Strengthening Civil Society for Inclusive and Resilient Communities

EU grant call EuropeAid funds Strengthening Civil Society for Inclusive and Resilient Communities in Armenia with a total budget of €9,600,000 divided into four lots (Lot €1 3,000,000; Lot €2 3,000,000; Lot €3 2,000,000; Lot €4 1,600,000). This restricted two-stage call requires concept notes submitted via the PROSPECT portal by 20 April 2026 at 12:00 Brussels time and invites pre-selected applicants to submit full applications. Eligible lead applicants are non-profit, non-governmental legal persons established in EU Member States, Armenia or NDICI-GE eligible countries, with lot-specific mandatory co-applicants (including OPDs for Lot 2 and youth and women’s organisations for Lot 3). Grants are action grants for 36–48 months, require mandatory Financial Support to Third Parties with minimum shares per lot, and require co-financing with EU contribution typically 60–90 percent (up to 95 percent for Lot 3); full rules and templates are on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

What it funds

Action grants to strengthen civil society in Armenia across four thematic lots:community-based social services; rights and socio-economic inclusion of persons with disabilities; youth- and women-led local sustainable development; and sustainable integration, protection services and reforms under the Visa Liberalisation Dialogue.

Who can apply

Lead applicants must be non-profit non-governmental organisations legally established and effectively based in an EU Member State, Armenia or other eligible country. Co-applicants, affiliated entities and required partner types vary by lot (e.g., Organisations of Persons with Disabilities for Lot 2; youth and women organisations for Lot 3; international CSOs, academia or public bodies for Lot 4). Registration in PADOR and submission via PROSPECT are mandatory.

Total budget:€9,600,000 (indicative overall allocation across all lots).

1. 1Lot 1: Community-Based Social Services — €3,000,000 (single grant amount: min €3,000,000 / max €3,000,000).
2. 2Lot 2: Rights and Socio-Economic Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities — €3,000,000 (single grant amount: min €3,000,000 / max €3,000,000).
3. 3Lot 3: Youth- and Women-led Local Sustainable Development — €2,000,000 (single grant amount: min €2,000,000 / max €2,000,000).
4. 4Lot 4: Sustainable integration, protection services and VLD reforms — €1,600,000 (single grant amount: min €1,600,000 / max €1,600,000).

Grant conditions and financing rates

Grants are action grants reimbursing eligible costs (actual costs and/or simplified cost options). Co-financing required: minimum 60% of total eligible costs; maximum EU contribution varies by lot (Lot 1,2,4 up to 90%; Lot 3 up to 95%). Action duration must be between 36 and 48 months. Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) is required and subject to minimum proportions by lot.

Key deadlines and submission

Call published 27/02/2026. Deadline for submission of concept notes:20/04/2026 at 12:00 Brussels time. This is a restricted two-stage call: submit a concept note via PROSPECT; pre-selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application. Register organisations in PADOR and the EU Participant Register before applying.

Where to find documents

Guidelines, application forms, budget and annexes published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Online submission and tracking via PROSPECT; organisation registration via PADOR/Participant Register EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

This is a restricted, two-stage EU external action grant call focused on Armenia that aims to strengthen inclusive, rights-based, and sustainable social and regional development through civil society. The call is divided into four themed Lots covering community-based social services, disability inclusion and deinstitutionalisation, youth- and women-led local sustainable development, and human-rights protection and integration services linked to the Visa Liberalisation Dialogue (VLD). Online submission of Concept Notes via PROSPECT is mandatory. Deadline for Concept Notes: 20/04/2026 at 12:00 Brussels time. Reference: EuropeAid. Total budget: €9,600,000. Action duration: 36–48 months. Implementation location: Armenia, with specific marz coverage requirements in Lots 1–3. Guidance and all application templates are provided with the call and must be strictly followed Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page.

Core Facts and Timeline

• Programme and Contracting Authority: European Commission; budget lines E.14020211 and E.14020111; NDICI-GE eligibility applies.
• Geographical zone: Armenia (implementation).
• Total indicative budget: €9,600,000 allocated across four Lots.
• Publication: 27/02/2026; Update: 27/02/2026.
• Concept Note deadline: 20/04/2026 at 12:00 Brussels time.
• Information session: 18/03/2026 online; register by 16/03/2026 via DELEGATION-ARMENIA-CALLS-FOR-PROPOSAL@eeas.europa.eu.
• Submission system: PROSPECT; organisational registration in PADOR and the EU Participant Register (PIC) required.
• Call type: Restricted; Stage 1 Concept Note; Stage 2 Full Application (by invitation); Stage 3 eligibility verification.

Scope and Thematic Lots

General objective:Strengthen inclusive, rights-based, and sustainable social and regional development in Armenia by empowering civil society to deliver services, contribute to reforms, and enhance participation and socio-economic inclusion.

Lot 1 — Community-Based Social Services (EUR 3,000,000)

Objective:Enhance social cohesion and resilience by strengthening inclusive, accessible, scalable, sustainable, and rights-based community-based social services, complementing Armenia’s social protection reforms and reinforcing CSO-public cooperation and sustainable funding mechanisms (e.g., decentralisation, social contracting, PPPs).

• Location requirement: At least four marzes in Armenia.
• Illustrative activities: policy dialogue and coordination with municipalities/Unified Social Services (USS), social plans integration; policy/legal gap analysis; pilots and scaling of needs-based community services (childcare, elderly care, GBV services including shelters; psychosocial services for displaced Karabakh Armenians); workforce capacity building (social workers, paraprofessionals); CSO accreditation/licensing for service delivery; social entrepreneurship for service sustainability (mentoring, business planning, PPPs).
• Expected outcomes (examples): improved access to sustainable services; enhanced CSO role in policy/service provision; increased benefits for vulnerable groups via social entrepreneurship. Use GERF and OPSYS indicators as relevant; sex/disability/region disaggregation required.

Lot 2 — Rights and Socio-Economic Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (EUR 3,000,000)

Objective:Support comprehensive disability reform and deinstitutionalisation through rights-based, systems-oriented, community-anchored approaches, reinforcing legal/policy frameworks, expanding person-centred community services, and strengthening OPDs’ participation.

• Location requirement: At least four marzes in Armenia, including Syunik.
• Illustrative activities: legislative reform and implementation guidelines; costed deinstitutionalisation roadmaps; ICF-based assessment adaptation; institutional coordination; capacity building for assessors and providers; case management and post-assessment referral services; pilots of community-based alternatives and supported/independent living; accessibility upgrades; OPD strengthening, shadow reporting on UNCRPD, advocacy and participation in local planning; information tools for users.
• Expected outcomes (examples): strengthened frameworks and operational capacity; improved access to community-based services; increased social and economic inclusion and OPD engagement.

Lot 3 — Youth- and Women-led Local Sustainable Development (EUR 2,000,000)

Objective:Strengthen youth- and women-led CSOs as independent actors of good governance and inclusive, participatory, and sustainable local development; translate empowerment into tangible economic outcomes; integrate environmental sustainability and green/circular transition.

• Location requirement: At least four marzes in Armenia, including Syunik.
• Illustrative activities: organisational capacity building; leadership mentoring; civic participation and dialogue with municipalities; prevention of violence against women, anti-stereotype campaigns; entrepreneurship, green/circular economy skills, digital and financial literacy; mentorship; support to women/youth-led initiatives and green community projects (adaptation, circularity, energy efficiency, small-scale renewables).
• Expected outcomes (examples): increased leadership in local governance; enhanced engagement in inclusive local socio-economic development; strengthened CSO leadership on environmental sustainability and green transition.

Lot 4 — Sustainable Integration, Protection Services and VLD-related Reforms (EUR 1,600,000)

Objective:Increase protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy and rule of law in Armenia by improving access to rights-based services for vulnerable migrants and reinforcing civil society’s role in implementing, monitoring, and coordinating reforms linked to the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP) across its four blocks.

• Implementation nationwide (no marz minimum).
• Illustrative activities: legal aid, administrative assistance, counselling, psychosocial/medical support, interpretation, referral and protection services; early identification and referral for asylum seekers/stateless/trafficking risks; access to public services and reintegration support (education, health, social protection, labour, TVET, language); outreach to hard-to-reach groups; monitoring of law enforcement codes of conduct; civil society engagement in VLD-related reforms and data collection; multi-stakeholder coordination and joint action planning; documentation and reporting on human-rights violations; structured dialogue between civic and political actors.
• Expected outcomes (examples): improved access to services and rights for vulnerable groups; enhanced CSO contribution to VLAP reform rollout and monitoring; improved coordination among CSOs, public institutions and international partners.

Financial Allocation, Grant Size, and Co-financing

Each lot foresees a single fixed-size grant equal to the lot envelope. The non-EU financed balance must be covered by sources other than the EU general budget or EDF. Indirect costs are eligible up to 7% of direct eligible costs (with standard exceptions), and a contingency reserve up to 5% requires prior written authorisation.

Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP)

FSTP is mandatory and integral to this call. Applicants must design robust, transparent FSTP schemes with clear objectives, eligibility and selection criteria, award procedures, monitoring, risk mitigation, and record-keeping. A dedicated FSTP manager position is required in the HR budget. Recipients are not required to provide co-financing. Cash payments are prohibited unless explicitly authorised. FSTP should generally take the form of lump sums or unit costs. Maximum FSTP per third party is €60,000 (exceedable only if duly justified by action objectives). Quality and completeness of FSTP design are critical evaluation elements; missing mandatory FSTP elements renders proposals incomplete and subject to rejection.

• Minimum share of EU contribution channelled as FSTP: Lot 1 ≥50%; Lot 2 ≥40%; Lot 3 ≥40%; Lot 4 ≥30%.
• Award modalities: Open or restricted calls launched by the beneficiary; direct awards only in exceptional, well-justified cases.
• Documentation requirements: Published calls, evaluation grids, scoring sheets, committee minutes and signed declarations of no conflict of interest; adequate publicity and minimum 30 calendar days for submissions.
• Examples of eligible FSTP recipients: Lot 1 CSOs/municipalities piloting social services; social enterprises; Lot 2 OPDs (including unconditional operational support), CSOs/municipalities piloting alternatives to institutional care; Lot 3 youth- and women-led CSOs (including national minority CSOs) for civic/economic initiatives and potential unconditional operational support; Lot 4 human-rights CSOs for monitoring and service provision linked to VLD reforms, including potential unconditional operational support.

Eligibility and Consortium Rules

Lead applicants must be legal persons, non-profitmaking, and non-governmental organisations directly responsible for preparation and management (not intermediaries), not in exclusion situations, and effectively established in an EU Member State, Armenia, or other NDICI-GE eligible countries. International organisations are eligible without the effective establishment requirement. Lot-specific conditions and mandatory co-applicants apply.

• Affiliated entities: Allowed if a structural link exists (control or membership). Must meet the same eligibility criteria as applicants and sign affiliated entity statements.
• Associates: May participate without funding except travel/per diem; do not need to meet applicant eligibility; must be listed in Annex A.2 Section 4.
• Contractors: Procurement per Annex IV to the standard grant contract; beneficiaries/affiliates/associates/recipients of FSTP cannot also act as contractors.
• Exclusivity per lot: One application per lead per lot; a lead cannot be co-applicant/affiliate in another application in the same lot; co-applicants/affiliates cannot appear in more than one application per lot.

Action Design Parameters

• Duration: 36–48 months.
• Sectors/themes: Defined by the four Lots; all actions must be gender-sensitive and rights-based; cross-cutting inclusion of persons with disabilities and minorities; environmental practice integrated where relevant.
• Location: Armenia. Marz coverage minimums: Lot 1 at least four marzes; Lot 2 at least four marzes including Syunik; Lot 3 at least four marzes including Syunik; Lot 4 no marz minimum.
• Ineligible action types: Individual sponsorships to events; individual scholarships; any action breaching human rights or causing significant adverse environmental/climate effects.

Budget and Cost Eligibility Rules

• Grant forms: Reimbursement of actual eligible costs and/or simplified cost options (including single lump sums). Financing not linked to costs may be used where justified (see Annex K).
• Eligible direct costs: As per Article 14 of General Conditions (Annex G).
• Indirect costs: Flat-rate up to 7% of direct eligible costs (exceptions apply).
• Contingency reserve: Up to 5% of direct eligible costs; prior authorisation required.
• Contributions in kind: Not eligible costs nor co-financing (except volunteers’ work if authorised).
• Ineligible costs include: debts/interest; provisions; costs financed by another EU action; land/building purchases except under strict conditions; currency losses; in-kind (except volunteers); staff bonuses; negative bank interest; credit to third parties; salary costs of national administrations.

Application, Submission, and Evaluation

• Systems: PADOR registration mandatory for organisations; PIC via EU Participant Register; PROSPECT for Concept Note and Full Application submission.
• Language: English.
• Concept Note: Use Annex A.1; indicate EU request and indicative co-financing; no budget at CN stage; online submission via PROSPECT; automatic receipt confirmation.
• Full Application: By invitation only; use Annex A.2 with Budget (Annex B) and Logical Framework (Annex C); upload required statutes, Annex H Declaration on Honour, financial capacity documents where applicable; PADOR profiles must be up to date.
• Adjustments allowed from CN to FA: EU contribution variance up to ±20%; co-financing rate within lot ranges; justified changes to partners or duration (still within 36–48 months).

Evaluation process:Step 1: Administrative checks and Concept Note evaluation against relevance and design criteria; only CNs scoring at least the threshold proceed; ranking continues until at least 200% of the available budget is covered by requested amounts. Step 2: Full Application evaluation of financial/operational capacity, relevance, design and implementation approach (including FSTP), sustainability, and budget/cost-effectiveness. Step 3: Verification of eligibility of applicants and affiliated entities; supporting documents; final award decision, notification, and contract signature. Detailed scoring grids apply at each stage.

Standards, Compliance, and Visibility

• Ethics and values: Absence of conflict of interest; compliance with environmental legislation and ILO core labour standards; respect for EU values.
• Zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment; self-evaluation questionnaire (Annex L) required, except for grants ≤ €60,000 and certain exempted applicant categories.
• Anti-corruption and anti-bribery; prohibition of unusual commercial expenses.
• Visibility: EU emblem and funding statement per Communication and Visibility Requirements for EU External Actions; derogations possible for security/political sensitivities with prior approval; visibility planning must also cover outputs/results achieved through FSTP.
• Procurement: Annex IV rules apply for contracting; record keeping and audit-readiness required, including for FSTP portfolios.

Templates and Guidance Available

• Guidelines for grant applicants (definitive source for rules and evaluation).
• Annex A.1: Grant application form – Concept Note (with instructions and checklist).
• Annex A.2: Grant application form – Full Application (with instructions and Section 5 mandates and affiliated entity statements).
• Annex B: Budget (Worksheet 1 and Worksheet 2 with Justification of estimated costs; also used to describe methods for SCOs and lump sums).
• Annex C: Logical Framework Matrix (include baselines, targets, sources, RACER indicators; GERF/OPSYS indicators recommended).
• Annex D: Identification Forms for entity types (public law bodies; private/public with legal form; natural person).
• Annex F: PADOR offline registration form (if needed).
• Annex G: Standard grant contract and Annex VI templates for interim and final narrative reports.
• Annex H: Declaration of honour on exclusion and selection criteria.
• Annex J: Information on applicable tax regime.
• Annex K: Clarifications on Financing Not Linked to Costs (FNLC).
• Appendix: Derogations for international organisations.
• Annex L: Self-evaluation questionnaire on SEA-H.
• e-Calls PADOR privacy statement.

Requested Structured Information

Eligible Applicant Types:Non-governmental organisations; nonprofits; international organisations (as eligible under NDICI-GE); associations, federations, and networks meeting NGO and non-profit status; organisations of persons with disabilities (as mandatory co-applicants under Lot 2); youth organisations and women’s organisations (as mandatory co-applicants under Lot 3); international CSOs, academic institutions, and national public-sector institutions including national human rights institutions (as mandatory co-applicants under Lot 4). Beneficiaries are legal persons only and must be directly responsible for the action. For-profit companies are not eligible as applicants but may be involved as contractors. Municipalities are not eligible as applicants but may be co-implementers via FSTP or associates as relevant.

Funding Type:Grant (Action Grants) awarded through reimbursement of eligible costs and/or simplified cost options. Single lump sums and financing not linked to costs may be used where justified and approved. Significant use of Financial Support to Third Parties is mandatory per lot.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium required. Lot 1: at least 1 and at most 3 co-applicants. Lot 2: at least 1 and at most 3 co-applicants, including at least one Armenian OPD. Lot 3: at least 2 and at most 3 co-applicants, including at least one Armenian youth organisation and at least one Armenian women’s organisation. Lot 4: at least 1 and at most 2 co-applicants, including at least one international CSO and/or academic institution and/or national public-sector institution (especially NHRIs).

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Implementation must occur in Armenia. Applicant establishment: EU Member States, Armenia, or any other NDICI-GE eligible country; international organisations eligible irrespective of effective establishment requirement. Priority under Lot 3 is given to CSOs established in Armenia.

Target Sector:Civil society strengthening; social protection and community-based social services; human rights and democracy; disability inclusion and deinstitutionalisation; youth and women empowerment; local and regional development; migration, asylum, integration and reintegration; anti-trafficking protection pathways; environmental sustainability, climate resilience and circular/green economy; social entrepreneurship; governance and policy dialogue; monitoring and accountability.

Mentioned Countries:Armenia.

Project Stage:Development and implementation with validation and demonstration elements. Actions include policy and legislative development, capacity building, piloting and scaling of service models, institutionalisation, and socio-economic inclusion measures. Expected maturity spans from development through demonstration to early scale-up within public systems (e.g., service integration into municipal budgets, replication).

Funding Amount:Total budget €9,600,000. One grant per lot equal to the lot envelope: Lot €1 3,000,000; Lot €2 3,000,000; Lot €3 2,000,000; Lot €4 1,600,000. EU co-financing ceilings: Lots 1/2/4 up to 90%; Lot 3 up to 95%; all with minimum 60% EU co-financing.

Application Type:Restricted call. Stage 1 Concept Note open call via PROSPECT; Stage 2 Full Application by invitation; non-electronic submissions are not foreseen except in justified PADOR offline cases. Rolling submissions are not applicable; firm CN deadline applies.

Nature of Support:Monetary grants to beneficiaries, including onward Financial Support to Third Parties. Non-financial services (e.g., coaching) may be part of activities but do not substitute the financial nature of the award.

Application Stages:3. Stage 1: Concept Note submission and evaluation. Stage 2: Full Application evaluation (quality, budget, capacity). Stage 3: Eligibility verification of applicants and affiliated entities, followed by award decision and contracting.

Success Rates:Not specified. The call pre-selects Concept Notes until at least 200% of available budget is covered by requested amounts, after which only invited applicants proceed to full application. No numerical funding rate or success probability is provided.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. EU contribution must be between 60% and the maximum percentage per lot (90% for Lots 1, 2, 4; 95% for Lot 3). The remaining balance must come from non-EU sources. Recipients of FSTP are not required to provide co-financing.

Templates (Application Forms) and Structure:Applicants must use the official templates. Concept Note (Annex A.1): project title and summary; relevance to objectives and priorities; target groups and beneficiaries; indicative activities and outcomes; indicative EU contribution and co-financing percentage; adherence to cross-cutting requirements; FSTP approach outline. Full Application (Annex A.2): comprehensive narrative including context and problem analysis; detailed intervention logic with outputs, outcomes and impacts; Logical Framework (Annex C) with baselines, targets, sources, and GERF/OPSYS indicators where relevant; detailed activities and workplan; management and staffing plan; consortium roles; monitoring, evaluation, and reporting system; risk assessment and mitigation; sustainability and institutionalisation; detailed FSTP design (objectives, eligible activities and recipients, selection and award criteria, procedures, supervision/controls, mentorship/accompaniment, risk management, documentation, and dedicated FSTP manager); budget (Annex B) with justification of costs, SCOs/lump sums if used; visibility and communication plan; ethical safeguards; procurement approach; declarations and identification forms (Annex D); Declaration on Honour (Annex H); financial capacity evidence where required; PADOR profiles or Annex F offline forms if applicable.

How to Engage and Apply

• Prepare Concept Note using Annex A.1 and submit via PROSPECT by 20/04/2026 at 12:00 Brussels time.
• Register the organisation in PADOR and obtain a PIC via the EU Participant Register before submission; ensure co-applicants/affiliated entities complete registration by the Full Application stage.
• If pre-selected, submit Full Application using Annex A.2 with Budget (Annex B), Logical Framework (Annex C), and required supporting documents; upload statutory and financial documents in PADOR as instructed.
• Attend the online information session on 18/03/2026 (register by 16/03/2026).
• Consult the call’s Guidelines and PROSPECT user manual; direct technical issues to ec-external-relations-application-support@ec.europa.eu and substantive queries to DELEGATION-ARMENIA-CALLS-FOR-PROPOSAL@eeas.europa.eu within the specified Q&A window.

Comprehensive Summary

This EU external action call mobilises Armenia’s civil society to deliver inclusive, rights-based, and sustainable development outcomes at scale across four complementary pillars. Lot 1 invests in community-based social services, anchoring services at local level through strong CSO–government coordination, workforce capacity, and sustainable finance mechanisms such as decentralisation, social contracting and PPPs, while leveraging social entrepreneurship to reinforce service sustainability. Lot 2 advances comprehensive disability reform and deinstitutionalisation, aligning with WHO ICF-based assessments and UNCRPD commitments by strengthening policy and institutional frameworks, piloting and scaling person-centred community services, improving post-assessment pathways, and empowering OPDs for meaningful participation, monitoring and advocacy. Lot 3 empowers youth- and women-led CSOs to drive local, participatory development and translate empowerment into jobs, enterprises and income generation, especially in green and circular sectors, with strong emphasis on leadership, civic participation, and territorial inclusion in under-served marzes including Syunik. Lot 4 strengthens rights-based protection, access to public services, and reintegration for migrants, refugees, returnees, minorities, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, and populations at risk of trafficking, while reinforcing civil society’s operational role in implementing, monitoring and socialising reforms linked to the Visa Liberalisation Dialogue across document security, border/migration/asylum management, public order and security, and fundamental rights. The call is restricted and strongly results- and systems-oriented, using GERF and OPSYS indicators and requiring rigorous monitoring and evaluation. It mandates robust Financial Support to Third Parties to catalyse local actors and pilots, with significant minimum FSTP shares per lot, clear award procedures, and dedicated management and controls. Grants are lot-sized, with EU co-financing up to 90% (Lots 1/2/4) and 95% (Lot 3), and actions must run 36–48 months. Implementation covers Armenia nationwide with minimum marz coverage—including Syunik for Lots 2 and 3—to ensure territorial reach. Applicants are NGOs and nonprofits established in the EU, Armenia, or other NDICI-eligible countries, with lot-specific mandatory co-applicants (OPDs, youth and women’s organisations, international CSOs/academia/NHRIs). Submission is via PROSPECT with PADOR and PIC registration, and evaluation proceeds through concept note selection, full application assessment, and eligibility verification. This opportunity enables well-prepared civil society consortia to institutionalise innovative, rights-based service models, scale inclusive local development, and buttress human-rights protection and reform implementation across Armenia’s evolving governance landscape Guidelines for grant applicants (official document) ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Full rules, eligibility, evaluation criteria, FSTP requirements, and templates are detailed in the official Guidelines and annexes. The Funding & Tenders Portal page provides authoritative updates and submission access.

This EU grant call EuropeAid aims to strengthen inclusive, rights-based, and sustainable social and regional development in Armenia through support to civil society organisations (CSOs). The total budget is €9,600,000, divided into four lots focusing on community services, disability inclusion, youth- and women-led development, and migration protection.

Key Dates and Submission Process

Concept notes must be submitted by 20 April 2026 at 12:00 Brussels time via the PROSPECT portal. This is a restricted call: pre-selected applicants submit full applications later. An online information session is scheduled for 18 March 2026; register by 16 March 2026 at DELEGATION-ARMENIA-CALLS-FOR-PROPOSAL@eeas.europa.eu.

Primary URL:EU Funding & Tenders Portal

Financial Allocations and Grant Sizes

Grants are awarded as action grants with durations of 36-48 months. Financial support to third parties (FSTP) is mandatory, with minimum percentages of the EU contribution: 50% for Lot 1, 40% for Lots 2-3, 30% for Lot 4. Maximum per third party is €60,000 unless justified.

Eligibility Criteria

Lead applicants must be non-profit, non-governmental legal persons established in EU Member States, Armenia, or eligible NDICI-GE countries. They must be directly responsible for the action. Co-applicant requirements vary by lot.

• Lot 1 & 2: 1-3 co-applicants.
• Lot 2: At least one co-applicant must be an Organisation of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) in Armenia.
• Lot 3: 2-3 co-applicants, including at least one youth organisation and one womens organisation in Armenia.
• Lot 4: 1-2 co-applicants, including at least one international CSO, academic institution, or national public-sector institution (e.g., NHRIs); lead must be active in human rights/democratic governance in Armenia.
• Priority for Armenian CSOs in Lot 3. No more than one application per lot per applicant.

All applicants must register in PADOR and the Participant Register. Supporting documents include statutes, declarations of honour, and financial statements.

Objectives and Expected Outcomes by Lot

Lot 1: Community-Based Social Services

Overall objective:Enhance social cohesion via inclusive social services. Focus: Set-up/expansion of services (e.g., care, psychosocial support), capacity building, policy advocacy, social entrepreneurship. Actions in at least 4 marzes. Outcomes include improved access to services, enhanced CSO policy role, social entrepreneurship benefits. ¹

Lot 2: Rights and Socio-Economic Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities

Overall objective:Promote full inclusion of persons with disabilities. Focus: Disability reforms, deinstitutionalisation, community services, OPD empowerment. Actions in at least 4 marzes including Syunik. Outcomes: Strengthened frameworks, improved service access, increased inclusion. ¹

Lot 3: Youth- and Women-led Local Sustainable Development

Overall objective:Strengthen youth/women CSOs for governance and development. Focus: Capacity building, economic empowerment, green initiatives. Actions in at least 4 marzes including Syunik. Outcomes: Increased leadership, socio-economic engagement, environmental sustainability. ¹

Lot 4: Sustainable Integration, Protection Services and Reforms under VLD

Overall objective:Increase human rights protection and rule of law. Focus: Services for migrants/refugees, VLAP reform support, coordination. Outcomes: Improved service access, CSO contribution to reforms, enhanced coordination. ¹

Key Requirements and Activities

Actions must be gender-sensitive, rights-based, cover cross-cutting issues (gender equality, environment, disability, minorities). Mandatory elements: Logical framework with SMART, disaggregated indicators (GERF recommended); FSTP schemes with detailed criteria; coordination with authorities; visibility of EU funding. Ineligible: Individual scholarships, sponsorships, land purchases.

• All lots: Policy dialogue, capacity building, service piloting.
• FSTP via open/restricted calls; dedicated manager required.
• Indirect costs: max 7% of direct eligible costs.
• Ethics: Zero tolerance for SEA-H; self-evaluation via Annex L.

Evaluation Process

1. 1Step 1: Administrative checks and concept note evaluation (min score 200% of 50 for pre-selection).
2. 2Step 2: Full application evaluation (financial/operational capacity, relevance, design, implementation, sustainability, budget; total 100).
3. 3Step 3: Eligibility verification of pre-selected applicants.
4. 4Award decision and notifications via PROSPECT.

Indicative timetable:Concept notes by 20/04/2026; full applications deadline TBD.

Footnotes

1. 1Detailed outcomes and indicators in Guidelines for Applicants, available via EU Funding & Tenders Portal.