RIZA Call for proposals

The RIZA Call for Proposals is an EU funding initiative aimed at providing financial support to small-scale grassroots NGOs that focus on protecting and promoting EU values, particularly for migrant and refugee women. The total budget for this initiative is €102,000, with a project duration of 12 months. The call opens for submissions on September 8, 2025, with multiple deadlines on October 31, 2025, and December 5, 2025. This is the first call within three rounds of funding planned for 2025, 2026, and 2027.

Eligible organizations are categorized into four tiers, with a prioritization system in place. The first tier comprises migrant and/or refugee women-led organizations committed to a human rights-based mission. The subsequent tiers include grassroots women's rights organizations, migrant and/or refugee organizations, and grassroots human rights organizations, all with programs specifically aimed at supporting migrant and refugee women.

The call prioritizes three main areas: supporting and building the capacities of migrant and refugee women, advocating for their fundamental rights, and promoting their roles in democratic dialogue and cross-cultural solidarity. The application process is structured in two stages: the first evaluates eligibility and relevance, while the second, for shortlisted candidates, assesses quality and impact.

This initiative specifically targets organizations based in any EU member state, with a strong emphasis on migrants and refugee women in the Nordic-Baltic states (Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania). The funding mechanism operates as cascade funding, allowing selected organizations to act as intermediaries to provide financial support to third parties.

The expected outcomes from this funding initiative include enhancing the participation of migrant and refugee women in community cohesion and upholding fundamental rights through structured support and advocacy efforts. An information session for potential applicants is scheduled for September 9, 2025.

The RIZA Call for Proposals aims to build capacity and provide financial support to small-scale grassroots NGOs across the EU to uphold, protect, and promote EU values and fundamental rights, focusing on migrant and refugee women in isolated circumstances with limited access to resources. This initiative is rooted in the EU's founding principles of human dignity, freedom, and democracy.

The call has a regional focus on the Nordic-Baltic states (Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), but is open to qualified organizations established in any EU member state. There will be three rounds of funding in total: 2025, 2026, and 2027. This is the first RIZA call.

The call is open to the following organizations, with Tier 1 being the priority group:

1st tier: Migrant and/or refugee women led organizations with a human right based mission.
2nd tier: Grassroots women’s rights organizations with a stand-alone programme aimed at supporting migrant and/or refugee women.
3rd tier: Migrant and/or refugee organizations with a stand-alone programme aimed at supporting migrant and/or refugee women.
4th tier: Grassroots human rights organization with a stand-alone programme aimed at supporting migrant and/or refugee women.

Call Priorities:

Priority 1: Support and Capacity Building of Migrant and Refugee women.
Priority 2: Advocating for the fundamental rights of migrant and refugee women.
Priority 3: Promoting the role of migrant and refugee women in democratic dialogue, community cohesion and cross-cultural solidarity.

Application Process:

Stage 1: Eligibility, admissibility, and general relevance.
Stage 2: Shortlisted candidates only, evaluation of relevance, quality, and impact.

Eligible activities under each priority are detailed in the call for proposals.

Key Dates and Information:

Opening date: 08 September 2025
Deadline model: Multiple cut-off
Deadline dates: 31 October 2025 17:00 (Brussels time), 05 December 2025 17:00 (Brussels time)
Expected duration of participation: 12 months
Total funding available: 102,000.00 EUR
Project acronym: RIZA
Full name of the EU funded project: RIZA: Building European Democracy with Women of Migrant Descent
Grant agreement number: 101187804
Topic: CERV-2024-CITIZENS-VALUES - Call for proposals for civil society organisations active on protecting and promoting Union values: call to intermediaries (giving financial support to third parties)
Information session: 9th September 2025, 10:00-12:00 CET
Website: www.migrantwomennetwork.org/riza
Contact: riza@migrantwomennetwork.org

In summary, the RIZA call for proposals provides funding to NGOs that support migrant and refugee women across the EU, with a focus on the Nordic-Baltic region. The funding aims to build capacity, advocate for rights, and promote the role of these women in democratic dialogue. The application process involves two stages, and there are multiple deadlines for submission. The total funding available is 102,000 EUR, and the expected duration of participation is 12 months. The call prioritizes organizations led by or directly serving migrant and refugee women, and it focuses on activities that support capacity building, advocacy, and democratic participation.

Eligible Applicant Types: The call is open to small-scale grassroots NGOs. Specifically, the eligible applicant types are categorized into four tiers: 1st tier: Migrant and/or refugee women led organizations with a human right based mission. 2nd tier: Grassroots women’s rights organizations with a stand-alone programme aimed at supporting migrant and/or refugee women. 3rd tier: Migrant and/or refugee organizations with a stand-alone programme aimed at supporting migrant and/or refugee women. 4th tier: Grassroots human rights organization with a stand-alone programme aimed at supporting migrant and/or refugee women. Tier 1 constitutes the priority group among the potential grantees.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically cascade funding, as the call is for intermediaries giving financial support to third parties.

Consortium Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if single applicants are preferred. However, given the focus on small-scale grassroots NGOs, it is likely that single applicants are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The funding is open to qualified organizations established in any EU member state. While there is a regional focus on the Nordic-Baltic states (Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), organizations from any EU member state are eligible.

Target Sector: The target sector is focused on civil society organizations active on protecting and promoting Union values, specifically those working with migrant and refugee women. This includes human rights, women's rights, and support for vulnerable populations.

Mentioned Countries: Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania. The call is open to any qualified organisations established in any EU members state.

Project Stage: The information does not explicitly specify the required project stage. However, given the focus on capacity building and financial support for existing NGOs, it is likely that the projects should be at least in the development or validation stage, rather than just an idea.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is 102,000.00 €. The information does not specify the range of individual grants that will be awarded.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with multiple cut-off dates.

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

Application Stages: The application process consists of two stages: 1) eligibility, admissibility, and general relevance; and 2) for shortlisted candidates only, evaluation of relevance, quality, and impact.

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

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

Summary:

The RIZA call for proposals aims to build the capacity of and provide financial support to small-scale grassroots NGOs across the EU that are working to uphold, protect, and promote EU values and fundamental rights, with a focus on migrant and refugee women. This is a cascade funding opportunity, meaning that the selected organizations will act as intermediaries, providing financial support to third parties. While open to organizations in any EU member state, the call has a regional focus on the Nordic-Baltic states (Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), encouraging organizations in that region to apply. The call prioritizes migrant and/or refugee women-led organizations with a human rights-based mission, but also welcomes applications from grassroots women’s rights organizations, migrant and/or refugee organizations, and grassroots human rights organizations with programs aimed at supporting migrant and/or refugee women. The call has three priorities: supporting and building the capacity of migrant and refugee women, advocating for their fundamental rights, and promoting their role in democratic dialogue, community cohesion, and cross-cultural solidarity. The application process involves two stages: an initial assessment of eligibility, admissibility, and general relevance, followed by a more in-depth evaluation of relevance, quality, and impact for shortlisted candidates. The total funding available for this call is 102,000 €, and the expected duration of participation is 12 months. The opening date for submissions is September 8, 2025, with multiple cut-off dates for submissions: October 31, 2025, and December 5, 2025. An information session is scheduled for September 9, 2025. This call falls under the CERV-2024-CITIZENS-VALUES topic, which focuses on civil society organizations protecting and promoting Union values. The full name of the EU-funded project is RIZA: Building European Democracy with Women of Migrant Descent.