Request for Applications: Citizenship Education as Part of Lifelong Learning

Deadline: 23-Sep-2026

The Horizon Europe topic “Citizenship education as part of lifelong learning” (HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-09) funds research and innovation actions that strengthen civic engagement, democratic participation, digital/media literacy, and inclusive citizenship learning across all age groups. The call is single-stage, has a total budget of €16 million, expects projects of roughly €3.5 million to €4 million, and closes on 23 September 2026.

This Horizon Europe topic supports research and innovation actions that improve citizenship education across the lifespan. It focuses on how vocational education, adult learning, apprenticeships, and other learning pathways can build democratic participation, civic competence, and resilience to disinformation.

The topic sits under HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-09 and is designed to help democracies become more inclusive, informed, and participatory.

Key facts

Programme: Horizon Europe.
Topic: Citizenship education as part of lifelong learning.
Action type: Research and Innovation Action (RIA).
Topic code: HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-09.
Total budget: €16 million.
Expected project size: about €3.5 million to €4 million.
Submission model: Single-stage.
Deadline: 23 September 2026.
Eligibility: Any legal entity may apply, including entities from non-associated third countries and international organisations, if Horizon Europe rules are met.

What the call is about

The call supports projects that study, test, and improve lifelong citizenship learning. It is not limited to schools or universities. It also includes vocational education and training, adult education, apprenticeships, and other settings where citizens can strengthen democratic knowledge and participation.

The central idea is that democratic societies depend on informed citizens who can engage in voting, policy debate, volunteering, and civic life. This topic asks how education can help people do that more effectively.

Core themes

The call covers a wide set of linked themes:

Lifelong civic and citizenship learning.
Democratic participation and civic engagement.
Vocational education and training.
Adult education programmes.
Political awareness and democratic values.
Digital and media literacy.
Civic tech and public policy participation.
Volunteering and civil society engagement.
Inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Gender and intersectional perspectives.
Ageing populations and inter-generational learning.
Critical thinking and resilience against disinformation.

What research may study

Projects may examine questions such as:

How VET and adult education increase political awareness.
Whether civic education improves voting, volunteering, or policy participation.
How learners build trust in democratic institutions through education.
Which teaching methods work best for adults and older learners.
How digital literacy helps people identify disinformation and participate online.
Which non-digital or face-to-face methods work better for people with digital barriers.
How gender, disability, age, income, and social background affect civic participation.

What strong proposals should include

A competitive proposal should usually show:

A clear research question about citizenship learning and democratic participation.
A strong connection between education and measurable civic outcomes.
A gender-sensitive and intersectional research design.
A plan to include groups facing barriers to participation.
A good mix of empirical research, pilot actions, and policy relevance.
A realistic pathway to impact for educators, policymakers, and learners.

Likely project approaches

Strong projects may combine:

Comparative research across countries or education systems.
Pilot curricula or teaching modules for VET and adult learning.
Evaluation of digital literacy or anti-disinformation training.
Testing civic engagement interventions in adult education settings.
Participatory methods with learners, educators, NGOs, and public authorities.
Policy recommendations based on evidence from the pilots.

Who can apply

This call is open to any legal entity, regardless of where it is established, as long as Horizon Europe participation requirements are met. That includes:

Universities.
Research institutes.
NGOs.
Public authorities.
Training organisations.
International organisations.
Organisations from non-associated third countries.

Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must register in the Participant Register and obtain a Participant Identification Code before grant agreement signature.

How the call works

Form a consortium or project team.
- Include organisations with research, education, policy, and outreach expertise.
Build a focused research design.
- Define the civic or democratic outcome you want to study or improve.
Integrate inclusion and equity.
- Address disability, gender, ageing, and other intersectional factors.
Add digital and non-digital methods.
- Consider both online and face-to-face approaches for participation and literacy.
Prepare the proposal in one stage.
- Submit the full application before 23 September 2026.
Register for participation.
- Ensure all beneficiaries and affiliated entities have a PIC and are in the Participant Register.

Why it matters

This topic matters because democratic systems rely on participation, trust, and informed decision-making. Education is one of the few tools that can strengthen these capacities across a person’s entire life, not just during childhood or university.

It also addresses modern challenges such as disinformation, digital exclusion, and political disengagement among older or marginalised groups. That makes the topic both educational and democratic in scope.

Common mistakes and tips

Mistake: Treating the topic as general education research.
- Tip: Keep the focus on civic engagement, democracy, and citizenship learning.
Mistake: Ignoring adult learners and vocational settings.
- Tip: Include VET, adult education, apprenticeships, or lifelong learning pathways.
Mistake: Overlooking inclusion.
- Tip: Build in gender, disability, ageing, and intersectional analysis from the start.
Mistake: Focusing only on digital methods.
- Tip: Include person-to-person or non-digital approaches for groups facing access barriers.
Mistake: Weak policy relevance.
- Tip: Show how the research will inform education practice, civic participation, or democratic institutions.

FAQ

What is the main goal of this Horizon Europe topic?
- To support research and innovation that strengthens civic engagement, democratic participation, and inclusive citizenship learning throughout life.
What is the deadline?
- 23 September 2026.
How much funding is available?
- The total budget is €16 million, with expected project funding of about €3.5 million to €4 million per project.
Is the call single-stage or two-stage?
- It is a single-stage call.
Who can apply?
- Any legal entity, including entities from non-associated third countries and international organisations, if Horizon Europe eligibility rules are met.
What kinds of projects fit best?
- Projects on adult education, VET, digital literacy, anti-disinformation skills, civic participation, and inclusive citizenship learning.
Is inclusion important?
- Yes. The call explicitly requires gender-sensitive and intersectional approaches and attention to groups facing participation barriers.

Conclusion

The Citizenship education as part of lifelong learning topic is a major Horizon Europe opportunity for research and innovation on democracy, civic skills, and inclusive learning. The strongest proposals will connect education to measurable democratic participation outcomes, address inequality and disinformation, and show clear relevance to adult, vocational, and lifelong learning settings.

For more information, visit European Commission.