INDIA - Civil society contribution to policy dialogue, climate action and sustainable value chains

EU restricted call for proposals titled "INDIA - Civil society contribution to policy dialogue, climate action and sustainable value chains" funds CSO-led projects in India (Lot 1 nationwide; Lot 2 North East Region) to strengthen policy dialogue, climate action and sustainable value chains. Total indicative budget €9,976,000 with individual grants €1.5–€2.0 million, project duration 36–48 months, and EU co-financing generally 75–80% (up to 90% for fully local mono-beneficiary cases). This is a two-stage restricted call: concept notes must be submitted via PROSPECT by 15 September 2026 (Brussels time) and pre-selected applicants will be invited to submit full applications. Applicants must meet eligibility and compliance requirements including PADOR/PROSPECT registration and FCRA validation for Indian partners where applicable.

What it funds

Grants to strengthen Indian civil society engagement in EU-India sectoral policy dialogue, climate action and sustainable value chains, including a dedicated lot for North Eastern Region (NER). Activities include networking, evidence-based advocacy, inclusive governance, Global Gateway monitoring and CSO-led green economic development.

Who can apply

Non-profit legal persons and civil society organisations (CSOs) established in India, EU Member States/EEA or eligible countries. Indian lead applicants or Indian co-applicants must hold valid FCRA registration at full application and contract signature. EU/EEA lead applicants must partner with at least two Indian co-applicants, and demonstrate India experience.

Grant sizes, budget and structure

Total budget and lots:Total indicative budget €9,976,000 divided in two lots: Lot 1 (SO1 & SO2) €5,976,000; Lot 2 (NER, SO3) €4,000,000 ¹.

1. 1Grant amount per award: €1,500,000 minimum to €2,000,000 maximum
2. 2EU co-financing: generally 75%–80% of total eligible costs; up to 90% in mono‑beneficiary local-only cases
3. 3Project duration: 36 to 48 months

Application and selection

Restricted two-stage call:submit a concept note only by the concept deadline; pre-selected lead applicants will be invited to submit a full application. Online submission mandatory via PROSPECT; organisations must register in PADOR and the EU Participant Register.

1. 1Concept note deadline (Brussels time): 15 September 2026, 09:00
2. 2Indicative invitation to submit full application: 30 October 2026
3. 3Full application deadline (if invited): 5 January 2027

Key eligibility and compliance points

Lead applicants must be non-profit legal persons. Indian leads or Indian co-applicants require valid FCRA registration at full application and contract signature. International organisations are not eligible as applicants. Actions must take place in India (Lot 1: nationwide; Lot 2: North East Region). Financial support to third parties is permitted (normally up to €60,000 each).

Apply via PROSPECT and register organisations in PADOR and the Participant Register. An information session is scheduled on 23 July 2026 (IST); IT support for PROSPECT is available at ec-external-relations-application-support@ec.europa.eu. See full guidelines and application forms in the published call documents Guidelines for applicants ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Complete call documentation, annexes (application forms, budget, logical framework, templates and rules) and procedural details are in the Guidelines for grant applicants available on the call webpage Call documents.

Opportunity summary and administrative data

Call reference EuropeAid. Title:INDIA - Civil society contribution to policy dialogue, climate action and sustainable value chains. Type: Call for proposals (restricted call). Contracting authority: European Commission (DG International Partnerships and EU Delegation in India). Total indicative budget: €9,976,000 (€5,976,000 for Lot 1; €4,000,000 for Lot 2). Size of individual grants: €1,500,000 minimum to €2,000,000 maximum. Co-financing rate: minimum 75% and maximum 80% of total eligible costs in general; up to 90% for mono-beneficiary grants where all partners are local Indian organisations. Location: India (Lot 1: anywhere in India; Lot 2: North Eastern Region states). Duration: actions must be between 36 and 48 months. Deadline for concept notes: 15 September 2026 (09:00 Brussels time). Submission: online mandatory via PROSPECT following prior PADOR registration. Budget line E.14.020220. Identifier: 187022PROSPECTSEN / EuropeAid.

Call structure and process:This is a two-step restricted call. Only concept notes (Annex A.1) are submitted first. Pre-selected lead applicants are invited to submit full applications (Annex A.2). Administrative checks and evaluation take place at concept note stage (score out of 50), with a minimum threshold of 30. Full applications are scored against the full evaluation grid (100 max). Eligibility verification and supporting document checks are performed for provisionally selected proposals. An indicative timetable sets invitation to submit full applications on 30 October 2026 and deadline for full applications on 5 January 2027; final notification by 15 February 2027; contract signature by end 2027 at latest.

Programme objectives, lots and priorities

Global objective:strengthen local civil society organisations (CSOs) as actors of good governance and development in India. Specific objectives are grouped in two lots: Lot 1 covers Specific Objective 1 (strengthen CSOs to engage in EU-India sectoral policy dialogue in clean energy, climate action, resource efficiency and circular economy, water, sustainable urbanisation and digital, including inclusive policies for vulnerable groups) and Specific Objective 2 (promote CSOs contribution to sustainable economic growth, job creation, social inclusion, climate action and sustainable value chains). Lot 2 focuses on Specific Objective 3: CSO contribution in the North East Region (NER) of India for inclusive green economic development, climate resilience, participatory governance and engagement with EU private sector investments and Global Gateway initiatives.

Priorities per lot:Lot 1 priorities: 1) Networking, stakeholder engagement and public outreach; 2) Inclusive policies for women, youth and vulnerable groups; 3) Participatory governance, evidence-based advocacy and community empowerment; 4) Global Gateway engagement (CSO oversight of GG investments). Lot 2 priorities (NER): 1) CSO-led inclusive green economic development and sustainable value chains; 2) Climate resilience and environmental governance; 3) Participatory governance and community empowerment; 4) Support to and engagement with EU private sector investments and high-potential sustainable value chains in the NER.

Eligibility and applicants

Lead applicant:a legal person, non-profit, civil society organisation (CSO) as defined in the CSO Thematic MIP and call guidelines. Applicants must be effectively established in an EU Member State, an EEA Member State or India (establishment demonstrated by statutes). International organisations are not eligible to apply or act as co-applicants. The lead applicant must be directly responsible for preparation and management of the action and not act as intermediary.

1. 1If lead applicant is EU/EEA-based: must act with a minimum of two Indian co-applicants. Indian co-applicants must hold valid FCRA registration at time of full application and contract signature. Foreign entities implementing directly in India must demonstrate Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approval for implementation/remittances under FEMA.
2. 2If lead applicant is Indian: may act alone or with co-applicants/affiliated entities. Indian lead applicant must be FCRA-registered and have valid FCRA at full application and signature. No transfer of EU funds to co-applicants/affiliates allowed where Indian lead applicant implements (FCRA constraints).
3. 3Co-applicants must satisfy same eligibility as lead applicant and sign mandate (Annex A.2 Section 5). Affiliated entities allowed only if structural link exists (control or membership). Associates, contractors and recipients of financial support have defined roles and must not act in multiple roles.

Applicant types explicitly eligible include:CSOs, NGOs, community-based organisations, cooperatives, trade unions, universities and research organisations acting as CSOs, not-for-profit media, foundations, women's and youth organisations, indigenous peoples' organisations and other non-state non-profit actors as per the CSO Thematic Programme definitions. Public bodies and governments are treated differently and are generally excluded except where specifically allowed in call guidelines (check Annexes).

Geographic and beneficiary scope

Geographic eligibility:applicants must be established in EU Member States, EEA Member States or India. Actions must take place in India. Lot 1: anywhere in India. Lot 2: North East Region states only (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura). Some activities may exceptionally take place outside India if they explicitly benefit Indian actors (e.g., exposure visits).

Mentioned countries/region:India (entire country). North East Region of India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura). Region: EU, EEA referenced for applicant establishment and partnership rules.

Funding modalities and financial rules

Form of grants:reimbursement of eligible costs (actual costs and/or simplified cost options) and where explicitly allowed financing not linked to costs (performance-based payments measured against indicators – FNLC). Eligible grant amounts per action: €1.5M to €2.0M. Contracting authority co-financing rates: 75% to 80% of total eligible costs; up to 90% maximum if mono-beneficiary or if all partnership members and affiliated entities are local Indian organisations established under Indian law and evidenced by statutes.

1. 1Indicative overall budget: €9,976,000 (Lot €1 5,976,000; Lot €2 4,000,000). Only €4,988,000 of 2026 appropriations are certain; the remaining €4,988,000 depend on 2027 appropriations and are subject to a suspensive clause.
2. 2Eligible duration: minimum 36 months, maximum 48 months.
3. 3Eligible cost categories and rules: detailed in Annex B (budget), Annex C (logframe), Annex G (standard grant contract) and the PRAG/ePRAG guidance. Indirect costs: flat rate up to 7% of direct eligible costs (excluding volunteer costs and project office). Contingency reserve: up to 5% of estimated direct eligible costs; prior written authorisation required for use.
4. 4Financial support to third parties (FSTP) is allowed under strict conditions: maximum €60,000 per third party unless justified; requires clear selection criteria, monitoring, and evidence and is expected to be used where applicant has prior grant-making experience.

Eligible and ineligible costs, accounting, exchange rate and reporting rules follow Annex II General Conditions and PRAG; volunteers' work may be declared as unit cost under strict rules and excluded from indirect cost calculation. VAT is eligible only if non-recoverable under national law; applicants must provide proof of non-recovery at final report, with limited exceptions (low-value VAT, crisis situations, excessive recovery cost or time). See Annex J for tax information.

Evaluation and selection

Two-step evaluation:Step 1 administrative checks and concept note evaluation using a 50-point grid (relevance 20, design 30). Only concept notes scoring at least 30, then ranked and pre-selected until requested funding equals at least 200% of budget. Step 2 evaluation of full applications uses a 100-point grid combining selection criteria (financial and operational capacity) and award criteria (relevance, design, implementation, sustainability, budget/cost-effectiveness). Minimum thresholds apply: Section 1 (financial and operational capacity) must reach at least 12 points; individual subsections scored 1 cause for rejection. Award scoring uses weighted criteria with cost-efficiency having double weight in some subsections. Reserve list will be established.

Administrative and eligibility verification of supporting documents will be performed for provisionally selected applications. Self-evaluation questionnaire on sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEA-H) (Annex L) is required for grants > €60,000 except for natural persons and certain assessed entities. Contracting authority may request contractual expenditure verification (AUP) and third-party assessment for FNLC components; terms of reference and reporting templates are included in the annexes.

Consortium requirement and partnerships

Consortium:both single-lead (mono-beneficiary) and consortium proposals are allowed. If lead applicant is EU/EEA-based, a minimum of two Indian co-applicants is required. If lead applicant is Indian, it may act alone or with co-applicants/affiliates. Affiliated entities must have a structural link (control or membership) and sign affiliated entity statements. Associates, contractors and recipients of financial support must occupy only one defined role each. Lead applicant may submit only one application and may be awarded only one grant under this call. Co-applicants or affiliated entities may participate in more than one application and may be awarded more than one grant.

Target sectors and technology / thematic focus

Target sectors:climate and clean energy, resource efficiency and circular economy, water, sustainable urbanisation, digital and connectivity, biodiversity/agroecology/agroforestry, Global Gateway related investments, sustainable value chains and private sector engagement in green industries. Cross-cutting emphases: gender equality (GAP III), youth engagement (EU Youth Action Plan 2022-2027), human rights-based approach, inclusion (persons with disabilities, minorities, LGBTQI+, indigenous peoples), environmental/climate integration and evidence-based advocacy.

Project stage and expected maturity

Expected project stage:development, implementation and demonstration of CSO-led activities to strengthen policy engagement, capacity-building, advocacy, community mobilisation, evidence generation and oversight. Proposed projects should be past idea stage with concrete intervention design including baseline data and monitoring systems. Projects should produce measurable outputs and outcomes and be capable of multi-year implementation (36–48 months). FNLC may be used for performance-based components where measurable indicators and external validation are feasible.

Application modalities and templates

Application submission is mandatory via PROSPECT. Lead applicants, co-applicants and affiliated entities must register in PADOR (Participant Data On-line Registration) and the EU Participant Register/PIC system where required. If PADOR registration is not possible for security or technical reasons, an offline PADOR form (Annex F) must be submitted with the full application. PROSPECT user manuals, e-learning videos and technical support (ec-external-relations-application-support@ec.europa.eu) are available.

1. 1Concept note form (Annex A.1): includes summary table, description (max 2 pages), relevance (max 3 pages), and declaration by lead applicant. Concept notes must be in English and follow format exactly; incomplete concept notes may be rejected.
2. 2Full application form (Annex A.2): description (max 18 pages), methodology (max 5 pages), action plan (max 4 pages), sustainability (max 3 pages), logical framework (Annex C), budget (Annex B worksheets 1a/€1B/1c as appropriate), justification and forecast budget, experience tables, PADOR registration forms if offline required, mandates by co-applicants and affiliated entity statements, legal and financial supporting documents (statutes, accounts, audit reports where required).
3. 3Annex B Budget: cost-based worksheets provided; contingency reserve, indirect costs (max 7%), volunteers rules, project office costs conditions, and FSTP line items included. Detailed justification worksheet required for cost-based components.
4. 4Annex C Logical Framework and Activities Matrix: required and must be consistent with narrative and budget. Use RACER indicators and integrate Global Europe Result Framework (GERF) indicators where possible.
5. 5Annex G includes standard grant contract and General Conditions (Annex II) with templates for reporting (Annex VI), contractual expenditure verification ToR (Annex VII-A), third party assessment ToR, financial guarantee model (Annex VIII), transfer of assets template (Annex IX), and procurement rules (Annex IV).

Applicants must attach statutes/articles of association, declaration on honour (Annex H), lead applicant latest accounts and external audit report where applicable (action grants > €750,000 require auditor report), PADOR registration or offline PADOR forms, and any other documents required in the guidelines. Originals or signed QES where requested must be kept on file.

Compliance, safeguards and ethics

Applicants and beneficiaries must comply with EU values (human dignity, freedom, democracy, rule of law and human rights) and zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEA-H). Successful applicants must complete the SEA-H self-evaluation questionnaire (Annex L) and implement corrective measures as required. Anti-corruption and anti-bribery compliance is mandatory. Beneficiaries must avoid conflicts of interest and enable Commission/OLAF/EPPO/ECA audits, on-the-spot checks and contractual expenditure verifications. Visibility of EU funding is mandatory unless derogation for security reasons is approved in writing.

Monitoring, reporting and audit:Reporting: interim narrative and financial reports and a final narrative and financial report are required using Annex VI templates. Reporting periods are generally annual; deadlines: interim reports due within 60 days after period end; final report within 3 months after implementation end (6 months if coordinator HQ not in implementation country). Contractual expenditure verification (AUP) is required for grants > €100,000 final report and for interim reports when grant >= €5,000,000. For FNLC components a third-party assessment validating achievement of results is required for grants > €100,000 or interim reports for grants >= €5,000,000. Records and supporting documents must be kept for 5 years after payment of balance (3 years if grant <= €60,000) and be available for audits and checks.

Application stages, success rates and co-funding

Application stages:two main stages (1 concept note, 2 full application). Additional administrative eligibility verification stage follows provisional selection; signature and possible negotiation/amendments thereafter. The call is restricted: only invited full applications accepted after concept note pre-selection.

1. 1Number of formal application stages to obtain funding: 2 main stages (concept note + full application) plus verification of supporting documents and contract signature (counts as additional stage).
2. 2Success rates: Not published in call text. The selection method ranks concept notes and selects up to amounts representing at least 200% of available budget for pre-selection; only concept notes scoring at least 30/50 considered. Final success rate depends on number and quality of applicants; historically competitive for similar EU thematic CSO calls (expect low success rate relative to number of concept notes).
3. 3Co-funding requirement: Yes. Minimum EU contribution is 75% of eligible costs, maximum 80% normally; applicants must provide remaining financing from other sources (own funds, other donors). Up to 90% EU contribution possible for mono-beneficiary or fully local partnerships as defined. Balance must be financed from sources other than the EU general budget or EDF.

Templates and application form structure guidance

Key application templates are provided as annexes and must be used without modification:Annex A.1 Concept Note (cover page, summary table, description max 2 pages, relevance max 3 pages, checklist and declaration by lead applicant); Annex A.2 Full Application (description max 18 pages, methodology max 5 pages, action plan max 4 pages, sustainability max 3 pages, logical framework Annex C, budget Annex B, experience tables, mandates and affiliated entity statements). Annex B budget worksheets 1a/€1B/1c (cost-based/FNLC combinations), worksheet 2 justification and worksheet 3 expected sources of funding. Annex C logframe and activities matrix templates must be completed and provide RACER indicators, baseline and targets and sources of verification. Annex F PADOR offline registration form must be used if online PADOR registration impossible. Annex H Declaration on Honour on exclusion must be signed by entities when grant > €15,000. Annex L SEA-H self-evaluation questionnaire must be provided by successful applicants.

1. 1Concept note must include: objectives (impact and specific), final beneficiaries, expected outputs, main activities, target groups, location, duration, requested EU contribution (amount and percentage indicative), brief risk analysis and cross-cutting issues mainstreaming. Use checklist in Annex A.1 to confirm completeness.
2. 2Full application must include: detailed narrative (max 18 pages) including intervention logic, stakeholder analysis and context; methodology (max 5 pages); activities matrix/action plan with six-month periods; logical framework Annex C with indicators, baselines and targets; detailed budget Annex B and justification worksheet; experience records for lead and co-applicants; mandates and affiliated entity statements; statutory documents, financial statements and audit reports where required.

Applicants must ensure consistency across concept note, full application, logframe and budget. Budget must list all items with units and unit values and justify necessity. Use RACER indicators and integrate GERF indicators where relevant. Financial support to third parties requires a dedicated description in the full application with objectives, eligibility criteria, selection procedures and monitoring modalities.

Risk, ethics and exclusions

Applicants must not be in exclusion situations (bankruptcy, fraud, corruption, money laundering, terrorist financing, serious professional misconduct, breach of tax/social obligations). Declaration on honour (Annex H) and supporting documents are required. The contracting authority applies early detection and exclusion systems and may register details where appropriate. Applicants must ensure respect for environmental legislation, core labour standards and EU values. Unusual commercial expenses (undeclared commissions, payments to tax havens or shell entities) are prohibited and will lead to contract termination or exclusion.

How the opportunity works in plain language

This EU call finances multi-year projects led by civil society organisations to strengthen their role in policy dialogue, climate action and sustainable value chains in India, with a special lot targeting the North East Region. It supports CSO networks, inclusive governance for women and youth, evidence-based advocacy, Global Gateway oversight and CSO-private sector links for sustainable value chains. The call is competitively managed in two steps (concept note then full application). Grants are large (€1.5–€2.0M) and require substantial organisational, financial and monitoring capacity, compliance with FCRA for Indian partners, and strong local anchoring and partnerships. Projects must include gender and youth-sensitive approaches, rights-based methodologies and robust monitoring frameworks. Financial rules follow EU General Conditions and PRAG; detailed templates and mandatory annexes are provided for applicants.

• Key takeaways for applicants: ensure PADOR registration early; follow Annex A.1 strictly for concept notes; build Indian partnerships (minimum two Indian co-applicants if EU lead); ensure FCRA compliance for Indian partners; prepare robust logframe with RACER indicators; plan budget with clear unit costs and justification; if proposing FSTP or FNLC include strong procedures and validation arrangements; prepare SEA-H self-evaluation and visibility plan.

This call is linked to EU-India strategic cooperation frameworks including the EU-India Comprehensive Strategic Agenda and the EU Global Gateway priorities in India. Applicants should align interventions with these high-level agreements and with the EU CSO Thematic Programme (CSO MIP 2021-2027). Full document downloads and templates are provided via the call page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. For PROSPECT and PADOR queries contact EC IT support; for call content clarifications use the email provided in the guidelines. See Annexes referenced in the call documentation for contractual, procurement, reporting and audit details. Call page Guidelines&&Templates Annex A.1 Concept Note Annex A.2 Full Application Annex B Budget Annex C Logical Framework Annex G Standard Grant Contract and General Conditions Annex L SEA-H questionnaire PADOR offline form Tax information Annex J

Footnotes

1. 1Full guidelines, annexes and application templates available on the Funding & Tenders Portal and on the call page (Guidelines for grant applicants, Annexes A to L, Annex B budget, Annex C logical framework, Annex G standard contract) and must be used unchanged. See original call documents for exact legal text and templates.

Opportunity Overview

This is a prospective EU grant opportunity under the Support for Civil Society in Partner Countries programme, targeting civil society organisations (CSOs) in India to strengthen their role in policy dialogue, climate action, and sustainable value chains [[3]]. The deadline for submission is September 15, 2026, at 07:00:10 UTC [[1]].

Programme Context:The opportunity falls under the EU Delegation to India’s restricted call for proposals, aiming to empower local CSOs as actors of good governance and development through inclusive and sustainable growth partnerships with public authorities and the private sector [[3]].

Thematic Priorities

1. 1Policy dialogue: Enhancing CSO capacity to engage in national and local policy processes on climate and sustainability
2. 2Climate action: Supporting initiatives in electric mobility, green hydrogen, sustainable transport, agriculture, coastal ecosystems, and climate finance [[4]]
3. 3Sustainable value chains: Promoting Indian-made craft products (handicrafts, textiles) via technological innovation, circular economy practices, and improved market linkages [[3]]

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants are local Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) established in India, including NGOs, community-based organisations, think tanks, and Indigenous Peoples’ organisations working on governance, livelihood, and environmental issues [[3]][[13]].

Key Eligibility Criteria:Applicants must be registered non-profit entities with demonstrated experience in civil society engagement, policy advocacy, or climate-related projects [[13]]. Partnerships with public authorities and private sector actors are encouraged but not mandatory [[3]].

Funding Details

Application Process

Applications must be submitted online via the EU’s Online Services Portal at webgate.ec.europa.eu (reference number 180987) [[3]]. The deadline is September 15, 2026, at 07:00:10 UTC [[1]].

Required Submission Documents:While specific documents are not listed in available sources, standard requirements for EU CSO calls include a project proposal, theory of change, sustainability plan, communication/coordination strategy, CVs of staff, and a letter of appreciation from past partners [[13]].

Strategic Considerations for Applicants

Applicants should align proposals with India’s national climate missions and leverage international climate finance mechanisms such as GEF, GCF, and GCCA+ to complement EU funding [[10]][[17]]. Demonstrating cross-sectoral collaboration and measurable impact on livelihoods and environmental resilience will strengthen proposals [[4]].

Footnotes

1. 1Official opportunity page: EU Delegation to India - CSO Funding Opportunity
2. 2Deadline confirmation: ALDA Europe Announcement