Call No. 3 for proposals from national advocacy CSOs

This summary pertains to a grant opportunity titled "Call No. 3 for proposals from national advocacy CSOs," which is part of the European Union's Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) program. The total budget for this call is €720,000, aimed at supporting civil society organizations (CSOs) in Lithuania focusing on the advocacy of human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and EU values.

The eligibility criteria stipulate that applicants must be non-governmental organizations (NGOs) established and operating in Lithuania for at least one year prior to application. These organizations must be non-profit, voluntary, and independent of any political entities or commercial organizations. Religious institutions and trade unions are explicitly excluded. Each applicant must have at least one regional NGO partner for project implementation, establishing a consortium structure as a fundamental requirement.

The funding mechanism is a competitive grant where approximately 12 national advocacy NGOs will be awarded financial support. The expected individual grant amount is likely in the range of under €50,000 to €200,000. The call is for competitive bids with the submission deadline set for February 17, 2026. An informational seminar for prospective applicants will be held on January 21, 2026.

Project proposals should focus on advocacy and awareness-raising campaigns that aim to influence public policy and foster civic participation. The initiative aligns with broader EU goals to empower civil society and enhance civic engagement amid challenges facing democratic institutions and civil rights.

The application process includes administrative checks followed by quality assessments performed by independent experts, culminating in a review by a Selection Committee for funding decisions. The expected impact includes the direct engagement of individuals in civic activities, the establishment of partnerships between national and regional NGOs, and broad outreach efforts to promote EU values.

This grant opportunity represents the EU's commitment to strengthening the role of civil society in upholding democratic standards and fundamental rights within Lithuania through direct financial support and advocacy collaboration.

This is a call for proposals for civil society organisations active on protecting and promoting Union values, specifically a call to intermediaries giving financial support to third parties. The call, named "Call No. 3 for proposals from national advocacy CSOs," falls under the topic CERV-2024-CITIZENS-VALUES. The full name of the EU funded project is "Support for EU values through Civic Participation," and the grant agreement number is 101187383.

The opening date for submissions was December 17, 2025. The deadline for submissions is February 17, 2026, at 23:59 (Brussels time). This is a single-stage submission model. The expected duration of participation is 12 months. The total funding available is 720,000.00 EUR. The project acronym is 2023-12-31T16:00:00.000Z.

The objectives of the call are:

To support and empower national NGOs engaged in advocacy activities and their regional NGO partners to strengthen the implementation of human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and all other EU values.
To increase public awareness of human rights, the principles of democracy and the rule of law, and all other EU values.
To strengthen cooperation between national advocacy NGOs and regional NGOs and facilitate knowledge transfer.

The expected impact areas of the call are:

12 national advocacy NGOs receiving financial support for advocacy and awareness-raising activities.
12 NGOs implementing advocacy campaigns aimed at influencing public decision-making related to equality and/or the safeguarding of any other EU values.
600 individuals directly participating and engaging in civic activities organized by NGOs.
12 awareness-raising campaigns on equality and/or any other EU values organized by NGOs.
14,000 people informed about EU values by NGOs.
12 partnerships established between national advocacy NGOs and regional NGOs for the implementation of advocacy and awareness-raising activities.

The eligibility requirements are as follows:

The applicant must be an NGO established and operating in the Republic of Lithuania, meeting the following definition: "A non-profit voluntary organization established as a legal entity, having a non-commercial purpose, independent of the local, regional and central government, public entities, political parties, and commercial organizations." Religious institutions, trade unions, and political parties are not considered NGOs, as per Article 2.3 of the Law on the Development of Non-Governmental Organizations.
The applicant must be a legal entity registered in the Republic of Lithuania for at least one year, i.e., no later than December 16, 2024.
The applicant must carry out activities in Lithuania on a national level.
The applicant must have at least one project partner which is a regional NGO.
The applicant's activities must comply with EU values and actively contribute (or seek to contribute) to the promotion of EU values and fundamental rights.
The applicant must have submitted mandatory financial and annual activity reports to the National Center of Registers for the years 2023 and 2024, or for the year 2024 if the applicant was registered in 2024.
The Open Lithuania Foundation must not be a shareholder of the applicant.
The project partner(s), its executive person, or shareholder(s) must not be the executive or shareholder of the applicant.

The evaluation of applications will consist of administrative checks and a quality assessment by independent experts. The quality assessment will involve:

Expert evaluation.
Review of applications by the Selection Committee and a decision on funding.

Further information, including a detailed description of the call procedure, can be found at Kvietimas nacionalinėms NVO, vykdančioms advokaciją - ALF (in Lithuanian). An online information seminar for potential applicants will be held on January 21, 2026.

In summary, this funding opportunity aims to bolster the efforts of Lithuanian NGOs, particularly those working in partnership with regional organizations, to promote EU values, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. It provides financial support for advocacy and awareness-raising campaigns, with the goal of influencing public decision-making and fostering civic engagement. The call targets NGOs that are well-established, financially transparent, and committed to upholding EU values. The selection process involves a rigorous evaluation by experts and a selection committee to ensure that the most impactful and compliant projects receive funding. The overall objective is to strengthen civil society's role in promoting and protecting EU values within Lithuania.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are NGOs established and operating in the Republic of Lithuania. The NGO must be a non-profit voluntary organization established as a legal entity, having a non-commercial purpose, independent of the local, regional and central government, public entities, political parties, and commercial organizations. Religious institutions, trade unions and political parties are not considered NGOs.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically cascade funding, as indicated by the text "call to intermediaries (giving financial support to third parties)".

Consortium Requirement: A consortium is required, as the applicant must have at least one project partner which is a regional NGO.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is limited to the Republic of Lithuania. The applicant must be established and operating in Lithuania, and carry out activities on a national level within Lithuania.

Target Sector: The target sector is focused on human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and other EU values. This includes advocacy, awareness-raising, and civic participation.

Mentioned Countries: Lithuania

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on implementation and awareness-raising activities, including advocacy campaigns and civic activities. This suggests a stage of development, validation, and demonstration rather than basic research.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is €720,000. The funding will be distributed to 12 national advocacy NGOs. Therefore, the funding range per project is variable, but likely in the range of under €50k to €50k-€200k.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by "Call No. 3 for proposals from national advocacy CSOs" and the opening and deadline dates.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money, as the call provides financial support for advocacy and awareness-raising activities.

Application Stages: The application process involves two stages: expert evaluation and review of applications by the Selection Committee and decision on funding.

Success Rates: The success rate cannot be determined from the provided information.

Co-funding Requirement: The provided information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals targeting national NGOs in Lithuania that are engaged in advocacy activities related to human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and other EU values. The call aims to support these NGOs and their regional partners in strengthening the implementation of these values, increasing public awareness, and fostering cooperation and knowledge transfer. The funding mechanism is a grant, with a total of €720,000 available to support 12 national NGOs.

To be eligible, applicants must be NGOs established and operating in Lithuania for at least one year, with activities carried out at the national level. They must also have at least one project partner that is a regional NGO. The applicant's activities must comply with and actively promote EU values and fundamental rights.

The application process involves administrative checks and a quality assessment by independent experts, followed by a review by a selection committee. The call is specifically designed to provide financial support to third parties, making it a cascade funding mechanism. The deadline for submission is February 17, 2026. An online information seminar will be held for potential applicants on January 21, 2026.