Thematic Programme on Human Rights and Democracy Montenegro 2025

The European Commission call EuropeAid, Thematic Programme on Human Rights and Democracy Montenegro 2025, offers €1,000,000 in action grants to support Montenegrin civil society organisations to prevent and combat discrimination and hate speech and to protect social, economic and cultural rights of vulnerable groups through two lots. Lot 1 (prevention of discrimination and hate speech) has an indicative envelope of €400,000 with grant requests between €380,000 and €400,000, and Lot 2 (protection and promotion of social, economic and cultural rights) has an indicative envelope of €600,000 with grant requests between €550,000 and €600,000; mandatory financial support to third parties (FSTP) applies. Eligible lead applicants are non-profit NGOs established in Montenegro, EU Member States or other eligible countries (registered at least 24 months before the deadline) and actions must be implemented exclusively in Montenegro for 36–40 months. Applications (concept note and full application submitted together) must be uploaded in PROSPECT by 08 May 2026 16:00 Brussels time and applicants must register in PADOR and the Participant Register as required in the call documents.

What it funds

Scope and priorities

Action grants to strengthen civil society in Montenegro to promote and defend human rights and democracy. Priorities: prevention and fight against discrimination and hate speech; protection and promotion of social, economic and cultural rights for vulnerable groups (eg Roma, persons with disabilities, LGBTIQ, migrants). Activities include advocacy, awareness-raising, legal aid, capacity building, networking, and financial support to third parties.

Total budget:€1,000,000 (indicative) ¹

1. 1Lot 1: Prevention of and fight against discrimination and hate speech — indicative envelope €400,000. Eligible grant requests must be between €380,000 and €400,000.
2. 2Lot 2: Protection and promotion of social, economic and cultural rights of vulnerable groups — indicative envelope €600,000. Eligible grant requests must be between €550,000 and €600,000.
3. 3Mandatory minimum financial support to third parties within projects: Lot 1 minimum €200,000; Lot 2 minimum €300,000.

Who can apply

Lead applicants must be non-profit non-governmental organisations established in Montenegro or an EU Member State (registered at least 24 months before the deadline). If the lead applicant is not established in Montenegro it must include at least one co-applicant established in Montenegro. Co-applicants and affiliated entities must meet the same eligibility rules. Registration in PADOR and the EU Participant Register (PIC) and submission via PROSPECT is mandatory.

Grant form, duration and co-financing

Action grants are reimbursed costs and/or simplified cost options; project duration must be between 36 and 40 months. EU contribution may cover 60% to 95% of eligible costs; full financing is possible only with justification and contract validation. Projects must include a visibility/communication plan and comply with EU values and safeguarding rules.

Deadline and submission:Deadline for concept note and full application via PROSPECT: 08/05/2026 at 16:00 Brussels time. Online submission and PADOR registration are compulsory; an information session was organised and IT helpdesk support is available.

Apply and find full call documents (guidelines, application forms, budget templates, logframe) on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: Funding & Tenders Portal. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Guidelines, application form (concept note and full application), budget and logframe templates are available in the call annexes on the Portal (see Annexes A–L, Annex G standard contract and Annex B budget).

Call identification and high-level facts

Opportunity title:Thematic Programme on Human Rights and Democracy Montenegro 2025. Reference: EuropeAid. Type: Action Grants (call for proposals). Publication date: 06/02/2026. Deadline for submission of concept note and full application (online in PROSPECT): 08/05/2026 at 16:00 Brussels time. Total indicative budget: €1,000,000 for the call. The call is split into two lots: Lot 1 Prevention of and fight against discrimination and hate speech (indicative allocation €400,000). Lot 2 Protection and promotion of social, economic and cultural rights of vulnerable groups (indicative allocation €600,000).

Purpose and priorities

Global objective:empower civil society organisations (CSOs) and support their efforts to promote, advance and defend human rights and democracy in Montenegro. Specific objectives: 1) support CSOs and human rights defenders active in prevention and fight against discrimination and hate speech; 2) support CSOs working in protection and promotion of social, economic and cultural rights of vulnerable groups. Priority themes include promotion of positive narratives, diversity and multiculturalism, reduction of ethnic distance, employment and social inclusion of vulnerable groups.

Financial details and grant sizing

Overall indicative allocation €1,000,000, divided across two lots. Lot-specific grant size rules: Lot 1 minimum grant request €380,000; maximum €400,000. Lot 2 minimum grant request €550,000; maximum €600,000. Grants must represent between 60% and 95% of the total eligible costs of the action. The EU may finance the action in full only if the lead applicant justifies the need for full financing; this justification will be examined during evaluation.

Financial modalities:Form of grant: reimbursement of eligible costs and/or financing not linked to costs (FNLC) or combination. Funding may include simplified cost options and FNLC where authorised. Financial support to third parties (FSTP) is mandatory: Lot 1 minimum FSTP €200,000; Lot 2 minimum FSTP €300,000. Maximum amount per third party normally €30,000 unless a higher amount is necessary and justified.

Who can apply and eligible partners

Eligible lead applicants:legal persons that are non-profit-making non-governmental organisations established in Montenegro or in an EU Member State (or other countries eligible under the instrument), registered at least 24 months prior to the deadline. Lead applicant must be directly responsible for preparation, management and implementation and must not act as an intermediary. If the lead applicant is not established in Montenegro, at least one co-applicant established in Montenegro is mandatory. Co-applicants: organisations that participate in designing and implementing the action; they must satisfy applicable eligibility criteria and sign the mandate. Affiliated entities: entities with structural link (control or membership) to applicants may be included and their costs/results may be eligible if they satisfy the same eligibility criteria and sign affiliated entity statements. Associates, contractors and recipients of financial support to third parties are separately defined and do not sign mandate/affiliated entity statements. Registration requirements: lead applicants, co-applicants and affiliated entities (other than natural persons) must register in PADOR and the Participant Register and obtain EuropeAid ID and PIC. Online submission via PROSPECT is mandatory.

Geographic and beneficiary scope

Geographic scope of implementation:actions must take place in Montenegro and benefit Montenegro. Eligible applicants may be established in Montenegro, EU Member States or other countries eligible under the external action instrument. The call focuses on Montenegro; final beneficiaries and target groups are people, communities and institutions in Montenegro, with special focus on vulnerable groups (e.g. Roma and Egyptians, persons with disabilities, LGBTIQ persons, minorities, people marginalised by poverty, migrants and refugees).

Target sectors and activities

Primary sector:human rights and democracy (civil society strengthening, anti-discrimination and social, economic and cultural rights). Typical types of eligible actions (illustrative, non-exhaustive): activism, advocacy, awareness-raising and campaigning; networking and structured dialogue among CSOs, media and state institutions; provision of services to victims (social, psychological, legal aid); capacity building and training for CSOs and human rights defenders; policy monitoring and legal monitoring; documentation and reporting of human rights violations; pilot activities testing new approaches; cultural/artistic projects promoting diversity; fostering employment, skills and inclusion measures for vulnerable groups; financial support to third parties (FSTP) to implement small-scale initiatives across the country, especially outside the capital.

Project maturity and expected stage

Expected maturity:implementation-ready CSO projects and programmes with demonstrated organisational capacity and prior experience. The call is not for initial research ideas only: applicants must show recent experience (past 3 years) in similar or other relevant actions, organisational capacity and financial stability. Typical accepted TRL/maturity corresponds to operational projects ready for multi-year implementation (minimum duration 36 months, maximum 40 months).

Application process and timeline

This is an open call for proposals using a two-stage selection process:(Step 1) concept note evaluation and administrative checks; (Step 2) full application evaluation for pre-selected applicants, followed by eligibility verification of supporting documents for provisionally selected applications. Online submission via PROSPECT is mandatory; PADOR registration is required. An information session was scheduled on 26 February 2026 in Podgorica; IT and user manuals are available. Deadlines: clarifications deadline 17/04/2026; clarifications published by 27/04/2026; submission deadline 08/05/2026 at 16:00 Brussels time; administrative checks and concept note evaluation May/June 2026; notification June/July 2026; contract signature July 2026 (indicative).

Application type and submission:Open call via PROSPECT with submission of concept note and full application together. Applicants must complete Annex A.1 Concept Note and Annex A.2 Full Application, Annex B Budget (Excel), Annex C Logical Framework (Excel), Annex F PADOR if needed, Annex H Declaration on Honour, Annex L SEA-H self-evaluation (for grants > €60,000) and other annexes as specified in the guidelines.

Evaluation and selection

Stage 1:Opening and administrative checks and concept note evaluation. Concept notes are scored out of 50. Minimum score for pre-selection is 30. The contracting authority then pre-selects concept notes up to 400% of available budget by lot to invite full applications. Stage 2: Evaluation of full applications on selection (financial and operational capacity) and award criteria (quality, relevance, design, implementation, sustainability, cost-effectiveness). Full application scoring grid: total 100 points distributed across financial and operational capacity (20), relevance (20), design (15), implementation approach (15), sustainability (15), budget and cost-effectiveness (15). Minimum thresholds for Section 1: if financial and operational capacity score < 12 or any subsection score 1 => rejection. Stage 3: Verification of eligibility of applicants and affiliated entities and requested supporting documents for provisionally selected applicants. Final award decision by contracting authority; reserve list may be used.

1. 1Step 1: Concept note evaluation and administrative checks (score out of 50; threshold 30).
2. 2Step 2: Full application evaluation (selection and award criteria; total 100 points).
3. 3Step 3: Eligibility verification of supporting documents and final award decision.

Templates, required annexes and application structure

Application documents and templates are provided as annexes in the guidelines and must be used unchanged. Key annexes and templates: Annex A.1 Grant application form - Concept note; Annex A.2 Grant application form - Full application (Full Application includes sections: General information, Description of the action, Experience, Lead applicant/co-applicants/affiliated entities, Associates, Declarations, Checklist). Annex B Budget (worksheets 1a/€1B/1c as applicable). Annex C Logical Framework (logframe matrix). Annex F PADOR offline registration form (if registration in PADOR not possible online). Annex G Standard Grant Contract and its Annexes (Annex II General Conditions, Annex IV Procurement rules for beneficiaries, Annex V Request for payment template, Annex VI Model narrative and financial reports, Annex VII-A Contractual expenditure verification report template, Annex VII-B Third party assessment terms of reference and report template, Annex VIII Financial guarantee model, Annex IX Transfer of ownership of assets template). Annex H Declaration of Honour on exclusion and selection criteria. Annex L Self-evaluation questionnaire on SEA-H (for grants > €60,000).

How the application form is structured:Full application form sections include: 1) General information and identification; 2) Description of the action (max pages per subsections: description, indicative action plan, design, impact and sustainability, logical framework, budget); 2.2 Experience (past 3 years similar and other actions); 3) Lead applicant, co-applicants and affiliated entities details; 4) Associates participating; 5) Declarations (signed Declaration by lead applicant, mandates for co-applicants, affiliated entity statements); plus Checklist and supporting documents. Budget justification (Annex B worksheets) and logical framework (Annex C) are mandatory.

Eligibility, exclusions and compliance

Eligibility checks cover applicant legal status, non-profit NGO status, place of establishment, minimum registration period, and required co-applicant presence in Montenegro for non-Montenegrin lead applicants. Exclusion criteria and Declaration on Honour apply (Annex H). Applicants and their affiliated entities must not be subject to restrictive measures or exclusion lists and must comply with anti-corruption, anti-bribery, environmental legislation and core labour standards. SEA-H self-evaluation is required for grants exceeding €60,000 (Annex L). The contracting authority may apply early detection and exclusion system measures where appropriate.

Costs, eligible and ineligible

Eligible costs and rules follow the General Conditions and PRAG. Costs must be actual, necessary for the action, recorded and verifiable; or must fit permitted simplified cost options. Indirect costs may be applied as a flat rate up to the percentage set in the special conditions (maximum 7% of eligible direct costs excluding project office and volunteers). Contingency up to 5% of estimated direct eligible costs requires prior authorisation. In-kind contributions are not eligible costs (except volunteers’ work where allowed and unit cost rules apply). Ineligible costs include debts, provisions for future losses, purchases of land/buildings (except where necessary and with transfer rules), currency exchange losses, credits to third parties, bonuses in staff costs, salary costs of national administrations (with limited exceptions). VAT and tax treatment: see Annex J — taxes may be eligible only where not recoverable and following the guidance.

When FNLC is used:the budget must list FNLC headings (results/indicators) and the contract will pay according to achievement and verification of pre-agreed indicators described in the logframe, budget and Annex I description. Third-party assessment and contractual expenditure verification rules apply depending on grant size and FNLC use. See Annex K for guidance on embedding FNLC in proposals.

Monitoring, reporting and audits

Reporting:interim narrative and financial reports and final narrative and financial reports are required using Annex VI templates. Reporting periods are usually 12 months; final report within 3 months after implementation (6 months where lead applicant HQ not in implementing country). Contractual expenditure verification report and/or detailed breakdown of expenditure is required for grants by threshold (e.g. > €100,000) and for grants >= €5,000,000 some interim contractual expenditure verifications are required. For FNLC, third-party assessments validating result achievement are required per thresholds in the General Conditions and Annexes. Beneficiaries must keep records for at least five years (or three years for grants <= €60,000) after payment of the balance and allow access for audits and checks by the contracting authority, OLAF, EPPO and European Court of Auditors. The contracting authority may perform on-the-spot checks and audit in line with Annex II/Article 16.

Implementation modalities and contractual rules

If the action requires procurement, procurement must follow PRAG/Annex IV principles and be open to eligible nationalities and origin rules as applicable. Subcontracting is allowed for non-core tasks with justification and transparency. Financial support to third parties (FSTP) is mandatory and must follow strict conditions: lead applicant must define objectives, eligible activities and selection criteria, amounts and management and must ensure capacity building and mentoring to FSTP recipients; 100% financing of third parties is required (no co-financing by third parties). The coordinator acts as sole interlocutor with the contracting authority, is financially responsible and must pass funds to co-beneficiaries without unjustified delay. Grant contract is the Standard Grant Contract (Annex G) including Annex II General Conditions.

1. 1Action duration: minimum 36 months, maximum 40 months.
2. 2Minimum and maximum grant amounts specific per lot (see financial details above).
3. 3FSTP minima: Lot €1 200,000; Lot €2 300,000.
4. 4FNLC may be used in full or in part; if used, indicators and verification methods must be provided in logframe and budget.

Assessment of risk, co-financing and sustainability

Co-financing:applicants must provide the balance of the total cost of the action (so EU contribution is 60% to 95%). The balance must be financed from other sources than the EU general budget. Full financing may be accepted only if fully justified in the full application and validated. Sustainability: proposals must show impact, multiplier effects, institutional and financial sustainability and environmental considerations where relevant. Risk analysis and mitigation plan are required in the application (design of action).

How many application stages and typical success pathway

Application stages:3 main stages: Step 1 concept note administrative check and evaluation; Step 2 full application evaluation (selection and award); Step 3 eligibility verification of applicants and supporting documents and award decision/signature. Pre-selection is competitive: only concept notes scoring at least 30/50 and falling within the budgetary envelope (400% pre-selection pool) are invited to submit a full application. The contracting authority will then invite the highest scoring full applications until the budget is exhausted; a reserve list will be created. Exact success rates are not provided; competition is expected to be strong and quality thresholds strict.

Eligible applicant types (structured answer)

Permitted lead applicant types:non-profit non-governmental organisations (CSOs) established under national law in Montenegro or an EU Member State or other eligible country as defined by the external action instrument, registered at least 24 months before the deadline. Permitted participants and roles: lead applicant, co-applicant(s) (same eligibility as lead applicant where applicable), affiliated entities (structural link via control or membership), associates (not funded other than travel/per diem), contractors (procurement), recipients of financial support to third parties (FSTP). Not eligible as lead applicant: for-profit entities acting as lead (unless specifically authorised), organisations not meeting the nationality/registration requirements. Natural persons can participate in limited ways and must be registered where required.

Success tips and mandatory checks for applicants

1. 1Register early in PADOR and the Participant Register (PIC) and check EuropeAid ID/PADOR profile is up to date.
2. 2Follow strictly the page/word limits and templates (Annex A.1, A.2, Annex B and C).
3. 3For FNLC proposals ensure indicators selected for payment are measurable, verifiable, accompanied by baselines, targets, data sources and technical specifications and are transposed identically in Annex B and Annex C (see Annex K guidance on FNLC).
4. 4If using FSTP, design clear selection criteria, capped amounts per third party (normally €30,000) and capacity-building plans for recipients; ensure at least the lot-specific minimum FSTP amount is included.
5. 5Provide full supporting documents requested (statutes, latest accounts, external audit if applicable, declaration on honour and legal entity forms).
6. 6Include a robust risk analysis, contingency and security/visibility plan (visibility rules apply; derogations possible for security reasons).
7. 7Include SEA-H self-evaluation questionnaire (Annex L) where required (grants > €60,000).

For online submission applicants must use PROSPECT. Technical IT support is available and applicants are advised not to wait until the last day to submit. Applicants can send questions to delegation-montenegro-procedures@eeas.europa.eu by the deadline indicated in the guidelines; published answers will be accessible on the F&T Portal or DG International Partnerships websites.

Portal and user resources:All applications must be submitted in PROSPECT. Consult the PROSPECT user manual and e-learning videos and contact the IT helpdesk if needed PROSPECT Portal. ¹

Comprehensive answers to the categorisation questions

Eligible Applicant Types

Primary eligible applicant types:non-profit non-governmental organisations (NGOs/CSOs) established in Montenegro or in EU Member States or other eligible countries under the external action instrument. Lead applicants must be non-profit NGOs. Co-applicants: NGOs, non-profit entities meeting the same eligibility requirements. Affiliated entities: organisations with a structural link (control or membership) to lead/co-applicants may participate and their costs/results may be eligible if they meet eligibility and declare affiliation. Associates: organisations or individuals playing a role without receiving grant funding (except travel/per diem). Contractors: private or public entities engaged under procurement rules to deliver goods, works or services. Recipients of financial support to third parties: small CSOs, grassroots organisations or, exceptionally, individuals meeting the eligibility conditions for FSTP. Public bodies may participate if they meet the specific eligibility clauses; international organisations or pillar-assessed organisations may be included under specific Annex I/Special Conditions provisions. Individuals may be involved as experts or trainees, but the lead applicant must be a legal person.

Funding Type

Primary financial mechanism:Grant (Action grants). Forms of grant permitted: reimbursement of eligible costs (actual costs and/or simplified cost options) and financing not linked to costs (FNLC) where authorised; the call states grants take the form of reimbursement of eligible costs and may include FNLC. Financial support to third parties (FSTP) is a required mechanism inside projects to re-grant smaller amounts to local CSOs/initiatives.

Consortium Requirement

Consortium condition:flexible. A single lead applicant may apply alone, or with co-applicant(s). If the lead applicant is not established in Montenegro it must include at least one co-applicant established in Montenegro. Co-applicants must sign mandates; affiliated entities must sign affiliated entity statements. Therefore the call supports both single-applicant and consortium approaches depending on the lead applicant’s domicile and planned implementation model.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility)

Geographic eligibility for implementation:Montenegro is the partner country where the action must take place and benefit. Eligible applicants may be established in Montenegro, in EU Member States or in other countries eligible under the external action instrument; check the Practical Guide and call-specific footnotes for exact lists. Actions must be implemented in Montenegro; financial support to third parties should preferably be allocated outside the capital to ensure geographic coverage.

Target Sector

Primary sector:Human Rights and Democracy (civil society strengthening). Secondary thematic areas include anti-discrimination, hate speech prevention, social, economic and cultural rights protection, social inclusion, employment and vocational skills, digital literacy where relevant, access to services (legal, social, psychological), advocacy, monitoring of human rights compliance, and cultural/educational activities promoting diversity.

Mentioned Countries

Explicitly mentioned country:Montenegro. Region/administration references: EU, EU Member States (eligible participants), partner country context references. The call text references EU-wide instruments and policies and the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy; specific eligibility also includes organisations established in EU Member States and other countries eligible for the external action instrument.

Project Stage

Expected project maturity:implementation-ready projects and programmes; applicants should demonstrate past operational experience (recent comparable actions within the past three years). Projects are expected to progress from design/planning into implementation, monitoring and demonstration of results, with emphasis on capacity building, service delivery and systemic change (advocacy/policy impact).

Funding Amount

Call-level funding:€1,000,000 total. Lot allocations: Lot €1 400,000; Lot €2 600,000. Grant size per application: Lot 1 minimum €380,000 — maximum €400,000. Lot 2 minimum €550,000 — maximum €600,000. EU contribution percentage: minimum 60% and maximum 95% of total eligible costs. Financial support to third parties minima: Lot 1 minimum €200,000; Lot 2 minimum €300,000. Maximum per third party normally €30,000 (exceptions require justification).

Application Type

Submission method:open call with online submission via PROSPECT only. Two-stage evaluation (concept note then full application). No rolling intake; fixed deadline. Applicants register in PADOR and Participant Register, prepare concept note and full application templates and supporting documents and submit via PROSPECT by the stated deadline.

Nature of Support

Beneficiaries receive financial support (money) in the form of grants (reimbursement of costs, simplified cost options, or financing not linked to costs) and must implement the action. The opportunity also provides non-monetary support expectations: capacity building requirements for recipients of FSTP, visibility and communication obligations, monitoring support and third-party assessments. Therefore the nature of support is primarily monetary with mandatory non-monetary project management, capacity building and reporting components.

Application Stages

Number of formal application stages applicants must pass to succeed:3. Stage 1: Administrative opening check and concept note evaluation. Stage 2: Full application evaluation (award and selection criteria). Stage 3: Eligibility verification of supporting documents for provisionally selected applicants and final award/signature.

Success Rates

No explicit numerical success rates are published. The procedure is competitive:concept notes must score at least 30/50 to be considered for pre-selection. The contracting authority pre-selects concept notes up to 400% of the available budget per lot, then invites full applications; only the highest scoring full applications will receive grants until the envelope is used. Applicants should expect selection to be competitive and quality thresholds to be significant.

Co-funding Requirement

Co-funding is required in the sense that the EU grant will cover between 60% and 95% of total eligible costs; the balance must be provided by the applicant from sources other than the EU general budget or EDF. If applicants request 100% EU financing they must justify it and the justification will be examined; absence of justification may lead to rejection. For Financial Support to Third Parties, 100% financing of third parties is required (no co-financing by third parties).

Application templates and structure (outline to help applicants)

Mandatory templates and structure are those in the call documents. Below is a practical outline of the key documents and the expected structure to complete them accurately.

1. 1Annex A.1 Concept Note (cover page and compact summary): include summary table (overall objective, specific objectives, final beneficiaries, expected outputs, main activities, target groups), short description of the action (max 2 pages), relevance (max 2 pages), maturity and expected impact (max 2 pages), basic details of lead applicant/co-applicants/affiliated entities and project details (duration, budget request and percentage).
2. 2Annex A.2 Full Application Form: Part 1 General Information (lead applicant, title, location, duration), Part 2 Description of the Action (2.1 Description max 13 pages: relevance, intervention logic, activities clustered by output, performance indicators, data sources; 2.1.2 Indicative action plan max 5 pages with six-month columns; 2.1.3 Design and risk analysis; 2.1.4 Impact and sustainability max 4 pages; 2.1.5 Logical Framework – complete Annex C; 2.1.6 Budget details and Annex B filled in), Part 2.2 Experience (past 3 years similar actions and other actions), Part 3 Lead applicant/co-applicant and affiliated entity information (PADOR/EUROPEAID IDs, legal status, finances), Part 4 Associates, Part 5 Declarations (signed Declaration by lead applicant, mandates from co-applicants, affiliated entity statements). Include Checklist.
3. 3Annex B Budget (Excel): worksheets 1a (cost-based), €1B (cost-based + FNLC), 1c (FNLC only) as applicable; worksheet 2 justification of budget; worksheet 3 expected sources of funding. For FNLC allocate amounts per result and indicator as in Annex K guidance and in alignment with logframe.
4. 4Annex C Logical Framework (Excel): results chain (impact, outcomes, outputs), indicators, FNLC marking where relevant, unit of measure, baseline and target values with years, sources of data and assumptions; the logframe becomes part of Annex I in the contract.
5. 5Annex F PADOR offline registration form: if registration in PADOR not possible.
6. 6Annex H Declaration on honour on exclusion and selection criteria: signed by lead applicant, co-applicants and affiliated entities (if grant amount exceeds threshold).
7. 7Annex L SEA-H self-evaluation questionnaire: for applicants and affiliated entities in grants > €60,000.
8. 8Annex G Standard Grant Contract and its Annexes: read carefully; include Annex II General Conditions which govern implementation, reporting, audits, visibility, procurement, FSTP, FNLC provisions, financial guarantees and recovery rules.

Practical advice on templates:ensure Annex B and Annex C are consistent (activity-to-budget mapping, activity matrix and logframe). Where FNLC is used, identify explicitly which indicators are used as FNLC, provide baselines, targets, measurement methods and append technical specifications if needed (Annex K guidance). For FSTP clearly define eligible recipients, activity list, selection and award criteria and maximum amounts per third party and show capacity building/mentoring plans for FSTP recipients.

Concluding summary — What this opportunity is about and how to explain it

This call is a Montenegro-specific thematic grant under the EU Thematic Programme on Human Rights and Democracy 2025. It provides an earmarked envelope of €1,000,000 to fund one or more action grants across two lots focused on defending human rights, fighting discrimination and hate speech, and protecting social, economic and cultural rights of vulnerable groups in Montenegro. It primarily supports non-profit CSOs with proven track records and organisational capacity able to design and implement multi-year actions (36–40 months) that combine advocacy, capacity development, service provision, networking and financial support to smaller local initiatives (FSTP). Grants are sizeable (Lot 1: ~€380–€400K; Lot 2: ~€550–€600K) and require robust project design, clear results frameworks (logframe), realistic budgets and evidence of co-financing. The application is submitted online in PROSPECT and is evaluated in two stages (concept note and full application) with strict eligibility, selection and award criteria. Projects may be financed on the basis of reimbursed eligible costs or, where expressly allowed, via financing not linked to costs tied to pre-agreed, verifiable performance indicators. Successful applicants will sign the standard grant contract and must respect EU visibility, reporting, audit and compliance obligations. This opportunity is targeted at CSOs and allied partners able to carry out impactful, scalable and sustainable human rights and inclusion work in Montenegro, with particular emphasis on measures to reduce discrimination, foster inclusion of vulnerable groups, and strengthen civic engagement and rule of law mechanisms.

Footnotes

1. 1PROSPECT user manuals and the online support form are provided in the call documentation on the Funding & Tenders Portal. Technical support e-mail for external relations applications: ec-external-relations-application-support@ec.europa.eu.

This EU grant opportunity under reference EuropeAid supports civil society organisations (CSOs) in Montenegro to promote, advance, and defend human rights and democracy. With a total budget of €1,000,000, it addresses discrimination, hate speech, and the protection of social, economic, and cultural rights for vulnerable groups. The call is open for submissions until 08 May 2026 at 16:00 Brussels time via the PROSPECT portalEU Funding Portal.

Objectives and Priorities

The global objective is to empower CSOs to promote human rights and democracy in Montenegro. Specific objectives are: (1) support CSOs and human rights defenders in preventing and fighting discrimination; (2) support CSOs in protecting social, economic, and cultural rights for vulnerable groups. Priorities include promotion of positive narratives, diversity, multiculturalism, reduction of ethnic distance, and employment/social inclusion for vulnerable groups.

Financial Allocations and Grant Sizes

Total Budget:€1,000,000.

Funding Rates:Minimum 60% of total eligible costs; maximum 95% of total eligible costs. Full financing possible if justified as essential.

Financial support to third parties (FSTP) is mandatory:minimum €200,000 for Lot 1 and €300,000 for Lot 2. Maximum per third party: €30,000 (exceedable if justified). FSTP recipients must be non-profit CSOs; no co-financing required (100% EU-financed). Preferably awarded via open calls to entities outside Podgorica, with equal country-wide distribution. Beneficiaries of this call cannot receive FSTP.

Eligibility Criteria

Lead applicant must be a legal person, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, established in Montenegro, EU Member State, or eligible country, registered at least 24 months before deadline, directly responsible for action implementation. If not established in Montenegro, must partner with at least one Montenegrin co-applicant. Co-applicants meet same criteria. Affiliated entities must have structural link (control or membership). Actions must occur exclusively in Montenegro; duration 36-40 months.

• Lead applicant: no more than one application per lot; maximum one grant.
• Co-applicant/affiliated entity: maximum two applications (one per lot); maximum two grants.

Eligible Activities

Lot 1: Prevention and Fight Against Discrimination and Hate Speech

• Activism, advocacy, education, awareness-raising, campaigning against discrimination/hate speech (focus: persons with disabilities, Roma, LGBTIQ).
• Reducing ethnic distance, promoting positive narratives.
• Networking/cooperation (CSOs, media, state, businesses).
• Services for victims (social, psychological, legal aid).
• Capacity-building aligned with EU standards/Montenegrin laws.
• Artistic/cultural projects celebrating diversity.
• Structured cooperation with state institutions.
• Educational activities on diversity/intercultural learning.

Lot 2: Protection and Promotion of Social, Economic, Cultural Rights of Vulnerable Groups

• Access to public services (employment, health, education) for vulnerable groups (disabilities, Roma, LGBTIQ, minorities).
• Skills development (non-formal learning, digital literacy, vocational training) with National Employment Agency.
• Partnerships for tailor-made employment measures.
• Self-employment opportunities.
• Support to institutions protecting rights of vulnerable groups.
• Inclusion of minorities/marginalised (ethnic/sexual minorities, poverty-affected, migrants/refugees).

Ineligible:individual sponsorships/scholarships, infrastructure/equipment-focused, profit-making, political parties, pre-contract activities, EU double-funded actions, discriminatory actions.

Application Process

1. 1Register in PADOR and Participant Register.
2. 2Submit concept note and full application simultaneously via PROSPECT by 08/05/2026 16:00 Brussels time.
3. 3English only.
4. 4Supporting documents: statutes, accounts, audit (if applicable), declarations.
5. 5Evaluation: Step 1 (concept note, min. 30/50 score); Step 2 (full application); Step 3 (eligibility verification).

Information session:26 February 2026, Europe House, Podgorica (register by 25/02/2026 to delegation-montenegro-fcs@eeas.europa.eu). Questions to delegation-montenegro-procedures@eeas.europa.eu by 17/04/2026.

Key Requirements and Conditions

• Mandatory FSTP with capacity-building/mentoring; output-based reporting allowed.
• Visibility: EU emblem, funding statement; communication plan if requested.
• Ethics: zero tolerance for SEA-H; self-evaluation questionnaire (Annex L).
• Procurement: Annex IV rules.
• Records: 5 years post-balance payment.

Indicative Timetable

Detailed guidelines, forms (Annexes A-L), templates available via primary URLGuidelines. Compliance with PRAG essential.

Footnotes

1. 1Source: Official EU Funding & Tenders Portal and guidelines (published 06/02/2026). Dates in Brussels time; verify local conversion.