Enhancing Civil Society Engagement for Transparent, Accountable, and Inclusive Local Governance and Economic Sustainability

The grant opportunity titled "Enhancing Civil Society Engagement for Transparent, Accountable, and Inclusive Local Governance and Economic Sustainability" has a budget of 1,419,000 EUR, indicated by the identifier EuropeAid/185270/DD/ACT/LS. This is an open call for Action Grants, specifically inviting applications from various eligible entities, including civil society organizations, public and private law bodies, and natural persons. The geographical scope includes Lesotho and potentially other regions.

The deadline for submissions is set for February 3, 2026. The application process requires several documents, including guidelines, application forms, budget annexes, and identification forms, all available for download. The project aims to enhance civil society participation in governance processes and promote local economic development, focusing on ensuring transparency and accountability at local governance levels.

The funding type is identified as a grant, supporting projects that are in the implementation or scaling stage rather than early-stage research. While the specifics on co-funding requirements and success rates are not detailed in the documentation, the funding practices typically require some contribution from beneficiaries, often ranging between 10-40%.

The grant opportunity reflects the European Commission's priorities in promoting effective governance and encourages civil society organizations to engage actively in democratic and economic processes. Interested applicants should notably review all guidelines and forms to meet the requirements and prepare their submissions before the deadline.

The funding opportunity is titled "Enhancing Civil Society Engagement for Transparent, Accountable, and Inclusive Local Governance and Economic Sustainability." The reference number for this opportunity is EuropeAid/185270/DD/ACT/LS.

This is an open call for submissions for an Action Grant. The program is multi-geographical and includes Lesotho. The total budget allocated for this grant is 1,419,000 EUR.

The call was published on November 1, 2025, and updated on October 31, 2025. The deadline for submissions is February 3, 2026.

The following documents are available for download:

Guidelines (October 31, 2025, in English)
Application form FA (October 31, 2025, in English)
Application form CN (October 31, 2025, in English)
Annex B Budget (October 31, 2025, in English)
Annex C Logical framework (October 31, 2025, in English)
Annex D Identification Form for public law body (October 31, 2025, in English)
Annex D Identification Form for private or public law body with legal form (October 31, 2025, in English)
Annex D Identification Form for natural person (October 31, 2025, in English)
Annex F PADOR offline registration form (October 31, 2025, in English)
Annex G Standard Grant Contract (October 31, 2025, in English)
Annex J Information on the tax regime applicable to grant contracts (October 31, 2025, in English)
Appendix Derogations international organisation (October 31, 2025, in English)
Annex H Declaration of honour on exclusion and selection criteria (October 31, 2025, in English)
Annex L Self-evaluation questionnaire on SEA-H (October 31, 2025, in English)

In summary, this grant opportunity aims to enhance civil society engagement to promote transparent, accountable, and inclusive local governance and economic sustainability. The grant, with a budget of 1,419,000 EUR, is open to organizations working in multiple geographical zones, including Lesotho. Interested applicants should download the guidelines and application forms, along with the necessary annexes, and submit their proposals by the deadline of February 3, 2026. The provided documents cover various aspects of the application process, including budget preparation, logical framework development, identification forms for different types of applicants, registration procedures, contract details, tax information, and declarations related to exclusion and selection criteria. The grant seeks to support action-oriented projects that contribute to improved governance and economic development through active civil society participation.

Eligible Applicant Types: The documentation includes identification forms for public law bodies, private or public law bodies with legal form, and natural persons, suggesting that a range of entities, including individuals, NGOs, and governmental organizations, are eligible to apply. The appendix regarding derogations for international organizations further indicates their eligibility.

Funding Type: The funding type is Action Grants.

Consortium Requirement: The information provided does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, the breadth of eligible applicant types suggests that both single applicants and consortia could potentially be considered.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The program is described as "Multi Geographical Zone Lesotho," indicating that the geographic eligibility includes Lesotho and potentially other regions. The "Multi Geographical Zone" aspect suggests that the program may involve activities or partnerships across multiple locations, but Lesotho is specifically identified.

Target Sector: The program targets civil society engagement, transparent governance, accountable governance, inclusive local governance, and economic sustainability. These areas span multiple sectors, including governance, economics, and social development.

Mentioned Countries: Lesotho is explicitly mentioned.

Project Stage: The nature of "Action Grants" suggests that the expected project stage is likely implementation or scaling of existing initiatives rather than early-stage research or idea generation. The focus on governance and economic sustainability implies projects that are ready to be put into action.

Funding Amount: The budget is 1,419,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by "Open For Submission."

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money through action grants.

Application Stages: The provided information does not explicitly detail the number of application stages. However, the presence of various annexes and forms suggests a multi-step application process.

Success Rates: The provided information does not include any data on success rates.

Co-funding Requirement: The provided information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. The guidelines and standard grant contract documents would need to be reviewed to determine if co-funding is a requirement.

Summary:

This opportunity is an open call for action grants aimed at enhancing civil society engagement for transparent, accountable, and inclusive local governance and economic sustainability, with a focus on Lesotho and potentially other geographical zones. The program, funded by the European Commission, has a budget of 1,419,000 EUR. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities, such as public and private organizations, NGOs, international organizations, and individuals. The application process involves submitting various forms and annexes, including budget details, a logical framework, and identification forms. The deadline for submission is February 3, 2026. The program targets projects that are ready for implementation and contribute to improved governance, economic development, and civil society participation. While the information does not explicitly state whether consortia are required or if co-funding is necessary, interested parties should carefully review the guidelines and standard grant contract for complete details.