Promoting diversity management and inclusion at the workplace, both in the public and private sector

The EU is launching action grants under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) with the aim of promoting equality and combating discrimination, including racism and xenophobia. This opportunity is encapsulated in the call titled CERV-2025-EQUAL, with a specific focus on advancing diversity management and inclusion within both public and private sector workplaces.

Eligible applicants for this funding can include public sector entities like government agencies, private organizations ranging from large corporations to small and medium-sized enterprises, non-profits and NGOs dedicated to equality initiatives, research institutions aligned with workplace inclusion, and educational establishments that promote diversity initiatives. Exact eligibility criteria are to be found in Section 6 of the full call document.

The funding type available is categorized as a lump sum grant, specifically designated as CERV Lump Sum Grants. This method offers fixed amounts based on predetermined deliverables, allowing for streamlined financial management as opposed to traditional cost reimbursements.

The call does not stipulate a requirement for consortium applications; however, partnerships are encouraged, indicating that both single applicants and consortia can apply. Geographic eligibility primarily encompasses EU member states and potentially other participating countries identified in the call document, suggesting openness to entities from around the EU and its associated countries.

The target sector focuses chiefly on creating and implementing human resource practices that promote diversity and inclusion, thus engaging diverse industries rather than a specific sector. Projects eligible for funding should be in the implementation or demonstration stages, emphasizing actionable solutions over research initiatives.

While the total budget allocated for this opportunity is noted as 13.2 million EUR for the topic in 2025, the specific funding amount available per project has not been detailed in the provided data. The application process follows a single-stage model, with submissions opening on July 15, 2025, and closing on October 23, 2025. Applicants should use the electronic systems via the Funding & Tenders Portal to submit their proposals.

There is no requirement for co-funding, as the lump sum grants cover full project costs. Success rates and specific amounts per project are not outlined but are typically contingent upon proposal quality and the overall budgetary landscape.

In summary, this funding opportunity under the CERV programme seeks to empower projects that foster diversity and drive inclusive practices in workplaces, thereby contributing to broader societal equality goals. Interested applicants are encouraged to thoroughly review the call document and related resources for comprehensive guidelines and requirements.

The EU is offering action grants under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Value Programme (CERV) to promote equality and combat racism, xenophobia, and all forms of discrimination. This initiative falls under one of the six priorities outlined in the call for proposals.

The call for proposals is CERV-2025-EQUAL. The type of action is CERV-LS, which stands for CERV Lump Sum Grants. The Model Grant Agreement is CERV Lump Sum Grant [CERV-AG-LS]. The deadline model is single-stage.

The planned opening date for submissions is July 15, 2025, and the deadline for submitting applications is October 23, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The evaluation period is scheduled from October 2025 to March 2026, with information to applicants provided between March and April 2026. Grant agreements are expected to be signed between April and July 2026.

The scope of the call focuses on promoting diversity management and inclusion at the workplace, both in the public and private sectors.

Admissibility conditions include proposal page limits and layout, which are detailed in Section 5 of the call document and Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. Eligible countries are described in Section 6 of the call document and the list of participating countries. Other eligible conditions are also described in Section 6 of the call document.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are outlined in Section 7 of the call document. The submission and evaluation processes are described in Section 8, while the award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are detailed in Section 9. The legal and financial setup of the grants is described in Section 10 of the call document.

The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Section 4 of the call document, specifying the opening and deadline dates, evaluation period, information to applicants, and signature of grant agreements.

Key documents include the Call Document, application form templates (Standard application form (CERV), Detailed budget table (CERV LSII)), Declaration on Honour regarding CPP by public entities, and Model Grant Agreements (Lump Sum MGA). Additional documents include CERV Work Programmes, CERV Regulation 2021/692, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Decision authorising the use of lump sums for actions under the CERV programme (2021-2027), Guidance on managing lump sum grants, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The budget overview includes two main categories: CERV-2025-EQUAL-ANTISEMITISM and CERV-2025-EQUAL-ANTIMUSLIM, with a total budget of 6,800,000 EUR, and CERV-2025-EQUAL-RESTRICTED, CERV-2025-EQUAL-LGBTIQ, CERV-2025-EQUAL-DIVERSITYMGT, and CERV-2025-EQUAL-RACI-DISC, with a total budget of 13,200,000 EUR. Both categories follow a single-stage submission process with the same opening and deadline dates.

LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated in the topic header.

Applicants are advised to carefully read all provisions of the Call document and familiarize themselves with the proposal template, annexes, and the submission system. Resources such as the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, IT Helpdesk, and Online Manual are available for support.

For non-IT related questions, applicants should contact the CERV Contact Point of their country or email EC-CERV-CALLS@ec.europa.eu for priorities 1, 4, 5, and 6, and EACEA-CERV@ec.europa.eu for priorities 2 and 3. The call and topic reference should be clearly indicated in the email subject.

In summary, this EU funding opportunity under the CERV program aims to promote equality and combat discrimination by providing action grants for projects focused on diversity management and inclusion in the workplace. The grants are lump sum based, and the application process involves a single stage with a deadline in October 2025. Applicants should consult the call document and related resources for detailed requirements and guidelines. The program prioritizes initiatives that address antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred, and support LGBTIQ rights, among other areas of focus.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. The text refers to "public entities" in the context of the Declaration on Honour regarding CPP (Compliance and Procurement Procedures), which suggests that public entities are eligible. However, the full range of eligible applicant types would be detailed in Section 6 of the call document, which is not provided in full here. LEARs (Legal Entity Appointed Representatives), Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests, suggesting a broad range of legal entities can participate.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically "EU action grants" under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Value Programme (CERV). The grants are provided as "CERV Lump Sum Grants (CERV-LS)".

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if single applicants are allowed. However, the mention of "partner requests" and the ability for LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants to publish these requests suggests that consortia are possible and perhaps encouraged. The call document would provide definitive information on this.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The eligible countries are described in section 6 of the call document and in the list of participating countries. Without the full call document, the specific geographic eligibility cannot be determined, but it is likely to include EU member states and potentially other countries participating in the CERV programme.

Target Sector: The program targets the following thematic sectors: equality, fight against racism, xenophobia, all other forms of discrimination, diversity management, inclusion, anti-semitism, anti-muslim hatred, and LGBTIQ issues. The specific call CERV-2025-EQUAL-DIVERSITYMGT focuses on promoting diversity management and inclusion at the workplace, both in the public and private sector.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned in the provided text. The eligible countries are referenced as being described in section 6 of the call document and in the list of participating countries.

Project Stage: The project stage is not explicitly mentioned, but given the focus on action grants and promoting equality, fighting discrimination, and diversity management, it is likely that the projects should be at the development, validation, demonstration, or implementation stages. The call aims to support concrete actions and initiatives.

Funding Amount: There are two budget allocations mentioned: 6,800,000 EUR for CERV-2025-EQUAL-ANTISEMITISM and CERV-2025-EQUAL-ANTIMUSLIM, and 13,200,000 EUR for CERV-2025-EQUAL-RESTRICTED, CERV-2025-EQUAL-LGBTIQ, CERV-2025-EQUAL-DIVERSITYMGT, and CERV-2025-EQUAL-RACI-DISC. These are overall budgets for the topics, and the individual grant amounts are not specified in this excerpt. The grants are lump sum grants, so the funding amount will be pre-determined for each project.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by the title "Call for proposals". The deadline model is single-stage.

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

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention whether co-funding is required. This information would likely be found in the call document.

Summary:

This is a call for proposals for EU action grants under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Value Programme (CERV). The call aims to promote equality and fight against racism, xenophobia, and all other forms of discrimination. There are six priorities within this call, including combating antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred, promoting diversity management and inclusion at the workplace, and supporting LGBTIQ equality. The funding is provided as lump sum grants. The call is a single-stage application process, with the submission deadline on October 23, 2025. The total budget allocated to the various priorities is 6,800,000 EUR and 13,200,000 EUR, respectively. Applicants should consult the call document and related annexes for detailed information on eligibility criteria, application procedures, and evaluation criteria. The submission system is planned to open on July 15, 2025.