Borderlands IV - Peaceful and resilient borderlands IV - Great Lakes Window

Borderlands IV - Peaceful and Resilient Borderlands IV - Great Lakes Window is an EU action grants call EuropeAid published 27 February 2026 to strengthen peace and resilience in Great Lakes borderlands of Central Africa. The total budget is €6,000,000 and applications must be submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 1 June 2026 at 10:00 UTC. Eligible applicants include legal entities established in EU Member States and other territories specified in the call, with consortia permitted and a designated coordinator responsible for financial management. Applicants must follow the call Guidelines and annexes for eligibility, budget, procurement, SEA-H safeguards, reporting and verification requirements.

What it funds

Scope and instrument

Action grants to support peacebuilding and resilience activities in borderland areas of the Great Lakes region (Central Africa) under the EU external action programme for Sub-Saharan Africa. The call was published 27/02/2026 and is open for submission until 01/06/2026. EU Funding Portal ¹

Total budget:€6,000,000 (Action Grants)

1. 1Eligible actions: projects delivering peacebuilding, conflict prevention, resilience and cross‑border stability in the Great Lakes borderlands.
2. 2Eligible applicants: legal entities eligible for EU external action grants (including NGOs, public bodies, international organisations and private law bodies as specified in the call documents); consortium applications are possible where required by the call.
3. 3Geographical focus: Central Africa Region — Great Lakes countries (see call documents for exact eligible countries and target areas).
4. 4Funding modalities: standard action grants with reimbursement of eligible costs and possible use of financing non linked to costs where specified in the contract.

Footnotes

1. 1Full call documents, application forms and guidance are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: Call Prospect.

This is an Action Grants call funded by the European Commission under the Sub-Saharan Africa programme. It targets the Central Africa Region with a specific Great Lakes Window to foster peaceful and resilient borderlands. The call is currently open for submission.

What the call seeks to support

The call supports interventions that strengthen peace, resilience, and stability in borderland areas of the Great Lakes within Central Africa. Typical action grant priorities in such windows include conflict prevention and resolution, cross-border cooperation, social cohesion, inclusive local governance and service delivery in fragile settings, livelihood support that mitigates conflict drivers, and community-based resilience to shocks. Actions may include capacity building for local institutions and civil society, protection-sensitive programming, and approaches that reduce tensions and improve cooperation across borders. The precise thematic scope and priorities are defined in the Guidelines for applicants provided with the call documentation.

Documents and references

• Guidelines for applicants (EN, FR): Lignes directrices
• Application form – Concept note: Formulaire de demande de subvention succinct (EN, FR)
• Application form – Full application: Formulaire de demande de subvention - demande complete (EN, FR)
• Annex B – Budget (EN, FR)
• Annex C – Logical framework (EN, FR)
• Annex D – Identification Form (public law body; private or public law body with legal form; natural person) (EN, FR)
• Annex F – PADOR offline registration form (EN, FR)
• Annex H – Declaration of honour on exclusion and selection criteria (EN, FR)
• Annex J – Information on the tax regime applicable to grant contracts (EN, FR)
• Annex K – Clarifications on financing not linked to costs (EN, FR)
• Annex L – Self-evaluation questionnaire on SEA-H (sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment) (EN, FR)
• Annex II – General conditions for EU external actions grants (procurement, reporting, visibility, cost eligibility, etc.) (FR example) Annex II General Conditions (FR sample)
• Annex IV – Procurement rules for beneficiaries (FR sample)
• Annex V – Standard request for payment (FR sample)
• Annex VI – Model interim narrative report (FR sample)
• Annex IX – Standard template for transfer of ownership of assets (FR sample)
• Appendix – Derogations for international organisations (EN, FR)

Categorisation and structured details

Eligible Applicant Types:Eligible applicants are entities active in peacebuilding, resilience, and development in Sub-Saharan Africa’s Central Africa Region, particularly the Great Lakes. Based on the call pack and standard External Action Grants practice, eligibility covers legal persons established as: NGOs and civil society organisations, nonprofit entities; international organisations (derogations document provided); public bodies and authorities (local, regional, national) under public law; private law bodies with legal personality; universities and research institutes; public or private not-for-profit foundations; potentially natural persons (an identification form for natural persons is included in Annex D, indicating that natural persons may be eligible when the Guidelines so allow). Co-applicants and affiliated entities can participate where defined in the Guidelines. Final confirmation and any restrictions (e.g., nationality rules) are set out in the Guidelines for applicants and the legal basis referenced therein.

Funding Type:Grant (Action Grants). The grant may take the form of cost reimbursement, simplified cost options (unit costs, lump sums, flat rates), and/or financing not linked to costs as per the general conditions and Annex K.

Consortium Requirement:Other. The documentation set indicates standard External Action Grants arrangements where a single lead applicant may apply alone or with co-applicants/affiliated entities. The presence of co-applicants is common but not mandatory unless specified by the Guidelines. The contract structure supports multiple beneficiaries with a coordinator role.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Africa Region (Great Lakes Window). Actions must target the Central Africa/Great Lakes geography. Applicant nationality and origin rules for procurement follow External Action legal bases; details and any nationality or origin restrictions are defined in the Guidelines and Annex IV procurement rules.

Target Sector:Peacebuilding and security (non-military), resilience, conflict prevention and resolution, cross-border cooperation, governance and rule of law, community development and social cohesion, protection and SEA-H safeguarding, and potentially livelihoods and basic services in fragile borderland contexts.

Mentioned Countries:No individual countries are explicitly named in the provided content. The call cites the Central Africa Region with a Great Lakes focus within Sub-Saharan Africa. The Great Lakes region generally includes border areas such as those in and around the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and Tanzania; final eligible territories are as defined in the Guidelines for applicants.

Project Stage:Implementation of development and peacebuilding actions. Projects are expected to deliver operational activities in the field, including development, validation and demonstration of interventions that strengthen peace and resilience in borderlands. This is not a research-focused call.

Funding Amount:Total call budget is €6,000,000. The size of individual grants and the number of grants to be awarded are not stated in the provided extract and should be confirmed in the Guidelines for applicants and the call’s budgetary breakdown.

Application Type:Open call for proposals, submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The presence of both a succinct application form (concept note) and a complete application form indicates a two-step application process: first a concept note, followed by an invitation to submit a full application for shortlisted proposals.

Nature of Support:Money. Beneficiaries receive grant funding, disbursed through prefinancing, subsequent prefinancing tranches, and balance payments, contingent on reporting and verification requirements.

Application Stages:2. Stage 1: Concept note using the succinct application form. Stage 2: Full application upon invitation, using the complete form, including detailed budget (Annex B), logical framework (Annex C) and required declarations (Annex H), along with PADOR registration details (Annex F) as requested.

Success Rates:Not provided in the available documentation. Success rates typically depend on the number and quality of submissions and the final budgetary allocation decisions for the window.

Co-funding Requirement:Not specified in the extracted text. Under standard External Action Grants rules, co-financing is generally required and the non-profit principle applies. The exact co-financing rate, any eligibility of VAT and taxes, and allowable simplified cost options and financing not linked to costs are defined in the Guidelines for applicants, the Special Conditions, and Annex II General Conditions.

Key contractual, compliance, and implementation requirements

• General Conditions (Annex II) apply, including reporting obligations, eligibility of costs, procurement rules, visibility, data protection, conflict of interest, SEA-H safeguarding, monitoring, evaluation, audit, and anti-fraud provisions.
• Financing modalities: reimbursement of eligible costs and/or simplified cost options and/or financing not linked to costs (Annex K). Payments are made as prefinancing and balance, with options for multiple prefinancing tranches depending on project duration and size.
• Verification: For grants above specified thresholds, a report of factual findings on the costs declared (audit/verification) or a third-party validation of results is required as per Annex II Article 2. Reporting includes narrative and financial parts.
• Support to third parties: Permissible when foreseen; maximum €60,000 per third party unless otherwise provided in the Special Conditions (Annex II Article 10.6).
• Procurement by beneficiaries: Must follow Annex IV principles (best value for money or lowest price, avoidance of conflicts of interest, objective award criteria, adequate documentation). Nationality and origin rules apply as per the governing legal basis; exceptions require prior authorisation or are defined by overarching instruments.
• Visibility and communication: EU visibility is mandatory, including the standard disclaimer text and logo usage. A communication plan may be requested (Annex II Article 6). Non-compliance may reduce payments.
• Assets and transfer of property: Equipment, vehicles and supplies financed must be transferred to final beneficiaries or as otherwise authorised, and recorded using Annex IX.
• Records retention and audits: Maintain records for at least five years after balance payment (three years for grants ≤ €60,000), subject to audits by the Commission, OLAF, EPPO, and the European Court of Auditors.
• SEA-H: A self-evaluation questionnaire on SEA-H (Annex L) is required, and breaches of ethical standards must be reported and can trigger contractual remedies.
• Non-profit and revenue: The grant may not generate profit for beneficiaries (subject to defined exceptions). Revenues must be declared in balance calculation.

Templates and how the application and reporting look

Concept note (succinct application):Short form focusing on action relevance, objectives, indicative results in Great Lakes borderlands, initial stakeholders and target groups, indicative budget envelope, and applicant capacity. Submitted first via the portal for eligibility and relevance screening.

Full application (complete form):Comprehensive dossier including: detailed description of the action; workplan and methodology; cross-border and conflict sensitivity analysis; risk management and safeguarding; monitoring and evaluation; detailed budget (Annex B) with cost categories, any simplified cost options; logical framework (Annex C) with impact, outcomes, outputs, indicators, baselines and targets; applicant and co-applicant profiles and experience; identification forms (Annex D) for legal status; declaration of honour (Annex H); PADOR registration details (Annex F) as applicable; SEA-H self-evaluation (Annex L); and any specific annexes required in the Guidelines.

Budget (Annex B):Tabular budget aligned with eligible cost categories per Annex II Article 14 (staff, travel, equipment and supplies, services and experts, financial services, taxes and non-recoverable VAT if eligible, support to third parties if authorised, potential project office costs per defined conditions). Includes provisions for simplified cost options and, if applicable, allocations tied to financing not linked to costs.

Logical framework (Annex C):Results chain including impact, outcomes (results), and outputs with corresponding objectively verifiable indicators, baselines, targets, means of verification, and assumptions/risks, tailored to Great Lakes borderland peace and resilience objectives.

Procurement rules (Annex IV):Beneficiaries must award contracts ensuring best value for money or lowest price, avoid conflicts of interest, apply objective criteria, and retain documentation. Nationality and origin rules of the governing legal basis apply; evidence of origin is required for equipment and vehicles above €5,000 unit value when origin rules are in force. Exceptions require prior authorisation or are defined by applicable instruments for 2021–2027, with specified exemptions.

Interim narrative report (Annex VI) – structure:1. Key action information: coordinator, contact person, co-beneficiaries/affiliates, action title and contract number, reporting period, target geographies and beneficiaries. 2. Implementation assessment: summary; activities by output; results achieved (outputs, outcomes, impact) with indicator values versus baselines and targets; updated activity matrix and logframe; SEA-H measures; plan for next period. 3. Partnerships and cooperation: intra-consortium relations, relations with authorities and other organisations; synergies; internships if any. 4. Visibility. 5. Declaration on honour. 6. Signature.

Request for payment (Annex V):Standard letter specifying the contract reference, period covered, type and amount of payment requested (additional prefinancing or balance), and attaching required supporting documents: narrative and financial report for the period; next-period forecast budget when requesting new prefinancing; detailed breakdown of expenditures or audit report when required; third-party evaluation for financing not linked to costs when applicable.

Transfer of ownership (Annex IX):Registers assets financed by the action and transferred to final beneficiaries or other approved recipients at or before final reporting. Part A covers items with unit cost ≥ €5,000; Part B covers items below that threshold. Signatures of beneficiary and recipient(s) are required.

Financial management highlights (from General Conditions)

• Eligible costs must be necessary, reasonable, identifiable, verifiable, compliant with tax and social rules, and incurred during the implementation period, except specified final-report costs.
• Simplified cost options (unit costs, lump sums, flat rates) are allowable when defined; documentation focuses on unit counts, completion evidence, or base costs to which flat rates apply.
• Financing not linked to costs ties disbursements to achievement of predefined results/indicators as set in the Description of the Action and Annex III budget lines.
• Verification thresholds: a report of factual findings on costs is required with the final report for grants over €100,000 and with interim reports for grants ≥ €5,000,000; detailed expenditure breakdowns are otherwise required.
• Support to third parties: capped at €60,000 per third party unless stated otherwise; selection criteria, eligible activities, and calculation methods must be predefined in the Description of the Action.
• Payments and timelines: initial prefinancing typically within 30 days; subsequent prefinancing and balance within 60 or 90 days depending on conditions; payment periods can be suspended if clarifications or verifications are needed.
• Retention of records: minimum five years after balance payment (three years for grants ≤ €60,000).

Submission and timeline

1. 1Prepare and submit the concept note using the succinct application form via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by the stated deadline.
2. 2If shortlisted, prepare and submit the full application using the complete form, including Annex B (Budget), Annex C (Logical framework), Annex D (Identification forms), Annex H (Declaration of honour), Annex L (SEA-H self-evaluation), and any other mandatory annexes indicated in the Guidelines.
3. 3Register and/or update your organisation’s profile in PADOR (Annex F provides the offline form if needed) as per the call’s requirements.
4. 4Ensure procurement, visibility, safeguarding, and audit-readiness arrangements align with Annex II and Annex IV from the outset.
5. 5Respect the deadline: 01 June 2026 at 10:00:36 UTC (refer to the portal page for any updates).

Where to find and submit

Access the official call page to consult documents and start submission:EU Funding & Tenders Portal – Borderlands IV Great Lakes Window.

Long summary

Borderlands IV - Peaceful and resilient borderlands IV - Great Lakes Window is an EU External Action Grants call with a total budget of €6 million, dedicated to strengthening peace, stability, and resilience in the borderlands of the Great Lakes within Central Africa, under the broader Sub-Saharan Africa programme. It follows the standard EuropeAid two-stage procedure: applicants first submit a succinct concept note; shortlisted applicants are invited to submit a full application with a detailed budget (Annex B) and logical framework (Annex C). The call supports action-oriented, field-level interventions that reduce conflict drivers, build social cohesion, improve cross-border cooperation, and reinforce local governance and service delivery in fragile contexts, while embedding protection and SEA-H safeguards. A wide range of legal entities can apply as lead applicants and/or co-applicants, including NGOs/CSOs, public bodies, research institutions, and international organisations (subject to the detailed eligibility conditions in the Guidelines). Grants may be structured as cost reimbursement, simplified cost options, and/or financing not linked to costs (with Annex K clarifying modalities). Compliance requirements include objective and well-documented procurement (Annex IV), robust monitoring and reporting with indicator-based results tracking, mandatory EU visibility, and readiness for audits by the Commission, OLAF, EPPO, and the European Court of Auditors. The general conditions govern reporting timelines, eligibility of costs, possible support to third parties (up to €60,000 per third party unless otherwise specified), and the non-profit principle. Applicants must use the EU Funding & Tenders Portal to consult the Guidelines, forms, and annexes, and to submit proposals before the deadline of 1 June 2026. In essence, this opportunity funds consortia or single legal entities capable of delivering measurable peacebuilding and resilience outcomes in Great Lakes borderlands, with rigorous planning, safeguarding, financial management, and results verification aligned to EU external action grant standards.

This EU grant opportunity under reference EuropeAid targets peaceful and resilient borderlands in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa. It forms part of the Sub-Saharan Africa programme with a total budget of €6,000,000 for action grants. The call is open for submission, published on 27 February 2026, with a deadline of 1 June 2026 at 10:00 UTC.

Programme and Geographical Focus

The programme focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically the Central Africa Region and the Great Lakes Window. It aims to strengthen economic integration and social cohesion in cross-border communities.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include legal entities established in EU Member States, eligible countries under the relevant regulation (such as Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, and others listed in development aid sources), and those effectively established in eligible territories. Participation is open to natural persons and legal entities from these areas, subject to nationality and origin rules in Annex IV. Consortia are permitted with a designated coordinator responsible for financial management and reporting.

Funding Details

Total Budget:€6,000,000 for action grants.

Funding Rates and Maximum Amounts:Specific maximum grant amounts, percentages, and reimbursement rates (actual costs or non-cost linked funding) are detailed in the guidelines (Lignes directrices). Grants typically reimburse eligible costs with options for simplified costs, subject to the non-profit principle.

Application Process and Deadlines

Applications must be submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal before the deadline of 1 June 2026. Use the complete or succinct grant application forms available in English and French. Required annexes include budget (Annex B), logical framework (Annex C), identification forms (Annex D), PADOR form (Annex F), declaration of honour (Annex H), and others listed.

• Complete grant application form (Formulaire de demande de subvention - demande complete)
• Succinct grant application form (Formulaire de demande de subvention succinct)
• Guidelines (Lignes directrices)
• Standard grant contract annex (Annexe Contrat standard subvention)

Submission service is available on the portal:EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Key Requirements and Conditions

Implementation and Reporting

Projects follow standard EU external action grant conditions (Annex II). Beneficiaries must ensure visibility of EU funding, comply with procurement rules (Annex IV), maintain records for 5 years, and submit narrative/financial reports, expenditure verification (for grants >€100,000), and third-party evaluations if applicable. Coordinators handle payments and coordination.

Procurement and Subcontracting

Procurement must award to the economically most advantageous tender, respecting nationality/origin rules and avoiding conflicts of interest. Detailed rules in Annex IV apply to supplies, works, and services.

Eligibility of Costs

• Actual costs incurred during implementation period, identifiable, verifiable, and reasonable.
• Direct costs (staff, travel, equipment, services); indirect costs up to specified flat rate.
• Contingency reserve up to 5% of direct costs; volunteer work eligible under conditions.
• Ineligible: debt charges, provisions, land purchases (unless specified), currency losses.

Payments

Pre-financing (80-100% initially, up to 90% total), followed by balance. Financial guarantee may be required for advances >€60,000. Payments in EUR or specified currency within 30-90 days.

Duration and Implementation

Project duration specified in approved applications, typically aligned with reference periods (12 months). Extensions possible via contract amendment. Assets must be transferred to final beneficiaries per Annex IX, respecting EU values.

Key Documents and Resources

• Guidelines and forms in EN/FR (published 27 February 2026).
• Standard contract annexes (Annexes A-L).
• Logical framework, budget templates.
• Portal for full details: Primary Opportunity.

Applicants should review guidelines for specific objectives, expected results, and evaluation criteria. Compliance with EU values, anti-corruption rules, and SEA-H self-evaluation (Annex L) is mandatory. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Detailed guidelines (Lignes directrices) provide full objectives, priorities, and award criteria. Register in PADOR if required.