Strengthening Civil Society in Egypt

EU DG INTPA call Strengthening Civil Society in Egypt EuropeAid offers €5,000,000 in action grants to support Egyptian civil society organisations. Applications must be submitted online via the PROSPECT portal with PADOR/PIC registration and the submission deadline is 21 June 2026 at 22:00 Brussels time. Eligible lead applicants are non-profit organisations (Framework Partners) established in Egypt or EU/EEA and actions must be implemented in specified Egyptian governorates, prioritising women's empowerment, youth participation, inclusion of persons with disabilities, climate justice, governance and capacity building. The call uses a two-stage concept-note then full-application process, requires co-financing, permits reimbursement and results-based financing modalities, and includes contractual monitoring, reporting and EU visibility obligations.

What it funds

Action grants to strengthen Egyptian civil society through community-level development, environment, culture, and women and girls’ social and economic inclusion (Lot 1) and a CSO forum for peer learning, networking and advocacy (Lot 2). Lot 1 must include capacity building and financial support to third parties.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants are Framework Partners (organisations holding the EuropeAid Framework Partnership Agreement EuropeAid/174137) that are non-profit legal persons established in Egypt, EU Member States or EEA contracting parties; they may include affiliated Egyptian CSOs/local authorities where justified.

Budget and award rules:Total indicative budget €5,000,000. Lot 1 indicative €4,200,000; Lot 2 indicative €800,000. Grant sizes: Lot €1 700,000–1,000,000; Lot €2 600,000–800,000. EU co-financing 51%–95% of eligible costs. Actions run 36–48 months. Submission via PROSPECT is mandatory ¹.

1. 1Lot 1 priorities: inclusion and access to services; environment; culture; women and girls’ social and economic participation. Capacity building mandatory; sub-grants to third parties mandatory (min. 45% of grant).
2. 2Lot 2 priority: peer-to-peer learning, networking and advocacy; sub-grants optional.
3. 3Eligible location: activities in one or more specified Egyptian governorates (e.g. Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Damietta, Beni Suef, Fayoum, Luxor, Aswan).
4. 4Lead applicant must be a Framework Partner; affiliated entities allowed when structurally linked; single application per lead applicant.

How to apply:register organisations in PADOR and submit the concept note and full application online via PROSPECT. Applications must follow the templates and annexes in the call documents; supporting documents (statutes, latest accounts, declaration on honour, PADOR form if needed) must be provided as instructed.

Footnotes

1. 1Submission, templates and guidance are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal and in the call documents (Guidelines for applicants, Annexes, and PROSPECT user guides) published with the call.

Summary:The European Commission (DG INTPA) has published a call for proposals titled Strengthening Civil Society in Egypt. The programme total budget announced on the portal is €5,000,000 (Action Grants). The call was published 21 April 2026, with a deadline for submission of full applications Sunday 21 June 2026 (22:00 Brussels time). The call is implemented through an open call targeted at Framework Partners under an existing Framework Partnership Agreement (EuropeAid/174137/DD/FPA/EG). Applications must be submitted online via PROSPECT and organisations must be registered in PADOR and in the EU Participant Register. The call is split into two lots: Lot 1: community-based initiatives and Lot 2: forum/networking/peer-learning for CSOs.

Key dates:Published: 21 April 2026. Deadline (online PROSPECT): 21 June 2026 at 22:00 Brussels time. Information session: 11 May 2026 at 11:00 Cairo time (EU Delegation, Nile City Towers). See guidance and PROSPECT user manuals for technical submission support EU Funding & Tenders Portal PROSPECT help ¹

Programme purpose, priorities and activities

Overall objective:strengthen the role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as development actors in Egypt. Specific objective: strengthen capacities of CSOs to contribute to participatory and inclusive sustainable development in Egypt. Geographic coverage: actions must take place in one or more of these Egyptian governorates: Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Damietta, Beni Suef, Fayoum, Luxor and Aswan.

Two lots and thematic scope:Lot 1 (community-based initiatives) — thematic priorities (applicants must address at least one): 1) Inclusion and access to services (focus on women, youth, persons with disabilities; participation in local development and access to public services); 2) Environment (climate resilience, biodiversity, circular economy, waste management, green entrepreneurship, nature-based solutions); 3) Culture (heritage preservation, access to culture, culture–education linkages, social cohesion); 4) Women and girls’ social and economic participation and inclusion (participation in public sphere, services for victims of violence, digital inclusion, reproductive health). Lot 1 mandatory modalities: capacity building is cross-cutting and mandatory; financial support to third parties (sub-granting) is mandatory and should represent at least 45% of the total value of the grant. Lot 2 (CSO forum) — priority 5: peer-to-peer learning, networking and advocacy (information sharing, coordination, cross-country learning, capacity building, knowledge products). Lot 2 may include demonstration activities or examples aligned with Lot 1 themes.

Types of eligible activities (examples, not exhaustive):community engagement and participatory local planning; service access pilots; environmental and climate adaptation projects; cultural heritage and cultural participation actions; women and girls’ empowerment and protection services; peer learning platforms, surveys of CSOs, networking and advocacy campaigns; organisational capacity building (coaching, mentoring, on-the-job training); calls for proposals to local CSOs as recipients of financial support; monitoring and evaluation, third-party assessment where relevant.

Funding, project size and co-financing

Total indicative programme envelope:€5,000,000 split across two budget lines. Indicative allocation by lot: Lot €1 4,200,000; Lot €2 800,000. Grant size per successful applicant: Lot 1 between €700,000 and €1,000,000; Lot 2 between €600,000 and €800,000. Percentage of EU contribution requested per application: minimum 51% and maximum 95% of total eligible costs for each action. The remaining part of the action budget must come from other sources (applicant contribution, other donors, or accepted in-kind where permitted). A contingency reserve up to 5% of direct eligible costs may be budgeted but requires prior written approval by the contracting authority.

Forms of financing accepted:reimbursement of eligible costs (actual costs and/or simplified cost options) and — where authorised and defined in the grant contract — financing not linked to costs (FNLC) for results-based components. Lot 1 requires sub-granting (financial support to third parties) as an essential delivery modality. If FNLC is used, the action’s results and indicators linked to FNLC must be explicitly included in Annexes (Logical Framework and Budget) and will be subject to third-party assessment for validation of results.

Eligible applicants and partners

Lead applicant eligibility:The call is restricted to Framework Partners who signed the specified Framework Partnership Agreement (EuropeAid/174137/DD/FPA/EG). Lead applicants must be legal persons, non-profit-making, established in Egypt or in an EU/EEA Member State, and must act directly (not as intermediaries). Lead applicants may act with co-applicants and affiliated entities. Affiliated entities are organisations with a structural link to the lead applicant (control or membership), and they must meet the same eligibility criteria. Associates and contractors are permitted roles (associates do not receive grant funds except travel/per diem; contractors are procurement recipients). Financial support to third parties (sub-grants) is allowed and mandatory under Lot 1; maximum per sub-grant is normally €60,000 unless justified and explicitly provided for in the special conditions.

1. 1Eligible lead applicants: Framework Partners (signed FFPA EuropeAid/174137/DD/FPA/EG), legal, non-profit entities established in Egypt or EU/EEA and acting directly
2. 2Affiliated entities: local CSOs, networks, Local Government Authorities (where justified); must have structural link (control or membership)
3. 3Associates: organisations participating without receiving grant funds (except limited travel/per diem)
4. 4Contractors: procurement providers engaged under procurement rules (Annex IV)
5. 5Recipients of financial support (third parties): local CSOs / grassroots organisations selected via calls for proposals published by the beneficiary under the grant contract

Registration requirements:Lead applicants, co-applicants and affiliated entities (except natural persons) must be registered in PADOR. Lead applicants and co-applicants must also register in the EU Participant Register (PIC). If registration in PADOR is impossible for technical or confidentiality reasons, applicants must submit the offline PADOR form (Annex F) with their application.

Project maturity, duration and implementation

Project duration:Minimum 36 months; maximum 48 months. Expected maturity: implementation / demonstration and capacity-building activities that progress organisations from development to implementation/demonstration and institutionalisation (sustained capacity building and organizational strengthening). Actions must include monitoring, a logical framework (Annex C), an activities matrix (Annex E3d), and budgeting (Annex B). For FNLC components, a third-party assessment and contractual expenditure verification arrangements are set out in Annex VII and the General Conditions (Annex II Article 14bis and 2.11).

Application process and stages

Application method:open call. Mandatory online submission: PROSPECT. Required documents: Annex A.1 (concept note) + Annex A.2 (full application form — concept note/full application are submitted together in this call), Annex B budget (Excel), Annex C logical framework (Excel), Annex F PADOR offline registration (if applicable), Annex H declaration on honour (exclusion criteria), Annex L self-evaluation on SEA-H (for selected applicants prior to contracting). Applicants must follow instructions in the Guidelines for Grant Applicants (published with the call) and in the Annex templates. Applications must be submitted in English; supporting legal/financial documents in other languages must be translated where indicated.

1. 1Step 1: Administrative checks and concept note evaluation (concept note scored out of 50; threshold for pre-selection minimum 30).
2. 2Step 2: Evaluation of full application (selection and award criteria; full scoring grid out of 100).
3. 3Step 3: Verification of supporting documents and eligibility (legal and financial checks, declaration on honour, PADOR/Participant Register validation).
4. 4Contract award and contracting (special conditions + Annexes).
5. 5Implementation: contractual reporting (interim and final narrative and financial reports), contractual expenditure verification (AUP) for grants > €100,000 or where required, third-party assessments for FNLC components.

Number of evaluation stages:3 (administrative concept evaluation, full application technical evaluation, final eligibility/document verification). Submission is an open call (applicants apply; no invitation). The contracting authority provides clarifications via the call web page; IT support questions via PROSPECT helpdesk.

Eligible and ineligible costs; funding modalities

Eligible direct costs include staff (gross salaries and related charges), travel and subsistence, equipment and supplies (purchase, depreciation where appropriate), project office costs (if foreseen and described), procurement of services/works, contractual expenditure verification and evaluation costs, translation and interpretation, financial services including bank guarantee costs if applicable, and costs related to financial support to third parties. Indirect costs may be claimed as a flat rate up to a maximum of 7% of direct eligible costs (excluding volunteers’ work and project office costs) where applicable. Volunteers’ work can be accepted as co-financing up to 50% of all sources of financing if explicitly allowed and valued by the EU-approved unit cost methodology.

Non-eligible costs include debts and interest, provisions for future losses, costs already covered by other EU grants, purchase of land or buildings (except under strict conditions and with transfer of ownership as per Article 7.5), currency exchange losses, in-kind contributions (except where explicitly accepted), bonuses included in staff costs, and negative bank interest. VAT is eligible only where it cannot be recovered; applicants must provide evidence or follow tax guidance Annex J.

Co-funding requirement:Co-funding is required: applicants must propose EU contribution between 51% and 95% of total eligible costs; the balance must be funded by the applicant and/or other sources. The Guidelines and Annex III require identification of other expected sources of funding and a budget in balance.

Selection, award and exclusion checks

Selection criteria:capacity and financial stability checks (operational and financial capacity of lead applicant; experience in similar actions since 2022; staff and organisational capacity; required supporting documentation for financial checks). Award criteria: quality of proposal, relevance, intervention logic, monitoring and evaluation, sustainability and cost-effectiveness — scored according to the published evaluation grids (concept note: max 50; full application: max 100). Minimum thresholds apply (e.g. Section 1 financial/operational capacity minimum 12/25). Exclusion and early detection measures apply (declarations on honour; evidence requests; EDES registration possible in case of exclusion conditions).

Reporting, audit, verification and contractual requirements

If awarded, the grant contract will be the EU standard grant contract (Annex G) or a Contribution Agreement for pillar-assessed organisations. Contracts include Annexes: Description of the Action (Annex I), General Conditions (Annex II), Budget (Annex III), Procurement rules (Annex IV), Request for payment (Annex V), Reporting templates (Annex VI), Terms of Reference for expenditure verifications (Annex VII-A) and third-party assessments for FNLC (Annex VII-B), Model financial guarantee (Annex VIII), Transfer of ownership template (Annex IX). Reporting: interim and final narrative and financial reports, logical framework updates, activities matrix, visibility and SEA-H updates, contractual expenditure verification (AUP engagement) and third-party assessment for FNLC when required. Record-keeping: beneficiaries must retain accounting and supporting documents for at least five years after payment of the balance (three years where grant ≤ €60,000), and allow access to EU auditors, OLAF, EPPO and the Court of Auditors per Article 16 of Annex II.

Procurement rules:beneficiaries must respect Annex IV procurement principles for award of implementation contracts; nationality and origin rules apply as per the basic act and Annex IV and exceptions require prior authorisation. Visibility: EU emblem and funding statement must be used according to Commission visibility guidelines; exceptional derogations may be agreed for security reasons and must be requested and justified in the application and approved in the Special Conditions.

Templates and application documents available

Key templates and annexes published with the call (applicants must complete required annexes): Annex A1 Concept note; Annex A2 Full application form; Annex B Budget (Excel worksheets 1a/€1B/1c and 2, 3); Annex C Logical Framework matrix (logframe); Annex F PADOR off-line registration form; Annex H Declaration on honour on exclusion criteria; Annex L SEA-H Self-evaluation questionnaire; Annex G Standard grant contract and Annex II General Conditions; Annex IV procurement rules; Annex V payment request; Annex VI reporting templates; Annex VII-A contractual expenditure verification Terms of Reference and model AUP report; Annex VII-B Terms of Reference for third-party assessment (FNLC); Annex VIII model financial guarantee; Annex IX transfer of ownership template; Annex J tax regime guidance. Applicants should consult the Guidelines for grant applicants published with the call for full procedural detail.

Categorisation and structured information

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: Civil society organisations that are Framework Partners under EuropeAid/174137/DD/FPA/EG. Eligible applicant types include local CSOs, NGOs, non-profit organisations, networks and federations, and where justified affiliated local government authorities. Co-applicants and affiliated entities must meet the same non-profit and legal establishment eligibility. Associates, contractors and recipients of financial support (third parties) are permitted roles but have different documentation and eligibility rules.
2. 2Funding Type: Primary financial mechanism: Action grant (European Commission action grants). Forms: reimbursement of eligible costs and possible financing not linked to costs (FNLC) for results-based components where explicitly authorised in the grant contract. Financial support to third parties (sub-granting) is a mandatory modality for Lot 1.
3. 3Consortium Requirement: The lead applicant acts as the primary contracting party. The call allows co-applicants and affiliated entities; applicants act with a single lead applicant (single coordinator) but can include affiliated entities and co-applicants. Therefore the required structure is a single lead applicant with optional co-applicants/affiliated entities (model: single coordinator with partners).
4. 4Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Actions must be implemented in Egypt (specified governorates). Lead applicants may be established in Egypt or in EU/EEA Member States. The programme is a third‑country external action aimed at partner country Egypt.
5. 5Target Sector: Thematic sectors targeted: civil society/civic space/democracy/governance, social inclusion, environment/climate, culture, gender/women’s empowerment, local development, and capacity-building for civil society; cross-cutting digital inclusion and sustainable livelihoods.
6. 6Mentioned Countries: Explicitly mentioned country: Egypt. Region references: EU/EEA Member States (eligibility of lead applicants from these countries).
7. 7Project Stage: Expected maturity: implementation / development to demonstration and organisational capacity-building (development and implementation / validation), including scale-up through sub-granting and capacity building.
8. 8Funding Amount: Total illustrative budget €5,000,000. Project-level funding ranges: Lot 1: €700,000 — €1,000,000; Lot 2: €600,000 — €800,000. EU contribution must be between 51% and 95% of total eligible costs per action. The contracting authority may reallocate funds between lots if needed.
9. 9Application Type: Open call (open for submission). Submission method: mandatory online submission via PROSPECT (applicants must be registered in PADOR and the Participant Register/PIC).
10. 10Nature of Support: Money (grant funding). Grant modality: action grants with financial support to third parties (sub-grants); may also include non-monetary support (technical assistance, capacity-building, coaching, mentoring) but contractual deliverable is financial grant.
11. 11Application Stages: 3 stages — 1) Administrative check and concept note evaluation (pre-selection), 2) Full application technical evaluation, 3) Verification of eligibility and supporting documents (award & contracting).
12. 12Success Rates: Not specified in the call materials. The contracting authority applies ranking and budget thresholds. No numerical success rate is provided; applicants should note selection is competitive and only highest‑scoring proposals within available budgets are provisionally selected.
13. 13Co-funding Requirement: Yes. Applicants must provide co‑financing (other sources) because the grant requested must be between 51% and 95% of total eligible costs. The remainder of the budget must come from other sources; voluntary in-kind contributions are not normally eligible as co-financing except where explicitly permitted and evidenced. Volunteers’ work may be accepted up to defined limits if authorised.
14. 14Templates: Application forms and templates required: Annex A.1 Concept note; Annex A.2 Full Application (including Description of the Action, Activities Matrix, Logical Framework Annex C, Budget Annex B and Budget justification worksheets); Annex F PADOR offline if PADOR registration not possible; Annex H Declaration on honour; Annex L SEA-H self-evaluation; Annex B Excel budget details and forecast worksheets; Annex C logframe template; Annex VI interim and final narrative report templates; Annex VII-A AUP ToR and model report; Annex VII-B ToR for third-party assessment; Annex IX transfer of ownership template. Applicants must submit the completed templates exactly as published.

Operational & compliance notes for applicants

• Submission:follow PROSPECT user manual. IT support is available Monday–Friday 08:30–18:30 Brussels time. • Documentation: upload statutes/articles, latest accounts (or auditor’s report if relevant), Declaration on honour (Annex H), PADOR registration or offline Annex F if needed. • Tax and VAT: applicants must understand the local tax regime and provide evidence where taxes are not recoverable (Annex J). • SEA-H: self-evaluation questionnaire (Annex L) must be completed by selected applicants (grants > €60,000) prior to contract signature. • Visibility: follow EU visibility rules; requests for derogation must be indicated in the full application and approved in the grant contract. • Procurement and eligibility: all procurement must adhere to Annex IV procurement rules and nationality/origin restrictions. • Financial guarantees: for grants > €60,000 the contracting authority may request a pre-financing guarantee in the model of Annex VIII.

How to prepare a competitive application (high-level guidance)

Address the evaluation criteria directly:ensure the concept note and full application clearly demonstrate relevance to call priorities, a coherent intervention logic with measurable indicators in the logframe, robust risk analysis and mitigation, realistic activities and budget justification, organisational capacity to manage sub-grants, sustainable exit/continuity strategy, and built-in monitoring and evaluation (including third-party assessment for FNLC where applicable). For Lot 1, define a transparent sub‑granting approach, eligibility/selection criteria for third parties, capacity building and coaching modalities and safeguards for accountability.

Footnotes

1. 1Full call documentation, annexes and templates are published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (Calls for proposals area) and on the PROSPECT platform. Applicants must use the published Annex templates and the Guidelines for Grant Applicants available at the portal.

Funding Opportunity Overview

This is a grant opportunity under the EU's Civil Society Organisation programme, managed through the European Commission's DG International Partnerships. The call aims to support civil society organizations in Egypt through financial grants to implement projects that strengthen civil society's role in sustainable development and democratic governance.

Opportunity Reference:EuropeAid

Total Budget Available:€5,000,000

Application Deadline:21 June 2026 at 22:00 Brussels time (online submission via PROSPECT portal is mandatory)

Publication Date:21 April 2026

Strategic Context and Objectives

This funding opportunity is part of a broader EU-Egypt Strategic Partnership launched in March 2024, which includes €7.4 billion in EU grants and loans through 2027. The Civil Society Support Fund (CSF) was officially launched on 29 September 2025 by Egypt's Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsy as a transformative initiative to redefine civil society's role as an authentic partner in development. The fund operates under Egypt's Law No. 149 of 2019 and represents a shift from traditional grant-based financing to results-based financing models that link disbursements to performance indicators and transparent monitoring.

The EU has committed to supporting Egypt's Sustainable Development Strategy - Vision 2030, recognizing that a vibrant, independent, and empowered civil society is essential for sustainable development, transparent governance, and citizen engagement. The fund prioritizes projects promoting women's empowerment, youth participation, inclusion of people with disabilities, and climate justice.

Who Can Apply

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants are Egyptian civil society organizations, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) that meet the following criteria:

• Legally registered in Egypt under Civil Work Regulation Law No. 149/2019
• Have submitted a request to reconcile status where required
• Established under Egyptian national law with head office located in Egypt
• Voluntary, independent from government, non-profit organizations
• Not political parties or trade unions
• Minimum 3 years of operational experience delivering relevant activities (for certain grant types)
• Registered in PADOR (Potential Applicant Database On-line Registration) with a valid EuropeAid ID

Applications may be submitted by a lead applicant with co-applicants and affiliated entities. The lead applicant bears full responsibility for coordination, financial management, and implementation of the action.

Ineligible Applicants

Organizations cannot apply if they are subject to EU restrictive measures, in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, guilty of fraud or corruption, involved in money laundering or terrorist financing, or have committed grave professional misconduct. Organizations must also not be in breach of tax or social security obligations.

Funding Details

Total Available Budget:€5,000,000

Grant Type:Action Grants (project-based funding)

Financing Modalities:The call supports both reimbursement of eligible costs and financing not linked to costs (results-based financing). Applicants may propose actions using one or a combination of these modalities.

Co-financing Requirement:Co-financing is required. The EU contribution cannot exceed a specified percentage of total eligible costs (exact percentage to be confirmed in detailed guidelines).

Indirect Costs:Maximum 7% of direct eligible costs (excluding project office costs and volunteers' work)

Contingency Reserve:Maximum 5% of direct eligible costs

Eligible Activities and Sectors

The call supports civil society projects aligned with Egypt's Vision 2030 and EU development priorities. Eligible activities include capacity building, institutional development, advocacy, service delivery, and community engagement initiatives. Priority areas include:

• Women's economic empowerment and gender equality
• Youth participation and youth-led initiatives
• Inclusion of persons with disabilities
• Climate justice and environmental sustainability
• Democratic governance and civic participation
• Human rights promotion
• Emergency response and humanitarian assistance
• Institutional strengthening of civil society organizations

All activities must be implemented in Egypt and coordinated with the Ministry of Social Solidarity and relevant government agencies.

Eligible Costs

Under the reimbursement of costs modality, eligible costs include:

• Staff salaries (gross salaries including social security charges)
• Travel and subsistence costs for staff and participants
• Equipment and supplies specifically dedicated to the action
• Depreciation, rental, or leasing of equipment
• Consumables dedicated to the action
• Service, supply, and work contracts
• Evaluation and monitoring costs
• Translation and interpretation services
• Dissemination and visibility activities
• Duties, taxes, and VAT (if not recoverable)
• Project office costs (where recognized by contracting authority)
• Financial support to third parties (up to €60,000 per recipient unless otherwise specified)

Ineligible costs include debts and debt service, provisions for losses, costs financed by other EU grants, land or building purchases (except where essential and with ownership transfer), currency exchange losses, credits to third parties, in-kind contributions (except volunteers' work), and bonuses.

Application Process and Timeline

Two-Stage Application Process

This call uses a two-stage procedure:concept note followed by full application.

Stage 1: Concept Note:Applicants submit a concept note (maximum 5 pages plus annexes) outlining the action's objectives, relevance, target groups, and expected results. The concept note should include a summary table, description of the action, relevance analysis, and information on the lead applicant and co-applicants.

Stage 2: Full Application:Only applicants whose concept notes are approved will be invited to submit full applications. The full application includes detailed description of the action (maximum 18 pages), methodology (maximum 5 pages), action plan (maximum 4 pages), sustainability analysis (maximum 3 pages), logical framework, budget, and supporting documents.

Submission Method:Online submission via PROSPECT portal is mandatory. No postal or hand-delivery submissions are accepted.

Deadline:21 June 2026 at 22:00 Brussels time

Required Documents

Applicants must submit the following documents with their applications:

• Concept note or full application form (as applicable)
• Logical framework matrix (Annex C)
• Budget (Annex B) with justification
• Declaration of honour on exclusion and selection criteria (Annex H)
• Self-evaluation questionnaire on Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEA-H) (Annex L)
• PADOR registration form (Annex F) if unable to register online
• Statutes or articles of association of lead applicant
• Statutes or articles of association of co-applicants and affiliated entities
• Latest audited accounts of lead applicant
• External audit report (if applicable)
• Mandates from co-applicants
• Affiliated entity statements
• Privacy statement acknowledgment

Key Requirements and Conditions

Action Duration

Actions must have a minimum and maximum duration as specified in the detailed guidelines. The implementation period is typically 24-48 months depending on the action's scope.

Results-Based Financing

The Civil Society Support Fund operates on a results-based financing model. Payments are linked to the achievement of pre-agreed performance indicators and results. Applicants must develop clear, measurable indicators for outputs, outcomes, and impact, with baseline values, targets, and data sources specified in the logical framework.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Beneficiaries must implement planned monitoring and evaluation activities as described in the action description. For actions above €500,000, an external evaluation is required. Interim and final narrative and financial reports must be submitted according to the contract schedule. For grants above €100,000, a contractual expenditure verification report is required. For financing not linked to costs, a third-party assessment validating achievement of results is mandatory.

Visibility and Communication

Beneficiaries must ensure visibility of EU funding through prominent display of the EU emblem and funding statement. All communications, publications, and dissemination activities must acknowledge EU support and include the statement: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the contracting authority.

Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEA-H) Policy

Applicants must complete a self-evaluation questionnaire on SEA-H demonstrating their organization's compliance with policies and procedures addressing sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. Organizations must have in place prevention mechanisms, survivor-centered approaches, reporting structures, accountability procedures, and mandatory training for staff.

Tax Regime

Under the EU-Egypt Framework Agreement (Article 8) and Egyptian Presidential Decree No. 90/1999, all supplies purchased under this contract and financed by EU funds are exempted from taxes, customs, and other fees. Beneficiaries must demonstrate that they cannot reclaim taxes or provide evidence of exemption from competent tax authorities.

Financial Guarantee

If the grant exceeds €60,000, the contracting authority may request an original financial guarantee for the amount of the initial pre-financing payment. This requirement does not apply to non-profit organizations, organizations with framework partnership agreements with the European Commission, or government departments and public bodies (unless otherwise specified).

Payment Procedures

Payments are made according to the following procedures depending on action duration and grant amount:

Option 1 (Actions 12 months or less, or grants €100,000 or less):Initial pre-financing of 80% of maximum grant amount, followed by payment of balance upon final report approval

Option 2 (Actions over 12 months and grants over €100,000):Initial pre-financing of 100% of estimated budget for first reporting period, further pre-financing payments based on expenditure achievement (minimum 70% of previous payment required), and final balance payment

Option 3 (All actions):Final amount of grant paid as single payment

Payment Timelines:Initial pre-financing within 30 days of payment request receipt. Further pre-financing and balance payments within 60 days (or 90 days in certain circumstances including multiple beneficiaries, European Commission as contracting authority, or grants €5,000,000 or more)

Reporting Obligations

Beneficiaries must submit interim and final narrative and financial reports according to the contract schedule. Reports must include:

• Executive summary of implementation
• Detailed description of activities carried out
• Assessment of results achieved (outputs, outcomes, impact) with updated logical framework
• Updated activities matrix
• Financial report with detailed breakdown of expenditure
• Contractual expenditure verification report (for grants over €100,000)
• Third-party assessment of results (for financing not linked to costs)
• Information on visibility and communication activities
• Updates on SEA-H measures
• Lessons learned and sustainability analysis (in final report)
• Declaration on honour certifying accuracy and eligibility of information

Reporting Deadlines:Interim reports within 60 days of end of reporting period. Final report within 3 months of end of implementation period (6 months if coordinator not headquartered in Egypt)

Record Keeping and Audits

Beneficiaries must keep records and supporting documents for at least 5 years following final payment (3 years for grants not exceeding €60,000) to prove proper implementation and justify declared amounts. Records must include accounting records, procurement documentation, contracts, delivery proofs, invoices, payment receipts, and time records for staff costs. The European Commission, European Anti-Fraud Office, European Court of Auditors, and authorized external auditors have the right to access sites, examine documents, conduct on-the-spot checks, and perform audits.

Contract Termination and Sanctions

The contracting authority may terminate the contract or suspend payments if beneficiaries fail to fulfill substantial obligations, are bankrupt or insolvent, commit fraud or corruption, misrepresent information, resist investigations, or breach other contractual conditions. Termination may result in full or partial repayment of amounts unduly paid. Administrative measures including exclusion from future EU contracts and financial penalties up to 10% of contract value may be imposed for grave professional misconduct, fraud, or irregularities.

Dispute Resolution

Parties must attempt amicable settlement of disputes through written communication and meetings. If amicable settlement fails within 120 days, disputes may be submitted to conciliation by the European Commission (if not the contracting authority). If conciliation fails, disputes may be submitted to courts of the contracting authority's country or Brussels courts (if European Commission is contracting authority).

Key Dates and Deadlines

Important Considerations for Applicants

Applicants should note that this funding opportunity is part of a broader EU commitment to strengthen civil society in Egypt as outlined in the EU-Egypt Strategic Partnership. The Civil Society Support Fund represents a significant shift toward results-based financing, requiring organizations to develop clear performance indicators and demonstrate measurable impact. Organizations should ensure they have adequate capacity for financial management, monitoring, and reporting before applying. Prior registration in PADOR is mandatory and should be completed well before the application deadline. All applications must be submitted online through the PROSPECT portal; no alternative submission methods are accepted. Organizations are strongly encouraged to review the detailed guidelines, practical guide, and all annexes before preparing their applications to ensure full compliance with requirements.

The EU has emphasized that this funding supports Egypt's Vision 2030 and is contingent on progress in human rights, democracy, and rule of law. Beneficiaries must comply with EU values including respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, and human rights. Organizations must also ensure compliance with applicable data protection regulations, environmental legislation, and internationally agreed core labour standards.

Footnotes

1. 1For detailed information on application procedures, eligibility criteria, and technical requirements, applicants should consult the full Guidelines for Applicants and Practical Guide available on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal at EU Funding Portal.