2026 Civil Society Fund for Civil Society Organisations (Malta)

The Civil Society Fund 2026 provides financial assistance to eligible Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to strengthen their participation in European and international networks, policy dialogue, training, and cross-border cooperation. The programme funds up to 80% of eligible costs, with a maximum grant of €6,000 per organisation, to support affiliations, conferences, training, and international collaboration.

What is the Civil Society Fund 2026?

The Civil Society Fund 2026 is a financial support programme designed to strengthen the capacity of Civil Society Organisations by helping them engage more effectively with European and international institutions, networks, and policy processes.

The programme enables organisations to join international umbrella organisations, participate in conferences and training events, and improve their understanding of European Union and international policy developments. Through these activities, CSOs can enhance their advocacy, strengthen partnerships, and better represent the interests of their members.

Program Overview

• Programme Name: Civil Society Fund 2026
• Programme Type: Capacity-building and networking grant
• Maximum Grant: Up to €6,000 per organisation
• Funding Rate: Up to 80% of eligible costs
• Eligible Applicants: Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)
• Primary Objective: Strengthen European and international participation, networking, and policy engagement

Funding Amount

The Civil Society Fund provides:

• Up to 80% of total eligible project costs
• Maximum funding of €6,000 per organisation, whichever is lower

The remaining eligible costs must be covered by the applicant or other funding sources.

Eligible Costs

Funding may be used to cover:

• Affiliation or membership fees for European and international umbrella organisations
• Conference registration fees
• Flight and travel expenses
• Daily subsistence allowances (after grant approval)
• Value Added Tax (VAT), where it is paid by the beneficiary and clearly shown on invoices

Only approved and eligible costs incurred during the eligibility period will be reimbursed.

Programme Objectives

The Civil Society Fund 2026 aims to:

• Strengthen Civil Society Organisations.
• Increase participation in European and international policy discussions.
• Improve collaboration with international networks.
• Enhance knowledge of EU and international policies.
• Support cross-border cooperation.
• Build organisational capacity.
• Improve member education on international developments.
• Promote active participation in decision-making processes.
• Encourage long-term international partnerships.

The programme helps CSOs expand their influence beyond the national level.

Focus Areas

Projects and activities should contribute to one or more of the following areas:

• Civil society capacity building
• European Union policy engagement
• International cooperation
• International networking
• Cross-border partnerships
• Membership in umbrella organisations
• Policy dialogue
• Advocacy
• Training and professional development
• Knowledge exchange
• Organisational development
• International representation

Activities should strengthen the organisation’s role within European and international civil society networks.

Supported Activities

Funding supports two main categories of activities.

1. Membership and Affiliation

The programme supports affiliation with:

• European umbrella organisations
• International federations
• Confederations
• Associations
• Civil society networks

Membership should contribute to the organisation’s long-term strategic development.

2. Participation in International Activities

Funding may support participation in:

• Conferences
• Seminars
• International meetings
• Training programmes
• Policy-related events
• Networking activities abroad

These activities should enhance organisational knowledge, collaboration, and advocacy capacity.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)
• Voluntary organisations
• Self-governing organisations
• Social partners
• Other recognised civil society entities established under applicable legislation

Applicants must:

• Operate independently from public authorities.
• Be free from political control.
• Work in the general public interest.
• Operate on a non-profit basis.
• Not have an industrial or commercial character.

Ineligible Organisations

The following organisations are not eligible for funding:

• Organisations declared bankrupt
• Organisations under legal or insolvency proceedings
• Organisations convicted of fraud or serious professional misconduct
• Profit-making entities
• Political parties
• Organisations affiliated with political parties
• Organisations receiving other public or EU funding for the same activities
• Organisations that fail to meet legal registration requirements
• Organisations that have breached previous funding agreements

Applicants must fully comply with all eligibility requirements before applying.

Activity Eligibility Period

Only activities and costs incurred during the following period are eligible:

• 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026

Expenses outside this period will not be considered for reimbursement.

What Makes a Strong Application?

Competitive applications generally demonstrate:

• Clear alignment with the programme objectives.
• Strong European or international engagement.
• Meaningful networking opportunities.
• Capacity-building outcomes.
• Long-term organisational benefits.
• Clear value for money.
• Well-planned activities.
• Realistic budgets.

Applications should clearly explain how participation will strengthen the organisation’s international role.

How to Apply

Follow these steps when preparing your application.

Step 1: Confirm Organisational Eligibility

Ensure your organisation meets all legal, operational, and non-profit eligibility requirements.

Step 2: Select Eligible Activities

Identify the conferences, memberships, training programmes, or networking activities for which funding is requested.

Step 3: Prepare Your Budget

Develop a detailed budget covering:

• Membership fees
• Registration fees
• Travel expenses
• Subsistence costs
• VAT (where applicable)

Step 4: Explain the Expected Impact

Describe how participation will:

• Strengthen organisational capacity.
• Improve international cooperation.
• Enhance policy engagement.
• Benefit your members.
• Expand international partnerships.

Step 5: Submit Your Application

Complete the application and provide all required supporting documents before the submission deadline.

Why This Fund Matters

International cooperation is increasingly important for Civil Society Organisations working on public interest issues.

The Civil Society Fund helps organisations:

• Build stronger international partnerships.
• Improve policy knowledge.
• Participate in European decision-making.
• Increase organisational visibility.
• Access international expertise.
• Strengthen advocacy efforts.
• Improve collaboration across borders.

The programme supports stronger, more connected, and more effective civil society organisations.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid the following mistakes:

• Requesting funding for ineligible activities.
• Including expenses outside the eligibility period.
• Submitting incomplete budgets.
• Failing to explain the organisational impact.
• Applying for activities already funded by another public source.
• Ignoring eligibility requirements.
• Providing insufficient supporting documentation.

Well-prepared applications that clearly demonstrate capacity-building outcomes are more competitive.

Tips for Preparing a Strong Application

To strengthen your proposal:

• Clearly explain the value of international participation.
• Demonstrate long-term organisational benefits.
• Present a realistic and transparent budget.
• Highlight how knowledge gained will benefit members.
• Explain how networking will improve organisational capacity.
• Show alignment with your organisation’s strategic objectives.
• Emphasise sustainable international collaboration.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for the Civil Society Fund 2026?

Eligible applicants include voluntary, self-governing Civil Society Organisations, social partners, and other recognised non-profit civil society entities operating independently from public authorities and political control.

How much funding is available?

The programme provides up to 80% of eligible costs, with a maximum grant of €6,000 per organisation.

What activities are supported?

Funding supports affiliation with European and international umbrella organisations, as well as participation in conferences, seminars, meetings, networking events, and training related to EU and international policies.

What expenses are eligible?

Eligible expenses include affiliation fees, conference registration fees, flight costs, approved daily subsistence allowances, and VAT where applicable.

What is the eligibility period for activities?

Only activities and expenses incurred between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026 are eligible for funding.

Which organisations cannot apply?

Profit-making organisations, political parties, bankrupt organisations, entities involved in legal proceedings, organisations receiving duplicate public funding for the same activities, and organisations that fail to meet legal or contractual requirements are not eligible.

What makes a strong application?

Strong applications clearly demonstrate how the proposed activities will strengthen organisational capacity, improve international cooperation, increase policy engagement, and provide lasting benefits to the organisation and its members.

Conclusion

The Civil Society Fund 2026 offers valuable financial support for Civil Society Organisations seeking to strengthen their engagement with European and international networks. By funding memberships, training, conferences, and international collaboration, the programme helps CSOs expand their expertise, influence policy discussions, build lasting partnerships, and enhance their ability to serve communities through stronger international cooperation.