Strengthening El Salvador's Digital Civil Registration System

EU-funded Twinning call EuropeAidSV offers €1,000,000 to strengthen El Salvador's digital civil registration system through institutional capacity building and knowledge transfer. The action supports cooperation between EU member state public administrations and El Salvador's civil registry (RNPN) to modernize digital identity, interoperability, security, and governance. Eligible applicants are typically public administration bodies from EU Member States with relevant expertise in digital civil registration and identity management. Proposals must be submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 21 April 2026 at 15:00 UTC and follow the Twinning fiche and annexed evaluation grid requirements.

Opportunity type

EuropeAid Grant Action (Call ID EuropeAid/186109/DD/ACT/SV)

A single-call action grant to support the digitalisation and strengthening of El Salvador's civil registration system. The call is open for submission with documents and evaluation grid published by the contracting authority. ¹

Funding amount:Total budget available: €1,000,000.

Who can apply:Implementing organisations with capacity to deliver digital civil registration projects in El Salvador: public authorities, international organisations, NGOs, and consortia of eligible legal entities (applicants should consult the call documents for precise eligibility and partnership rules).

1. 1What it funds: activities to digitalise and strengthen civil registration and vital statistics systems in El Salvador, including technical assistance, system development, capacity building and institutional support.
2. 2Application deadline: 21 April 2026, 15:00 UTC.
3. 3Application format: Action grants; applicants must follow the published call documents and evaluation grid.

Applicants should consult the call fiche and annexes for full instructions, eligibility conditions, and evaluation criteria before preparing proposals ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official opportunity page and documents: ec.europa.eu

This is an EU external action grant topic under the America and the Caribbean programme aiming to support the strengthening of El Salvador's digital civil registration system. The call is listed under reference EuropeAidSV and is currently open for submission. The total indicative budget for the action is €1,000,000, with a submission deadline of 21 April 2026 at 15:00:00 UTC. The call documentation includes an evaluation grid (Annex C7), a Twinning Call for Proposals notice (Annex C9), and a Twinning Fiche (Annex C1). Applicants must apply via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal submission service.

Official portal entry:Full call details, submission workspace, and documents are accessible on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: Strengthening El Salvador's Digital Civil Registration System EU Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page ¹.

Core Facts

Eligibility and Participation

Eligible applicant types:Based on the presence of a Twinning Call for Proposals (Annex C9) and a Twinning Fiche (Annex C1), this opportunity appears to follow the EU Twinning modality. In Twinning actions, eligible applicants are typically public administrations and mandated bodies of EU Member States or, where specified, other eligible public sector entities designated to implement institutional cooperation. These often include ministries, national agencies, statistical or civil registry offices, and their mandated bodies. Where explicitly allowed in the call documents, public sector entities from EU Member States may involve specialized public institutes or publicly mandated organizations. The beneficiary administration is the relevant public authority in El Salvador responsible for civil registration. Detailed eligibility conditions must be verified in the official call documents.

Consortium requirement:Twinning actions commonly require participation by at least one EU Member State public administration as lead, and may allow a consortium of two or more EU Member State administrations as co-applicants or partners, working with the beneficiary administration in El Salvador. The exact consortium composition rules, minimum and maximum number of EU Member State partners, and lead applicant requirements should be confirmed in Annex C9 (Twinning CfP) and the Twinning Fiche (Annex C1).

Beneficiary scope (geographic eligibility):Applicants are expected to be eligible public administrations or mandated public bodies from EU Member States implementing an action in and for El Salvador. The geographic scope of implementation is El Salvador within the America and the Caribbean programme. Any additional geographic or nationality rules must be checked in the call documents.

What the Call Seeks to Achieve

The call targets strengthening El Salvador's digital civil registration system. While detailed objectives are contained in the Twinning Fiche (Annex C1), typical aims for such actions include institutional capacity building, process modernization, interoperability and data quality improvements, secure and privacy-preserving digital identity registration and lifecycle management, and enhanced service delivery through e-government platforms. Activities are likely to combine expert missions, training, advisory services, co-design of procedures and standards, and support for governance, change management, and sustainability of the reformed civil registration function.

• Institutional strengthening and capacity transfer to the beneficiary authority in El Salvador
• Modernization of civil registration workflows and governance, including process standardization
• Enhancements to the digital civil registration platform, data integrity, security, privacy, and continuity of services
• Interoperability with national ID, vital events, and relevant sectoral systems where appropriate
• Training and mentoring of staff, development of operational manuals, and establishment of performance indicators
• Results-based implementation with defined mandatory results and milestones per the Twinning Fiche

Sector and Technical Focus

• Public sector digital transformation and e-government
• Civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS)
• Digital identity and population registry data management
• Data protection, cybersecurity, and secure system administration for registries
• Interoperability frameworks and standards in public administration ICT
• Change management and institutional governance for registry services

Funding Modality and Scale

Funding type:Grant. The presence of Twinning-specific annexes indicates a Twinning grant under the EU external actions framework.

Total funding available:€1,000,000 total indicative budget for the action.

Nature of support:Money. Funding covers eligible costs foreseen under the Twinning modality such as resident twinning advisor, short-term experts, missions, training, and related eligible expenses, as specified in the call documents.

Co-funding requirement:Twinning actions are commonly financed up to 100 percent by the EU for eligible public administrations. Applicants should verify in the call documents whether any co-financing is required for this specific action; no co-funding requirement is stated in the provided summary.

Application and Evaluation

Application type:Open call with electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal submission service for the opportunity page listed above.

Application stages:Twinning calls typically use a single-stage full proposal submission assessed against a published evaluation grid. The presence of Annex C7 Evaluation Grid suggests a single-stage evaluation using predefined criteria. Applicants should confirm exact staging and timelines in the call documents.

Success rates:Not specified in the available summary. No historical success rate or expected number of awards is provided.

Key Administrative Details

• Call reference: EuropeAidSV
• Programme: America and the Caribbean
• Geographical Zone: El Salvador
• Publication date: 20/02/2026
• Deadline: 21/04/2026
• Status: Open for Submission

Documents and Templates

The following documents are listed for this call. They provide the evaluation framework and the technical scope for applicants:

• Annex C7 Evaluation Grid (20 February 2026 | EN) – details the criteria and scoring methodology used to assess proposals.
• Annex C9 Twinning CfP (20 February 2026 | EN) – sets out eligibility, application instructions, and submission requirements specific to the Twinning modality.
• Annex C1 Twinning Fiche (20 February 2026 | EN) – describes the technical objectives, mandatory results, indicative activities, and expected outputs for the action in El Salvador.

Typical Twinning proposal structure and templates:While applicants must follow the exact templates provided for this call, Twinning proposals generally include: cover and administrative information; identification of the lead and possible junior EU Member State administrations; mandate letters where applicable; a detailed work plan structured by components, mandatory results, and activities; a logical framework with indicators, baselines, and targets aligned with the Twinning Fiche; deployment plan for a Resident Twinning Advisor (RTA) and short-term experts; capacity-building plan including training, study visits, and workshops; risk assessment and mitigation; cross-cutting issues such as data protection, gender, and environmental considerations; monitoring and evaluation arrangements; communication and visibility plan; implementation schedule and milestones; and a detailed budget consistent with the Twinning financial provisions.

Categorization Answers

Eligible Applicant Types:Public administrations and mandated bodies from EU Member States are typically eligible for Twinning actions. Depending on the call text, other public sector institutions designated by EU Member States may be eligible as co-applicants or partners. The beneficiary administration is the competent public authority in El Salvador. Final eligibility must be checked in Annex C9 and Annex C1.

Funding Type:Grant under the EU Twinning modality for external actions.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium likely required or permitted among EU Member State public administrations, with one acting as lead. Engagement with the beneficiary administration in El Salvador is inherent to Twinning. Exact rules should be confirmed in the Twinning CfP and Fiche.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Applicants: EU Member State public administrations or mandated bodies, as per Twinning rules. Place of implementation and beneficiary: El Salvador within the America and the Caribbean programme.

Target Sector:Public administration digital transformation, e-government, civil registration and vital statistics, digital identity, data governance, interoperability, cybersecurity for public registries.

Mentioned Countries:El Salvador.

Project Stage:Implementation of institutional capacity-building and system modernization. Typical stages include design, development and configuration, validation and training, and operational roll-out support for the digital civil registration system.

Funding Amount:€1,000,000 total indicative budget for the action.

Application Type:Open call via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal electronic submission system.

Nature of Support:Money in the form of a grant.

Application Stages:Likely 1 stage using the published evaluation grid, to be verified in Annex C9 and Annex C7.

Success Rates:Not available in the provided information.

Co-funding Requirement:Not specified in the summary. Twinning actions are commonly financed up to 100 percent by the EU; applicants should confirm in the call guidelines.

Practical Timeline and Next Steps

1. 1Access the official call page and download Annex C7, Annex C9, and Annex C1 from the Documents section of the portal.
2. 2Confirm institutional eligibility and consortium formation rules specific to this call.
3. 3Develop a proposal directly aligned with the Twinning Fiche mandatory results and indicators, structuring work packages and expert deployments accordingly.
4. 4Prepare all required administrative forms, declarations, and mandate letters for lead and partner institutions as per the Twinning CfP.
5. 5Complete the electronic submission well before the 21 April 2026 15:00:00 UTC deadline.

Summary

This opportunity is an EU external action Twinning-type grant to strengthen El Salvador's digital civil registration system. With a total budget of €1,000,000 under the America and the Caribbean programme, it focuses on institutional capacity building and modernization of civil registration processes and digital infrastructure. The call documentation includes a Twinning Fiche detailing the technical scope and mandatory results, a Twinning Call for Proposals setting eligibility and submission rules, and an Evaluation Grid defining scoring criteria. Eligible applicants are typically EU Member State public administrations or their mandated public bodies, forming a lead applicant possibly with one or more EU Member State co-applicants, and working with the beneficiary authority in El Salvador. Proposals are submitted electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 21 April 2026. Funding is provided as a grant, commonly at up to 100 percent financing for Twinning actions, to support expert missions, training, advisory services, and implementation steps needed to deliver measurable improvements in the civil registration system, including data quality, security, interoperability, and service delivery. Interested institutions should consult the official portal entry for definitive eligibility, template requirements, and evaluation criteria and align their technical offer precisely with the Twinning Fiche.

Footnotes

1. 1Official EU Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page: Strengthening El Salvador's Digital Civil Registration System.

Funding Opportunity Overview

This EU-funded initiative aims to strengthen El Salvador's digital civil registration infrastructure through knowledge transfer and institutional capacity building. The call supports the modernization of civil registration services in El Salvador by facilitating cooperation with EU member state authorities through a Twinning arrangement, enabling the country to develop secure, interoperable digital identity systems aligned with international standards.

Call Reference:EuropeAidSV

Total Available Budget:€1,000,000

Call Publication Date:20 February 2026

Application Deadline:21 April 2026 at 15:00 UTC ¹

Programme:America and the Caribbean (EU external action funding)

Geographical Focus:El Salvador

Call Status:Open for Submission

Strategic Context and Project Objectives

El Salvador is currently implementing a comprehensive digital identity transformation through its Digital DUI (Documento Único de Identidad) initiative, managed by the Civil Registry. The country has developed digital identity solutions compliant with ISO 18013-5, ISO 18013-7, and OpenID4VP standards, positioning itself as the only Central American country with a roadmap to fully implement ISO 18013-compliant digital identity infrastructure ². The Digital DUI system operates alongside traditional physical identification to ensure inclusive coverage while enabling secure digital authentication for online services. This EU funding opportunity supports the institutional strengthening required to sustain and expand these digital registration capabilities, including development of a digital identity wallet by 2026 and implementation of quantum-safe encryption and blockchain-based trust frameworks.

Eligible Applicants

Based on the Twinning grant structure indicated by the call documents, eligible applicants typically include public administration institutions from EU member states seeking to establish institutional partnerships with El Salvador's civil registration authorities. The arrangement involves a lead EU partner institution twinning with the Salvadoran beneficiary institution to facilitate knowledge transfer, capacity building, and institutional modernization. Applicants must demonstrate relevant expertise in digital civil registration systems, identity management infrastructure, and institutional capacity development to support the modernization of El Salvador's registration system.

Primary Beneficiary:El Salvador's civil registration authority (RNPN - Registro Nacional de las Personas Naturales)

Eligible Applicant Type:Public administration bodies from European Union member states with demonstrated expertise in digital civil registration, identity management systems, or institutional capacity building for government services

Grant Funding Details and Conditions

Total Available Funding:€1,000,000

Funding Mechanism:Action Grants (Action type: Twinning arrangement based on referenced annexes C1, C9)

The €1,000,000 represents the total available budget for this call for proposals. As a Twinning arrangement, funding supports the transfer of knowledge and expertise between EU member state institutions and the Salvadoran civil registration authority. Standard Twinning grants typically cover short-term expert missions, long-term expert secondments, training and study visit activities, and the development of institutional capacity. The exact funding modalities and co-financing requirements should be confirmed in the detailed call documentation, which includes the Twinning Fiche (Annex C1) and Twinning Call for Proposals (Annex C9).

Key Requirements and Implementation Areas

Applicants must design interventions that directly contribute to strengthening El Salvador's digital civil registration system. The priority areas reflect the country's ongoing modernization efforts and its commitment to developing secure, interoperable identity infrastructure. Key implementation requirements include the following ³:

• Institutional capacity development for El Salvador's civil registry to manage digital identity systems and digital credential infrastructure
• Knowledge transfer in digital civil registration best practices, security standards, and identity system architecture from EU member state counterparts
• Support for implementation of ISO 18013-compliant digital identity solutions aligned with EU and international standards
• Assistance in developing governance frameworks and operational procedures for digital credential issuance and management
• Technical support for digital identity wallet development and deployment planned for 2026
• Training and capacity building for RNPN staff responsible for digital registration services
• Development of legal and regulatory frameworks supporting interoperable digital identity systems
• Implementation of security measures including cyber resilience and fraud prevention mechanisms for digital registration processes
• Planning for long-term sustainability and revenue generation through value-added digital identity services

Evaluation Criteria and Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated according to the criteria specified in Annex C7 Evaluation Grid. The evaluation process typically assesses the relevance of proposed activities to El Salvador's institutional needs, the quality and experience of the proposing EU institution, the adequacy of the twinning arrangement design, and the likelihood of achieving sustainable institutional capacity improvement. Applicants should review the evaluation grid carefully to ensure their proposal addresses all weighted criteria.

Supporting Documents:Annex C7 Evaluation Grid (published 20 February 2026, EN); Annex C9 Twinning Call for Proposals (published 20 February 2026, EN); Annex C1 Twinning Fiche (published 20 February 2026, EN)

Timeline and Key Dates

The application deadline is 21 April 2026. Applicants must submit proposals through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal submission service well before the deadline to allow for technical verification. Detailed timelines for evaluation, selection notifications, and grant agreement signature will be specified in the complete call documentation.

Technical Submission Requirements

All applications must be submitted through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal submission service. Applicants should carefully review the complete call documentation, including Twinning-specific requirements in Annexes C1 and C9, to understand the required proposal structure, content, and supporting documentation. The Twinning fiche (Annex C1) will detail the needs assessment for El Salvador's civil registration system and the expected outcomes of the institutional partnership. Proposals must demonstrate how the proposed twinning arrangement addresses these identified needs and aligns with El Salvador's digital transformation priorities.

Strategic Alignment and Context

This initiative aligns with broader EU and international efforts to strengthen digital identity infrastructure in partner countries. El Salvador's digital civil registration system development reflects regional progress in identity management, following similar modernization initiatives across Central America ⁴. The Salvadoran civil registry's mandate encompasses KYC (Know Your Customer) processes for creating secure citizen accounts, which form the foundation for both government service delivery and financial inclusion objectives. The planned digital identity wallet expansion by 2026 represents a critical milestone requiring institutional expertise and capacity development to ensure secure implementation. EU support through this twinning arrangement enables knowledge transfer from member states with established digital identity systems, facilitating best practice adoption and accelerating institutional modernization in El Salvador.

Contact and Resources

The official call documentation and submission portal are accessible through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. For technical questions regarding submission procedures, contact the portal's IT Helpdesk. For substantive questions regarding the call content, eligibility, or El Salvador's civil registration needs, consult the detailed call documentation including the Twinning Fiche. The European Commission's responsible desk for America and the Caribbean programmes provides additional guidance through the funding portal's support services.

Primary Portal:EU Funding and Tenders Portal

Programme Office:EU External Action - America and the Caribbean geographic desk

Footnotes

1. 1The deadline of 21 April 2026 leaves approximately 30 days for proposal preparation and submission from the current date of 22 March 2026. Applicants are advised to begin proposal development immediately and submit well before the deadline to allow time for technical verification in the portal system.
2. 2El Salvador's Digital DUI system has been developed by RNPN to comply with ISO 18013-5, ISO 18013-7, and OpenID4VP standards, positioning it at international best practice standards aligned with EU digital identity frameworks. The system is designed for interoperability with future regional identity systems and integrates advanced authentication technologies.
3. 3Implementation areas are derived from El Salvador's stated priorities in digital identity system development and the institutional needs outlined in regional digital transformation initiatives. The specific institutional needs and expected outcomes will be detailed in the Twinning Fiche (Annex C1), which should be consulted for precise activity requirements.
4. 4Regional context indicates that Central American countries are advancing digital identity infrastructure through various initiatives. Honduras has completed major biometric enrollment projects with €5.5 millioncitizens enrolled, while Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, and Trinidad and Tobago are implementing digital identity platforms using modular frameworks designed for inclusivity and local customization.