Strengthen Business Membership Organizations and Civil Society Organizations to safeguard private sector interests in key value chains in Ethiopia

The European Commission has announced a grant opportunity titled "Strengthen Business Membership Organizations and Civil Society Organizations to safeguard private sector interests in key value chains in Ethiopia." The total budget for this initiative is €2,000,000, aimed at enhancing the capacity of Business Membership Organizations (BMOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Ethiopia. The program's focus is on advocacy for private sector interests within key agricultural value chains, specifically coffee and horticulture.

The grant is identified as EuropeAid/184250/DD/ACT/ET and is categorized as an Action Grant. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and trade associations that fall under the BMO or CSO categories. The geographical scope of the grant is limited to Ethiopia, and all activities must benefit local value chains.

The application process is open, with submissions accepted until October 6, 2025. The grant aims to support projects that are already at the development stage, emphasizing action-oriented initiatives rather than initial research phases.

While there is no explicit requirement for consortium applications, individual organizations are permitted to apply. The nature of support offered is monetary, provided through grant mechanisms.

Details regarding application procedures can be found in various annexed documents, including guidelines for grant applicants, budget templates, and application forms. Co-funding is not explicitly required, allowing applicants to receive full funding for eligible costs.

Overall, this initiative aligns with broader EU-Ethiopia partnership goals, enhancing economic governance and capacity building in the private sector. Interested organizations are encouraged to review the provided guidelines and prepare their submissions comprehensively to meet the application deadline.

The European Commission is offering an Action Grant to strengthen Business Membership Organizations and Civil Society Organizations to safeguard private sector interests in key value chains in Ethiopia. The call with ID EuropeAid/184250/DD/ACT/ET is open for submission.

The programme falls under Sub-Saharan Africa and the geographical zone is Ethiopia. The total budget allocated for this call is 2,000,000 EUR.

The grant was published on 15/07/2025 and updated on 08/07/2025. The deadline for submission is 06/10/2025.

The following documents are available:

Annex G - Annex VIII - Model financial guarantee (en) dated 15 July 2025.
Annex G - Annex VII-A - Expenditure verification terms of reference report of fact finding (en) dated 15 July 2025.
Annex G - Annex VII-A - Expenditure verification table of transactions and of errors (en) dated 15 July 2025.
Annex G - Annex VI (3) Cost-based action financial report (en) dated 15 July 2025.
Annex G - Annex VI (2) model final narrative report (en) dated 15 July 2025.
Annex G - Annex VI (1) model interim narrative report (en) dated 15 July 2025.
Annex G - Annex V standard request for payment (en) dated 15 July 2025.
Annex G - Annex IX standard template transfer owner (en) dated 15 July 2025.
Annex G - Annex IV - Procurement rules for beneficiaries (en) dated 15 July 2025.
Annex G - Annex II general conditions (en) dated 15 July 2025.
Annex A.2. Application Form FA dated 15 July 2025.
Annex A.1 Application Form CN dated 15 July 2025.
Guidelines for grant applicants dated 15 July 2025.
Annex B - Budget dated 15 July 2025.
Annex C - Logical framework dated 15 July 2025.
Annex F - PADOR offline registration form dated 15 July 2025.
Annex G - Standard grant contract dated 15 July 2025.
Annex H - Declaration of honour on exclusion and selection criteria dated 15 July 2025.
Annex J - Information on the tax regime applicable to grant contracts dated 15 July 2025.
Annex L - Self-evaluation questionnaire on SEA-H dated 15 July 2025.

In summary, this EU grant opportunity aims to bolster the capacity of Business Membership Organizations (BMOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Ethiopia. The goal is to empower these organizations to effectively represent and protect the interests of the private sector within key value chains. The funding, totaling 2 million EUR, is specifically targeted towards action grants, implying that the projects should be practical and results-oriented. Interested organizations should carefully review the guidelines and annexes provided, ensuring they meet the eligibility criteria and can submit a comprehensive application by the deadline. The provided documents cover various aspects of the grant, including financial reporting, procurement rules, and application forms, offering a complete guide for potential applicants.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity aims to strengthen Business Membership Organizations and Civil Society Organizations. Therefore, eligible applicant types include Business Membership Organizations and Civil Society Organizations.

Funding Type: The funding type is Action Grants.

Consortium Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. Further details in the guidelines for grant applicants would be needed to determine this.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographical zone for this program is Ethiopia.

Target Sector: The program targets key value chains in Ethiopia, with a focus on safeguarding private sector interests. This suggests a target sector encompassing business, economic development, and potentially specific industries within Ethiopia's key value chains.

Mentioned Countries: Ethiopia

Project Stage: The call is for action grants, suggesting that projects should be at a stage where concrete actions and implementation are possible. This likely means projects beyond the initial idea or research phase, and more towards development, validation, or demonstration.

Funding Amount: The budget for this opportunity is 2,000,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by "Open For Submission."

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money through action grants.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly mentioned in the provided text. Reviewing the "Guidelines for grant applicants" document would be necessary to determine the application stages.

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. The "Guidelines for grant applicants" and the standard grant contract would provide details on co-funding requirements.

Summary:

This opportunity is an open call for action grants, funded by the European Union, with a total budget of 2,000,000 EUR. The program aims to strengthen Business Membership Organizations and Civil Society Organizations in Ethiopia to safeguard private sector interests within key value chains. The geographical focus is specifically on Ethiopia. Eligible applicants are Business Membership Organizations and Civil Society Organizations. The deadline for submission is October 6, 2025. Applicants need to prepare their submissions according to the provided guidelines and annexes, which include application forms, budget templates, logical framework, and standard grant contract. The grant focuses on action-oriented projects, implying that the projects should be at a stage where concrete actions and implementation are feasible. Further details regarding consortium requirements, application stages, success rates, and co-funding requirements can be found in the "Guidelines for grant applicants" and related documents. The overall objective is to bolster the capacity of Ethiopian organizations to effectively represent and advocate for the private sector within strategically important value chains in the country.