Supporting CSO role in sustainable and inclusive development and in Global Gateway Investments

EuropeAid is a restricted two-stage EU grant to strengthen Ethiopian civil society organisations' role in inclusive governance, sustainable development and engagement with Global Gateway investments, organised in two lots with a total indicative budget of €5,829,000 (€2,914,500 per lot). Concept notes must be submitted via the PROSPECT portal by 13 May 2026 and pre-selected applicants will be invited to submit full applications; PADOR and Participant Register registration is required. Grants cover 95% of eligible costs with a project duration of 36–48 months; Lot 1 requires a mandatory Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) with earmarked amounts, and Lot 2 is conditional on 2027 budget allocation. Eligible lead applicants are non-profit CSOs or networks (established in the EU, Ethiopia or NDICI eligible countries) applying with at least two Ethiopian-registered co-applicants and meeting experience and capacity requirements set in the Guidelines for Applicants.

Grant topic — EuropeAid/186336/DH/ACT/Multi

At a glance

What it funds:Action grants to strengthen Ethiopian civil society organisations (CSOs) to promote inclusive governance, sustainable local development and CSO engagement in EU Global Gateway priority investments (clean energy, agri-food value chains, health, human-centric digital transformation). The call is organised in two separate lots with integrated interventions and mandatory cross-cutting requirements (youth engagement, human rights-based approach, gender equality, conflict sensitivity).

Total indicative budget:€5,829,000 in total; allocated equally to two lots (€2,914,500 per lot). The 2027 portion is conditional on budget availability ¹

1. 1Grant format: action grants (reimbursement of costs; FNLC elements possible where specified).
2. 2Two lots — applicants may apply to one lot only: Lot 1: CSO capacity and enabling environment; Lot 2: CSO engagement in Global Gateway priority sectors (must be implemented in locations with Global Gateway projects).
3. 3Grant size per award: each lot expects a single grant of €2,914,500 (minimum and maximum per lot are the same).
4. 4EU contribution rate: up to 95% of total eligible costs; remaining funding must come from other sources.
5. 5Project duration: 36 to 48 months.

Who can apply

Lead applicants must be non-profit legal persons (civil society organisations or networks) effectively established in an EU Member State, Ethiopia or other eligible countries under NDICI-Global Europe; international organisations are eligible without the effective-establishment requirement. A lead applicant must act with at least two co-applicants established and registered in Ethiopia. Consortia must demonstrate EU grant management experience (as specified in the guidelines) and experience working with local CSOs.

Key eligibility highlights

1. 1Lead applicant: legal, non-profit CSO or network; directly responsible for the action and not an intermediary.
2. 2Consortium criteria: at least two Ethiopian co-applicants; experience managing EU grants above €1.5M (as consortium) and FSTP track record where applicable.
3. 3Actions: must take place in specified Ethiopian regions (Lot 1 list) or in locations with Global Gateway projects (Lot 2) and must address at least three priority areas within the selected lot.
4. 4FSTP (financial support to third parties) is required under Lot 1 with minimum earmarks for local grassroots CSOs (at least €1,860,000 reserved for FSTP and €291,000 for capacity development of FSTP recipients).
5. 5Applicants must register organisations in PADOR and submit applications via PROSPECT.

Deadlines & submission

Deadline for concept notes:13 May 2026 at 15:30 Brussels time. This is a restricted two-stage call: only concept notes are submitted first; pre-selected leads will be invited to submit full applications. Online submission via PROSPECT is mandatory; registration in PADOR (Participant Register / EuropeAid ID) is required. An information session is scheduled 17 April 2026 (hybrid) — register by email as indicated in the guidelines.

Selection & compliance

Evaluation proceeds in three steps:concept note screening and scoring, full application quality assessment, and verification of eligibility and supporting documents for provisionally selected applicants. Award decisions, contracting and possible contractual checks (expenditure verification, third party assessment for FNLC parts) follow the standard EU external action procedures.

Where to apply / documents

Apply online via PROSPECT and ensure PADOR registration. Full guidelines, annexes (budget, logframe, standard contract, SEA-H self-evaluation, PADOR forms and templates) were published with the call and must be followed exactly.

Footnotes

1. 1Full call documentation, eligibility rules, budget details, FSTP requirements and the PROSPECT/PADOR submission instructions are in the Guidelines for grant applicants published on the Funding & Tenders Portal (see the call reference EuropeAid).

Summary and key facts

This is a restricted two-stage call for proposals (concept note then full application) managed by the European Commission (DG International Partnerships / EU Delegation in Ethiopia). It finances action grants to strengthen civil society organisations (CSOs) in Ethiopia, support an enabling environment for civil society and to enhance CSO engagement in Global Gateway priority sectors (clean energy transition, sustainable agri-food value chains, health systems strengthening and human-centric digital transformation). The total indicative budget is €5,829,000 split equally between two Lots. Applications are submitted online via PROSPECT and organisations must register in PADOR and the EU Participant Register. The deadline for submission of concept notes is 13 May 2026 at 15:30 Brussels time. ¹

Contracting authority:European Commission (DG International Partnerships / EU Delegation to Ethiopia).

Reference / Call ID:EuropeAid

Publication and deadlines:Published 27 March 2026. Deadline for concept notes 13 May 2026 at 15:30 Brussels time. Indicative timeline includes invitation to full application (25 June 2026) and deadline for full applications 11 August 2026 (15:30).

Geographical focus / Zone:East Africa Region with specific implementation requirements in Ethiopia. Lot 1 actions must take place in at least three of these regional states/city administrations: Somali, Harari, Sidama, Gambella, South West Ethiopia, Dire Dawa City. Lot 2 actions must be implemented in a minimum of three specific locations where Global Gateway projects are implemented in Ethiopia and must justify links to those Global Gateway projects.

Financial information

Total indicative amount available under the call:€5,829,000. The call is organised in two Lots with an indicative allocation of €2,914,500 for each Lot. Lot 2 will depend on the availability of the 2027 budget allocation (suspensive clause). Any grant requested under this call must equal the Lot amount (minimum and maximum amounts are identical for each Lot). The EU contribution percentage is fixed at 95% of total eligible costs for both Lots (minimum and maximum). Beneficiaries must provide the balance (up to 5%) from other sources (not from the EU budget).

Grant size and co-financing rules:Lot 1 grant: minimum €2,914,500 and maximum €2,914,500. Lot 2 grant: minimum €2,914,500 and maximum €2,914,500. EU financing covers 95% of eligible costs; the remaining 5% must be financed from other non-EU sources or justified if full financing is requested (full financing possible only with explicit justification and assessed by evaluators). Budgets may include contingency reserve (max 5% of direct eligible costs) and indirect costs (flat rate up to 7% of direct eligible costs excluding project office and volunteer costs).

Who can apply and eligible applicant types

Lead applicants must be legal, non-profit civil society organisations (including NGOs, networks and associations). Additional eligible applicant types and participants include: local and grassroots CSOs, community-based organisations, civil society networks, international organisations (subject to special rules), research and technical CSOs and other non-profit actors active in civil society strengthening and sectoral governance. The lead applicant must be non-profit and can be established in an EU Member State, in Ethiopia or in other NDICI-Global Europe eligible countries (Article 28 of Regulation (EU) 2021/947). International organisations are eligible irrespective of effective establishment requirement.

Specific applicant requirements:the lead applicant must act with at least two co-applicants established and registered in Ethiopia; as a consortium the lead applicant must demonstrate experience managing at least one EU grant above €1.5 million in the past three years, at least three years working with local CSOs, and proven track record managing Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) schemes. Lead applicants not established in Ethiopia must show prior Ethiopia experience (at least two projects with local CSOs) and local CSOs must have been involved in conceiving the proposal.

Eligible actions, duration and scope

Actions must directly contribute to the objectives and priorities of the chosen Lot. Duration for each action: minimum 36 months; maximum 48 months. Actions must adopt integrated approaches and address at least three priority areas under the selected Lot (applicants may apply to one Lot only). Actions must show coherent intervention logic and strong partnership arrangements. Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) schemes are mandatory under Lot 1 (minimum reserved amounts apply) and allowed under Lot 2 (must be justified and linked to Global Gateway engagement).

Lot 1 — Strengthening civil society's role, capacity and enabling environment

Specific objective:Strengthen capacity, sustainability and influence of local and grassroots CSOs to engage in policy making, advocacy, monitoring and accountability at national and local levels.

1. 1Strengthening CSOs’ capacity to influence public policy and institutional practices (evidence-based advocacy, transparency and accountability).
2. 2Promoting inclusive and sustainable local development initiatives (community engagement, participatory approaches, marginalised groups, women and youth).
3. 3Strengthening CSOs’ institutional capacity and organisational effectiveness (strategic planning, governance, financial management, resource mobilisation).
4. 4Protecting civic space and strengthening enabling environment at legal, policy and operational levels (dialogue with authorities).

Geographic requirement for Lot 1:actions must take place in at least three of the following Ethiopian regional states/city administrations: Somali, Harari, Sidama, Gambella, South West Ethiopia, Dire Dawa City Administration.

FSTP (Financial Support to Third Parties) under Lot 1:Applicants must establish and manage an FSTP scheme providing grants to local and grassroots CSOs. At least €1,860,000 of the project budget must be reserved for FSTP to local and grassroots CSOs, and at least €291,000 must be allocated to capacity development of those CSOs receiving FSTP. Maximum amount per third party is €60,000 as a rule (threshold may be exceeded if justified). Eligible third parties: non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental and/or community-based CSOs registered at local government level and with experience of implementing at least one project.

Lot 2 — Civil society engagement in Global Gateway priority sectors

Specific objective:Enhance CSOs' role and capacity to engage in and contribute to transparent, inclusive and sustainable policymaking, reforms and investment processes in Global Gateway priority areas: clean energy transition, sustainable agri-food value chains, health systems strengthening and human-centric digital transformation.

1. 1Strengthening governance and regulatory frameworks for accountable investments in the priority sectors.
2. 2Enhancing transparency and accountability at investment and project level (monitoring, ESG, safeguards, grievance and redress mechanisms).
3. 3Empowering communities and strengthening CSO networks across the investment cycle (access to information, participation of marginalised groups).
4. 4Promoting skills development and inclusive access to opportunities linked to Global Gateway investments (youth, women, vulnerable groups).

Lot 2 geographic requirement:actions must be implemented in a minimum of three specific locations where Global Gateway projects are in implementation; proposals must clearly justify linkages to the relevant Global Gateway projects (information and list of projects available via the EEAS Global Gateway pages). Financial support to third parties is allowed and must be clearly justified and linked to Global Gateway objectives. Maximum amount per third party remains generally €60,000 unless justified.

Cross-cutting and methodological requirements

All proposals (both Lots) must integrate mandatory cross-cutting elements:meaningful youth engagement, a human rights-based approach (HRBA), gender equality and women’s empowerment, and conflict- and context-sensitivity (do no harm). Proposals must demonstrate how these are mainstreamed across design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Evaluators will assess the quality and integration of these elements according to the evaluation grid.

Proposals should demonstrate internal coherence between needs analysis, objectives, expected results, activities and indicators. Global Europe Results Framework indicators should be used where relevant. A clear monitoring plan (roles, methods, planned evaluations) is required. Partnerships must be genuine and balanced, with co-applicants playing substantive roles. Capacity building approaches for local CSOs must be tailored and justified.

Evaluation, selection and award process

This call follows a three-step selection process:1) opening and administrative checks and concept note evaluation; 2) evaluation of invited full applications (quality, capacity, budget); 3) verification of eligibility on the basis of supporting documents for provisionally selected applicants. Concept notes are scored out of 50; minimum threshold for pre-selection is 30 points. For the full application, the evaluation grid scores up to 100 points across financial/operational capacity, relevance, design, implementation approach, sustainability and budget/cost-effectiveness (detailed grids in the guidelines). Provisional selection is by ranking until budget is exhausted; a reserve list will be drawn.

Stages and procedures:Step 1: Submission of concept note (Annex A.1) via PROSPECT; administrative checks and evaluation of concept note. Step 2: Pre-selected leads invited to submit full application (Annex A.2 including full budget, logical framework, supporting documents, PADOR registration). Step 3: Evaluation of full application; provisional selection and eligibility verification of supporting documents; award decision and contracting.

Applicants must register organisations in PADOR (EuropeAid ID) and in the EU Participant Register (PIC). Online submission via PROSPECT is obligatory; an information session on PROSPECT was organised 17 April 2026 (hybrid) and technical support is available via PROSPECT helpdesk. If online submission is impossible for technical or security reasons, a paper submission procedure with strict instructions is available in the guidelines.

Eligibility, roles and partners

Lead applicant:legal person, non-profit, CSO-type entity effectively established in an EU Member State, in Ethiopia or in other NDICI eligible countries (international organisations exempt from establishment rule), directly responsible for preparation and management, not acting as intermediary, and not excluded by procurement rules. The lead applicant must act with at least two co-applicants established and registered in Ethiopia. Co-applicants: must sign mandate in the full application and participate substantively in design and implementation. Affiliated entities: entities with a structural link (control or membership) with applicants, documented and approved; affiliated entities may participate in action and incur eligible costs but are not beneficiaries signing the grant contract. Associates (non-funded contributors), contractors (procurement), and recipients of financial support (FSTP beneficiaries) have specific definitions and roles in the guidelines.

Eligible costs, forms of grant and financial modalities

Form of grant:reimbursement of eligible costs (actual costs and/or simplified cost options) and possible use of financing not linked to costs (FNLC) where allowed (this call primarily uses cost-based grants; FNLC provisions appear in general rules but are to be used only if permitted). Eligible direct costs follow Article 14 of the general conditions and the PRAG. Indirect costs flat-rate up to 7% of estimated total eligible direct costs (excluding volunteer and project office costs). Contingency reserve up to 5% of estimated direct eligible costs (use only with prior written authorisation). Ineligible costs include debts, provisions for losses, purchases of land/buildings (except special cases), currency exchange losses, in-kind contributions (except volunteer work under conditions), bonuses included in staff costs, salary costs of national administration personnel, etc.

Financial Support to Third Parties (sub-granting) is allowed under both Lots with specific conditions. Maximum amount per third party is €60,000, unless justified. Under Lot 1 a minimum amount is reserved for FSTP (see Lot 1 section). Recipients of financial support must meet eligibility criteria and cannot be on lists of restrictive measures. All aspects of FSTP including selection criteria, eligible activities, maximum amounts and management modalities must be specified in the full application and the grant contract.

Application method, documents and templates

Application method:two-stage restricted call beginning with a concept note (Annex A.1 – Grant application form Concept note) submitted via PROSPECT. Pre-selected applicants will be invited to submit full applications using Annex A.2 (Grant application form – Full application). Mandatory annexes and templates to be used exactly as published: Annex A (grant application forms A.1 concept note and A.2 full application), Annex B (Budget in Excel), Annex C (Logical framework – logframe), Annex F (PADOR offline registration form, if needed), Annex G (Standard grant contract), Annex H (Declaration of honour on exclusion and selection criteria), Annex K (FNLC clarifications), Annex J (tax regime), Annex L (self-evaluation questionnaire on SEA-H), Annex VII-A (expenditure verification ToR) and Annex VII-B (third party assessment ToR), plus other supporting documents. No additional annexes should be sent with the concept note; selected applicants will supply supporting documents at full application stage. Mandatory registration in PADOR and Participant Register (PIC) prior to application.

1. 1Annex A.1 — Concept note form (instructions and checklist).
2. 2Annex A.2 — Full application form (narrative, budget, logframe).
3. 3Annex B — Budget (Excel worksheets 1a/€1B/1c), guidance on FNLC and cost categories.
4. 4Annex C — Logical framework matrix (template and guidance).
5. 5Annex F — PADOR offline registration form (if PADOR not possible).
6. 6Annex H — Declaration on honour (exclusion grounds).
7. 7Annex L — SEA-H self-evaluation questionnaire (administrative requirement for grants >€60,000).
8. 8Annex G — Standard grant contract (special conditions and general conditions).
9. 9Annex VII-A and VII-B — ToR for expenditure verification and third party assessment (if required).

Selection and evaluation criteria — practical highlights

Concept notes are evaluated for relevance and design (50 points total). Only concept notes scoring at least 30 points and passing administrative checks are considered for pre-selection. The number of concept notes pre-selected is drawn down to reach total requested contributions equal to at least 200% of the available budget (per Lot). Full applications are evaluated on selection criteria (financial and operational capacity) and award criteria (relevance, design, implementation, sustainability, cost-effectiveness) with a 100-point grid. Financial/operational capacity section has minimum thresholds (e.g., Section 1 must score at least 12/20 or be rejected). Evaluators apply the detailed scoring and weighting provided in the guidelines.

Application stages and passing steps

1. 1Stage 1: Concept note submission (Annex A.1) via PROSPECT — opening/administrative checks and concept note evaluation.
2. 2Stage 2: Invitation to submit full application (Annex A.2) for pre-selected lead applicants — full evaluation including financial/operational capacity and award criteria.
3. 3Stage 3: Eligibility verification of supporting documents for provisionally selected applicants; expenditure verifications or third party assessments where required; contracting and signature of the standard grant contract (Annex G).

Number of application stages:effectively 2 applicant-facing stages (concept note then full application). The full award process includes the additional administrative verification and contractual checks (effectively three main procedural stages in the award cycle).

Eligible costs, reporting, audits and control requirements

Eligible direct costs are reimbursed according to the forms allowed in the grant:actual costs and possibly simplified cost options where authorised. Indirect costs are eligible as a flat rate (max 7%). Costs must comply with Article 14 of the general conditions and the Practical Guide (PRAG). The lead applicant will submit financial and narrative reports (Annex VI) for each reporting period; contractual expenditure verification (AUP) is required for grants >= €5,000,000 with interim reports and for final reports when grants exceed €100,000 (Annex VII-A). Third party assessments are required to validate FNLC results for grants >= €5,000,000 or where FNLC > €100,000 in final reports (Annex VII-B) unless otherwise specified in special conditions.

Success rates, competitiveness and award probabilities

The contracting authority does not publish specific success rates for this restricted call. The concept note stage uses a scoring threshold (minimum 30/50) and pre-selection is limited to requests totalling at least 200% of the available budget per Lot; only the highest-ranked concept notes will be invited to full application. Therefore, the call is competitive. Exact success probabilities depend on the number and quality of applications received and are not provided in the call documents.

Consortium, partnership and minimum partner requirements

Consortium required:lead applicant plus at least two co-applicants established and registered in Ethiopia. The lead applicant cannot be a co-applicant or affiliated entity in another submission under this call. Co-applicants must sign mandates and play substantive roles. Partners and affiliated entities must satisfy eligibility criteria where relevant and sign the required statements in Annex A.2. Roles, governance and coordination arrangements must be clearly described in the proposal.

Co-financing and funding type

Funding type:Action Grants (reimbursement of eligible costs under the standard grant contract). Primary modality: grant covering up to 95% of eligible costs. Nature of support: monetary grants (financial). Financial support to third parties (sub-granting) is allowed under both Lots with conditions described in the guidelines. The grant may cover entire eligible costs only where justified and accepted by evaluators and contracting authority.

Application templates and structure guidance

Mandatory templates and forms in the call documents must be used without modification. Key templates include: Annex A.1 (Concept note form) and Annex A.2 (Full application form) with instructions and checklists; Annex B Budget Excel (worksheets 1a/€1B/1c depending on cost-based or FNLC use); Annex C Logical Framework (logframe) and Annex E3d Activities Matrix; Annex F PADOR registration forms (public law bodies, private bodies, natural persons); Annex H Declaration on honour; Annex L SEA-H self-evaluation questionnaire. Applicants must respect page limits and the formats indicated in the application forms and must attach the specific supporting documents required at the full application stage (statutes, latest accounts, audit report if applicable, declaration on honour, PADOR or PIC identifiers, etc.).

1. 1Concept note must strictly follow Annex A.1 format and include estimated EU contribution and percentage of eligible costs only as indicative.
2. 2Full application must strictly follow Annex A.2 format, include detailed budget (Annex B Excel), logical framework (Annex C Excel), Annex H Declaration on honour, PADOR registration or offline forms where relevant and supporting legal/financial documents.
3. 3The lead applicant and co-applicants must be registered in the Participant Register (PIC) and PADOR prior to submission; PADOR registration is mandatory at the concept note step while co-applicants and affiliates must be registered by full application.

Risk management, ethics and compliance

Applicants must declare absence of exclusion situations (Annex H Declaration on honour). The contracting authority applies zero tolerance to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment; successful applicants (except natural persons, pillar-assessed entities and governments/public bodies) will complete the SEA-H self-evaluation questionnaire (Annex L). Applicants must comply with anti-corruption, anti-bribery rules and avoid unusual commercial expenses. Proposals must be conflict- and context-sensitive and include 'do no harm' measures in conflict-affected areas. Visibility requirements apply but derogations may be permitted for security-sensitive contexts and must be negotiated with the EU prior to limiting visibility.

Practical compliance and administrative notes

Online systems:PROSPECT is the mandatory online submission portal; applicants must familiarise themselves with PROSPECT user manuals and e-learning videos. PADOR is the participant database for legal/financial registration; use PADOR early to avoid technical issues. An information session on 17 April 2026 was offered to help applicants use PROSPECT (registration by 8 April for attendance). For technical questions use the PROSPECT IT helpdesk (ec-external-relations-application-support@ec.europa.eu). If impossible to submit online for technical or security reasons, the guidelines provide a strict paper submission procedure including sealed envelopes and copies; handwritten submissions are not accepted.

Special clauses and reservations:The Lot 2 contract signature is subject to availability of the 2027 allocation; the contracting authority reserves the right not to award all available funds and to reallocate funds across lots if insufficient quality or number of proposals is received for a lot. The contracting authority may cancel the procedure at any stage according to PRAG conditions.

Categorisation answers (structured)

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: Civil society organisations (NGOs, networks, associations), grassroots/community-based organisations, research/technical CSOs, non-profit entities, international organisations (with derogations), public bodies in specified cases (subject to eligibility rules). Lead applicants must be non-profit legal persons; co-applicants and affiliated entities must meet same eligibility requirements where applicable.
2. 2Funding Type: Grant — Action Grants (reimbursement of eligible costs; financing not linked to costs provisions described in call and annexes but cost-based grants are primary modality for this call).
3. 3Consortium Requirement: Consortium required — lead applicant must partner with at least two Ethiopian co-applicants; consortium approach expected and encouraged; single applicants are not appropriate for this call (lead applicant may not be awarded more than one grant and may not be co-applicant in other applications under this call).
4. 4Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Ethiopia (explicit geographic focus). Lead applicants may be established in EU Member States, Ethiopia or other NDICI-Global Europe eligible countries. International organisations are eligible irrespective of establishment rule. Geographical Zone: East Africa Region with Ethiopia-specific requirements.
5. 5Target Sector: Civil society strengthening, governance, advocacy and in Lot 2 explicit link to Global Gateway priority sectors: clean energy transition, sustainable agri-food value chains, health systems strengthening and human-centric digital transformation. Secondary sectors include capacity building, community development and accountability/monitoring.
6. 6Mentioned Countries: Ethiopia (explicit); region: East Africa Region (explicit).
7. 7Project Stage: Implementation/validation/demonstration and capacity-building; actions expected to be mature enough for 36–48 months implementation, with FSTP for grassroots organisations enabling community-level initiatives (so TRL not applicable—this is policy, governance and implementation stage).
8. 8Funding Amount: Total €5,829,000 (indicative); Lot €1 2,914,500; Lot €2 2,914,500. Grant amount per awarded project matches the Lot allocation (min = max = €2,914,500 per Lot). EU contribution percentage: 95% of eligible costs.
9. 9Application Type: Restricted call with two-stage submission: concept note (Annex A.1) then full application (Annex A.2) by invitation; online submission via PROSPECT mandatory; PADOR registration required (and PIC registration in Participant Register).
10. 10Nature of Support: Monetary (grants) — direct financial support to lead/co-applicants and FSTP recipients. Some non-monetary capacity-building services expected as project activities but primary transfer is financial.
11. 11Application Stages: 2 applicant-facing stages (concept note then full application) plus 1 eligibility verification stage and potential contractual expenditure verification / third party assessments — effectively 3+ procedural stages.
12. 12Success Rates: Not specified in call documents. Competition is controlled by scoring thresholds and limiting invitations to reach at least 200% of the available budget; success probability depends on number and quality of applications received and is not disclosed.
13. 13Co-funding Requirement: Describe it — EU finances 95% of eligible costs; remaining 5% must come from other sources (applicant self-financing, other donors). The grant may cover 100% of eligible costs only if fully justified in the full application and accepted by evaluators.
14. 14Templates: Applications must use Annex A.1 (Concept note), Annex A.2 (Full application), Annex B (Budget Excel), Annex C (Logframe), Annex F (PADOR forms), Annex H (Declaration on honour), Annex L (SEA-H self-evaluation), Annex G (standard contract) and other annexes provided. Detailed budget justification worksheet, logframe template and FNLC guidance are included. Applicants must follow the checklists included in annexes to avoid rejection for incompleteness.

Important compliance details and administrative checklist for applicants

1. 1Register lead applicant in PADOR and obtain EuropeAid ID (EID); register organisation in Participant Register and obtain PIC. Do this early — registration is mandatory prior to submission.
2. 2Prepare concept note using Annex A.1 instructions and checklist. Keep strictly to format and page limits; no additional annexes at concept note stage.
3. 3If pre-selected, prepare full application using Annex A.2, full budget in Annex B Excel, logical framework Annex C, and all requested supporting documents (statutes, latest accounts, audit report where applicable, declaration on honour, signed mandates for co-applicants and affiliated entity statements).
4. 4Define and budget any FSTP scheme clearly (types of activities, eligibility, selection criteria, maximum amounts per third party, management and monitoring costs). For Lot 1 reserve at least €1,860,000 for FSTP and at least €291,000 for capacity development of FSTP recipients.
5. 5Ensure compliance with cross-cutting requirements (HRBA, gender, youth engagement, conflict sensitivity) and integrate them into intervention logic, activities, indicators and monitoring plan.
6. 6If using FNLC (only if permitted by the call), follow Annex K guidance: define results and pre-agreed performance indicators clearly in logframe and budget, include third party assessment budget line unless exempted, and specify technical standards and data sources for validation.
7. 7Complete SEA-H self-evaluation questionnaire (Annex L) if successful and required; include plans to address SEA-H risks.
8. 8Be prepared for contractual expenditure verification (AUP) and third party assessment where thresholds are met (Annex VII-A and VII-B).
9. 9Follow PROSPECT submission instructions; allow time for uploading, and consult PROSPECT user manual and helpdesk ahead of deadline.

This summary reproduces the main factual and procedural elements of the call for proposals as published in the Guidelines for Applicants and the call page. Applicants must read and follow the full Guidelines for grant applicants and all annexes exactly as published. The contracting authority reserves the right to modify the indicative timetable, to not award all funds, or to reallocate funds between Lots if proposals received do not meet quality or other requirements. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Primary source: Guidelines for grant applicants and call documentation available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for EuropeAid (Supporting CSO role in sustainable and inclusive development and in Global Gateway Investments), published 27 March 2026.

This grant call, reference EuropeAid, supports civil society organisations (CSOs) in Ethiopia to strengthen their role in sustainable development, inclusive governance, and EU Global Gateway investments in priority sectors. The total budget is €5,829,000, split equally between two lots, with action grants expected to be signed by end-2026 (Lot 1) and Q1 2027 (Lot 2, subject to 2027 allocation availability).

Key Dates and Submission Process

Published and updated on 27 March 2026. Concept note deadline:13 May 2026 at 15:30 Brussels time. This is a restricted procedure: only concept notes (Annex A.1) submitted via PROSPECT are evaluated initially. Pre-selected applicants submit full applications (Annex A.2). Online submission via PROSPECT is mandatory; register in PADOR and Participant Register beforehand. Information session: 17 April 2026 (hybrid, register by 8 April 2026 to delegation-ethiopia-csfplus@eeas.europa.eu).

Objectives and Lots

Global objective:Strengthen Ethiopian CSOs as independent actors contributing to inclusive governance, sustainable development, and Global Gateway investments. Two lots; applicants choose one.

Lot 1: Strengthening CSO Role, Capacity, and Enabling Environment

Specific objective:Enhance capacity, sustainability, and influence of local/grassroots CSOs in policy-making, dialogue, advocacy, and accountability. Priority areas (address at least three): policy influence, inclusive development initiatives, institutional capacity, civic space protection. Location: At least three from Somali, Harari, Sidama, Gambela, South West Ethiopia, Dire Dawa. Duration: 36-48 months.

Lot 2: CSO Engagement in Global Gateway Priority Sectors

Specific objective:Enhance CSO role in transparent, inclusive policies, reforms, and investments in clean energy, sustainable agri-food, health, digital transformation. Priority areas: governance frameworks, transparency/accountability, community empowerment, skills development. Location: Minimum three sites with Global Gateway projects (justify link; see eeas.europa.eu). Duration: 36-48 months.

Cross-cutting for both lots:Youth engagement, HRBA, gender equality, conflict sensitivity. Methodological: Coherent logic, Global Europe indicators, monitoring plan, balanced partnerships, local CSO capacity building.

Budget and Funding

Total Budget:€5,829,000 (€2,914,500 per lot). Lot 2 uses 2027 allocation (suspensive clause).

Grant Size and Rate:Fixed: €2,914,500 per lot (min/max same); 95% of eligible costs (5% own contribution required, unless justified for full financing).

Funds unallocated due to insufficient quality may be reallocated. FSTP (Lot 1 mandatory):Max €60,000/third party; reserve min €1,860,000 for local CSOs + €291,000 capacity building (Lot 1). FSTP optional (Lot 2).

Eligibility Criteria

• Lead applicant: Legal person, non-profit CSO/network; established in EU Member State, Ethiopia, or NDICI Art. 28 countries (international orgs exempt); directly responsible; consortium with EU grant >€1.5M (past 3 yrs), 3+ yrs local CSO work, FSTP experience. Non-Ethiopia leads: Ethiopia CSO knowledge, 2+ local projects, local involvement in proposal/governance.
• At least two Ethiopian-registered co-applicants.
• Affiliated entities: Structural link (control/membership).
• No multiple applications/grants per applicant/affiliate.
• Action: Contributes to lot objectives; duration 36-48 months; Lot 1 locations specific; Lot 2 Global Gateway sites. Ineligible: Sponsorships, scholarships, political parties, violence, capital expenditure (except special cases), religious proselytism, discrimination.
• Costs: Actual/simplified; indirect max 7%; contingency max 5%. No VAT if reclaimable.

Evaluation Process

1. 1Step 1: Concept note evaluation (max 50 points; min 30; top 200% budget invited to full).
2. 2Step 2: Full application (100 points; selection + award criteria; min 12/20 financial capacity).
3. 3Step 3: Eligibility verification (supporting docs).
4. 4Reserve list possible.

Application Documents

Guidelines, Annexes A (forms), B (budget), C (logframe), D (ID forms), F (PADOR offline), G (contract), H (exclusion declaration), J (tax), K (FNLC), L (SEA-H). Submit via PROSPECT; English only.

Contacts and Resources

Queries:delegation-ethiopia-csfplus@eeas.europa.eu (21 days pre-deadline). IT: ec-external-relations-application-support@ec.europa.eu. Portal: EU Funding & Tenders Portal. PRAG: ePRAG.

Key Risks and Considerations

• Lot 2 suspensive on 2027 funds.
• Strict FSTP rules (Lot 1).
• Local CSO prioritisation; non-Ethiopia leads need strong justification.
• SEA-H self-evaluation (Annex L; grants >€60,000).
• Visibility mandatory unless security derogation.
• No profit; comply with EU values, HRBA, gender, youth, do-no-harm.

Applicants should review full guidelines for detailed eligibility, evaluation grids, and templates. Strong consortia with local CSO involvement essential.