EU Support for Sustainable and Innovative Social Protection Programmes (SUSI) in Nigeria

The EU is offering action grants for the initiative titled "EU Support for Sustainable and Innovative Social Protection Programmes" specifically targeting Nigeria. The total budget allocated for this grant is €12.5 million, which falls under an action grant category aimed at projects that can provide effective social protection solutions in Nigeria. The grant was published on May 2, 2025, with updates on May 5, 2025, and the submission deadline is set for June 20, 2025.

Eligible applicants are likely to include nonprofits, NGOs, public entities, private sector organizations, and possibly international organizations focusing on social protection initiatives designed for vulnerable populations. While consortium participation is common for EU grants, documentation indicates that single applicants can also apply if they meet the eligibility requirements.

The geographical focus of this program is exclusively on Nigeria, with no broader regional eligibility specified, aiming primarily to support various aspects of social protection, including poverty alleviation and the establishment of effective welfare systems. The projects are expected to be beyond the pilot stage and should aim for tangible social impact.

The application process consists of two stages, requiring applicants to first submit a concept note followed by a full application if invited. Documentation and guidelines for the application process include the "Guideline - Guidelines for Grant Applicant," various annexes detailing application forms and budget templates, and specific reporting standards set by the EU.

Co-funding requirements are not clearly stated but are often part of EU grant procedures, so applicants are advised to review the detailed guidelines. The overall initiative highlights the EU's commitment to enhancing social welfare in Nigeria and tackling multidimensional poverty through innovative and sustainable program approaches.

Interested parties should carefully go through the available documents to ensure compliance and completeness in their applications as they prepare for submission by the given deadline. This funding represents a significant opportunity for organizations dedicated to advancing social protection initiatives in Nigeria.

The EU is offering action grants for "EU Support for Sustainable and Innovative Social Protection Programmes (SUSI)" in Nigeria. This funding opportunity falls under the Sub-Saharan Africa program and is specifically targeted at projects within Nigeria. The total budget allocated for this call is 12,500,000 EUR. The call was published on May 2, 2025, and updated on May 5, 2025. The deadline for submissions is June 20, 2025.

The following documents are available for download:

GUIDELINE - Guidelines for grant applicant _ Restricted Call (Published: May 5, 2025, in English)
Annex A1 - Grant Application Form - Concept Note (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex A2 - Grant Application Form - Full Application (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex B - Budget (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex C - Logical Framework (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex D - Legal Entity Identification Form _ Private Law Body (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex D - Legal Entity Identification Form _ Natural Person (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex G - Standard Grant Contract - Special Conditions (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex G - Annex VIII - Model _ Financial Guarantee (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex G - Annex VII-B - Third Party Assessment- Terms of Reference for Assessors (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex G - Annex VII-A - EV- Terms of Reference and Report of Factual Findings (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex G - Annex VII-A - EV- Table of Transactions and Errors (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex G - Annex VI (3) - Model _ Financial Report _ Costs Based (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex G - Annex VI (2) - Model _Final Narrative Report (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex G - Annex VI (1) - Model _Interim Narrative Report (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex G - Annex V - Standard Request for Payment (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex G - Annex IX - Standard Template for Transfer of Ownership of Assets (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex G - Annex IV - Procurement Rules for Grant Beneficiaries (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex G - Annex II _ General Conditions (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex H - Declaration on Honour on exclusion criteria (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex I - Appendix I Derogations for IOs (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex J - Information on Tax Regime (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)
Annex L - Self-evaluation Questionnaire on SEA-H (Published: May 2, 2025, in English)

In summary, this EU funding opportunity aims to support sustainable and innovative social protection programs in Nigeria. The call is a restricted one, meaning there might be specific eligibility criteria or a pre-selection process. The available documents provide detailed guidance for applicants, including application forms, budget templates, and information on legal and financial requirements. Interested organizations or individuals should carefully review the guidelines and annexes to prepare a comprehensive and compliant application before the deadline. The large budget indicates a significant investment in social protection within Nigeria, suggesting a focus on impactful and scalable projects.

Eligible Applicant Types: The document mentions "Legal Entity Identification Form _ Private Law Body" and "Legal Entity Identification Form _ Natural Person", suggesting that eligible applicants can include private law bodies and natural persons. The presence of "Appendix I Derogations for IOs" suggests that International Organizations (IOs) are also eligible. Further details would be needed from the "Guidelines for grant applicant" document to fully determine all eligible applicant types.

Funding Type: The funding type is "Action Grants".

Consortium Requirement: The "GUIDELINE - Guidelines for grant applicant _ Restricted Call" suggests this is a restricted call, but it doesn't explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if single applicants are allowed. Further details would be needed from the "Guidelines for grant applicant" document to determine if a consortium is required.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The "Geographical Zone" is specified as "Nigeria", indicating that the primary beneficiaries and the activities funded should be focused on Nigeria. The eligibility of applicants from outside Nigeria is not explicitly stated in the provided text and would need to be clarified in the guidelines.

Target Sector: The title "EU Support for Sustainable and Innovative Social Protection Programmes (SUSI) in Nigeria" indicates that the target sector is social protection. This could encompass a range of areas including poverty reduction, social safety nets, access to essential services, and other initiatives aimed at improving the well-being of vulnerable populations. The focus is on sustainable and innovative approaches within the social protection sector.

Mentioned Countries: Nigeria is explicitly mentioned.

Project Stage: The type of grant being an "Action Grant" suggests that the expected project stage is likely to be at the implementation or deployment stage, rather than purely research or idea generation. The projects are expected to deliver tangible results and contribute to the objectives of sustainable and innovative social protection programs. This could include development, validation, demonstration, commercialization, or scale-up stages, depending on the specific activities proposed.

Funding Amount: The budget is 12,500,000 EUR. The funding range or scale for individual projects is variable and would depend on the specific call for proposals and the nature of the proposed actions.

Application Type: The application type is a "Restricted Call", as indicated in the "GUIDELINE - Guidelines for grant applicant".

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money, as this is an Action Grant with a specified budget.

Application Stages: The presence of "Annex A1 - Grant Application Form - Concept Note" and "Annex A2 - Grant Application Form - Full Application" suggests a two-stage application process, where applicants initially submit a concept note, and if successful, are invited to submit a full application.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text. As this is a restricted call, the success rates could be higher than open calls, but this is speculative.

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly mentioned in the provided text. The grant guidelines would need to be consulted to determine if co-funding is required.

Summary:

This opportunity is a restricted call for proposals for "EU Support for Sustainable and Innovative Social Protection Programmes (SUSI) in Nigeria". It is an Action Grant with a total budget of 12,500,000 EUR. The program aims to support social protection initiatives in Nigeria that are both sustainable and innovative. Eligible applicants may include private law bodies, natural persons, and international organizations. The application process appears to be in two stages: a concept note followed by a full application. The deadline for submission is June 20, 2025. The geographical focus is Nigeria. The specific requirements for applicants, including whether consortia are required and if co-funding is necessary, are detailed in the "Guidelines for grant applicant" document. The grant aims to fund projects that are at the implementation stage and can deliver tangible results in the social protection sector.