Tackling child poverty and ensuring disadvantaged children's access to Early Childhood Education and Care

Overview

The EU grant opportunity HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-03 focuses on tackling child poverty and ensuring disadvantaged children's access to Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). It falls under the Horizon Europe program and aims to address critical issues regarding child poverty within the EU context through rigorous research.

Eligible applicants include research organizations and institutions such as universities, research institutes, and public organizations based in EU Member States and associated countries. Non-EU entities may participate under certain conditions. The funding mechanism is a grant through a lump sum model, which simplifies the financial process by providing fixed contributions instead of reimbursing actual expenditures.

This opportunity requires consortia of multiple applicants, as individual applications are not considered. The targeted geographic scope includes EU Member States and associated countries. Projects should adopt a multidisciplinary approach addressing social inclusion, education, social policy, health, and social sciences.

The total budget for this call is €12 million, with approximately three projects expected to be funded, each receiving between €3 million and €4 million. The application process is single-stage, opening on May 12, 2026, and closing on September 23, 2026.

Successful projects must provide evidence-based findings regarding the costs of child poverty and the benefits associated with quality ECEC, with a focus on producing policy-relevant insights. Activities may include defining disadvantaged children, estimating costs and returns of ECEC participation, and identifying barriers to access.

No co-funding is required, although in-kind contributions may enhance project proposals. The success rate is estimated to be low, given the expected number of applications compared to limited funding availability. Overall, the initiative aims to generate actionable insights for policymakers to aid the reduction of child poverty and promote equitable access to education for disadvantaged children.

Detail

The EU Funding Opportunity is HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-03, titled "Tackling child poverty and ensuring disadvantaged children's access to Early Childhood Education and Care." It falls under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program, specifically the Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society 2026 call (HORIZON-CL2-2026-01).

The type of action is HORIZON-RIA (Research and Innovation Actions), utilizing a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] Model Grant Agreement (MGA).

This is a forthcoming opportunity with a single-stage deadline model. The planned opening date is May 12, 2026, and the deadline for submission is September 23, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of projects funded under this topic are:

Policymakers gain insights into the cost of child poverty and the returns from securing access of disadvantaged children to quality Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in the EU.

Policymakers receive operational advice on ways to reduce this cost and support participation of disadvantaged children in quality ECEC to close the gap with other children in the EU.

The scope of the projects should address the limitations of past studies on child poverty and ECEC participation by producing EU-specific insights. This aims to close the ECEC participation gap and improve social outcomes, aligning with the European Pillar of Social Rights while fostering fiscal sustainability and inclusive growth.

The proposals may include the following activities:

Define disadvantaged children, going beyond monetary aspects and considering systemically marginalized groups, building on the EU’s concept of risk of poverty or social exclusion.

Estimate the cost of child poverty and the returns yielded by participation in quality ECEC, considering:

Children’s needs and effective benefits targeting them.

The short and longer-term costs/returns.

The economic, social, wellbeing, and educational aspects of these costs/returns.

Children’s, parents’ and aggregate outcomes.

Investigate barriers preventing disadvantaged children from accessing quality ECEC.

Provide a mapping of the most efficient policies to reduce child poverty cost, comparing ECEC policies’ value for money with other policies.

Develop evidence-based and operational policy advice, including ways to better account for these costs/returns in policymaking and good practices to close the ECEC participation gap. Scalability of these practices may be addressed.

Use relevant research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative, including experimental ones), building on multidisciplinary insights (including from SSH disciplines), and either make use of existing datasets (including administrative datasets), or collect new data. Experts by experience (i.e. vulnerable children and parents) may be involved.

General conditions for participation include:

Admissibility Conditions: The proposal page limit and layout are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. The page limit for Part B of the Research and Innovation (RIA) application using lump sum is 50 pages. A detailed budget table must be submitted using the template in the Submission System.

Eligible Countries: As described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific provisions may exist for non-EU/non-Associated Countries, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Other Eligible Conditions: As described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: As described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

Evaluation and award: The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Legal and financial set-up of the grants: Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021. The granting authority may object to a transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results up to 4 years after the action's end, as set out in Annex 5. Additional details are in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA) information:

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including the Standard application form (HE RIA, IA).

Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations, including the Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA).

Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide.

Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include the Lump Sum MGA.

Call-specific instructions include a detailed budget table (HE LS) and guidance on lump sums.

Additional documents include:

HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction

HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 5. Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society

HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes

HE Programme Guide

HE Framework Programme 2021/695

HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764

EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509

Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme

Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment

EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement

Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual

Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions

Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

The budget overview for the topic indicates a total budget of 12,000,000 EUR for the year 2026. The funding will be allocated through a single-stage process, with an opening date of May 12, 2026, and a deadline of September 23, 2026. The contributions are expected to range from 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 EUR, and it is anticipated that approximately 3 grants will be awarded.

Partner search announcements are available for those seeking partners to collaborate on this topic. LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests after logging into the Funding & Tenders Portal.

The submission system is planned to open on the date stated in the topic header.

Support and guidance are available through various resources, including the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk, ETSI Research Helpdesk, the European Charter for Researchers, and Partner Search.

In summary, this Horizon Europe funding opportunity aims to address child poverty and improve access to quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) for disadvantaged children in the EU. It seeks to provide policymakers with insights and operational advice to reduce the cost of child poverty and close the ECEC participation gap. The projects should use relevant research methodologies and consider the economic, social, wellbeing, and educational aspects of child poverty and ECEC participation. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and the application process involves submitting a detailed proposal and budget table through the Funding & Tenders Portal. Various resources and support services are available to assist applicants in preparing and submitting their proposals.

The EU is offering funding to research projects that can provide insights into the cost of child poverty and how to improve access to quality early childhood education for disadvantaged children. The goal is to help policymakers make informed decisions and implement effective strategies to reduce child poverty and improve social outcomes across the EU. If you're a researcher or organization with expertise in this area, this is an opportunity to get funding for your project and contribute to a more equitable and inclusive society.

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Breakdown

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated but can be inferred to include entities capable of conducting research and innovation actions, coordination and support actions, and innovation actions. This typically encompasses universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other relevant organizations, including non-EU entities under specific provisions.

Funding Type: The primary funding mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, which falls under the Horizon Europe Programme. The different types of actions include Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA).

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, given the scope and nature of the projects, particularly Research and Innovation Actions and Innovation Actions, it is highly probable that a consortium of multiple applicants is preferred, if not required, to bring together the necessary expertise and resources. Coordination and Support Actions could potentially be undertaken by a single applicant, but a consortium might still be beneficial.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. This includes EU member states and associated countries. The text mentions that non-EU/non-Associated Countries may also be eligible under specific provisions outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: Culture, Creativity, and Inclusive Society. Specifically, the focus is on tackling child poverty and ensuring disadvantaged children's access to Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). This includes research and innovation related to social sciences, education, and policy development.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity refers to EU member states and associated countries as generally eligible. It also mentions non-EU/non-Associated Countries that may be eligible under specific provisions. No specific countries are explicitly named, but the focus is on the EU context.

Project Stage: The project stages vary depending on the type of action:
Research and Innovation Actions (RIA): These projects typically involve activities ranging from research to development and validation.
Innovation Actions (IA): These projects focus on demonstration, piloting, and commercialization.
Coordination and Support Actions (CSA): These projects support networking, coordination, and dissemination of information.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic and type of action. The following ranges are specified:
HORIZON-RIA: €3,000,000 to €6,000,000
HORIZON-IA: €3,500,000 to €6,000,000
HORIZON-CSA: around €3,500,000 to €5,000,000

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly mentioned.

Summary: This opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically under the call for Culture, Creativity, and Inclusive Society 2026. It aims to fund projects that address child poverty and improve access to Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) for disadvantaged children within the EU. The funding is provided as lump sum grants, and the call includes various types of actions: Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA). Eligible applicants include a range of entities from EU member states, associated countries, and potentially non-EU countries, provided they meet specific criteria. The projects should contribute to policy development, provide operational advice, and promote social inclusion and fiscal sustainability. The application process is a single-stage submission, and the funding amounts vary depending on the type and scope of the action, ranging from approximately €3,000,000 to €6,000,000. The call emphasizes the importance of using relevant research methodologies, involving experts with lived experience, and developing evidence-based policy recommendations.

Short Summary

Impact
This funding aims to tackle child poverty and ensure disadvantaged children's access to Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in the EU, providing policymakers with insights and operational advice to reduce costs and improve participation.
Applicant
Applicants should possess expertise in research and innovation, particularly in social sciences, education, and policy development, with the capacity to manage complex, multi-partner projects.
Developments
The funding will support research projects focused on estimating the costs of child poverty and the returns from ECEC, aiming to produce EU-specific, policy-ready insights.
Applicant Type
This funding is designed for research organizations and institutions, including universities, research institutes, and public research organizations, capable of conducting high-quality research.
Consortium
Consortia of multiple applicants are required for this funding opportunity, as individual applications from single organizations are not eligible.
Funding Amount
The total budget for this action is €12,000,000, with individual project grants estimated between €3,000,000 and €4,000,000.
Countries
The funding is relevant for EU Member States and associated countries, with a focus on generating insights applicable to the EU context.
Industry
This funding targets the social inclusion and poverty reduction sector, specifically addressing child poverty and access to early childhood education.

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