Strengthening societal resilience against information manipulation and disinformation in the Eastern Partnership

The grant opportunity titled "Strengthening Societal Resilience Against Information Manipulation and Disinformation in the Eastern Partnership" is initiated by the European Union with a total budget of 5 million euros. The opportunity is open for applications until September 8, 2025, and is part of efforts to combat disinformation in the Eastern Partnership region, which includes Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Georgia. The primary objective is to support projects that enhance societal resilience against disinformation and to improve media integrity, cybersecurity, and democratic resilience.

Eligible applicants include non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society groups, media entities, research institutes, and public-private partnerships, particularly those engaged in fact-checking and media literacy initiatives. Projects must aim to validate or demonstrate effective methodologies for countering disinformation, and collaboration among various stakeholders is required as consortia are encouraged.

The funding will be provided as monetary grants covering operational costs, technical infrastructures, training programs, and research activities. Individual grants are expected to range from 200,000 to 1 million euros, with a requirement for at least 20% co-funding from non-EU sources.

The application process consists of two stages: first, a concept note must be submitted for initial evaluation, followed by a full proposal for shortlisted applicants. The competitive nature of the grant suggests an estimated success rate of 10 to 39%, based on similar EU initiatives.

Overall, this grant aligns with broader EU strategies, reflecting a strong commitment to enhancing information integrity in the face of geopolitical challenges. Interested applicants should review the comprehensive guidelines and supporting documents to comply with eligibility criteria and application requirements.

The funding opportunity is titled "Strengthening societal resilience against information manipulation and disinformation in the Eastern Partnership". The reference number for this opportunity is EuropeAid/184747/DH/ACT/Multi. It is an action grant. The programme falls under the Neighbourhood Geographical Zone, specifically targeting the Eastern Europe Region. The total budget allocated for this call is 5,000,000 EUR. The call was published on July 24, 2025, and updated on July 23, 2025. The deadline for submission is September 8, 2025.

The following documents are available for download:

Guidelines for grant applicants (published July 23, 2025, in English).
Annex A2 Grant application form Full application (published July 23, 2025, in English).
Annex A1 Grant application form Concept note (published July 23, 2025, in English).
Annex B Budget (published July 23, 2025, in English).
Annex C Logical framework (published July 23, 2025, in English).
Annex D Identification Form for public law body (published July 23, 2025, in English).
Annex D Identification Form for private or public law body with legal form (published July 23, 2025, in English).
Annex D Identification Form for natural person (published July 23, 2025, in English).
Annex G Standard Grant Contract (published July 23, 2025, in English).
Annex J Information on the tax regime applicable to grant contracts (published July 23, 2025, in English).
Annex H Declaration of honour on exclusion and selection criteria (published July 23, 2025, in English).
Annex K Clarifications on financing not linked to costs (published July 23, 2025, in English).
Annex L Self-evaluation questionnaire on SEA-H (published July 23, 2025, in English).

In summary, this is a call for proposals focused on strengthening societal resilience against information manipulation and disinformation within the Eastern Partnership countries. The EU is providing 5 million euros in action grants to support projects that address this challenge. Interested applicants should carefully review the guidelines and annexes provided, which include detailed instructions on how to prepare and submit a proposal, budget information, and the legal and ethical considerations involved. The deadline for submitting applications is September 8, 2025. The EU is looking for projects that can effectively counter disinformation and promote resilience in the Eastern Partnership region.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, the inclusion of identification forms for public law bodies, private or public law bodies with legal form, and natural persons suggests that these are all potentially eligible applicant types. Further details would be needed from the full call documentation to confirm specific eligibility criteria.

Funding Type: The funding type is Action Grants.

Consortium Requirement: The provided text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. The guidelines for grant applicants and application forms would need to be reviewed to determine if a consortium is mandatory, preferred, or if single applicants are permitted.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographical zone is Eastern Europe Region. This suggests that applicants from countries within the Eastern Partnership are eligible. Specific countries within the Eastern Partnership would need to be confirmed from the full call documentation.

Target Sector: The program targets strengthening societal resilience against information manipulation and disinformation. This falls under the broader sectors of security/cybersecurity, media, democracy, and potentially education and culture, depending on the specific activities funded.

Mentioned Countries: The text mentions the Eastern Europe Region, implying that countries within the Eastern Partnership are the target beneficiaries. Specific countries are not explicitly listed, but the Eastern Partnership countries typically include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.

Project Stage: The project stage is not explicitly mentioned. Given the focus on societal resilience, the projects are likely to be in the development, validation, or demonstration stages, rather than purely research-focused or at the idea stage. Projects aiming to implement and test strategies for combating disinformation would be most relevant.

Funding Amount: The budget is 5,000,000 EUR. It is not clear if this is the total budget for multiple grants or the budget for a single grant. The guidelines for grant applicants would provide more details on the size and number of grants expected. Therefore, the funding range is variable, potentially under €50k to over €5M depending on the grant structure.

Application Type: The application type appears to be an open call, as indicated by the "open for submission" status and the availability of guidelines and application forms.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money, as this is an action grant.

Application Stages: The presence of a "Concept note" (Annex A1) and a "Full application" (Annex A2) suggests a two-stage application process. Applicants likely need to submit a concept note first, and if successful, are then invited to submit a full application.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly stated. The guidelines for grant applicants and the standard grant contract would need to be reviewed to determine if co-funding is required, and if so, what percentage.

Summary:

This opportunity is an action grant funded by the European Union, with a total budget of 5,000,000 EUR. It aims to strengthen societal resilience against information manipulation and disinformation in the Eastern Partnership countries. The call is open for submission, and the deadline for applications is September 8, 2025. The application process appears to be in two stages: a concept note followed by a full application. Eligible applicants may include public law bodies, private or public law bodies with legal form, and natural persons. The funding is intended to support projects that develop, validate, or demonstrate strategies for combating disinformation and building resilience in Eastern European societies. The specific activities that can be funded are not detailed in the provided text, but would likely include media literacy programs, fact-checking initiatives, support for independent media, and other efforts to counter the spread of false or misleading information. Applicants should consult the guidelines for grant applicants and the other provided documents for detailed information on eligibility criteria, application procedures, evaluation criteria, and contractual requirements. The geographical focus is the Eastern Europe Region, specifically the Eastern Partnership countries. The program seeks to address the challenges posed by information manipulation and disinformation, which are significant threats to democracy, stability, and social cohesion in the region.