.
• Time zone: All PROSPECT deadlines are in Brussels time; plan for conversion and IT helpdesk availability.

Comprehensive Answers to the Requested Questions

Eligible Applicant Types:Civil society organisation; NGO; nonprofit; community-based organisation; foundation; network or platform; research or advocacy-focused civil society entity; private or public law body acting on a non-profit basis as permitted by the guidelines; associated organisations. International entities’ eligibility and roles must be verified in the official guidelines (section 2.1.1). Natural persons are not presented as eligible lead applicants.

Funding Type:Grant (Action Grant), with cost-based reimbursement and/or financing not linked to costs (FNLC) as allowed.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium permitted but not mandatory. The application framework supports a lead applicant with co-applicants and affiliated entities, evidenced by mandate and affiliation templates. Single-applicant submissions are typically acceptable unless otherwise specified in the guidelines.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Democratic Republic of the Congo. Organisations must be established in eligible countries defined in the guidelines; to qualify as a local eligible organisation, statutes must show establishment under domestic law and headquarters in an eligible country. Actions must be implemented in eligible locations in DRC.

Target Sector:Governance; democracy; civil society and accountability; human rights; inclusion and gender equality; youth and child rights; environmental sustainability; sustainable development; policy dialogue; capacity building; advocacy; monitoring and accountability mechanisms.

Mentioned Countries:Congo (Democratic Republic of). European Union is referenced as the donor and regulatory framework origin.

Project Stage:Operational development and implementation. Proposals should present a full intervention cycle covering planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability. The logical framework specifies outputs, outcomes, and impact with indicators, baselines, and targets.

Funding Amount:Total call budget is €4,755,000. Minimum and maximum grant size per project and EU co-financing rate are defined in the guidelines (section 1.3). Indirect costs capped at 7% of eligible direct costs (excluding the project office line). Contingency up to 5%. Taxes are eligible if not recoverable, subject to proof per Annex J. Volunteer work can be declared as eligible unit costs but cannot be financed by the EU contribution and is excluded from indirect costs computation.

Application Type:Restricted two-stage call: concept note followed by invitation-only full application. Electronic submission via PROSPECT only; PADOR registration mandatory for organisations at the full application stage.

Nature of Support:Money. Non-repayable grants disbursed per contract conditions, subject to acceptable reporting and, where FNLC applies, validated achievement of agreed indicators.

Application Stages:2 stages. Stage 1: Concept note due 20/04/2026 13:00 (Brussels). Stage 2: Full application (by invitation) due 17/07/2026 13:00 (Brussels). Contracting follows evaluation and verification.

Success Rates:Not indicated in the provided call documents.

Co-funding Requirement:Co-funding is typically required; precise EU co-financing ceilings/floors and any possibility of full financing must be checked in the guidelines (section 1.3). Where full financing is permitted, strong justification is needed. Taxes must be non-recoverable to be eligible; EU funds cannot finance recoverable taxes. Volunteer work may contribute as in-kind financing within limits.

Application Templates: Structure and Guidance

1. 1Annex A1 (Concept note) core sections: 1) Action summary table covering objectives, target groups, final beneficiaries, expected outputs, key activities. 2) Description of the action in up to 2 pages, covering preparation, sectoral/national context and challenges, studies underpinning the design, objectives, stakeholder consultations, intervention logic with outputs/outcomes and key risks and assumptions, activity clusters and links, cross-cutting issues, and indicative timeline. 3) Relevance in up to 3 pages, including fit to call objectives/priorities, specific sub-themes/conditions, expected results listed in the guidelines, country/sector needs with data analysis, synergies and complementarity with EU and other donors, avoidance of duplication, and participatory processes with target groups and final beneficiaries. 4) Lead applicant and co-applicants/affiliates identification and eligibility, including EuropeAid ID and PIC as applicable.
2. 2Annex A2 (Full application) core sections: 1) General information (reference, lot if applicable, proposal number). 2) Description (up to 18 pages) detailing relevance, context, logic of intervention, activities grouped per output, indicators, data sources, publications, and risks; 3) Methodology (up to 5 pages), including implementation methods, inputs, prior action continuity, programme integration and synergies, organisational structure and roles, M&E, evaluations, communication/visibility, FNLC arrangements; 4) Indicative action plan (up to 4 pages) with Gantt by semester; 5) Sustainability (up to 3 pages) across financial, institutional, policy, and environmental dimensions; 6) Logical framework (Annex C); 7) Budget and financing sources (Annex B); 8) Experience portfolio for last 3 years; 9) Legal entity identification, bank details, PADOR registration evidence; 10) Mandates for co-applicants and affiliation statements.
3. 3Budget (Annex B): Complete cost-based budget sheets with units, quantities, unit values, and cost totals for all categories; justify budget items in the dedicated sheet; specify sources of financing with amounts and percentages; ensure balance between costs and financing sources; respect rules on indirect costs (max 7%) and contingency (max 5%); declare volunteer work separately if authorised; ensure visibility costs are minimal and embedded in relevant activity budgets. For FNLC, use the dedicated budget sheets and ensure perfect consistency with the logical framework and narrative.
4. 4Logical framework and Activity matrix (Annex C): Provide the full results chain, indicators with baselines and targets, units of measure, data sources, and assumptions; indicate FNLC indicators explicitly where applicable; provide an activity matrix linking inputs and indicative amounts to outputs.
5. 5Declarations and compliance: Complete Annex H (declaration on honour) for exclusion and selection criteria; complete SEA-H self-assessment (Annex L); ensure compliance with PRAG procurement; confirm no EU restrictive measures apply to applicants or affiliates; and ensure tax eligibility evidence per Annex J at final reporting at the latest.
6. 6Reporting and payments: Use Annex G templates for interim narrative and final reports, and the standard request for payment (Annex V). Where expenditure verification applies, use Annex VII-A (terms of reference and tables). For FNLC, ensure third-party evaluation if required by the contract.

Summary: What This Opportunity Is About

This EuropeAid Action Grant call finances civil society-led actions that strengthen democratic governance, accountability, and sustainable development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a restricted two-stage process, starting with a concept note and followed by a full application upon invitation, both submitted electronically via PROSPECT. The call’s total budget is €4,755,000. Eligible entities are civil society organisations and non-profit actors that can credibly deliver outputs and outcomes aligned with the call’s priorities, including human rights, gender equality, inclusion, youth and child rights, and environmental sustainability. Proposals must articulate a solid logic of intervention using a logical framework with measurable indicators, baselines, and targets, and show stakeholder participation and complementarity with EU and donor initiatives. Funding is awarded through grants, either via cost-based reimbursement, financing not linked to costs (FNLC), or a combination. The budget rules cap indirect costs at 7% of eligible direct costs (excluding the project office line) and allow up to 5% contingency. Taxes are eligible only if non-recoverable; there is no general tax exemption agreement with DRC, so beneficiaries must document non-recoverability. The application package provides structured templates: a concise concept note (Annex A1), a detailed full application (Annex A2), a costed budget and justification (Annex B), a logical framework and activity matrix (Annex C), declarations on honour (Annex H), SEA-H self-assessment (Annex L), and standard contracting, reporting, and verification annexes (Annex G and Annex VII-A). PADOR registration is obligatory. The evaluation focuses on relevance to call objectives, design and feasibility, measurable results, risk and M&E robustness, budget consistency, cost-effectiveness, and compliance. Awarded grants are managed under the Standard Grant Contract with clear reporting, verification, and visibility obligations. This is a strong opportunity for DRC-based and eligible civil society partners to implement measurable, inclusive governance and accountability actions contributing to sustainable development outcomes in the country.

Access the call and documents through the portal and ensure submission within the Brussels-time deadlines. Align your proposal to the call’s priorities, use the official templates, comply with PRAG, and design a robust logical framework and budget, including FNLC if appropriate. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Opportunity page and document repository: EU Funding & Tenders Portal entry Appui à une société civile congolaise forte et inclusive.

This is a restricted call for proposals under the EuropeAid reference, managed by the European Commission through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The initiative aims to strengthen Congolese civil society to enhance democratic governance, accountability, and sustainable development in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Key Dates and Budget

Total Budget:€4,755,000 available for action grants.

Concept Note Deadline:20 April 2026 at 13:00 Brussels time (online submission via PROSPECT is mandatory).

Full Application Deadline:17 July 2026 at 13:00 Brussels time (for shortlisted applicants only).

Publication Date:6 March 2026.

Submission must be made exclusively online through the PROSPECT system. All dates are in Brussels time. Technical support is available Monday to Friday, 8:30-18:30 Brussels time, excluding EU holidays.

Objectives and Scope

The call supports projects fostering a strong, inclusive civil society in DRC to promote democratic governance, public accountability, and sustainable development. It falls under the Civil Society Organisations programme, targeting the geographical zone of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Eligibility Criteria

This is a restricted procedure. Only legally established civil society organisations from eligible countries (primarily DRC for local applicants) may apply as lead applicant. Co-applicants and affiliated entities are permitted. Organisations must demonstrate establishment under the law of an eligible country with headquarters located there. Detailed eligibility is outlined in the Guidelines for Grant Applicants (available in French).

• Lead applicant must be a non-profit civil society organisation.
• Must be registered in PADOR or submit offline registration form.
• No profit-making organisations unless specified.
• Compliance with exclusion criteria (e.g., no bankruptcy, fraud convictions).

Application Process

1. 1Submit Concept Note (Annex A1) by 20/04/2026.
2. 2Shortlisted applicants submit Full Application (Annex A2) by 17/07/2026.
3. 3Include Logical Framework (Annex C), Budget (Annex B), and other required annexes.
4. 4All documents in French; A4 format, Arial 10, single spacing, max pages specified.

Funding Conditions

Action grants under cost reimbursement or non-cost-linked financing options (if authorised). Detailed funding rates, minimum/maximum amounts, and co-financing requirements are in the Guidelines (section 1.3). Budget must be in EUR; indirect costs up to 7%, contingency up to 5%.

Key Requirements for Applicants

• Demonstrate relevance to call priorities, local needs, and no overlap with other initiatives.
• Provide experience in similar actions (last 3 years).
• Include sustainability plan, risk analysis, and cross-cutting issues (e.g., gender equality, environment, human rights).
• Register in PADOR; provide EuropeAid ID or PIC.
• Comply with visibility rules, SEA-H self-assessment (Annex L).

Applicants must address DRC-specific challenges like democratic governance gaps and sustainable development needs. Synergies with EU initiatives and absence of duplication are critical.

Available Documents and Portal

All documents (Guidelines, forms) available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal:EU Funding Portal. Download in French. Start submission via PROSPECT.

For queries, contact IT Helpdesk via portal. Note:Recent EU humanitarian aid to DRC (e.g., €81M in 2026 for eastern conflict) highlights priority on crisis response, but this call focuses on civil society strengthening¹.

Footnotes

1. 1EU announcements on DRC aid via civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu.