Call 3 – Financial Support to Third Parties focusing on Youth Democratic Participation.

The grant opportunity titled "Call 3 – Financial Support to Third Parties Focusing on Youth Democratic Participation" aims to bolster youth participation in democratic processes and civic engagement in Greece. It specifically targets small and medium-sized civil society organizations (CSOs) that promote fundamental EU rights and democratic values. ActionAid Hellas acts as the intermediary, distributing a total budget of €640,000 to 20 selected CSOs, which translates to an average funding of approximately €32,000 per organization, though individual amounts may vary based on proposal quality.

The application process is structured into two mandatory stages: Stage 1 requires the submission of a concept note from January 27, 2026, to March 27, 2026. Eligible applicants will be informed about their progress by April 30, 2026. Those who pass the eligibility check will proceed to Stage 2, which involves submitting a full proposal between May 1, 2026, and June 15, 2026.

Projects must promote youth civic engagement and focus on issues such as skills building for democratic participation, voter education, and community initiatives led by youth. Emphasis is placed on including young individuals from vulnerable backgrounds such as migrants, refugees, LGBTQI+, and NEET youth.

Selected organizations will receive both financial grants and capacity-building support to enhance their operational sustainability. The anticipated project duration is between 12 and 14 months, beginning in September 2026. The call aligns with the broader EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027 and aims to create sustainable youth networks, encourage participation in decision-making, and foster dialogue between youth and institutions. The overall process is designed to be accessible and clear, aiming to reduce administrative burdens for smaller organizations.

The GROW Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) mechanism is a funding opportunity aimed at strengthening youth participation in democratic life and civic engagement. It empowers young people, especially those from vulnerable and marginalized backgrounds, to actively contribute to public dialogue and decision-making. The call for proposals is specifically targeted towards civil society organizations (CSOs) active in protecting and promoting Union values.

The opening date for submissions is January 27, 2026. The deadline model is multiple cut-off, with deadlines on March 27, 2026, and June 15, 2026, both at 22:59 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is 12-14 months. The total funding available is 640,000.00 €. The project acronym is GROW, and the full name of the EU-funded project is Strengthening CSOs in Greece to promote fundamental EU rights and democratic values. The grant agreement number is 101187659. The topic is CERV-2024-CITIZENS-VALUES - Call for proposals for civil society organisations active on protecting and promoting Union values: call to intermediaries (giving financial support to third parties).

The submission and evaluation process follows a two-stage procedure to ensure transparency, inclusiveness, and accessibility for small and medium-sized CSOs.

Stage 1 involves the submission of a Concept Note between January 27, 2026, and March 27, 2026. The call for proposals will be published on ActionAid Hellas’ website and shared through partner CSO networks. Interested organizations have two months to submit their concept notes electronically, including all mandatory annexes such as the Statute, Financial Statements, Declaration of Honor, Declaration of No Conflict of Interest, and GDPR statement.

Following the Concept Note submission, the FSTP Team will conduct an administrative and eligibility check for all submissions to ensure compliance with eligibility and formal criteria before evaluation. Eligible applicants will be informed by email about the evaluation results of the Concept Note stage and whether they proceed to the Full Proposal phase. This eligibility check and notification will occur between March 28, 2026, and April 30, 2026.

Stage 2 involves the submission of a Full Proposal between May 1, 2026, and June 15, 2026. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit their full proposals, including a detailed project description, budget, CVs of key staff, and relevant supporting documents.

The evaluation and contracting phase will take place between June 16, 2026, and August 31, 2026. Each proposal will be independently evaluated by two experts using the standard evaluation grid. In case of significant score divergence, a third evaluator will be appointed. The highest-ranked proposals will be selected for funding, and sub-grant agreements will be formalized with the successful applicants’ CSOs.

Project implementation is expected to start on September 1, 2026. Selected projects will start implementation after signing sub-grant agreements with ActionAid Hellas.

The call aims to promote active citizenship, inclusion, and non-discrimination, with emphasis on migrant, refugee, LGBTQI+, and NEET youth. Expected results include increased youth participation in civic life, strengthened democratic values, and the creation of sustainable youth networks. A total of 20 civil society organizations (CSOs) will receive financial support and capacity-building assistance to strengthen their operational and organizational sustainability.

Under this priority, CSOs will be supported to empower youth as agents of change, encourage participation in decision-making, and promote dialogue between young people and institutions.

Projects may include the following activities:

Targeted skills building for democratic participation, such as collaboration with local authorities, advocacy, processes of municipal youth councils, and debate on controversial issues.

Youth awareness-raising activities about the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in elections, including events, social media campaigns, seminars, conferences, festivals, and artistic performances.

Youth-led community activities promoting democratic participation to respond to local challenges.

Development of youth-led policy recommendations on issues of youth interest.

Awareness raising of EU values and rights to the public.

In summary, this funding opportunity, under the GROW project, aims to bolster the capacity of Greek CSOs to engage and empower young people, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, in democratic processes. It involves a two-stage application process, starting with a concept note and progressing to a full proposal for shortlisted applicants. The selected projects will receive financial support and capacity-building assistance to implement initiatives that promote active citizenship, inclusion, and non-discrimination, with a focus on increasing youth participation in civic life and strengthening democratic values. The projects can encompass a wide range of activities, from skills-building workshops to awareness campaigns and policy development, all geared towards fostering a more engaged and participatory youth population in Greece.

Eligible Applicant Types: Small and medium-sized Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are eligible. The call specifically targets CSOs active on protecting and promoting Union values.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), also known as cascade funding. ActionAid Hellas will provide sub-grants to selected CSOs.

Consortium Requirement: The information suggests that single applicants are eligible, as the focus is on individual CSOs receiving funding. There is no explicit mention of a consortium requirement.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): While not explicitly stated, the project "Strengthening CSOs in Greece to promote fundamental EU rights and democratic values" suggests that the primary geographic focus is on CSOs operating in Greece. ActionAid Hellas is managing the call.

Target Sector: The target sector is civic engagement and democratic participation, specifically focusing on youth. The program aims to empower young people, especially those from vulnerable and marginalized backgrounds (migrant, refugee, LGBTQI+, and NEET youth), to actively contribute to public dialogue and decision-making.

Mentioned Countries: Greece is explicitly mentioned as the location of the project and the target area for the CSOs.

Project Stage: The projects are expected to be at a stage where they can be implemented within 12-14 months. The call supports activities that promote active citizenship, inclusion, and non-discrimination, suggesting projects that are ready for implementation and scaling.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is €640,000. The number of CSOs to be funded is 20, which suggests an average funding of €32,000 per CSO, although the actual amounts may vary.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a two-stage submission process. Stage 1 involves the submission of a concept note, and Stage 2 involves the submission of a full proposal by shortlisted applicants. There are multiple cut-off dates.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive both financial support (sub-grants) and non-monetary services, specifically capacity-building assistance to strengthen their operational and organizational sustainability.

Application Stages: There are two application stages: Stage 1 involves the submission of a concept note, and Stage 2 involves the submission of a full proposal.

Success Rates: The success rate is not explicitly mentioned, but the information states that 20 CSOs will be selected out of all applicants. The success rate will depend on the number of applications received.

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

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals under the GROW project, which aims to strengthen Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Greece to promote fundamental EU rights and democratic values, with a focus on youth participation. ActionAid Hellas is managing the call and will provide financial support and capacity-building assistance to 20 selected CSOs. The call is specifically targeted at small and medium-sized CSOs that are working to empower young people, especially those from vulnerable and marginalized backgrounds, to actively participate in democratic life and civic engagement. The total funding available is €640,000, and the expected duration of participation is 12-14 months. The application process involves a two-stage procedure: first, the submission of a concept note, followed by a full proposal from shortlisted applicants. Projects should promote active citizenship, inclusion, and non-discrimination, with an emphasis on migrant, refugee, LGBTQI+, and NEET youth. Examples of eligible projects include skills building for democratic participation, youth awareness raising activities, youth-led community activities, and the development of youth-led policy recommendations. The call falls under the CERV-2024-CITIZENS-VALUES topic, which focuses on civil society organisations active on protecting and promoting Union values. The opening date for submissions is January 27, 2026, with a deadline of March 27, 2026, for the concept note and June 15, 2026, for the full proposal.