EU National Resource Center for Civil Society Organizations in Serbia

This call finances the establishment and operation of an EU National Resource Centre to strengthen civil society organisations in Serbia and support their participation in policy‑making and the EU integration process. The total indicative budget is €4,100,000 and requested grants must be between €3,700,000 and €4,100,000, with EU co‑financing of 51%–95% and a required minimum allocation of 50% of direct eligible costs (at least €1,000,000) to Financial Support to Third Parties. The lead applicant must be a non‑profit CSO legally established in Serbia acting with at least three co‑applicant CSOs from different regions, and actions must run for 36–48 months. Applications follow a two‑stage concept note/full proposal procedure submitted via PROSPECT, with full application deadline 05 October 2026 16:00 CET and mandatory PADOR/Participant Register registration.

What it funds

Summary

Establishment and operation of a national EU National Resource Centre (EUNRC) to strengthen civil society in Serbia through capacity building, coaching, advocacy support, monitoring of reforms and provision of flexible financial support to third parties (FSTP). Activities include trainings, mentorship, legal and fiscal framework work, awareness raising and sector monitoring.

Budget and grant size:Total indicative envelope €4,100,000; requested grant must be between €3,700,000 and €4,100,000 and may cover 51%–95% of total eligible costs. At least 50% of direct eligible costs must be allocated to financial support to third parties, including a minimum of €1,000,000 for CSO operating activities ¹.

Who can apply

Lead applicants must be non-profit civil society organisations legally established in the Republic of Serbia. The lead applicant must partner with at least three Serbian CSOs established outside the lead applicant’s own region; co-applicants and affiliated entities must meet the same eligibility rules. Individuals, for-profit entities and organisations not established in Serbia are ineligible as lead applicants.

Eligibility highlights

1. 1Lead applicant: legal, non-profit CSO established in Serbia; not an intermediary
2. 2Mandatory partners: at least 3 CSO co‑applicants from different Serbian regions
3. 3Action location: throughout the Republic of Serbia (36–48 month duration)
4. 4FSTP: third-party grants allowed (max per third party normally €60,000; informal groups via intermediary up to €5,000)

Practical info & process

Apply online via PROSPECT (PADOR and Participant Register registration required). Information session scheduled 03 September 2026; deadline for full applications 05 October 2026 at 16:00 CET. Concept note stage first, pre-selection then full proposals for shortlisted applicants.

Footnotes

1. 1Full guidelines and application templates (concept note, full application form, budget and logframe) are published with the call; consult the Guidelines for Applicants and Annexes on the Funding & Tenders Portal for details and FSTP conditions: Guidelines include FSTP minimums and detailed selection/evaluation steps.

Call reference:EuropeAid. Title: EU National Resource Center (EUNRC) for Civil Society Organizations in Serbia. Contracting authority: European Commission (Delegation to Serbia / DG International Partnerships). Publication and guidance package includes Guidelines for Applicants, Documents to be completed, Documents for information and Local publication. Online submission mandatory via PROSPECT; organisations must be registered in PADOR and Participant Register (PIC). Deadline for submission of the full application: 05 October 2026 at 16:00 Brussels time. Project start indicative: February 2027 (contract signature period). Action implementation period: minimum 36 months, maximum 48 months.

Purpose, objectives and scope

Purpose:Establish and run an EU National Resource Centre (EUNRC) to strengthen civil society in Serbia and to support Serbia’s EU integration process by empowering civil society organisations (CSOs) to participate in policy-making, advocacy, monitoring of reforms and widening CSO sustainability and funding. Geographic location: Republic of Serbia (actions must take place in Serbia).

Global objective:Strengthen the EU integration process in Serbia by empowering civil society to actively participate in policy decision making and by stimulating their role as competent, transparent, accountable and effective civil society actors.

Specific objectives:1) strengthen long-term capacity and commitment of civil society including operational capacities for advocacy and monitoring of reforms and Serbia’s EU integration; 2) enhance civil society development via tailor‑made approaches through an EUNRC with regional presence across Serbia; 3) increase capacities of grassroots and informal groups via flexible financial support to third parties (FSTP) coupled with training, mentorship and monitoring; focus on underdeveloped sectors and informal groups’ transformation into CSOs.

Key programme components and eligible activities

The EUNRC must deliver a combination of capacity building, sustainability support and financial support to third parties (FSTP). The action will include but is not limited to:

1. 1Component 1: Trainings, coaching, mentoring and monitoring with follow-up up to six months; provision of self-study/mock-up trainings and e‑learning resources.
2. 2Component 2: Strengthening CSO funding capacities by mapping legislative and fiscal frameworks, supporting diversification of funding sources including philanthropy and advocating for fiscal/legal improvements where needed.
3. 3Component 3: Provision of Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) coupled with trainings and mentorship, including specific support to strengthen human rights, democracy, rule of law, governance, social engagement and under‑organised sectors identified via mapping.

Indicative eligible activities to be delivered by EUNRC (non‑exhaustive):monitoring of reforms, capacity building for sector lobbying and outreach, policy research and advocacy, joint action plans with public institutions, parliamentary dialogue, awareness raising campaigns, networking and partnership building, mentoring/coaching, support for CSO operational capacity for EU accession monitoring, publication of monitoring reports and sector analyses, help‑desk/ad hoc services and eLearning solutions, communications and visibility in line with EU rules.

Financial allocation and funding rules

Indicative Budget and Grant Size:The overall indicative amount available for this call is €4,100,000. Requested grant must be between €3,700,000 and €4,100,000. EU co‑financing rate: minimum 51% and maximum 95% of total eligible costs. The balance must be financed from non‑EU sources. Any grant award is subject to availability of funds. ¹

Form of the grant:reimbursement of eligible costs (actual costs) and the call allows financing not linked to costs features where stated in Annexes for specific cases. Contingency reserve: up to 5% of direct eligible costs and is only usable with prior written authorisation of the contracting authority. Indirect costs: flat rate up to 7% of direct eligible costs (excluding project office and volunteers’ work). Volunteers’ work may be declared under specific conditions and excluded from indirect cost calculation.

Eligibility: who can apply

Lead applicant:must be a legal, non‑profit civil society organisation established in the Republic of Serbia, directly responsible for preparation and management of the action, and not an intermediary. The lead applicant must act with co‑applicants.

Mandatory consortium requirement:The lead applicant must act with at least three CSOs established in Serbia located outside the region/county/city of the lead applicant. Co‑applicants should be from different regions to ensure territorial coverage. Co‑applicants and affiliated entities must comply with eligibility criteria and sign mandated documents (mandate and affiliated entity statement).

1. 1Eligible applicant types: non‑profit civil society organisations (NGOs), non‑profit networks/federations registered in Serbia.
2. 2Co‑applicants: same eligibility as lead applicant; must sign a mandate authorising the lead applicant to submit the application.
3. 3Affiliated entities: entities with a structural link (control or membership) to applicants; they are not beneficiaries but eligible costs incurred by them may be accepted if they comply with rules and sign affiliated entity declaration.
4. 4Associates, contractors and recipients of financial support: associates may be involved but must not receive grant funds except travel/per diems; contractors are selected under procurement rules; recipients of financial support (third parties) are allowed under conditions in the call.

Important constraints:A lead applicant may submit only one application and be awarded only one grant under this call. Co‑applicants/affiliated entities may participate in no more than two applications and may be awarded only one grant under this call. Affiliated entities cannot be beneficiaries/signatories of the contract but may incur eligible costs.

Eligible actions, duration and location

Location:All actions must take place in the Republic of Serbia. Duration: actions must run for minimum 36 months and maximum 48 months. Types of eligible actions include monitoring, capacity building, research and advocacy, policy dialogue, facilitation of consultations, networking, operational strengthening of CSOs, targeted grants/sub‑grants via FSTP, mentoring, public communications and visibility activities, and production of reports and tools. The call explicitly excludes infrastructure, actions mainly focused on equipment purchase, individual scholarships, humanitarian activities, and political party support.

Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) — rules and requirements

FSTP is allowed and mandatory as a component. The call requires that FSTP consume minimum 50% of direct eligible costs of the action and at least €1,000,000 must be allocated to support CSOs' operating activities linked to the applicant’s annual work programme. Maximum amount per third party is €60,000 unless a higher amount is justified by the objectives; maximum to informal groups is €5,000 (via intermediary CSO). FSTP must be designed with clear objectives, a closed list of eligible activity types, target categories, selection criteria, and clear ceilings and calculation rules for amounts granted (to be specified in the full application and contract).

Selection and awarding of FSTP must follow EU principles of transparency, equal treatment, proportionality and avoidance of conflicts of interest. FSTP allocation must be budgeted and identifiable in Annex B (Budget) under the heading Other and be clearly described in Annex I (Description of the Action).

Award procedure, evaluation and timetable

This is an open two‑stage call for proposals. Stage 1:concept notes are submitted and evaluated (relevance and design scoring out of 50). Pre‑selection: concept notes scoring at least 30 points and ranked within 200% of available budget proceed to Stage 2. Stage 2: pre‑selected lead applicants invited to submit full applications; full applications are assessed against selection (capacity/financial) and award (quality) criteria with a total score out of 100. Minimum thresholds apply for Section 1 (financial and operational capacity) — score below 12 or any sub‑section score of 1 leads to rejection. Provisional selection is made until available budget is exhausted; a reserve list is drawn up.

Indicative timetable:Information session 03 September 2026 (WEBEX); deadline for questions: 21 days before the submission deadline; deadline for submission of full applications: 05 October 2026 at 16:00 CET (Brussels time). Notification of opening and concept note evaluation: November 2026; notification of award decision: December 2026; contract signature: February 2027 (indicative).

Selection & award criteria — summary

1. 1Selection criteria (financial and operational capacity): management experience, technical expertise, staff and equipment, financial stability / audit reports for lead applicants (thresholds apply for amount levels).
2. 2Award criteria (quality): relevance to call objectives; relevance to country/sector needs; target group definition; added value; intervention logic; context analysis; risks and assumptions; indicative activities; cross‑cutting issues (environment, gender, inclusion); monitoring & evaluation quality; project management; sustainability; cost effectiveness and budget justification.
3. 3Scoring and thresholds: concept note scored out of 50; pre‑selection threshold 30. Full application scored out of 100 with detailed sub‑section scoring; Section 1 (financial & operational capacity) minimum 12 points and no sub‑section score of 1.

Funding modalities and financial management requirements

Form of grant:reimbursement of eligible costs (actual costs), with potential use of simplified cost options if allowed. In addition the call incorporates financing not linked to costs modalities in line with Article 14bis where applicable (the Guidelines explain FNLC rules and annex K provides clarifications). Currency and bank account: payments in EUR as specified in special conditions; bank account details and financial identification must be provided. The coordinator receives payments and is responsible for distribution to co‑beneficiaries. Financial reporting must use the Annex VI templates and include contractual expenditure verification or detailed breakdown as required by thresholds. For grants exceeding thresholds, a contractual expenditure verification (agreed‑upon procedures) and third party assessments (for FNLC) are required.

Contingency reserve:up to 5% of direct eligible costs (prior written authorisation required). Indirect costs: flat rate up to 7% of direct eligible costs excluding project office and volunteers’ work. VAT/taxes: generally ineligible unless non‑recoverable; guidance in Annex J explains country specific treatment and required proof for tax non‑reclaimability. Visibility obligations: full compliance with EU communication and visibility rules; derogations possible in exceptional/security circumstances but must be requested and justified.

Application process, templates and mandatory documents

Applications must be submitted online via PROSPECT; registration in PADOR and in the Participant Register (PIC) is mandatory. Submission consists of Concept Note (Annex A.1) and Full Application (Annex A.2). Mandatory annexes to submit: statutes/articles of association, declaration on honour (Annex H), PADOR registration (Annex F) if offline, lead applicant accounts and external audit reports when thresholds apply, logical framework (Annex C), budget (Annex B), mandate from co‑applicants, affiliated entity statements, and other documents listed in the Guidelines. Templates are provided in the published package (Annexes A to L and others).

1. 1Annex A.1: Concept note template and instructions (max pages and formatting rules provided).
2. 2Annex A.2: Full application form with detailed sections: description, activity plan, logframe (Annex C), detailed budget (Annex B), experience, declarations, mandates and affiliated entity statements.
3. 3Annex B: Budget templates (worksheets 1.a, 1.b, 1.c, 2 and 3) including rules for cost categories, indirect costs and FNLC integration where applicable.
4. 4Annex C: Logical framework matrix and activities matrix (Annex e3d).
5. 5Annex G/II/IV/V etc.: Standard grant contract templates and general conditions (procurement rules, reporting templates, audit/expenditure verification terms).
6. 6Annex H: Declaration on honour on exclusion criteria
7. 7Annex L: Self‑evaluation questionnaire on SEA‑H (sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment) for grants exceeding €60,000.

Monitoring, reporting, audits, third party assessment and record keeping

Monitoring and reporting:interim and final narrative and financial reports must be submitted using the templates in Annex VI and within contract deadlines. For grants above thresholds, contractual expenditure verifications (agreed‑upon procedures) and third party assessments (for FNLC) are required as specified in Annexes and the General Conditions. The contracting authority, European Commission, OLAF, EPPO and the European Court of Auditors retain rights to access records and to conduct checks and audits. Beneficiaries must keep records and supporting documents for 5 years after payment of the balance (3 years if grant <= €60,000), or longer where audits/investigations are ongoing.

Expenditure eligibility:only eligible costs as defined and documented in Article 14 of the General Conditions can be reimbursed. Non‑eligible costs include debts, provisions, costs financed by other EU grants, purchases of land/buildings (except in specific cases), currency losses, in‑kind contributions (except volunteer work where allowed), performance bonuses and recoverable VAT unless exceptions apply per Annex J.

Ethics, cross‑cutting principles and compliance

Applicants and beneficiaries must respect EU values, human rights, gender equality, non‑discrimination, environmental legislation and ILO core labour standards. The contracting authority applies zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEA‑H). Beneficiaries (except certain categories and for grants <= €60,000) are required to complete a self‑evaluation questionnaire on SEA‑H and implement appropriate measures. Anti‑fraud and anti‑corruption rules apply, and instances of fraud, irregularities, conflicts of interest, or unusual commercial expenses may result in contract termination, recovery and exclusion measures in line with the Financial Regulation.

Success rates, application stages and co‑funding

Application stages:Two main stages — Stage 1 concept note evaluation and Stage 2 full application evaluation for pre‑selected lead applicants. Additional administrative eligibility checks and verification of supporting documents for provisionally selected applicants follow evaluation. Number of stages effectively: 3 (concept note selection, full application evaluation, eligibility/supporting document verification) plus contract award and signature steps.

Success rates:Not published in the guidelines. The selection process uses thresholds and ranking and limits pre‑selection to concept notes whose cumulative requested contributions equal up to 200% of the available budget, then ranks and selects until available funding is reached. Applicants should therefore expect a competitive process; no explicit success probability is provided in the call documents.

Co‑funding and co‑financing:The grant percentage must be between a minimum of 51% and maximum of 95% of total eligible costs. The remaining balance of eligible costs must be financed through other sources, not from the EU general budget or EDF. Cash and in‑kind contributions can be part of co‑funding except contributions in kind are not considered eligible costs (special rules apply).

Templates and application form structure — guidance for applicants

Key templates and structure to follow strictly (all available in the publication documents on the call page):

1. 1Annex A.1 Concept Note: cover page, table summarising objective, beneficiaries, outputs, activities, target groups; 2 page maximum description and relevance sections; clear baseline, targets and indicators in the Logframe.
2. 2Annex A.2 Full Application Form: detailed description (max 13 pages), action plan (activity matrix with months/half‑years), design, monitoring and logical framework (Annex C), detailed Budget (Annex B) with justification (worksheets 1.a/1.b for cost‑based, 1.c for FNLC only), supporting documents list, declarations and mandates.
3. 3Annex B Budget: cost‑based worksheets require breakdown for human resources, travel, equipment, office costs, other costs, contingency and indirect costs; if FNLC used, complete FNLC worksheet 1.c or mix in 1.b; include expected sources of funding worksheet; include volunteers’ work if applicable and documented as unit cost.
4. 4Annex C Logical Framework: results chain (impact/outcomes/outputs), indicators (RACER), baselines, targets, sources of data and assumptions; mark FNLC indicators if they are to appear as budget headings for financing not linked to costs.
5. 5Annex H Declaration on Honour: exclusion criteria must be signed by lead applicant and co‑applicants/affiliated entities where required.
6. 6Annex L SEA‑H self‑evaluation: required after selection for grants > €60,000.

Applicants must ensure consistency between the narrative description, the logframe indicators and the budget lines. For FNLC components, the same performance indicators must be present in the logframe and in the budget FNLC headings and values, and the third party assessment provisions and contractual expenditure verification rules apply as described in the Guidelines and related annexes (Annex K, Annexes on TPA and AUP).

Practical compliance and pre‑submission checklist

1. 1Register and update the organisation in PADOR and Participant Register (obtain PIC).
2. 2Read the PROSPECT user manuals and e‑learning; register in PROSPECT and prepare for online submission well before the deadline.
3. 3Prepare and check statutory documents, financial statements and external audit reports (where thresholds apply) as required in Section 2.2.1 of the Guidelines.
4. 4Complete Annex A.1 (concept note) strictly to the format and upload in PROSPECT as instructed; if pre‑selected, prepare full application using Annex A.2, Annex B (budget) and Annex C (logframe).
5. 5If proposing FNLC elements, ensure the logframe, budget FNLC headings and application narrative are consistent and that data sources and assessment methods (including third party assessment) are clearly described.
6. 6Include clear FSTP design in the full application: objectives for FSTP, closed list of eligible activities, eligibility of third parties, selection criteria, maximum amounts, mechanisms for transparency and conflict‑of‑interest avoidance.
7. 7Ensure volunteer and project office costs and indirect costs are presented according to the rules and included in the justification sheet of the budget.
8. 8Prepare SEA‑H self‑evaluation and other management safeguards required for grants > €60,000 (to be submitted if recommended for award).

Contact for administrative queries and submission of information session participation request: delegation‑serbia‑fcs@eeas.europa.eu (copy Ana.Kalezic@eeas.europa.eu). Technical support for PADOR and PROSPECT: ec-external-relations-application-support@ec.europa.eu and PROSPECT online support form. All call‑related Q&A and clarifications will be published on the Funding & Tenders Portal and DG International Partnerships website to ensure equal treatment.

Eligible Applicant Types:Primary eligible lead applicants: non‑profit civil society organisations (CSOs) legally established in the Republic of Serbia. Co‑applicants: CSOs established in Serbia. Associates, contractors, recipients of financial support (third parties) as specified in the call. Affiliated entities (structural legal/capital link) are allowed and must sign affiliated entity statement. Public bodies, universities and research institutes are not listed as lead applicants here; only those local entities of eligible types as defined by the Guidelines should apply. Individual natural persons are not eligible as lead applicants under this call.

Funding Type:Primary mechanism: grant (reimbursement of eligible costs). The call authorises Financial Support to Third Parties and may incorporate financing not linked to costs features where specified in Annexes. Follow Annex II general conditions and call annexes for precise modalities.

Consortium Requirement:Mandatory consortium: lead applicant must act with at least three co‑applicant CSOs established in Serbia outside the lead applicant’s region/city. The lead applicant is the coordinator and sole interlocutor with the contracting authority.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Geographic eligibility: Republic of Serbia. Applicants must be legally established in Serbia. Actions must take place in Serbia.

Target Sector:Primary sectors: civil society development, governance, human rights, rule of law, media, civic participation, public policy and EU accession related reforms. Cross‑sectoral areas include advocacy, monitoring, civic engagement, anti‑corruption, environmental protection, social engagement, regional civil society support and capacity building.

Mentioned Countries:Explicit country referenced: Serbia (Republic of Serbia). EU is the donor region; documents reference EU/EDF/IPA III funding frameworks.

Project Stage:Expected maturity: development, capacity building, demonstration and implementation. Projects should demonstrate operational capacity for delivery, sustainability plans and ability to implement FSTP and monitoring systems. Projects should support CSO lifecycle development (grassroots to organised CSOs).

Funding Amount:Available funding envelope: €4,100,000. Applicants must request between €3,700,000 and €4,100,000. EU co‑financing rate between 51% and 95% of eligible costs. Minimum allocation to support CSO operating activities via FSTP: at least €1,000,000. The contracting authority reserves the right not to award all available funds. ¹

Application Type:Open call for proposals with two submission stages (concept note; full application). Online submission only via PROSPECT. Information session arranged by the contracting authority.

Nature of Support:Primary: monetary support via grant (reimbursement of eligible costs), including financial support to third parties (sub‑grants). Also non‑monetary support: training, coaching, mentoring, advisory services, eLearning resources, policy support and visibility activities.

Application Stages:Three administrative and evaluation stages: (1) Opening & administrative checks and concept note evaluation; (2) Evaluation of the full application (selection and award criteria); (3) Verification of eligibility and supporting documents for provisionally selected applicants; followed by award decision, notification and contract signature.

Success Rates:Not published. Pre‑selection reduces concept notes to a pool equivalent to 200% of available budget and then selects highest scoring full applications until budget is exhausted. No explicit success probability is provided in published documents.

Co‑funding Requirement:Yes. Minimum co‑financing: applicant must finance the balance between total eligible costs and the EU contribution. EU share must be between 51% and 95% of total eligible costs; balance comes from other sources (private, public, own resources). Evidence of financial capacity and latest accounts, and for large grants external audit reports are required.

Templates and application form structure (outline)

The call provides standard templates. Applicants must follow them precisely. Key template outlines and structure:

1. 1Annex A.1 Concept note: summary table (objectives, beneficiaries, outputs, main activities, targets), 2 pages description, relevance and maturity sections, lead applicant summary and contacts; includes checklist for self‑guidance.
2. 2Annex A.2 Full application form: extended description (max 13 pages), activity/implementation plan (detailed 12‑month plus general subsequent years matrix), intervention logic/design and risk analysis, logical framework Annex C (required), budget Annex B (detailed cost tables with justification per work package), experience and capacity sections, lead applicant financial identification and bank account form.
3. 3Annex B Budget: worksheets 1a (cost‑based), €1B (cost‑based + FNLC), 1c (FNLC only), worksheet 2 (consolidated amounts per work package) and worksheet 3 (expected sources of funding). Detailed guidance on HR costs, travel, equipment, office/project office, other costs, volunteer work, indirect costs, contingency and FNLC sub‑headings.
4. 4Annex C Logframe: required indicators (RACER), baselines and targets, identification of FNLC indicators to be transposed into Annex B (if applicable), sources of data and assumptions.
5. 5Annex F: PADOR offline registration form where online registration is impossible.
6. 6Annex H: Declaration on Honour on exclusion criteria (mandatory).
7. 7Annex L: SEA‑H self‑evaluation (mandatory for grants > €60,000) — administrative requirement to be submitted upon provisional selection.

Budget and logframe consistency:applicants proposing FNLC must ensure that indicators selected for FNLC in the logframe are exactly the same as the budget FNLC headings (Annex B worksheet 1c or €1BFNLC component). Annex K provides detailed clarifications and model text for FNLC integration.

How to apply — practical steps

1. 1Register organisation in Participant Register (PIC) and in PADOR; obtain EuropeAid ID and PIC numbers and ensure PADOR profile is up to date.
2. 2Prepare concept note using Annex A.1 template; submit through PROSPECT by deadline. Keep a clean, consistent title — title becomes public subject for FTS.
3. 3If pre‑selected, complete full application Annex A.2, Annex B (budget), Annex C (logframe) and mandatory supporting documents listed in Section 2.2.1 of the Guidelines and upload in PROSPECT and PADOR as required.
4. 4If technical issues with PADOR/PROSPECT: contact ec-external-relations-application-support@ec.europa.eu and use PROSPECT online support form.
5. 5Attend the online information session (03 Sep 2026) by registering via the Delegation e‑mail address by 28 Aug 2026 as specified in the Guidelines.

Evaluation clarifications and admissibility:only information contained in the templates will be evaluated. Incomplete applications may be rejected. Clarifications may be requested only where information is unclear and prevents objective assessment. Applicants should ensure budget arithmetic and internal consistency across templates prior to submission.

Concluding summary — What is this opportunity about and how to explain it?

This call finances the establishment and operation of an EU National Resource Centre for Civil Society Organisations in Serbia (EUNRC). The EUNRC is intended to be a national hub providing capacity building, coaching, policy support, monitoring and tailored financial support to CSOs (FSTP) across Serbia in order to strengthen their role in the EU accession process, participatory democracy and policy reform monitoring. The action is EU‑funded under IPA/CSF modalities. The contracting authority expects a Serbian, non‑profit lead applicant working in close partnership with at least three Serbian CSO co‑applicants from different regions, a robust and inclusive national coverage, a significant FSTP component to reach grassroots and informal groups, a strong capacity building programme with long‑term follow up and clear monitoring and evaluation systems that can include financing not linked to costs modalities if justified and properly designed. Applicants must strictly follow the application templates and submission procedures (PADOR and PROSPECT) and comply with EU financial, visibility and ethical rules. For detailed rules, applicants should consult the Guidelines for Applicants and all annexes accompanying the call documents available on the F&T Portal. Good proposals will demonstrate a clear intervention logic (logframe), measurable indicators, cost‑effective budget, strong consortium readiness and a clear plan for FSTP implementation and management.

Footnotes

1. 1Guidelines for the call and application documents are available from the call page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and include the official Budget and Instructions: webgate.ec.europa.eu

Overview of the Opportunity

This grant call aims to establish and operate an EU National Resource Center (EUNRC) to empower civil society organizations (CSOs) in Serbia, strengthening their capacity to actively participate in policy-making and Serbia's EU integration process ¹. The initiative is funded under the Civil Society Facility (CSF) and the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III), with a total budget of €4,100,000 ².

Who Should Apply

The lead applicant must be a non-profit civil society organization legally established in the Republic of Serbia ³. The lead applicant is required to act with at least three co-applicant CSOs established in Serbia outside the region, county, or city where the lead applicant is located to ensure nationwide coverage ⁴.

Eligibility Requirements:Applicants must be legal persons, non-profit-making, and directly responsible for managing the action without acting as intermediaries ⁵. Co-applicants must sign a mandate, and affiliated entities (if any) must have a structural legal or capital link with the applicants ⁶.

Key Objectives and Priority Areas

The global objective is to strengthen the EU integration process in Serbia by empowering civil society to participate in decision-making and enhancing their role as competent, transparent, and accountable actors ⁷. Specific objectives include strengthening long-term CSO capacity, enhancing development via tailor-made approaches, and increasing grassroots capacity through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) ⁸.

1. 1Capacity building through trainings, coaching, and monitoring (up to 6 months post-training)
2. 2Strengthening funding capacities via philanthropy and legislative advocacy
3. 3Provision of FSTP coupled with mentorship in human rights, rule of law, and good governance
4. 4Support for informal groups to transform into organized CSOs

Financial Details

The grant must include a minimum of €1,000,000 allocated to support CSO operating activities linked to the applicant's annual work programme ⁹. Informal groups must be supported via an intermediary CSO ¹⁰.

Application Process and Deadlines

Applications must be submitted online via the PROSPECT portal. The process involves a two-step evaluation: first, concept notes are evaluated, and only pre-selected lead applicants proceed to submit full applications ¹¹.

1. 1Information Session: 03 September 2026 at 11:00 hrs (WEBEX)
2. 2Deadline for Clarification Questions: 14 September 2026
3. 3Clarifications Issued: 24 September 2026
4. 4Submission Deadline: 05 October 2026 at 16:00 hrs (CET)
5. 5Concept Note Evaluation Results: November 2026
6. 6Contract Signature: February 2027

The project duration must be between 36 and 48 months ¹². Applicants must register in PADOR and the Participant Register before submission ¹³.

Important Conditions

The award is subject to the availability of funds under the Action Fiche for Civil Society and Media 2026-2027 ¹⁴. If funds are unavailable, the contracting authority may cancel the award without compensation. Visibility of the EU emblem and funding statement is mandatory, with derogations possible only for security or political sensitivity reasons ¹⁵.

Applicants must adhere to zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEA-H), requiring a self-evaluation questionnaire for grants over €60,000 ¹⁶.

Footnotes

1. 1Official Guidelines for Grant Applicants, Page 4-5, European Commission, EuropeAid.
2. 2Official Guidelines for Grant Applicants, Page 6, Section 1.3, European Commission.
3. 3Official Guidelines for Grant Applicants, Page 7, Section 2.1.1, European Commission.
4. 4Official Guidelines for Grant Applicants, Page 7, Section 2.1.1, European Commission.
5. 5Official Guidelines for Grant Applicants, Page 7, Section 2.1.1, European Commission.
6. 6Official Guidelines for Grant Applicants, Page 8-9, Section 2.1.1, European Commission.
7. 7Official Guidelines for Grant Applicants, Page 4-5, Section 1.2, European Commission.
8. 8Official Guidelines for Grant Applicants, Page 5, Section 1.2, European Commission.
9. 9Official Guidelines for Grant Applicants, Page 12, Section on Financial Support to Third Parties, European Commission.
10. 10Official Guidelines for Grant Applicants, Page 12, Section on Financial Support to Third Parties, European Commission.
11. 11Official Guidelines for Grant Applicants, Page 23-25, Section 2.3, European Commission.
12. 12Official Guidelines for Grant Applicants, Page 9, Section 2.1.3, European Commission.
13. 13Official Guidelines for Grant Applicants, Page 17-18, Section 2.2, European Commission.
14. 14Official Guidelines for Grant Applicants, Page 2, Notice Section, European Commission.
15. 15Official Guidelines for Grant Applicants, Page 14, Section on Visibility, European Commission.
16. 16Official Guidelines for Grant Applicants, Page 17, Section 2.1.5, European Commission.