Cypriot civil society in action X

The European Commission has launched the Cypriot Civil Society in Action X restricted call for proposals EuropeAid with a total indicative budget of €2,250,000 to strengthen civil society in the Turkish Cypriot community, support bicommunal confidence-building and promote new applicants. The call is structured in three lots (Lot 1: €1,050,000; Lot 2: €700,000; Lot 3: €500,000) with individual grant sizes of €100,000–200,000 for Lots 1 and 2 and €60,000–100,000 for Lot 3, and EU co-financing required between 60% and 95% of total eligible costs. This is a two-stage restricted procedure requiring online concept note submission via PROSPECT by 16 June 2026 (15:00 Brussels time) with invited full applications due 2 December 2026, and lead applicants must be non-profit civil society organisations meeting lot-specific establishment and eligibility rules. Applications must comply with detailed budget, eligibility, co-financing, visibility and reporting rules set out in the Guidelines for Applicants and require PADOR and Participant Register registration.

Overview

EU action grants to strengthen civil society in the Turkish Cypriot community and support bicommunal cooperation and new applicants. Supports capacity building, advocacy, trust-building, inclusion, youth, media, environment and related activities in Cyprus.

Total budget:€2,250,000 (indicative overall amount)

Who can apply

Lead applicants must be non-profit civil society organisations legally established in the Turkish Cypriot community (all lots). Additional eligibility rules apply by lot: Lot 2 requires bicommunal participation; Lot 3 is reserved for organisations that have not recently received EU civil society grants and may include TCc or bicommunal organisations established in Cyprus. Co-applicants, affiliated entities and certain EU/EEA/Candidate state CSOs may participate following the guidelines.

What is funded

Action grants for projects implemented in Cyprus. Eligible activities include CSO organisational development, advocacy, monitoring, bicommunal confidence-building initiatives, youth and volunteer programmes, media capacity, environmental and climate action, service delivery to vulnerable groups, and limited financial support to third parties (allowed in Lots 1 and 2).

Grant sizes and co-financing

1. 1Lot 1 Strengthening civil society in the TCc: allocation €1,050,000; individual grants €100,000 to €200,000
2. 2Lot 2 Bicommunal confidence building actions: allocation €700,000; individual grants €100,000 to €200,000
3. 3Lot 3 New applicants: allocation €500,000; individual grants €60,000 to €100,000

EU contribution covers between 60% and 95% of total eligible costs depending on the proposal; requested grant must respect these minimum/maximum percentages and the limits on in-kind and volunteer contributions. Salary ceiling for budgeted staff: €3,500 gross/month and HR costs must not exceed 50% of total direct eligible costs.

Deadlines and procedure

Restricted two-stage call:submit concept note first; pre-selected applicants invited to full application. Deadline for concept notes: 16 June 2026 at 15:00 Brussels time ¹. Online submission via PROSPECT is mandatory; organisations must register in PADOR and the Participant Register.

Key submission channels:PROSPECT for concept note and full application; PADOR registration required for organisations.

Selection and reporting

Concept notes scored out of 50; only notes scoring >=30 considered for pre-selection. Full applications evaluated on quality, capacity and cost-effectiveness; contractual reporting, audit and visibility rules apply. Third-party assessment or expenditure verification may be required for larger grants or where financing not linked to costs is used.

Applicants must follow the Guidelines for Grant Applicants and use the annex templates (concept note, full application, budget, logframe). Information sessions and user guides for PROSPECT/PADOR are provided by the Civic Space technical assistance. Contact for procedural questions: REGIO-CY-SETTLEMENT-SUPPORT-CS-X@ec.europa.eu.

Footnotes

1. 1Full guidelines, annexes and submission instructions are available in the call documents on the Funding & Tenders Portal: Guidelines for applicants.

Opportunity snapshot

Call type:Restricted call for proposals (Action Grants) published by the European Commission under the Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community. Reference: EuropeAid. Geographical zone: Cyprus (with specific rules for the Turkish Cypriot community and bicommunal actions). Total indicative budget: €2,250,000. Deadline for submission of concept notes: 16 June 2026, 15:00 Brussels time. Invitation-only second stage: selected lead applicants will be invited to submit full applications; final contract signature expected May–June 2027. Online submission mandatory via PROSPECT; PADOR registration required. Published and updated 17 April 2026.

Contracting authority:European Commission (DG International Partnerships / Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community).

What the call funds

Purpose:Strengthen, sustain and make more inclusive civil society in the Turkish Cypriot community (TCc), promote EU values, encourage bicommunal cooperation and reconciliation, and diversify participation of new CSOs in EU funding. Three lots with defined priorities and funding envelopes.

1. 1Lot 1 — Strengthening civil society in the TCc: €1,050,000 total envelope. Eligible actions: institutional development, capacity building, advocacy, watchdog activities, service delivery and other sectoral topics (human rights, access to justice, health, social policy, anti-discrimination, media freedom, youth, gender, environment and climate, culture, etc.). Grant size: €100,000 to €200,000 per action.
2. 2Lot 2 — Bicommunal confidence building actions: €700,000 total envelope. Actions must take place in both communities and aim to increase bicommunal interaction (reconciliation, joint civil society initiatives across topics such as education, environment, culture, youth, media, sports). Grant size: €100,000 to €200,000 per action.
3. 3Lot 3 — New applicants: €500,000 total envelope. Target: organisations that have not previously or recently benefited from EU grants under specified previous calls; focus on organisational capacity building, sustainability, transparency and accountability. Grant size: €60,000 to €100,000 per action.

Eligibility and who should apply

Lead applicant requirements:legal person, non-profit, a civil society organisation established in the Turkish Cypriot community (all lots) or in Cyprus for lots 2 and 3 (Lot 3: if established in government-controlled areas the lead must be bicommunal). Must be directly responsible for preparation and management of the action and not be in any exclusion situation. Lot-specific rules apply for bicommunal composition and prior EU funding history.

1. 1Eligible applicant types: CSOs/non-profit organisations, NGOs, trade unions, employers’ associations, other civil society groupings; in addition, CSOs established in EU Member States, EEA or Candidate Countries may act as co-applicants.
2. 2Co-applicants: not mandatory but strongly encouraged in Lots 1 and 3 (and required in Lot 2 unless the lead is bicommunal). Co-applicants must fulfil the same eligibility criteria and sign a mandate.
3. 3Affiliated entities: entities with structural link (control or membership) may be proposed and their costs may be eligible but they do not become beneficiaries under the contract; they must sign an affiliated entity statement.
4. 4Associates/contractors/recipients of financial support: distinct roles defined; recipients of financial support (financial support to third parties) allowed in Lots 1 and 2 with strict rules; Lot 3 cannot include financial support to third parties.

Action characteristics, duration and location

Eligible actions are capacity building, advocacy, monitoring, bicommunal exchanges, community outreach, service delivery, research, media and digital resilience activities, youth initiatives, environmental/climate advocacy, support to refugees and asylum seekers, piloting innovation, and other activities aligned with priorities. Duration: minimum 12 months, maximum 30 months. Location: activities must take place in Cyprus; for Lots 1 and 3 primarily in the Turkish Cypriot community and optionally in government-controlled areas; Lot 2 must operate in both communities.

Financial and budgetary details

Overall indicative amount:€2,250,000. Grants take the form of reimbursement of eligible costs (actual costs and/or simplified cost options). Applicants must request a grant amount within lot-specific minimum and maximum thresholds and within co-financing limits. EU contribution must be between 60% and 95% of total eligible costs. In-kind and non-eligible taxes must be limited to 10% of estimated total accepted costs when included. The balance must be financed from other sources (applicant or other donors).

Size of grants (per lot):Lot 1: €100,000 to €200,000. Lot 2: €100,000 to €200,000. Lot 3: €60,000 to €100,000.

Indirect costs:flat rate up to 7% of eligible direct costs (except volunteers’ work and project office costs). Contingency reserve: up to 5% of estimated direct eligible costs only with prior written authorisation. Maximum monthly gross full-time salary budgeted under the grant: €3,500; HR costs must not exceed 50% of total eligible direct costs.

Co-financing, in-kind contributions and volunteers

Co-financing is required:applicants must cover the non-EU share of total eligible costs from other sources (own funds, other donors). In-kind contributions are generally not eligible costs (except volunteer work) but may be accepted as co-financing if allowed and justified. Volunteers’ work may be included as in-kind up to 50% of all sources of financing and must be valued using EU unit cost decision (Cyprus daily volunteer unit indicated in guidance).

Financial support to third parties (cascade grants)

Permitted in Lots 1 and 2 but not in Lot 3. Conditions:maximum amount per third party €10,000; lead applicant must define objectives, eligible activities, categories of recipients, selection criteria, allocation criteria and maximum amounts in the full application and must ensure transparency, competition and conflict-of-interest safeguards; third parties cannot be designated on submission; recipients cannot be on EU restrictive measures lists; third parties cannot be asked to co-finance; financial support to third parties must be fully covered by the grant (100%).

Evaluation, selection and scoring

Two-step restricted procedure:concept note evaluation (Step 1) followed by invitation to submit full application. Concept notes are scored out of 50 and must score at least 30 to be pre-selected. The contracting authority will pre-select a number of concept notes whose aggregate requested amounts equal between 200% and 220% of available budget per lot. Full applications are then evaluated (Step 2) against financial/operational capacity and award criteria with a scoring grid up to 100 points. Selection criteria thresholds apply: e.g., Section 1 financial and operational capacity must score at least 10/20 otherwise rejection. Final verification of eligibility and supporting documents is Step 3 before award.

1. 1Concept note evaluation grid: maximum 50 points (Relevance 20, Design 30 with intervention logic weighted x2).
2. 2Full application evaluation grid: 100 points (Financial and operational capacity 20; Relevance 20; Design 15; Implementation 15; Sustainability 15; Budget/cost-effectiveness 15 with budget efficiency weighted x2).
3. 3Minimum passing rules and reserve list: concept notes >=30 are considered; pre-selected pool equals 200–220% of budget; reserve list used if funds become available.

Application, templates and required documents

Submission:online via PROSPECT is mandatory for concept note and full application. PADOR registration (EuropeAid ID) is mandatory at concept note stage for lead applicants (co-applicants and affiliated entities must register by full application stage). If online registration in PADOR is impossible for technical or confidentiality reasons, applicants must use PADOR offline registration form (Annex F) submitted with full application. Applications must be in English. Concept note uses Annex A.1 form; full application uses Annex A.2 form. Applicants must include Annex B budget, Annex C logical framework, Annex D identification form, Annex H declaration on honour, and other annexes as specified.

Key annexes and templates available to applicants include:Guidelines for grant applicants (restricted), Annex A.1 Concept Note template, Annex A.2 Full Application form and instructions, Annex B budget template, Annex C Logical Framework template, Annex D Identification Form, Annex F PADOR offline form, Annex G standard grant contract and general conditions, Annex L SEA-H self-evaluation, Annex IX transfer of assets, PRAG procurement guidance and other administrative templates.

Important operational systems:Applicants must register in the Participant Register (PIC) and in PADOR and apply via PROSPECT. User guides, e-learning materials and technical IT helpdesk support are available; information sessions will be provided via the Civic Space project website and social media.

Administrative and compliance conditions

Applicants must comply with EU values, anti-corruption, anti-bribery, environmental and labour standards, and zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEA-H). Where required by grant amount, beneficiaries must complete self-evaluation on SEA-H (Annex L). Applicants must submit declarations on exclusion criteria (Annex H) and supporting legal and financial documentation for eligibility checks (statutes, latest accounts, external audit reports where thresholds apply). The contracting authority applies early detection and exclusion systems and may publish administrative sanctions if breaches are found.

Application process and timeline

1. 1Deadline for clarifications on concept notes: requests submitted by 26 May 2026, 15:00. Clarifications published by 5 June 2026.
2. 2Deadline for concept notes: 16 June 2026, 15:00 Brussels time (online PROSPECT).
3. 3Information to lead applicants on concept note outcomes and invitation to submit full applications: 14 September 2026 (indicative).
4. 4Deadline for submission of full applications (for invited applicants): 2 December 2026, 15:00 (Brussels time).
5. 5Notification of contracting authority decision (final): 15 April 2027 (indicative); contract signature May–June 2027.

Application stages and success rate considerations

Stages:1) concept note submission and administrative check + CN evaluation; 2) invitation and submission of full application with detailed budget and annexes; 3) evaluation of full application (selection and award criteria); 4) verification of eligibility and supporting documents prior to award and contract signature. Typical step count for applicants: 3 main phases (concept note, full application, eligibility verification) plus contract negotiation/ signature.

Success rate:the guidelines indicate pre-selection will be to a financial envelope equal to 200–220% of available funds per lot; only concept notes scoring >=30/50 are considered. Final success rates depend on the number and quality of applicants but the stated pre-selection multiplier implies roughly 45–50% of pre-selected amount will reach award stage overall (indicative only). Because this is a restricted two-stage call with competitive scoring and reserve lists, applicants should expect moderate competition and should plan realistic budgets and robust technical proposals.

Co-funding requirement and cost rules

Co-funding:yes. The requested EU contribution must be between 60% and 95% of total eligible costs; applicants must secure and document other sources to cover the remaining share (own contribution or other donors). In-kind co-financing is accepted in limited circumstances and volunteers’ work can be included according to EU unit cost guidance. Maximum monthly gross staff salary budgeted: €3,500 pro rata for part-time; HR costs must not exceed 50% of total eligible direct costs. Contingency reserve and indirect cost flat rate rules apply as described in the guidelines.

Templates and application structure guidance

Required application documents and structure:concept note (Annex A.1) must include summary table (objectives, beneficiaries, outputs, activities, target groups), description of the action (max 2 pages), relevance (max 3 pages), lead applicant profile and brief project details. Concept notes must follow strict format and completeness checklist; incomplete CNs risk rejection. If invited, full application (Annex A.2) requires a detailed description (up to 18 pages), methodology, action plan, logical framework (Annex C), detailed budget and budget justification (Annex B worksheets), experience tables, co-applicant mandates, affiliated entity statements and supporting documents (statutes, accounts, audit report if thresholds apply).

1. 1Annex A.1 — Concept note: cover page, summary table, 2-page action description, 3-page relevance justification, added-value and cross-cutting measures, lead applicant details.
2. 2Annex A.2 — Full application: full narrative (max 18 pages), methodology (max 5 pages), detailed action plan (max 4 pages), sustainability (max 3 pages), logical framework (Annex C), detailed budget and justification (Annex B worksheets).
3. 3Annex B — Budget templates: worksheets 1a/€1Bfor cost-based or 1c for FNLC, worksheet 2 (justification), worksheet 3 (sources of funding).
4. 4Annex C — Logical framework matrix template and activities matrix (Annex E3d guidance provided).
5. 5Annex H — Declaration on honour on exclusion and selection criteria (mandatory where grant > €15,000).
6. 6Annex L — SEA-H self-evaluation questionnaire (required for grants > €60,000 except limited exceptions).

Practical application tips:register in PADOR and Participant Register early; read the PROSPECT and PADOR user guides; attend Civic Space information sessions; prepare full supporting documents in advance to avoid last-minute submission issues; ensure budgets respect ceilings and salary/HR ceilings; articulate concrete cross-cutting measures (gender, youth, disability, SEA-H, environmental integration); full transparency on financial support to third parties if applicable.

Eligibility edge cases and special rules

Bicommunal rules:Lot 2 actions must be implemented in both communities and if the lead applicant is not bicommunal must include at least one applicant from each community. Lot 3 is targeted to new applicants (organisations that did not benefit from specified previous EU calls). Affiliation rules define which entities can be considered affiliated (control or membership links); contractors/associates/recipients of financial support have separate definitions and must not perform conflicting roles. Activities outside Cyprus are exceptional and must be negligible and pre-approved.

Risks, compliance and grant management

Risks:eligibility rejection due to incomplete documentation; budget non-compliance with HR ceilings, indirect cost ceilings or co-financing rules; failure to meet protection, SEA-H and ethical obligations; procurement non-compliance under PRAG/Annex IV; visibility non-compliance. Contract management: standard grant contract applies (Annex G and Annex II general conditions). Reporting obligations: interim and final narrative and financial reports, possible contractual expenditure verification, detailed breakdowns, and for FNLC components third party assessments as required by threshold rules.

Categorisation and structured extraction (answers)

The following section answers the specific structured questions requested about the opportunity, providing as much detail as available in the published guidelines and annexes.

Eligible Applicant Types:Non-profit civil society organisations (CSOs) including non-governmental organisations, trade unions, employers’ associations and other social groups; co-applicants may include CSOs established in EU Member States, EEA or Candidate Countries; lead applicants must be legal persons, non-profit, and established in the Turkish Cypriot community for all lots, or in Cyprus for lots 2 and 3 (Lot 3 lead in Republic of Cyprus must be bicommunal). Associates, contractors and recipients of financial support are distinct categories and must follow separate rules. Public bodies may be involved as associates but lead applicants must be CSOs under these guidelines.

Funding Type:Grant — Action Grants under EU external action rules; form: reimbursement of eligible costs (actual costs and/or simplified cost options).

Consortium Requirement:Consortium optional but encouraged in Lots 1 and 3; Lot 2 requires bicommunal composition (lead may act alone only if bicommunal). The call is effectively a restricted two-stage procedure: concept note by single lead applicant (may include co-applicants) then invited full application by pre-selected lead applicants.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Cyprus. Specifically, Turkish Cypriot community (TCc) for Lots 1 and 3 primary implementation; Lot 2 must operate in both the Turkish Cypriot community and government-controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus. Co-applicants may be from Member States/EEA/Candidate Countries where allowed and where they add value.

Target Sector:Civil society and governance sector encompassing human rights, rule of law, justice, social policy, health, inclusion, anti-discrimination, media freedom and integrity, youth, gender, environment and climate, culture, reconciliation, collective memory, refugee and asylum seeker support, civic engagement, volunteerism, investigative journalism, digital resilience, and community service delivery.

Mentioned Countries:Cyprus (explicit). The call distinguishes the Turkish Cypriot community and the government-controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus; secondarily EU Member States/EEA/Candidate Countries are mentioned as eligible locations for co-applicants under certain terms.

Project Stage:Expected project maturity: development and implementation stage — capacity-building, organisational development, advocacy and demonstration/pilot activities. Actions may include research and evidence generation, piloting, scaling local service delivery and advocacy for policy change.

Funding Amount:Total call envelope €2,250,000. Indicative lot allocations: Lot €1 1,050,000; Lot €2 700,000; Lot €3 500,000. Individual grants range by lot: Lot 1 & €2 100,000–200,000; Lot €3 60,000–100,000.

Application Type:Restricted two-stage open call with mandatory online submission: 1) concept note submission via PROSPECT (open call but restricted to applicants invited to full stage by selection rules), 2) invited full application submission via PROSPECT. PROSPECT/PADOR/PIC registrations mandatory.

Nature of Support:Monetary support in the form of grants (reimbursement of eligible costs), plus potential non-monetary technical assistance through Civic Space technical assistance activities and information sessions; financial support to third parties permitted under conditions for Lots 1 and 2.

Application Stages:Three principal selection stages are defined: 1) Administrative check and concept note evaluation (pass/fail and scoring out of 50), 2) Evaluation of invited full applications (selection and award criteria with scoring up to 100 and minimum thresholds for Section 1), 3) Verification of eligibility and supporting documents of provisionally selected applicants prior to award and contract signature. Additional negotiations and clarifications may occur prior to contracting.

Success Rates:No explicit historical success rate provided. Pre-selection aims to invite full applications for concept notes whose total requested amounts equal between 200% and 220% of available budget per lot; only concept notes scoring >=30/50 are considered. Final success rate depends on quality and number of submissions; applicants should assume competitive selection and plan for a shortlist-to-award conversion broadly consistent with the 200–220% pre-selection multiplier.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. Applicants must finance the balance between total eligible costs and EU contribution from other sources (own funds or other donors). Requested EU co-financing must be between 60% and 95% of total eligible costs. In-kind co-financing (including volunteers’ work) is allowed with strict limits and documentation requirements.

How the application forms look and structure guidance

Templates:Annex A.1 (Concept note) and Annex A.2 (Full application) are standard PRAG-based forms. Concept note contains a cover page, summary table (objectives, final beneficiaries, outputs, activities, target groups), a 2-page description of the action, a 3-page relevance section and brief lead applicant data. Full application includes a detailed description (max 18 pages), methodology (max 5 pages), indicative action plan (max 4 pages), sustainability (max 3 pages), logical framework (Annex C), detailed budget (Annex B with worksheets and justification), experience tables, declarations and mandates for co-applicants and affiliated entities, and mandatory supporting documents (statutes, accounts, audit report when applicable).

1. 1Concept note structure: cover page, summary table (objectives, outputs, activities, target groups), 2-page description of action, 3-page relevance, added-value and cross-cutting elements, lead applicant data and declaration.
2. 2Full application structure: Part 1 General information; Part 2 Description of the action (2.1.1 narrative up to 18 pages; 2.1.2 methodology up to 5 pages; 2.1.3 action plan up to 4 pages; 2.1.4 sustainability up to 3 pages); Annex C logical framework; Annex B budget and justification; Part 3 Lead applicant/co-applicants and affiliated entities information; Part 5 Declarations and mandates.

Budget templates:worksheets allow detailed cost-based budgets (1a cost-based, €1Bhybrid, 1c financing not linked to costs), justification worksheet and expected sources of funding worksheet. Logical framework template requires indicators, baselines, targets, units, means of verification and assumptions; an Activities Matrix links outputs to activities and indicative inputs/amounts. Annexes include model contractual expenditure verification terms, third party assessment templates for FNLC, and PRAG procurement rules (Annex IV) for all procurement by beneficiaries.

Compliance, reporting and contract management

If awarded, the grant contract is the standard EU external actions grant contract (Annex G special conditions and Annex II general conditions). Reporting obligations include interim and final narrative and financial reports, potentially contractual expenditure verification reports and third party assessments for financing not linked to costs according to thresholds. The contracting authority may request additional supporting documents prior to contracting. Visibility obligations and EU emblem usage are mandatory unless derogation for safety is accepted in advance.

Procurement and subcontracting must follow PRAG/Annex IV rules. Beneficiaries must allow access for audits and checks by the Commission, OLAF, EPPO and European Court of Auditors. Record-keeping requirements last at least 5 years after balance payment (3 years for small grants) or until any ongoing audit is closed.

Summary: What is this opportunity about and how to explain it

This call funds civil society organisations active in the Turkish Cypriot community and bicommunal initiatives in Cyprus. It is the tenth edition of a multi-year EU Aid Programme targeting capacity building, reconciliation, democratic engagement, rights protection and societal inclusion. It is structured in three lots addressing organisational strengthening, bicommunal confidence building and support for new applicants who have not recently benefited from EU CSO grants. The call is competitive, two-stage (concept note then full application on invitation), and managed through EU online systems (PADOR, PROSPECT, Participant Register). Financial support is provided as action grants reimbursing eligible costs with strict budget rules, ceilings for staff costs and ceilings for HR budget share, plus limits and rules on in-kind contributions and volunteers. Where relevant, applicants may include financial support to third parties under clear rules. Proposals must integrate cross-cutting issues (gender, youth participation, disability-inclusive approaches, environmental concerns, rights-based approach, and SEA-H safeguards). Successful applicants will sign the EU standard grant contract and follow detailed reporting, monitoring and procurement rules. Applicants should ensure compliance with eligibility, co-financing, budget ceilings and quality criteria and use the provided templates and annexes precisely.

How to prepare:register early in PADOR and the Participant Register, attend Civic Space information sessions, follow PROSPECT user guides and IT helpdesk where needed, ensure that concept notes fully address the CN checklist and evaluation grid, plan budgets within the stated ceilings, and be ready to provide full supporting documentation if invited to the full application stage. Language of application: English. Visibility and EU branding rules apply; derogations possible in security-sensitive contexts.

Contact for questions and clarifications (concept note stage):REGIO-CY-SETTLEMENT-SUPPORT-CS-X@ec.europa.eu. IT support for PROSPECT/PADOR: ec-external-relations-application-support@ec.europa.eu. Guidance and publication pages: DG International Partnerships website, Funding & Tenders Portal and Civic Space website.

Key documents to download and review before applying:Guidelines for grant applicants (restricted) including Annexes A.1 and A.2, Annex B budget, Annex C logical framework, Annex G standard contract and Annex II general conditions, Annex IV procurement rules, Annex L SEA-H self-evaluation and Annex F PADOR offline registration form. All available on the F&T Portal prospect page for reference EuropeAid/185928 Guidelines and Annexes. PROSPECT submission portal PADOR registration Participant Register PIC Civic Space project PRAG procurement guidance FN guidance on volunteers unit cost decision ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Full call documentation and templates are provided in the Guidelines for grant applicants and annexes available on the Funding & Tender Opportunities portal and in PROSPECT; applicants must use the provided Annex A.1 and A.2 templates and Annex B and C worksheets when applying.

Opportunity Overview

The European Commission has launched the tenth edition of the Cypriot Civil Society in Action grant programme, a restricted call for proposals worth €2,250,000 to support civil society organisations across Cyprus. This initiative is part of the EU's Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community and aims to strengthen civil society as a driver of dialogue, reconciliation, and active participation while promoting EU values and supporting Cyprus reunification.

Reference Number:EuropeAid

Call Status:Open for submission. This is a restricted call requiring submission of concept notes in the first phase.

Key Dates and Deadlines

Funding Structure and Budget Allocation

Total Available Budget:€2,250,000

The call is structured into three distinct funding streams (lots), each with specific allocations and focus areas. The contracting authority reserves the right not to award all available funds and may reallocate funds between lots if insufficient quality or number of proposals are received for a specific lot.

Eligibility Criteria

Lead Applicant Requirements

The lead applicant must be a legal person that is non-profit-making and constitutes a civil society organisation. For Lots 1 and 3, the lead applicant must be established in the Turkish Cypriot community. For Lot 2, the lead applicant must be established in the Turkish Cypriot community or in Cyprus (if bicommunal). The lead applicant must be directly responsible for preparation and management of the action and not act as an intermediary.

For Lot 3 specifically, the lead applicant must not have previously benefited from EU grants as a grant beneficiary in past civil society calls (CS5 through CS9), anti-trafficking calls, human rights calls (HR6 and HR7), or directly awarded grants under the Aid Regulation.

Co-applicant and Affiliated Entity Participation

In Lot 1, the lead applicant may act individually or with co-applicants. In Lot 2, if the lead applicant is not bicommunal, it must include minimum one co-applicant from each of the two communities (Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot). Co-applicants from EU Member States, EEA countries, or Candidate Countries are eligible. Affiliated entities must have a structural link (legal, capital, or membership) with the applicant that exists independently of the action.

Ineligible Applicants

Applicants must not be in any exclusion situations as defined in the practical guide, including bankruptcy, insolvency, grave professional misconduct, fraud, corruption, involvement in criminal organisations, money laundering, terrorist financing, child labour, or human trafficking. Applicants must not be subject to EU restrictive measures.

Eligible Actions and Activities

Action Duration and Location

Actions must have a minimum duration of 12 months and maximum duration of 30 months. For Lots 1 and 3, actions must take place in the Turkish Cypriot community and optionally in government-controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus. For Lot 2, actions must take place mandatorily in both the Turkish Cypriot community and government-controlled areas. Limited activities may take place outside Cyprus with prior approval from the contracting authority.

Eligible Action Types

Lot 1 and Lot 3 support institutional development and capacity building of civil society organisations to increase impact in sectors including human rights, justice, democratic values, inclusion, equality, environmental action, socio-economic justice, education, health, youth, culture, media, and reconciliation. Lot 2 supports bicommunal partnership actions in culture, environmental protection, civic dialogue, grassroots engagement, and rights-based initiatives promoting dialogue and mutual understanding.

Ineligible actions include those concerned only with individual sponsorships for workshops or scholarships, actions violating human rights or causing significant environmental damage, and projects where infrastructure exceeds 10 percent of direct eligible costs or equipment and supplies exceed 50 percent of direct eligible costs.

Eligible Activities (Indicative List)

• Capacity-building, training, coaching, mentoring, and organisational development initiatives
• Strengthening internal governance, transparency, accountability, and financial management systems
• Studies, sectoral analyses, needs assessments, policy research, and legal analysis
• Monitoring and watchdog activities including oversight of public decision-making and anti-corruption measures
• Advocacy initiatives, policy dialogue, and strategic engagement with institutions
• Community-based awareness campaigns and public education initiatives
• Dialogue, consultation, and structured discussion between stakeholders and communities
• Organisation of meetings, seminars, conferences, workshops, and public debates
• Establishment or strengthening of networks, platforms, and partnerships among civil society actors
• Youth-focused initiatives including leadership programmes and civic education
• Service delivery in relevant thematic areas including advisory services and outreach
• Investigative journalism, fact-checking, and evidence-based reporting
• Media literacy and digital resilience programmes
• Environmental advocacy and climate action initiatives
• Social inclusion initiatives addressing poverty and vulnerability
• Activities promoting volunteerism and active citizenship
• Support to refugees and asylum seekers including advocacy, legal assistance, and social inclusion

Financial Support to Third Parties

In Lots 1 and 2, applicants may propose financial support to third parties to help achieve action objectives. The maximum amount per third party is €10,000. Eligible recipients are civil society activists, journalists, media organisations, and civil society organisations. Third parties cannot be asked to provide co-financing, and financial support must cover 100 percent of the third party action. Lot 3 applicants may not propose financial support to third parties.

Budget and Financing Requirements

Co-financing Requirements

The EU grant must represent between 60 percent and 95 percent of total eligible costs. The balance must be financed from sources other than the EU general budget or European Development Fund. In-kind contributions and non-eligible taxes are limited to 10 percent of estimated total accepted costs.

Eligible Costs

Eligible direct costs include staff salaries (maximum €3,500 monthly gross for all staff), travel and subsistence, equipment and supplies, project office costs, publications, studies, evaluation, translation, and financial services. Human resources costs must not exceed 50 percent of total eligible direct costs. Indirect costs may be claimed at a flat rate not exceeding 7 percent of direct eligible costs (excluding volunteer costs and project office costs).

Volunteer work may be declared as eligible cost using approved unit costs (€78.00 per day for Cyprus) and may comprise up to 50 percent of all sources of financing. A contingency reserve not exceeding 5 percent of estimated direct eligible costs may be included but requires prior written authorisation for use.

Ineligible Costs

Ineligible costs include debts and interest, provisions for losses, costs financed by other EU actions, land and building purchases (except where necessary for direct implementation), currency exchange losses, in-kind contributions (except volunteer work), bonuses, negative interest, and salary costs of local administration personnel. Costs must not be incurred prior to contract signature or after the implementation period (except for final reports and evaluation).

Application Process

Restricted Call Procedure

This is a restricted call requiring a two-stage application process. In the first stage, applicants submit concept notes for evaluation. Only pre-selected applicants are invited to submit full applications in the second stage.

Registration Requirements

Lead applicants must register in PADOR (Potential Applicant Data On-Line Registration) before submitting concept notes and obtain a unique EuropeAid ID. All organisations must also register in the Participant Register to obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC). Online submission via PROSPECT is mandatory for this call.

Concept Note Submission

Concept notes must be submitted online via PROSPECT by 16 June 2026 at 15:00 Brussels time. The concept note must include a summary table, description of the action (maximum 2 pages), and relevance section (maximum 3 pages) covering consistency with call objectives, relevance to country needs, target groups and beneficiaries, and added-value elements. Only the concept note form will be evaluated; no additional annexes should be sent.

Full Application Submission

Pre-selected applicants will be invited to submit full applications by 2 December 2026 at 15:00 Brussels time. Full applications must include detailed description (maximum 18 pages), methodology (maximum 5 pages), action plan (maximum 4 pages), sustainability analysis (maximum 3 pages), logical framework, budget, and supporting documents. Supporting documents include organisation statutes, declaration on honour regarding exclusion criteria, financial capacity documentation, and latest accounts.

Evaluation Criteria

Concept Note Evaluation

Concept notes are evaluated on a maximum score of 50 points. Only concept notes scoring at least 30 points are considered for pre-selection. Evaluation criteria include relevance of the action (20 points) covering consistency with call objectives, relevance to country needs, target groups definition, and added-value elements; and design of the action (30 points) covering intervention logic, context analysis, risks and assumptions, activities, and cross-cutting issues.

Full Application Evaluation

Full applications are evaluated on a maximum score of 100 points. Evaluation covers financial and operational capacity (20 points), relevance of the action (20 points), design of the action (15 points), implementation approach (15 points), sustainability (15 points), and budget and cost-effectiveness (15 points). Applications scoring less than 10 points in financial and operational capacity are rejected. Highest scoring applications are provisionally selected until available budget is reached.

Cross-Cutting Issues and Requirements

Applicants must integrate key cross-cutting principles throughout action design and implementation including meaningful youth participation and mainstreaming, gender equality and gender mainstreaming, strategic and inclusive approach to persons with disabilities, and principles of good governance, transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct. Actions must adopt a rights-based approach integrating human rights standards and principles including universality, indivisibility, participation, non-discrimination, transparency, and accountability.

Successful applicants must comply with environmental legislation and core labour standards as defined in International Labour Organisation conventions. They must commit to and ensure respect for basic EU values including human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights. A zero-tolerance policy applies to sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, and other forms of intimidation. Organisations receiving grants exceeding €60,000 must complete a self-evaluation questionnaire on sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment.

Visibility and Communication Requirements

Beneficiaries must take all necessary steps to ensure visibility of EU funding through correct and prominent display of the EU emblem and relevant funding statement in accordance with EU guidelines. All communications, publications, and dissemination activities must specify that the action received EU funding and include the statement: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the contracting authority. Neither the European Union nor the contracting authority can be held responsible for them. Awarded grants will collaborate with Civic Space and EU Infopoint projects to communicate results and impact.

Contract and Implementation Terms

Grant Form and Payment

Grants take the form of reimbursement of eligible costs based on actual costs incurred and/or simplified cost options. For actions with implementation period of 12 months or less or grants of €100,000 or less, payment consists of 80 percent initial pre-financing and balance payment. For longer actions or larger grants, 100 percent pre-financing is provided for the first reporting period, with further pre-financing based on expenditure achievement (minimum 70 percent of previous payment), and final balance payment.

Reporting Obligations

Beneficiaries must submit interim reports within 60 days following each 12-month reporting period and a final report no later than three months after the implementation period (six months if coordinator is not headquartered in Cyprus). Reports must include narrative and financial components, updated logical framework with current indicator values, and contractual expenditure verification or detailed breakdown of expenditure. For grants exceeding €100,000, a detailed breakdown of expenditure must be provided with each report.

Contract Duration and Termination

The contract enters into force when both parties sign. Implementation begins on the day following signature or on the first day of the month following first pre-financing payment. Payment obligations end 18 months after the implementation period unless the contract is terminated earlier. The contract automatically terminates if no payment occurs within two years of signature. The contracting authority may terminate the contract for substantial breach of obligations, failure to provide required reports, bankruptcy, fraud, corruption, or other specified grounds.

Support and Assistance

Information sessions will be organized by the EU-funded Technical Assistance Civic Space project to help applicants familiarize themselves with the PROSPECT system. Dates and venues will be published on the Civic Space website and social media. Questions may be sent by email to REGIO-CY-SETTLEMENT-SUPPORT-CS-X@ec.europa.eu no later than 21 days before the concept note deadline. Replies will be provided no later than 11 days before the deadline. Technical support for PROSPECT and PADOR registration is available via the online support form in PROSPECT or at ec-external-relations-application-support@ec.europa.eu.

Historical Context and Programme Continuity

This is the tenth edition of the Cypriot Civil Society in Action programme. Since 2007, the European Commission has committed €19.78 million to civil society in Cyprus through successive calls for proposals, supporting more than 160 organisations. These organisations have implemented projects encouraging dialogue, strengthening participation in democratic life, and promoting cooperation across communities. The previous ninth edition generated strong interest, demonstrating continued vitality of civil society in the Turkish Cypriot community and ongoing need for financial support.

Footnotes

1. 1All dates and times are expressed in Brussels time. Applicants should use online time converter tools to convert to local time, accounting for time zones and daylight saving time changes.