Neighbourhood East

The ERASMUS+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) Programme for Neighbourhood East (Region 2) in 2026 aims to enhance higher education systems in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine through international partnerships and reforms. The programme prioritizes projects addressing socio-economic needs, focusing on areas like green transition, digital skills, governance, and integration of migrants.

Eligible applicants include higher education institutions (HEIs) from eligible third countries not associated with the Programme, EU Member States, and associated countries. The funding model is through ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants, with specific budget allocations: for Strand 1, projects receive between EUR 200,000 and EUR 400,000; for Strand 2, projects receive between EUR 400,000 and EUR 800,000; and for the special Strand 3 Moldova initiative, a single project can receive EUR 2,000,000. The total indicative budget for Region 2 is EUR 15,963,523, part of an overall funding of EUR 113,117,100 for all regions.

The programme is structured into three strands: Strand 1 seeks to foster cooperation and support less experienced HEIs; Strand 2 encourages transformative partnerships focused on innovation; and Strand 3 supports structural reforms with a specific initiative for a Master's programme in Moldova geared towards EU accession.

The application process is a single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, with a deadline of February 10, 2026. Evaluation criteria consider project relevance, design quality, partnership effectiveness, and expected impact, with a minimum score threshold needed for funding consideration. Co-funding requirements are not explicitly stated. This opportunity aligns with European Union values and aims for long-term capacity building and systemic improvements in higher education across the region.

The Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) call under the Erasmus+ Programme (ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CBHE) aims to foster international higher-education partnerships that strengthen universities and systems in eligible third countries not associated with the Programme. It aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement, supporting quality, modernization, and responsiveness in higher education to address socio-economic recovery and global challenges. The action contributes to the overarching priorities defined by the European Commission and broader EU external policy goals, including Global Gateway initiatives and the Pact for the Mediterranean.

The total indicative budget for the 2026 CBHE call is 113,117,100 EUR, divided among three strands: Strand 1 (23,359,660 EUR), Strand 2 (60,135,486 EUR), and Strand 3 (29,621,954 EUR). For Region 2 (Neighbourhood East), the indicative budget is 15,963,523 EUR, with flexibility in transferring budgets between strands. The indicative number of projects to be funded in Region 2 is 21.

The call is structured in Regions and Strands. In Region 2, the overarching priorities apply, with further details for Strands 1 and 2:

Green Deal: Modernizing economies, ensuring a green transition towards climate neutrality, focusing on climate change mitigation and adaptation, greening cities, sustainable value chains, and green skills & jobs.
Digital transformation: Fostering inclusive digital transformation in education and science, addressing the digital skills gap, developing connectivity solutions, improving digital skills and literacy, promoting distance learning, and fostering links between education, research, and business in digitalization.
Integration of migrants: Supporting education initiatives for regional higher education, credit transfer systems, qualification recognition, and providing access to education and scholarships for migrants and displaced persons.
Governance, peace, security and human development: Contributing to democracy, prosperity, stability, security, and cooperation, focusing on rule of law reforms, human rights protection, fighting corruption and discrimination, media literacy, and gender equality.
Sustainable growth and jobs: Investing in young people, connecting education, research, and innovation with private sector needs, focusing on teacher training, youth entrepreneurship, STEAM skills, and gender inclusiveness, with linkages to the green transition.

Strand 1: Fostering access to cooperation in higher education is designed to attract less experienced HEIs and small-scale actors, focusing on HEIs from least developed third countries, HEIs in remote regions, newcomer HEIs, and students/staff with fewer opportunities. Activities include enhancing management/administrative capacity, ensuring high-quality education, and increasing accessibility for students/staff with fewer opportunities. Examples of activities are reforming university governance, establishing international relations offices, developing quality assurance units, creating planning and evaluation units, enhancing communication mechanisms, and building capacities for mobility activities. Activities also include developing modules or study programs, establishing intensive study programs, developing capacities for postgraduate students and academic staff, implementing training courses for HEI academic staff, and creating synergies with the business sector. Activities also include developing remote and inclusive learning pathways, updating digital technology for students with disabilities, promoting initiatives for women and ethnic/religious minorities, and developing initiatives addressing barriers faced by disadvantaged groups.

Strand 2: Partnerships for transformation in higher education introduces new approaches and initiatives with a significant and long-term impact on HEIs, benefiting society. Projects should pursue innovation in higher education and reform in HEIs. Activities include developing innovative curricula, new learning methods, tools, and materials, introducing Bologna-type reforms, practical training schemes, internships, dual learning systems, solutions for challenging issues, supporting innovation centers, and reforming governance and management systems. Activities also include developing strategies for internationalization, tools for upskilling staff, and exchanges of students, researchers, teaching staff, and enterprise staff.

Strand 3: Structural reform projects support efforts in third countries to develop coherent, inclusive, and sustainable systems of higher education to meet socio-economic needs and create a knowledge-driven economy, including STEM fields. These projects involve competent National Authorities, HEIs, research institutions, and other relevant stakeholders.

Strand 3 - Special Moldova initiative: EU-Moldova Master’s programme in European Affairs supports a structural reform project aimed at establishing a flagship and sustainable Master’s programme in European Affairs in Moldova, based on cooperation between Moldovan universities and their peers from Member States or countries associated to the Erasmus+ programme. It targets students, young professionals, and civil servants from Moldova and neighboring countries/other associated countries, selected through a merit-based and transparent process, and will aim to enhance Moldova’s institutional capacity for EU accession. The EU grant will be 2,000,000 EUR for a single project. Activities include conducting needs assessments, establishing partnerships with EU universities, developing a Master’s curriculum, piloting modules, supporting accreditation, strengthening teaching capacity, embedding quality assurance mechanisms, and developing procedures for student selection.

The proposal page limit is 40 pages. The evaluation criteria, scoring, threshold, and process are described in the call document. The call was published on 26 November 2025, and the deadline for submitting applications is 10 February 2026 at 17:00 (Brussels Time). The evaluation period is from March to June 2026, with information to applicants in July 2026 and signature of the grant agreement in November 2026.

Relevant documents include the Call document, application form templates (Standard application form (ERASMUS BB and LSII), Detailed budget table (ERASMUS LSII)), guidance documents (ERASMUS Programme Guide, How to manage your lump sum grants, Guide for applicants), Model Grant Agreements (Lump Sum MGA), ERASMUS+ Work Programme, ERASMUS Regulation 2021/817, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, and Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual.

This Erasmus+ call for proposals aims to enhance higher education in countries neighboring the EU's East by funding projects that modernize universities, improve the quality of education, and promote cooperation between European and partner country institutions. The call is structured around three main strands, each targeting different aspects of higher education development. Strand 1 focuses on fostering access to cooperation, particularly for less experienced institutions. Strand 2 aims at transformative partnerships that introduce innovative approaches to higher education. Strand 3 supports structural reforms, with a special initiative for establishing a Master's program in European Affairs in Moldova. The call encourages projects that align with EU priorities such as the Green Deal, digital transformation, and sustainable growth, and provides funding and resources to support successful project implementation.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), research institutions, competent National Authorities (notably Ministries of Education), and other relevant authorities/bodies and stakeholders from eligible third countries not associated to the Programme and EU Member States or countries associated to the Erasmus+ programme. The call is specifically designed to attract less experienced HEIs and small-scale actors.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants (ERASMUS-LS).

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants, involving international higher-education partnerships. For the special Moldova initiative under Strand 3, cooperation between Moldovan universities and their peers from EU Member States or countries associated to the Erasmus+ programme is required.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes Region 2 (Neighbourhood East), which comprises third countries not associated to the Programme. EU Member States or countries associated to the Erasmus+ programme can participate as partners.

Target Sector: The target sector is higher education, with a focus on capacity building, modernization, and responsiveness to socio-economic needs. Specific areas include Green Deal, Digital Transformation, Integration of migrants, Governance, peace, security and human development, Sustainable growth and jobs and STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).

Mentioned Countries: Moldova, EU member states, countries associated to the Erasmus+ programme. Region 2 - Neighbourhood East.

Project Stage: The project stage varies depending on the strand. It includes activities from fostering access to cooperation (attracting less experienced HEIs) to partnerships for transformation (introducing new approaches and initiatives) and structural reform projects (developing coherent, inclusive, and sustainable systems of higher education).

Funding Amount: The funding amount varies depending on the strand. For the special Moldova initiative under Strand 3, the EU grant is EUR 2,000,000 for a single project. For Region 2 - Neighbourhood East, the indicative budgets for the strands are: Strand 1: EUR 3,598,272, Strand 2: EUR 8,116,331, Strand 3: EUR 2,248,920, Strand 3 – Moldova: EUR 2,000,000. The total indicative budget for Region 2 is EUR 15,963,523. The total 2026 CBHE indicative budget is EUR 113,117,100.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of lump sum grants.

Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of projects to be funded in Region 2 is 21.

Co-funding Requirement: The information provided does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This is a call for proposals under the Erasmus+ Programme, specifically the Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) action. It aims to fund international higher-education partnerships that strengthen universities and systems in eligible third countries not associated to the Programme, particularly those in Region 2 (Neighbourhood East). The call is structured into three strands: Fostering access to cooperation in higher education, Partnerships for transformation in higher education, and Structural reform projects. A special initiative targets the establishment of a Master’s programme in European Affairs in Moldova. The total indicative budget for the call is EUR 113,117,100, with EUR 15,963,523 allocated to Region 2. Projects should align with the overarching priorities of the European Commission, including the Green Deal, digital transformation, integration of migrants, governance, peace, security and human development, and sustainable growth and jobs. The call is open to HEIs, research institutions, and relevant authorities from eligible third countries and EU Member States or countries associated to the Erasmus+ programme. The application deadline is 10 February 2026. Applicants are encouraged to consult the Call document (Programme Guide) for detailed information.