BHUTAN - Civil Society Organisations as Actors in Governance and Development

EuropeAid is a restricted two-stage EU call (concept note deadline 21 April 2026) to strengthen Bhutanese civil society with an indicative budget of €1,600,000 and individual grants of €400,000–800,000; actions must take place in Bhutan and last 24–48 months. Eligible lead applicants are non-profit CSOs established in an EU Member State or Bhutan and must form consortia (EU lead with minimum two Bhutanese co-applicants or Bhutan lead with minimum one Bhutanese co-applicant); international organisations are not eligible. EU co-financing ranges from 50% to 80% of eligible costs (up to 90% in specified cases), indirect costs are capped at 7%, and financial support to third parties is permitted up to €60,000 per recipient unless justified. Priorities include CSO capacity and enabling environment, CSO engagement in Bhutan’s economic roadmap and Global Gateway priorities, mandatory PADOR and PROSPECT registration, and full applications are by invitation only with an indicative full-application deadline of 14 July 2026.

Quick summary

What is funded

Action grants for projects strengthening Bhutanese civil society organisations engagement in governance, democracy, accountability and development, including capacity building, policy dialogue, CSO–government–parliament mechanisms, CSO–private sector linkages, support to economic sectors (agri-food, renewable energy, circular economy, digitalisation), and financial support to third parties where justified.

Total budget and individual grant size:€1,600,000 available in total. Grants requested must be between €400,000 and €800,000. EU contribution may cover 50% to 80% of eligible costs (up to 90% for applicants in certain specified locations).¹

Who can apply:Lead applicants must be non-profit legal persons (NGOs/CSOs) established in an EU Member State or in Bhutan. Actions must include either an EU lead with at least two Bhutanese co-applicants, or a Bhutanese lead with at least one Bhutanese co-applicant. International organisations are not eligible.

Key eligibility and administrative points

Actions must take place in Bhutan and last 24 to 48 months. This is a two-stage restricted call: submit a concept note first; only pre-selected applicants will be invited to submit full applications. Online registration in PADOR and submission via PROSPECT are mandatory. Financial support to third parties (FSTP) is allowed (standard cap €60,000 per third party unless justified).

1. 1Deadline for concept notes: 21 April 2026, 12:00 Brussels time
2. 2Indicative full application deadline (for invited applicants): 14 July 2026, 12:00 Brussels time
3. 3Project duration: 24 to 48 months
4. 4Mandatory PADOR registration and PROSPECT online submission

Evaluation is in three steps:administrative check and concept-note scoring (minimum 30/50 to be pre-selected), full application quality and capacity assessment, then eligibility verification of supporting documents for provisionally selected applicants. Applicants should follow the Guidelines for Grant Applicants and the Annex templates when preparing submissions.

Information session planned online on 24 March 2026 (registration by 13 March for attendees via the contact in the guidelines). Technical support and user guides for PADOR/PROSPECT are available; IT helpdesk contact is provided in the call documents.

Footnotes

1. 1Full guidelines, application forms and annexes are in the call documentation: Guidelines for Grant Applicants.

Reference:EuropeAid. Programme: Civil Society Organisations Thematic Programme 2021-2027, Multiannual Action Plan 2025-2027, Budget line E.14020220. Contracting Authority: European Commission. Geographical zone: Bhutan. Total budget: €1,600,000. Grant size: €400,000 to €800,000 per project. Call type: Restricted call for proposals with two submission phases. Submission system: PROSPECT with mandatory PADOR and Participant Register registration. Status: Open for submission. Publication date: 19 February 2026. Deadline for concept notes: 21 April 2026 at 12:00 Brussels time.

Official opportunity page:EU Funding and Tenders Portal opportunity page: BHUTAN - Civil Society Organisations as Actors in Governance and Development EU Funding and Tenders Portal opportunity.

Guidelines for applicants:Guidelines for grant applicants and annexes are available via PROSPECT. Direct guideline document link provided in the scraped context: Guidelines for grant applicants (download via PROSPECT).

Objectives and Priorities

Global objective:Strengthen Bhutanese civil society organisations’ engagement as actors of good governance, democracy, accountability and development.

• Specific Objective 1: Strengthen internal CSO capacities and sustainability, and the enabling environment for CSO engagement as constructive actors of change in Bhutan.
• Specific Objective 2: Promote CSO contributions to Bhutan's 21st Century Economic Roadmap and EU Global Gateway priorities in Bhutan. Applicants must address at least one specific objective and are encouraged to address both in a complementary manner.

Priority issues under SO1:Government–CSO–Parliament dialogues; consultative mechanisms, inclusive decision-making and transparency; CSO partnerships with key institutions and corporate sector to promote transparency, inclusivity and sustainability; capacity building in inclusion, good governance, transparent public finance management, public participation, citizen engagement, accountability; strengthening sustainable financing models for CSOs including social enterprise and income generation; building and strengthening CSO platforms and collectives for unified advocacy.

Priority issues under SO2:Strengthen CSO capacities for policy dialogue, implementation and monitoring at Thromde, Dzongkhag, Gewog and national levels, including EU-supported actions and national plans; enhance CSO contributions to sustainable agri-food systems and value chains, renewable energy, circular economy, IT and tourism; raise awareness in National and Local Governments and private sector of CSO roles in local economic growth, green transition and job creation; strengthen CSO-media engagement to amplify voice and mobilise youth and the wider public.

Added-value considerations for higher scoring proposals:Strong intervention logic tied from needs to impacts; clear justification and innovation; convincing geographic logic; inclusive design engaging key stakeholders and disadvantaged groups; sustainability and scalability with government and community ownership; robust baseline data and targets in the logical framework; sound monitoring; gender analysis and gender-sensitive logframe with sex-disaggregated data; rights-based approach with attention to women, youth, persons with disabilities, indigenous people and other vulnerable groups; RACER indicators including corporate indicators where relevant; replication of successful participation practices; well-balanced budget prioritising direct target group costs.

Funding and Financial Provisions

• Total indicative allocation: €1,600,000.
• Grant size per project: minimum €400,000 and maximum €800,000.
• EU co-financing rate: minimum 50 percent and maximum 80 percent of total eligible costs.
• Enhanced co-financing possibility: up to 90 percent of total eligible costs where applicant(s) and, where applicable, affiliated entities are established in the locations laid down in Section 2.1.3 (eligibility details apply).
• Form of grant: reimbursement of eligible costs based on actual costs, in line with the Standard Grant Contract general conditions (Annex G).
• Duration of actions: between 24 and 48 months.
• Location: activities must take place in Bhutan.
• Eligible direct and indirect costs: as per Article 14 of general conditions; indirect costs flat-rate up to 7 percent of eligible direct costs (with exclusions).
• Contingency reserve: up to 5 percent of estimated direct eligible costs, usable with prior written authorisation.
• Ineligible costs: debts, provisions, double-funded costs, land and buildings except under conditions, currency exchange losses, in-kind contributions except volunteer work, bonuses in staff costs, negative interest, credit to third parties, salary costs of national administrations.

Financial Support to Third Parties:Permitted to help achieve action objectives. Default maximum per third party is €60,000, unless justified for exceeding this threshold. Applicants must define objectives, outputs, eligible activity types, eligible recipient categories, selection criteria, calculation method for amounts, maximum amount, monitoring and evaluation modalities, risk assessment, mitigating measures, and documentation requirements. FSTP should facilitate access for grassroots and local CSOs through simplified procedures and local languages where appropriate. Applicants proposing FSTP must demonstrate prior grant-making experience and justify the added value of FSTP.

Eligibility and Consortium Rules

• Lead applicant must be a legal person, non-profit-making, and a civil society organisation such as a non-governmental organisation, CSO or CSO association.
• Lead applicant must be effectively established in an EU Member State or in Bhutan.
• International organisations are not eligible as lead or co-applicants.
• Lead applicant must act with co-applicants: If lead is EU-based, at least two Bhutanese co-applicants are required. If lead is Bhutan-based, at least one Bhutanese co-applicant is required. EU-based leads should demonstrate prior experience or established partnerships in Bhutan.
• Co-applicants must meet the same eligibility criteria as the lead applicant and sign mandates in Annex A.2 Section 5.
• Affiliated entities are allowed if there is a structural link (control or membership) with the applicant; they must meet the same eligibility criteria and sign affiliated entity statements.
• Associates may participate but cannot receive funding except per diem and travel; they need not meet applicant eligibility criteria.
• Contractors may be procured under the grant following Annex IV procurement rules; entities cannot simultaneously hold multiple roles.
• Actions must be project-based, with coherent activities leading to measurable outputs, outcomes and impacts; one-off scholarships or conferences alone are ineligible; political party support and discriminatory or proselytising activities are ineligible.

Thematic Scope and Activities

• Structured policy dialogue; Government–CSO–Parliament engagement; consultative mechanisms for inclusive decision making; advocacy for CSO representation parity on boards and committees.
• Evidence-based policy-making through research, data collection and analysis; multi-actor partnership building; consortium approaches and pooled funds; CSO–private sector linkages including CSR and domestic funding mobilisation.
• Capacity development in inclusion, good governance, transparent public finance management, citizen engagement, accountability; internal governance, project and financial management, advocacy and research.
• Business planning, market research, and incubation support for CSO social enterprises; leveraging academic institutions, TVETs, sectoral training; mentorship.
• Gender equality and youth inclusion capacity; strengthening local women’s and youth partners; CSO–media engagement to amplify public participation, especially youth.
• Digital transformation awareness for authorities and citizens; policy advocacy for digital governance frameworks; promoting digital skills and reducing the digital gender gap and other access gaps.
• Strengthening monitoring of transparency, inclusivity and sustainability in businesses and investments.
• Sector contributions aligned to Bhutan’s priorities: sustainable agri-food systems and value chains, renewable energy, circular economy, IT and tourism.

Submission, Registration, and Timeline

• Restricted call: two-phase application via PROSPECT. Phase 1: Concept Note. Phase 2: Full Application by invitation only.
• Mandatory registration: PADOR for organisations and European Commission Participant Register to obtain a 9-digit PIC. PADOR: webgate.ec.europa.eu. Participant Register: Participant Register guidance.
• Concept notes must be submitted online via PROSPECT: webgate.ec.europa.eu and in English.
• Full applications must be submitted via PROSPECT in the same language as the concept note; supporting documents are uploaded into PADOR.

Indicative timetable:Online information meeting: 24 March 2026. Clarification request deadline for concept notes: 31 March 2026, 12:00 Brussels time. Last date for clarifications: 10 April 2026. Concept note deadline: 21 April 2026, 12:00 Brussels time. Notification of Step 1 results and invitations to submit full applications: 25 May 2026. Full application deadline: 14 July 2026, 12:00 Brussels time. Notification of award decision: 25 September 2026. Contract signature: 30 October 2026.

Information session and contacts:An online information session is indicatively planned on 24 March 2026. To attend, email by 13 March 2026 to delegation-india-operations@eeas.europa.eu with participant names, nationalities, emails, and organisation, max two participants per organisation. General Q&A email for the call: DELEGATION-THAILAND-REGIONAL-CALL-FOR-PROPOSALS@eeas.europa.eu. Technical support for PROSPECT and PADOR: via PROSPECT online support form; working languages English, French, Spanish.

Evaluation and Selection

Evaluation has three main steps:administrative checks and concept note evaluation; full application evaluation including selection and award criteria; verification of eligibility with supporting documentation. Proposals are scored against published grids. Only concept notes scoring at least 30 points proceed and the shortlist totals up to 200 percent of available budget. Final award follows eligibility verification.

Concept Note evaluation grid (max 50 points):Relevance 20 points: alignment with call objectives; relevance to country and sector needs; clarity of target groups and beneficiaries; added-value elements. Design 30 points: intervention logic with outputs, outcomes, impacts (weighted double); context analysis; risks and assumptions; consistency of indicative activities; integration of cross-cutting issues including environment, climate, gender equality, inclusion of persons with disabilities and minorities, youth, and relevant health issues.

Full Application evaluation grid (max 100 points):Financial and operational capacity 20 points; Relevance 20 points; Design 15 points including a complete, indicator-rich Logical Framework Matrix with RACER indicators and baselines/targets; Implementation approach 15 points including clear action plan and monitoring and evaluation system; Sustainability 15 points across financial, institutional, policy, environmental dimensions with risk analysis; Budget and cost-effectiveness 15 points with efficiency weighted double. If Section 1 scores below 12 or any subsection in Section 1 scores 1, the application is rejected.

Visibility, Ethics, and Compliance

• Visibility: EU emblem and funding statement must be displayed as per Communication and Visibility Requirements for EU-funded external actions. Derogations may be requested in exceptional cases for security or political sensitivity, to be addressed in the full application.
• Ethics and values: absence of conflict of interest; compliance with environmental legislation and ILO core labour standards; respect for EU values including human rights and rule of law.
• Zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment: for grants above €60,000, successful applicants and co-applicants, excluding certain categories, must complete the SEA-H self-evaluation questionnaire (Annex L).
• Anti-corruption and anti-bribery: compliance required, with possible suspension or cancellation in case of corrupt practices.
• Early Detection and Exclusion System: personal and organisational data may be registered in EDES if in early detection or exclusion situations.

Application Templates and Required Documents

Applicants must use and submit the forms provided with the call. Below is a practical outline of the key templates and what they typically require.

• Annex A.1 Grant Application Form – Concept Note: Project title and summary; relevance to SO1 and/or SO2 and priorities; geographic focus and target groups; problem analysis and proposed solution; intervention logic and indicative activities; expected results and impacts; cross-cutting issues integration; indicative EU contribution and co-financing percentage; declaration by lead applicant.
• Annex A.2 Grant Application Form – Full Application: Detailed context and stakeholder analysis; problem tree and objectives tree; comprehensive intervention logic linking inputs–activities–outputs–outcomes–impacts; detailed description of activities clustered by outputs; work plan and timeline; risk analysis and mitigation; monitoring, evaluation and learning framework; management and governance arrangements; roles and value-add of each co-applicant and affiliated entity; FSTP scheme design if applicable including objectives, eligible activities, recipient categories, selection criteria, grant calculation method, monitoring and documentation; justification for any changes from concept note; visibility and communication plan with possible derogation request; safeguarding and SEA-H policy summary; environmental and social safeguards; budget narrative and cost-efficiency justification; sustainability strategy including financial, institutional and policy pathways; annexed declarations and mandates.
• Annex B Budget (Excel): Cost-based budget by headings and cost categories; staff, travel, equipment, supplies, services, subcontracts, FSTP lines, contingency up to 5 percent, and indirect costs up to 7 percent; unit rates and calculation notes; co-financing sources; budget consistency checks.
• Annex C Logical Framework Matrix: Impact, outcomes, outputs; indicators with baselines and targets and sources of verification; assumptions and risks; RACER conformity; identify any financing-not-linked-to-costs results if used.
• Annex D Identification Forms: Legal identification for private or public entities; for public law bodies a dedicated form; include statutes or articles of association as applicable.
• Annex F PADOR offline form: To be used only when online PADOR registration is technically impossible or for confidentiality/security reasons, to be submitted with full application.
• Annex G Standard Grant Contract and General Conditions: Applicable contractual framework including Annex II General Conditions, Annex IV procurement rules, payment request templates, reporting templates.
• Annex H Declaration on honour on exclusion and selection criteria: Signed by lead and all co-applicants and affiliated entities where grant amount thresholds apply.
• Annex J Information on the tax regime: Guidance on taxes applicable to the grant contracts in the call context.
• Annex L Self-evaluation questionnaire on SEA-H: To be completed by successful applicants and co-applicants for grants above €60,000, except exempted categories.
• Reporting templates: Model narrative and financial report, expenditure verification ToR and factual findings report templates, financial guarantee model, and asset transfer template where relevant.

Key Facts at a Glance

Categorisation Answers

Eligible Applicant Types:Civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, and associations of CSOs that are legal persons and non-profit. Eligible leads must be established in an EU Member State or in Bhutan. Co-applicants must meet the same criteria. International organisations are not eligible as lead or co-applicants. Affiliated entities with structural links to applicants may participate. Associates may participate without receiving grant funding except per diem and travel.

Funding Type:Grant. The grant takes the form of reimbursement of eligible actual costs under the Standard Grant Contract. The scheme also allows Financial Support to Third Parties as sub-grants managed by beneficiaries.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium required. If the lead is EU-based, at least two Bhutanese co-applicants are mandatory. If the lead is Bhutan-based, at least one Bhutanese co-applicant is mandatory. Affiliated entities may also participate subject to structural link conditions.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Lead applicants must be established in an EU Member State or in Bhutan. Co-applicants and affiliated entities must meet the same establishment requirements. All action activities must take place in Bhutan.

Target Sector:Good governance, democracy, accountability, civil society capacity building and sustainability, inclusive decision-making, public finance management transparency, citizen participation, advocacy, CSO-private sector engagement, media and communications, youth and gender inclusion, digital transformation and digital skills. Economic sectors explicitly supported include sustainable agri-food systems and value chains, renewable energy, circular economy, information technology, and tourism.

Mentioned Countries:Bhutan; EU Member States. Contact and administrative references also mention India and Thailand for delegation emails and publication sites. Actions must take place in Bhutan.

Project Stage:Implementation-focused projects encompassing capacity development, policy dialogue, advocacy, systems strengthening, and monitoring. Stages include development and implementation with validation and demonstration elements through evidence-based policy engagement and measurable outcomes; not research and development in the scientific sense.

Funding Amount:Per project: €400,000 to €800,000. Total call envelope: €1,600,000. EU co-financing between 50 percent and 80 percent of total eligible costs, up to 90 percent under specified establishment conditions. Indirect costs up to 7 percent and contingency up to 5 percent are allowable within limits.

Application Type:Restricted call for proposals with two-stage submission: Phase 1 Concept Note via PROSPECT; Phase 2 Full Application by invitation only. Mandatory registration in PADOR and the Participant Register. Electronic submission only.

Nature of Support:Money in the form of grants. Non-monetary support includes an online information session and access to guidance and user manuals, but the core support is financial.

Application Stages:Submission stages: 2 stages (Concept Note, then Full Application by invitation). Evaluation stages: 3 steps (administrative checks and concept note evaluation; full application evaluation; verification of eligibility with supporting documents).

Success Rates:Success rates are not specified in the call documentation. The concept note shortlist will be limited to a total requested EU contribution equal to approximately 200 percent of the available budget, after which only top-scoring proposals are invited to submit full applications.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. EU contribution must be between 50 percent and 80 percent of total eligible costs, or up to 90 percent for applicants established in specified locations as per Section 2.1.3. The remaining balance must be financed from sources other than the EU general budget or European Development Fund. Contributions in kind do not count as co-financing except for eligible volunteer work under specific conditions.

Compliance, Procurement, and Reporting

• Procurement: Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must follow Annex IV Contract award rules for any subcontracting or implementation contracts.
• Reporting: Use the model narrative and financial reporting templates; expenditure verification may be required as per thresholds and Annex VII ToR and templates.
• Financial capacity documentation for lead applicants is required depending on grant size and audit obligations; latest accounts and, where applicable, external audit reports must be provided at full application.

How to Maximise Competitiveness

• Demonstrate strong local anchoring through Bhutanese co-applicants and established partnerships; ensure meaningful participation of key stakeholders including youth, women, and marginalised groups.
• Provide robust baseline data and realistic targets in the logical framework; ensure indicators are RACER with credible sources of verification.
• Present a compelling sustainability plan covering financial, institutional and policy dimensions; include clear replication and scaling pathways.
• Show prior grant-making experience and a well-designed scheme if proposing Financial Support to Third Parties, with simplified access for grassroots CSOs.
• Ensure a balanced budget prioritising direct benefits to target groups and efficient management costs; justify unit costs and cost-effectiveness.

Useful Links and Resources

• Opportunity page: EU Funding and Tenders Portal opportunity
• PROSPECT submission system: webgate.ec.europa.eu
• PADOR registration: webgate.ec.europa.eu
• Participant Register guidance: Participant Register
• PRAG: ePRAG
• Project cycle management and financial toolkit: Project management guidelines and Financial toolkit
• Communication and visibility: Communication and Visibility Requirements for EU External Actions on the International Partnerships website.

Comprehensive Summary

This restricted call funds civil society-led projects that strengthen governance, democracy, accountability, and sustainable development in Bhutan. It aligns with the EU’s Civil Society Organisations Thematic Programme and Bhutan’s policy frameworks, including the 13th Five-Year Plan, the 21st Century Economic Roadmap, and the Gelephu Mindfulness City initiative. Eligible leads are non-profit CSOs or NGOs legally established in an EU Member State or in Bhutan, with international organisations excluded. A consortium is mandatory and must be locally anchored: EU-based leads must partner with at least two Bhutanese CSOs; Bhutan-based leads must include at least one Bhutanese CSO. Grants range from €400,000 to €800,000, co-financing 50 to 80 percent of eligible costs, and up to 90 percent under specific establishment conditions. Projects must run 24 to 48 months and operate in Bhutan. Priorities span two specific objectives: building CSO institutional capacity and an enabling environment for civic engagement; and enhancing CSO contributions to Bhutan’s economic and green transition priorities under Global Gateway. Activities include structured policy dialogue, inclusive decision-making mechanisms, evidence-based advocacy, CSO–private sector partnerships, organisational capacity development, social enterprise incubation, gender and youth inclusion, media engagement, and digital transformation support. Financial Support to Third Parties is allowed to empower grassroots and local CSOs, with a default ceiling of €60,000 per recipient unless justified. Applications are submitted electronically through PROSPECT with mandatory PADOR and Participant Register registration. The process is two-stage: concept notes are evaluated for relevance and design; invited full applications are assessed for capacity, quality, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. A rigorous Logical Framework Matrix with RACER indicators and robust monitoring and evaluation is essential. This opportunity is best suited to consortia that combine strong local presence in Bhutan with demonstrated experience in governance, advocacy, and sectoral priorities such as sustainable agri-food systems, renewable energy, circular economy, IT and tourism, and that can show credible pathways to sustained, scalable impact, inclusive participation, and efficient, transparent use of EU funds.

Funding Opportunity Overview

This is a call for proposals under the European Union's Civil Society Organisation Thematic Programme 2021-2027, managed by the Delegation of the European Union to India and Bhutan. The initiative aims to strengthen Bhutanese civil society organisations' engagement as actors of good governance, democracy, accountability and development ¹. The call supports activities that enhance civil society's role in policy dialogue, economic development, and institutional strengthening at national and local levels.

Reference Number and Programme Details:EuropeAid. Published 19 February 2026. This is a restricted call for proposals requiring submission of concept notes in the first phase, followed by full applications from pre-selected lead applicants.

Funding Amounts and Financial Conditions

The overall indicative budget allocated for this call for proposals is €1,600,000. Individual grants must fall within specific parameters to ensure equitable distribution of resources ².

Individual Grant Range:Minimum €400,000 and maximum €800,000 per action. The EU contribution must represent between 50% and 80% of total eligible costs for most applicants, or up to 90% for applicants established in Bhutan or EU Member States. The balance must be financed from sources other than the EU general budget or European Development Fund.

Eligible Costs Structure:Direct eligible costs are reimbursed as actual costs incurred. Indirect costs are eligible at a flat rate not exceeding 7% of estimated total eligible direct costs. A contingency reserve of up to 5% of estimated direct eligible costs may be included but requires prior written authorisation from the contracting authority.

Eligibility Criteria for Applicants

Applicants must meet specific structural and organisational requirements to be eligible for this funding. The call follows a consortium-based approach to ensure local ownership and partnership quality.

Lead Applicant Requirements:Must be a legal, non-profit entity such as an NGO or civil society organisation established under national law. Lead applicants must be effectively established in an EU Member State or Bhutan. EU-based lead applicants must demonstrate prior experience or established partnerships in Bhutan. The lead applicant acts as the sole coordinator and interlocutor with the contracting authority.

Co-Applicant Composition:Actions must include either a lead applicant established in an EU Member State acting with a minimum of two Bhutanese co-applicants, or a lead applicant established in Bhutan acting with a minimum of one Bhutanese co-applicant. All co-applicants must satisfy the same eligibility criteria as the lead applicant. International organisations are not eligible.

Affiliated Entities and Associates:Applicants may work with affiliated entities that have structural links such as legal, capital, or membership relationships, provided these links existed before the call. Associates may participate but cannot receive funding except for per diem or travel costs. Contractors may be used subject to procurement rules.

Eligible Applicant Types and Geographic Scope

• Non-governmental organisations
• Civil society organisations
• Civil society organisation associations
• Legal entities with non-profit status established under national law

Eligible citizenships include EU 27 member states and Bhutan. Actions must take place exclusively in Bhutan.

Funding Objectives and Priority Areas

This call addresses two complementary specific objectives. Applicants must address at least one objective but are encouraged to address both in an integrated manner ³.

Specific Objective 1 - CSO Capacity and Enabling Environment:Strengthens internal CSO capacities and sustainability as well as an enabling environment for CSOs engagement as constructive actors of change in Bhutan. Priorities include promoting Government-CSO-Parliament dialogues; developing partnerships between CSOs, national institutions and the corporate sector; providing capacity building in governance, finance management, and citizen engagement; improving CSOs capacity to build sustainable locally rooted financing models; and building collectives or platforms for unified voice.

Specific Objective 2 - Economic Development and Policy Implementation:Promotes CSOs contribution to Bhutan's 21st Century Economic Roadmap and EU Global Gateway priorities. Priorities include strengthening CSO capacities to engage in policy dialogue and implementation monitoring at all administrative levels; enhancing CSO contributions to key economic sectors such as sustainable agri-food systems, renewable energy, circular economy, IT and tourism; raising awareness of CSOs role in local economic growth and green transition; and strengthening CSO-media engagement to amplify voices and mobilise public participation.

Strategic Context and Thematic Focus

This call aligns with the EU Roadmap for Engagement with Civil Society in Bhutan 2021-2024 and supports key national strategies including Bhutan's 21st Century Economic Roadmap launched June 2025, the Thirteenth Five Year Plan 2024-2029, and the Gelephu Mindfulness City initiative. The EU recognises Bhutan as among very few carbon-negative countries and supports its sustainable development principles, forest conservation, and environmental protection. The call particularly addresses the challenges facing Bhutanese civil society, which remains relatively young and faces capacity constraints, limited structured collaboration with government, and weak institutional mechanisms for engagement with Parliament ⁴.

Eligible Actions and Activity Types

Funded actions must be projects composed of coherent qualitative activities designed to achieve specific measurable results and objectives. Duration must be between 24 and 48 months. Financial support to third parties is permitted up to €60,000 per recipient unless achieving objectives is otherwise impossible or overly difficult.

Eligible Activity Types:

• Organising and facilitating structured policy dialogue and Government-CSO-Parliament dialogues
• Supporting consultative mechanisms and inclusive decision making
• Advocating for CSO representation parity on relevant boards and committees
• Contributing to evidence-based policy-making through improved research and data collection
• Multi-actor partnership-building and consortium approaches
• Strengthening CSO-private sector linkage and encouraging domestic funding mechanisms
• Capacity development including mentoring and training
• Workshops, seminars, webinars, panel discussions, conferences, and study visits
• Research, experience and knowledge sharing
• Capacity building in inclusion, good governance, finance management, public participation, accountability and advocacy
• Supporting CSO business planning and social enterprise incubation
• Strengthening gender equality and youth inclusion capacity
• Supporting CSO capacity on digital skills and addressing digital divides
• Monitoring and promoting transparency, inclusivity and sustainability in businesses and investments

Ineligible Action Types:

• Actions concerned only or mainly with individual sponsorships for workshops, seminars or conferences
• Actions concerned only with individual scholarships for studies or training
• Actions causing violation of human rights or significant adverse environmental or climate effects
• One-off conferences unless part of wider activities
• Actions supporting political parties or personalities
• Actions discriminating against individuals or groups based on gender, sexual orientation, religion or ethnic origin
• Actions including proselytising activities

Evaluation Priorities and Quality Standards

The call gives priority to proposals containing strong intervention logic, distinctive justification, meaningful geographic intervention strategy, inclusiveness in design, sustainability and scalability approaches, sound baseline data and evidence, robust monitoring systems, and integration of cross-cutting issues ⁵.

Key Evaluation Priorities:

• Clear intervention logic showing how EU funding contributes from needs identification to anticipated positive impacts
• Distinctive and innovative justification with clear explanation of how objectives will be achieved and to what effect
• Meaningful geographic intervention logic at district, state or regional level
• Inclusiveness and ownership in design with key stakeholder consultation and diversity through inclusion of disadvantaged groups
• Sustainability and scalability demonstrating sound problem analysis, information management, government participation, community ownership and capacity building to avoid donor dependence
• Sound baseline data and evidence reflecting in logical framework with clear target setting
• Robust monitoring system with regular progress updates
• Evidence of gender analysis to support effective gender mainstreaming across all project activities
• Rights-based approach with focus on women, youth, children, persons with disabilities, indigenous people, LGBTQI+, and intersectionality considerations
• Gender-sensitive logical framework with sex-disaggregated data where possible
• RACER indicators - Relevant, Accepted by partners, Credible for non-experts, Easy to monitor, Robust against manipulation
• Replication of existing successful and sustainable participation practices
• Well-balanced budget focusing on target group expenditures with reasonable administrative costs

Application Timeline and Key Deadlines

Please note that these dates are indicative except for those marked as confirmed (clarification and concept note deadlines). The contracting authority may update the timetable, and updated information will be published on the DG International Partnerships website and the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.

Application Process and Submission Requirements

Two-Stage Application Process:Stage 1 involves submission of concept notes for initial evaluation. Only concept notes with a score of at least 30 out of 50 points will be considered for pre-selection. The number of pre-selected concept notes will be limited to those whose total requested contributions equal approximately 200% of available budget. Stage 2 requires pre-selected lead applicants to submit full applications for detailed evaluation.

Registration and Submission Requirements:Lead applicants must register in PADOR (online database) and obtain a EuropeAid ID before submitting concept notes. All organisations must register in the Participant Register to obtain a Participant Identification Code. Online submission via PROSPECT is mandatory. All applications must be in English. Lead applicants must register a PADOR profile or complete the PADOR registration form if online registration is impossible.

Concept Note Submission:Concept notes must follow the prescribed format in Annex A.1 and include only an estimate of requested EU contribution and indicative percentage of that contribution. The concept note must contain all relevant information as no additional annexes are accepted. Incomplete concept notes may be rejected. Automatic confirmation of receipt appears in PROSPECT profile upon submission.

Full Application Submission:Full applications must be submitted online via PROSPECT following the prescribed form in Annex A.2. The EU contribution may vary from the concept note estimate by maximum 20%. Co-applicants and affiliated entities must be registered in PADOR at this stage. Supporting documents including organisation statutes, declaration on honour on exclusion criteria, financial statements or audit reports, and latest accounts must be submitted. For action grants exceeding €750,000, external audit reports are required where available.

Evaluation Criteria and Process

Applications are evaluated in three steps:administrative checks and concept note evaluation, full application evaluation, and eligibility verification of successful applicants and supporting documents ⁷.

Concept Note Evaluation Criteria and Scoring:

Concept notes are scored on a scale where 1=very poor, 2=poor, 3=adequate, 4=good, 5=very good. Only concept notes scoring at least 30 out of 50 points advance to pre-selection.

Full Application Evaluation Criteria and Scoring:

Full applications scoring less than 12 points in Section 1 (Financial and Operational Capacity) are rejected. Applications scoring 1 point in any subsection of Section 1 are also rejected. The highest scoring applications are provisionally selected until available budget is reached, with remaining applications forming a reserve list.

Special Conditions and Compliance Requirements

Ethics and Values Compliance:Applicants must have no conflict of interest and commit to respecting basic EU values including human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law and human rights. The European Commission applies zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. Successful applicants other than natural persons, pillar-assessed entities or governments must complete a self-evaluation questionnaire on sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (except for grants of €60,000 or less).

Environmental and Labour Standards:Applicants awarded grants must comply with environmental legislation including multilateral environmental agreements and core labour standards as defined in International Labour Organisation conventions on freedom of association, forced labour elimination, and child labour abolition.

Anti-Corruption and Fraud Prevention:Applicants must comply with all applicable laws and regulations relating to anti-bribery and anti-corruption. The contracting authority reserves the right to suspend or cancel financing if corrupt practices are discovered. Unusual commercial expenses or fraud lead to contract termination or exclusion from future EU funding.

Visibility Requirements:Applicants must ensure visibility of EU funding through correct and prominent display of the EU emblem and relevant funding statement in accordance with Commission guidelines. Derogations from visibility obligations are permitted in exceptional circumstances due to security, local political sensitivities or beneficiary interests, subject to case-by-case consultation with the EU.

Important Practical Information for Applicants

Information Session and Support:An online information session is planned for 24 March 2026 to help applicants familiarise themselves with PROSPECT. Interested participants should send an email by 13 March 2026 to delegation-india-operations@eeas.europa.eu with name, surname, nationality, email address and organisation (maximum two participants per organisation). No costs are reimbursable.

Contact and Helpdesk:Questions about the call must be sent by email no later than 21 days before relevant deadlines to DELEGATION-THAILAND-REGIONAL-CALL-FOR-PROPOSALS@eeas.europa.eu. Clarifications are issued no later than 11 days before deadlines. Questions related to PADOR or PROSPECT registration and online submission should be addressed to the IT helpdesk at ec-external-relations-application-support@ec.europa.eu via the online support form in PROSPECT. IT support languages are English, French and Spanish.

Document Updates and Information Sources:All questions and answers and important notices are published on DG International Partnerships website ec.europa.eu and the EU Funding and Tenders Portal at ec.europa.eu. Applicants should consult these websites regularly for updates.

Budget and Cost Considerations

Applications should present realistic and cost-effective budgets. The budget document serves as both a cost estimate and an overall ceiling for eligible costs. Recommendations for grant awards are always subject to checks that may identify problems requiring budget changes, such as arithmetical errors, inaccuracies or ineligible costs. The contracting authority may impose modifications or reductions to address such issues, but cannot increase the grant amount or EU co-financing percentage as a result of these corrections.

Ineligible Cost Categories:

• Debts and debt service charges including interest
• Provisions for losses or potential future liabilities
• Costs declared by beneficiaries and financed by another EU grant or work programme
• Purchases of land or buildings except where necessary for direct action implementation
• Currency exchange losses
• In-kind contributions except for volunteer work
• Bonuses included in staff costs
• Negative interest charged by banks or financial institutions
• Credit to third parties
• Salary costs of national administration personnel

Key Documents Required for Application

• Grant Application Form Concept Note (Annex A.1)
• Grant Application Form Full Application (Annex A.2)
• Budget document (Annex B in Excel format)
• Logical Framework (Annex C)
• Identification Form (Annex D)
• Declaration on Honour on Exclusion Criteria (Annex H)
• Self-evaluation Questionnaire on Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (Annex L for grants exceeding €60,000)
• PADOR Registration Form (Annex F if online registration is impossible)
• Organisation statutes or articles of association or proof of eligibility from previous calls
• Financial statements and audit reports (specific requirements based on grant size)

Strategic Importance and Bhutan Context

This call addresses the strategic importance of strengthening civil society in Bhutan as a partner to government in achieving sustainable development and democratic governance. While Bhutanese civil society has demonstrated significant contributions to national development, organisations remain relatively young with substantial capacity building needs. The call recognises that civil society plays critical roles in service delivery, representing community concerns, and advocating for policy changes, while also acknowledging historical limitations in state-CSO engagement ⁸. Recent progress in civil society participation in policy dialogue has created an opportune moment for this investment in CSO capacity strengthening and institutional development.

European Commission Contact and Program Management

This call is managed by the Delegation of the European Union to India and Bhutan under the authority of the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), which is responsible for designing European international cooperation and development policy and delivering aid worldwide. The managing entity is EuropeAid, which works to foster sustainable development, democracy, peace and security while aiming to reduce and eventually abolish poverty in developing nations.

Footnotes

1. 1The call falls under the Civil Society Organisations Thematic Programme 2021-2027 Multiannual Action Plan 2025-2027 and contributes to Specific Objective 1.3: Support CSOs as actors of good governance and development in partner countries.
2. 2Financial allocation source: EU Funding and Tenders Portal official documentation and search result references.
3. 3Guidelines explicitly state that applicants are required to address at least one specific objective but are encouraged to address the two objectives in a complementary manner.
4. 4Context derived from call guidelines highlighting that while CSOs in Bhutan play critical roles in service delivery and representing community concerns, their engagement with the State and Parliament has historically been limited due to capacity constraints, lack of structured collaboration, weak institutional mechanisms, and ambiguous attitudes of authorities.
5. 5The call emphasises priority given to proposals containing strong intervention logic, distinctive and innovative justification, meaningful geographic intervention logic, inclusiveness in design with key stakeholder consultation, sustainability and scalability approaches, sound baseline data and evidence, robust monitoring systems, gender analysis and mainstreaming, and rights-based approaches.
6. 6The concept note deadline is 21 April 2026 at 12:00 Brussels time. Heavy internet traffic or connection faults cannot be grounds for deadline extensions, and applicants are strongly advised not to wait until the last day to submit.
7. 7Step 1 includes administrative checks assessing deadline compliance and checklist completeness, followed by concept note evaluation on relevance and design. Step 2 evaluates full applications on financial and operational capacity, relevance, design, implementation approach, sustainability, and budget cost-effectiveness. Step 3 performs eligibility verification of successful applicants and supporting documents.
8. 8The EU recognises that Bhutan is among very few carbon-negative countries in the world and supports Bhutan to pursue its sustainable development principles, notably keeping its remarkable forest cover and pristine environment as key elements of national identity and development strategy.