CEDAR CIVIL SOCIETY-CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT, DIALOGUE AND RECOVERY CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The CEDAR CIVIL SOCIETY-CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT, DIALOGUE AND RECOVERY CALL FOR PROPOSALS is an open call for action grants with a total budget of 3,625,000 EUR, managed by the European Union and focusing on South Africa within the Sub-Saharan Africa region. The deadline for submitting proposals is September 30, 2025. This initiative aims to strengthen civil society by enhancing capacity, promoting dialogue, and supporting recovery initiatives in South Africa.

Eligible applicants include natural persons who are nationals of EU member states or eligible countries, legal entities established in the EU, international organizations, and potentially NGOs and non-profits working in relevant sectors. The type of support provided will be monetary grants under a standard grant contract, indicating that funds will be directly allocated to successful projects.

The application process involves a two-stage submission, beginning with a concept note followed by a full proposal for shortlisted candidates. Various publication documents are available to guide applicants, including guidelines, budget templates, logical frameworks, and a declaration of honor regarding exclusion and selection criteria. A specific requirement mentioned is the need for PADOR registration, which refers to a database of approved organizations by the EU.

Projects are expected to be ready for implementation and should focus on capacity-building initiatives related to civil society, governance, social development, and human rights. While the detailed eligibility criteria are not clearly outlined, it is emphasized that the goal is to support organizations aiming to create positive change in South Africa. The exact number of projects to be funded is not specified, and co-funding may not be explicitly required but could be considered depending on guidelines.

The overall emphasis of this call is on fostering civil society capabilities and ensuring sustainable democratic governance within South Africa, aligning with EU strategic priorities.

CEDAR CIVIL SOCIETY-CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT, DIALOGUE AND RECOVERY CALL FOR PROPOSALS

This is an open call for proposals for an action grant.

The programme is Sub-Saharan Africa, with a geographical zone of South Africa.

The budget is 3,625,000 EUR.

The type of grant is Action Grants.

The publication date is 27/06/2025.

The update date is 26/06/2025.

The deadline for submission is 30/09/2025.

The following documents are available:

Annex A2, published 27 June 2025, in English.

Annex A1 Concept Note, published 27 June 2025, in English.

Guidelines, published 27 June 2025, in English.

Annex B - Budget, published 27 June 2025, in English.

Annex C - Logical framework, published 27 June 2025, in English.

Annex F - PADOR offline registration form, published 27 June 2025, in English.

Annex G - Standard Grant Contract, published 27 June 2025, in English.

Annex J - Information on the tax regime applicable to grant contracts, published 27 June 2025, in English.

Appendix - Derogations international organisation, published 27 June 2025, in English.

Annex H - Declaration of honour on exclusion and selection criteria, published 27 June 2025, in English.

Annex K - Clarifications on financing not linked to costs, published 27 June 2025, in English.

Annex L - Self-evaluation questionnaire on SEA-H, published 27 June 2025, in English.

This call for proposals, titled CEDAR CIVIL SOCIETY-CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT, DIALOGUE AND RECOVERY, is an opportunity for organizations to apply for action grants aimed at supporting civil society in South Africa. With a substantial budget of 3,625,000 EUR, the European Union is seeking to fund projects that enhance the capacity of civil society organizations, promote dialogue, and contribute to recovery efforts within the region. The call is open for submission until September 30, 2025. Interested applicants should carefully review the guidelines and annexes provided, which cover various aspects such as the concept note, budget, logical framework, PADOR registration, standard grant contract, tax regime, declaration of honor, and self-evaluation questionnaire. The provided documentation gives detailed information on the application process, eligibility criteria, and project requirements. This initiative underscores the EU's commitment to supporting civil society and fostering positive change in Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically within South Africa.

Eligible Applicant Types: The information provided does not explicitly state the eligible applicant types. However, given the focus on civil society capacity enhancement, dialogue, and recovery, it is highly likely that eligible applicants include NGOs, non-profits, civil society organizations, and potentially public sector entities working in relevant areas. The appendix mentioning derogations for international organizations suggests they are also eligible.

Funding Type: The funding type is Action Grants.

Consortium Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. The guidelines and call details would need to be consulted to determine this.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographical zone for this opportunity is South Africa. The programme is Sub-Saharan Africa.

Target Sector: The target sectors are civil society capacity enhancement, dialogue, and recovery. This suggests a focus on areas such as governance, social development, community development, human rights, and related fields.

Mentioned Countries: South Africa.

Project Stage: The information does not explicitly state the expected maturity of the project. However, the focus on capacity enhancement, dialogue, and recovery suggests that projects could be at various stages, from development to implementation and scaling.

Funding Amount: The budget for this opportunity is 3,625,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for proposals.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money through action grants.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly stated in the provided information. However, the presence of a "Concept Note" (Annex A1) suggests that there is at least a two-stage application process, with an initial concept note followed by a full proposal for shortlisted applicants.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided information.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. The guidelines and call details would need to be consulted to determine this.

Summary:

This is an open call for proposals (EuropeAid/184434/DD/ACT/ZA) for action grants under the CEDAR (Civil Society-Capacity Enhancement, Dialogue and Recovery) program. The program focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically targeting South Africa. The total budget allocated for this call is 3,625,000 EUR. The call aims to enhance the capacity of civil society organizations, promote dialogue, and support recovery efforts within South Africa. The deadline for submission is September 30, 2025.

Applicants are required to submit a concept note as part of the application process, suggesting a multi-stage application process. A range of documents are provided to guide applicants, including guidelines, budget templates, logical framework templates, standard grant contract, and information on tax regimes. While the specific eligibility criteria are not detailed in the provided text, it is likely that NGOs, non-profits, civil society organizations, and potentially public sector entities working in relevant areas are eligible to apply. International organizations may also be eligible. The call targets sectors related to governance, social development, community development, and human rights, with the overall goal of strengthening civil society and fostering positive change in South Africa. The need for a PADOR registration form is mentioned, which is a database of EU approved organizations.