Capacity building in VET in Neighbourhood East

The Capacity Building in VET in Neighbourhood East (ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CB-VET-NE) is an Erasmus+ grant opportunity aimed at enhancing the capacity of vocational education and training systems in countries located in the Neighbourhood East region, which includes Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, and neighboring territories. The initiative focuses on improving management, governance, quality assurance, and inclusion practices in the VET sector through strategic partnerships among various stakeholders.

Eligible applicants consist of organizations involved in vocational education and training within EU Member States and associated third countries, as well as eligible third countries not associated with the Erasmus+ Programme. This includes VET providers, companies, industry organizations, national qualification authorities, research institutes, and international organizations. A mandatory requirement is that projects involve a consortium comprising at least four organizations from a minimum of three different countries, with strict stipulations regarding the distribution between EU member states and non-associated third countries.

Funding for this initiative is structured as an ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant, totaling €3,800,000 for 2026. Projects are expected to address key thematic areas like work-based learning, professional development for VET teachers, digital and green skills, and enhancing public-private partnerships. The application process is a single-stage submission, with a deadline set for March 26, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. Evaluation and approval are anticipated between April and September 2026, with grant agreements expected to be finalized by December 2026. Successful projects should align with regional priorities, contribute to socio-economic development, and be capable of generating open educational resources.

No co-funding is explicitly required, simplifying the application process for consortiums. Overall, this call represents a significant strategic investment in the vocational education sector across the Eastern Neighbourhood, aiming to foster international collaborations that enhance the quality and responsiveness of VET systems to local labor market needs.

The EU Funding & Tenders Portal presents a call for proposals for Capacity Building in the Field of Vocational Education and Training (VET) under the Erasmus+ Programme. The call reference is ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CB-VET. This action aims to support the relevance, accessibility, and responsiveness of VET institutions and systems in third countries not associated to the Programme as a driver of sustainable socio-economic development. It will be implemented through international cooperation projects based on multilateral partnerships between organisations active in the field of VET in EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme, and third countries not associated to the Programme.

The objectives of the action are to build capacity of VET providers to strengthen cooperation between private and public stakeholders, improve the quality and responsiveness of VET to socio-economic opportunities, and align VET provision to local, regional and national development strategies. More information can be found in the Programme guide 2026.

The type of action is ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants, with the type of Model Grant Agreement being ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant [ERASMUS-AG-LS]. The deadline model is single-stage.

Key dates are as follows:
Publication of the call: 27 November 2025.
Deadline for submitting applications: 26 March 2026, 17:00 (Brussels time).
Evaluation period: April - September 2026
Information to applicants: September 2026
Signature of grant agreement: December 2026

Conditions for participation include:
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout described in the ERASMUS+ Programme guide 2026. The page limit for Part B Technical Description of the Application Form is 40 pages.
2. Eligible Countries described in the ERASMUS+ Programme guide 2026.
3. Other Eligible Conditions described in the ERASMUS+ Programme guide 2026. An organisation cannot be the coordinator of more than two proposals submitted under this action.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion described in the ERASMUS+ Programme guide 2026.
5a. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes described in the ERASMUS+ Programme guide 2026.
5b. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in the ERASMUS+ Programme guide 2026.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in the ERASMUS+ Programme guide 2026.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants is not applicable (n/a).

The call document and annexes include:
Application form templates: Standard application form (ERASMUS BB and LSII), Detailed budget table (ERASMUS LSII)
Guidance: ERASMUS Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements (MGA), Lump Sum MGA
Additional documents: ERASMUS+ Work Programme, ERASMUS Regulation 2021/817, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement, and How to manage your lump sum grants.

The budget overview for the year 2026 is as follows:
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CB-VET-CA - ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants: 300 000 EUR
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CB-VET-LA - ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants: 2 000 000 EUR
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CB-VET-NE - ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants: 3 800 000 EUR
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CB-VET-SMC - ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants: 6 358 000 EUR
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CB-VET-SSA - ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants: 7 500 000 EUR
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CB-VET-WB - ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants: 8 482 000 EUR
All topics are single-stage, with a planned opening date of 04 December 2025 and a deadline of 26 March 2026.

For partner search announcements, LEARs, Account Administrators or self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics after logging into the Portal. The submission system is planned to be opened on the date stated on the topic header.

For help related to this call, contact EACEA-EPLUS-CBVET@ec.europa.eu. The deadline for addressing queries is 13 March 2026 (eob). Additional support is available through the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ and the IT Helpdesk.

In summary, this Erasmus+ call aims to bolster vocational education and training in countries outside the EU program by fostering international partnerships. These partnerships should focus on enhancing the capabilities of VET providers in areas like management, governance, and innovation, ultimately improving the quality and relevance of VET programs to meet labor market demands. The call encourages collaboration between public and private stakeholders to align VET with local and national development strategies. The funding is provided as lump sum grants, and the application process involves a single stage, with a deadline in March 2026. Applicants should consult the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026 for detailed information on eligibility, evaluation criteria, and submission procedures.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are organizations active in the field of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in EU Member States, third countries associated to the Programme, and third countries not associated to the Programme. The call emphasizes multilateral partnerships. Private sector enterprises and business associations are also relevant as partners for VET providers.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically an ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant (ERASMUS-LS).

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants, specifically multilateral partnerships. Single applicants are not eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States, third countries associated to the Erasmus+ Programme, and third countries not associated to the Programme. The focus is on capacity building in third countries not associated to the Programme.

Target Sector: The target sector is Vocational Education and Training (VET). The program aims to improve the relevance, accessibility, and responsiveness of VET institutions and systems. Specific areas of focus include management, governance, inclusion, quality assurance, and innovation within VET.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions EU Member States and third countries, differentiating between those associated with the Erasmus+ Programme and those not associated. No specific countries are named, but the focus is on regions and third countries not associated with the program.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is capacity building. The projects should aim to support the relevance, accessibility, and responsiveness of VET institutions and systems. The projects should focus on improving the quality of VET, reinforcing the capacities of VET staff and teachers, and strengthening the link between VET providers and the labor market.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary by topic:
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CB-VET-CA: EUR 300,000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CB-VET-LA: EUR 2,000,000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CB-VET-NE: EUR 3,800,000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CB-VET-SMC: EUR 6,358,000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CB-VET-SSA: EUR 7,500,000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CB-VET-WB: EUR 8,482,000

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of lump sum grants.

Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not specified in the provided text.

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

Summary:

This opportunity is an ERASMUS+ call for proposals focused on Capacity Building in the Field of Vocational Education and Training (VET). It aims to enhance the capacity of VET providers in EU Member States and third countries (both associated and not associated with the Erasmus+ Programme), with a particular emphasis on supporting VET systems in third countries not associated with the program. The program seeks to foster international cooperation through multilateral partnerships, improving the relevance, accessibility, and responsiveness of VET institutions.

The core objectives include strengthening cooperation between private and public stakeholders, improving the quality and responsiveness of VET to socio-economic opportunities, and aligning VET provision with local, regional, and national development strategies. Eligible applicants are organizations active in VET, and projects must be submitted by a consortium. The funding is provided as lump sum grants, with amounts varying depending on the specific topic, ranging from EUR 300,000 to EUR 8,482,000. The application process is a single-stage submission, with a deadline of March 26, 2026. The call is part of the broader ERASMUS+ program and aligns with the European Commission's policy objectives, including the Global Gateway investment packages and the development of Talent partnerships. The technical description of the application form is limited to 40 pages.