Support to Civil Society Organisations in Albania in the field of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, Good Governance, Justice, Freedom and Security and Gender Equality and Gender Based Violence

The EU is offering a grant opportunity titled "Support to Civil Society Organisations in Albania in the field of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, Good Governance, Justice, Freedom and Security and Gender Equality and Gender Based Violence." This initiative has a total budget of €7.2 million and aims to enhance the role of civil society in addressing key social issues within Albania. The call is especially targeted at civil society organisations (CSOs) in Albania who are working in specific thematic sectors.

Eligible applicants are primarily CSOs, which may include non-governmental organizations, community groups, and advocacy entities. The opportunity encourages applications from individual organizations, although partnerships with local municipalities are possible but not compulsory. The funding type is categorized as action grants, indicating financial support offered to selected CSOs without repayment obligations.

Geographically, the funding is strictly limited to Albania, focusing on activities that promote diversity, good governance, justice, and gender equality, with particular attention drawn to marginalized populations.

The application process is structured into two stages: applicants must first submit a concept note, and those selected may then proceed to submit a full application. The deadline for submissions is September 4, 2025. The grant aims to fund projects likely at the implementation or demonstration stage, which address immediate service delivery needs rather than initial research or ideation.

There is no specified co-funding requirement stated in the guidelines, leading to the assumption that co-funding is not necessary. The funding amounts for individual projects may vary; historical precedents suggest grants could be in the range of €50,000 to €200,000, dependent upon project scope and needs.

Furthermore, while the success rates of submissions are not disclosed, competitive selection processes often suggest lower acceptance ratios, estimated conservatively at around 10 to 39%. The nature of support through these grants is monetary, aimed at bolstering action-oriented projects in the listed focus areas.

In summary, this grant aims to support Albanian civil society organizations through a substantial budget, promoting various societal reforms aligned with EU integration efforts. Interested parties should carefully review the available guidelines and submit their concept notes followed by full applications if selected.

The European Commission is offering an Action Grant to support Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Albania. The grant, titled "Support to Civil Society Organisations in Albania in the field of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, Good Governance, Justice, Freedom and Security and Gender Equality and Gender Based Violence," falls under the EuropeAid/184589/DD/ACT/AL program.

The total budget allocated for this call is 7,200,000 EUR. The call was published on July 8, 2025, and updated on July 4, 2025. The deadline for submission is September 4, 2025.

The following documents are available for download:

Guidelines to Applicants (dated July 8, 2025, in English)
A 2 Full application application form (dated July 8, 2025, in English)
A1 Concept Note application form (dated July 8, 2025, in English)
Annex B Budget (dated July 8, 2025, in English)
Annex C Logical framework (dated July 8, 2025, in English)
Annex D Identification Form for public law bodies (dated July 8, 2025, in English)
Annex D Identification Form for private or public entities with legal form (dated July 8, 2025, in English)
Annex D Identification Form for natural persons (dated July 8, 2025, in English)
Annex F PADOR offline registration form (dated July 8, 2025, in English)
Annex G Standard grant contract (dated July 8, 2025, in English)
Annex H Declaration of honour on exclusion and selection criteria (dated July 8, 2025, in English)
Annex K Clarifications on financing not linked to costs (dated July 8, 2025, in English)
Annex J Information on the tax regime applicable to grant contracts (dated July 8, 2025, in English)
Appendix Derogations international organisations (dated July 8, 2025, in English)
Annex L Self-evaluation questionnaire on SEA-H (dated July 8, 2025, in English)

The grant aims to provide support to Civil Society Organisations operating in Albania. The focus areas are: Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion; Good Governance; Justice, Freedom, and Security; and Gender Equality and Gender Based Violence. The funding is intended for action-oriented projects. Applicants should consult the provided guidelines and annexes for detailed information on eligibility criteria, application procedures, and project requirements. The application process involves submitting a concept note and, if successful, a full application. Applicants must also complete the necessary identification forms and declarations.

In summary, this is a call for proposals offering action grants to Civil Society Organizations in Albania. The European Commission is providing 7.2 million EUR to support projects that promote diversity, equality, inclusion, good governance, justice, freedom, security, gender equality, and the fight against gender-based violence. Interested organizations should download the guidelines and application forms, carefully review the eligibility criteria and application process, and submit their proposals by the deadline of September 4, 2025. The application requires a concept note initially, followed by a full application if the concept note is approved. Several annexes and supporting documents are required as part of the application process, covering aspects such as budget, logical framework, identification of the applicant, and declarations of compliance.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). The identification form annexes suggest that eligible applicants can be public law bodies, private entities (with legal form), or natural persons. International organisations are also mentioned in the derogations appendix.

Funding Type: The funding type is Action Grants.

Consortium Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, given the nature of civil society support and the areas of focus, consortia are possible. The guidelines to applicants would provide more detail.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is Albania.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: Diversity, Equality and Inclusion; Good Governance; Justice, Freedom and Security; and Gender Equality and Gender Based Violence.

Mentioned Countries: Albania.

Project Stage: The information does not explicitly specify the project stage. Given the focus on supporting CSOs in specific areas, the expected project stage is likely to be development, validation, demonstration, or scale-up, rather than basic research or idea stage.

Funding Amount: The budget is 7,200,000 EUR. The specific grant amounts awarded to individual CSOs will likely vary depending on the project.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by "Open For Submission". The application process involves submitting a concept note and a full application.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money through action grants.

Application Stages: The application process appears to have at least two stages: submission of a concept note (ENA1 - Concept Note application form) and, if successful, submission of a full application (ENA 2- Full application application form).

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

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. The guidelines to applicants and the standard grant contract would provide more detail on co-funding requirements.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals for Action Grants aimed at supporting Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Albania. The program, with a total budget of 7,200,000 EUR, focuses on four key areas: Diversity, Equality and Inclusion; Good Governance; Justice, Freedom and Security; and Gender Equality and Gender Based Violence. Eligible applicants include public law bodies, private entities with legal form, and natural persons, suggesting a broad range of CSOs can apply. International organisations are also eligible. The application process involves a two-stage approach, starting with the submission of a concept note followed by a full application if the concept note is approved. The funding is provided in the form of action grants, meaning that the money is intended to support specific projects and activities aligned with the program's objectives. The deadline for submissions is September 4, 2025. Applicants should carefully review the guidelines to applicants and all associated annexes, including budget templates, logical framework requirements, identification forms, and the standard grant contract, to ensure their proposals meet all eligibility and compliance criteria. The program aims to strengthen the role of CSOs in Albania in promoting and advancing key societal values and principles.