Big Grant for International Development Equity (Denmark)

The Big Grant supports Danish civil society organizations and their global majority partners in addressing and transforming power imbalances in international development and humanitarian work. It funds collaborative projects focused on shared learning, innovation, and capacity development to improve equitable partnerships. Grants range from 100,000 to 400,000 DKK for projects lasting up to two years.

Program Overview: Equitable Development Partnerships Funding

The Big Grant program is designed to strengthen fairness and collaboration in international development partnerships between Danish civil society organizations and global majority partner organizations.

It focuses on building more balanced, transparent, and mutually accountable relationships in global development cooperation.

Key Objectives of the Program

• Address structural power imbalances in development cooperation
• Promote equitable partnerships between organizations
• Support joint learning and knowledge creation
• Encourage innovation in collaboration models
• Strengthen shared decision-making processes
• Enable capacity development between partners
• Improve long-term development effectiveness

Core Focus Areas

Power and Equity Transformation

• Identifying and challenging unequal power structures
• Redefining decision-making roles in partnerships
• Promoting shared responsibility and accountability

Collaboration and Joint Learning

• Co-creation of development strategies
• Shared reflection on partnership dynamics
• Mutual learning between organizations

Innovation in Development Practice

• Testing new collaboration models
• Developing new frameworks for equitable cooperation
• Improving partnership methodologies

Capacity Development

• Joint institutional strengthening
• Skill and knowledge exchange
• Organizational learning systems

Funding Structure

Grant Amount

• Minimum: 100,000 DKK
• Maximum: 400,000 DKK

Project Duration

• Up to 2 years

Who is Eligible?

Required Partnership Structure

Applications must include:

• At least one Danish civil society organization
• At least one global majority partner organization

Eligibility Requirements for Danish Organizations

Danish applicants must:

• Be civil society organizations
• Meet collaboration eligibility requirements
• Operate in an OECD-DAC country

Global Majority Partners

• Must be existing partner organizations
• Must be based in the same country context as the collaboration

Project Requirements

Eligible projects must:

• Be based on existing collaboration between partners
• Address jointly identified needs
• Focus on power imbalance reflection and transformation
• Produce documented learning outputs
• Demonstrate progress toward development goals

Expected Outputs

Projects must deliver:

• Documentation of learning and insights
• Evidence of improved collaboration practices
• Frameworks or tools for equitable partnerships
• Reports demonstrating development progress

How the Program Works (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Identify Partnership Challenges

Partners jointly define issues related to power imbalances.

Step 2: Co-Design the Project

Danish and global majority organizations collaboratively develop:

• Objectives
• Activities
• Expected outcomes

Step 3: Application Submission

The Danish civil society organization submits the proposal.

Step 4: Review and Evaluation

Applications are assessed based on:

• Relevance to power imbalance transformation
• Strength of partnership
• Learning and innovation design
• Development impact potential

Step 5: Funding Decision

Selected projects receive between 100,000 and 400,000 DKK.

Step 6: Implementation

Partners execute collaborative activities and learning processes.

Step 7: Documentation and Reporting

Final outputs must document:

• Lessons learned
• Partnership transformation
• Development outcomes

Importance of the Program (Why It Matters)

This initiative strengthens international development practice by:

• Reducing unequal power structures in global partnerships
• Promoting shared ownership in development work
• Improving accountability between partners
• Supporting decolonized development approaches
• Enhancing collaboration effectiveness
• Building stronger long-term partnerships

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying without an existing partnership
• Weak focus on power dynamics
• Lack of jointly identified project needs
• Missing documentation and learning outputs
• Treating the project as one-sided implementation
• Insufficient collaboration design

Tips for a Strong Application

• Ensure genuine co-creation between partners
• Clearly define power imbalance challenges
• Focus on learning and transformation outcomes
• Demonstrate long-term partnership value
• Include practical tools or frameworks as outputs
• Show clear mutual benefit for all partners

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the funding range for the Big Grant?

Between 100,000 and 400,000 DKK.

2. How long can projects last?

Up to two years.

3. Who can apply?

Danish civil society organizations in partnership with global majority organizations.

4. What is the main goal of the program?

To address and transform power imbalances in international development partnerships.

5. Are new partnerships allowed?

No, projects must be based on existing collaborations.

6. What kind of outputs are required?

Learning documentation, frameworks, and evidence of improved collaboration.

7. What countries are involved?

Danish organizations working in OECD-DAC contexts with global majority partners.

Conclusion

The Big Grant program is a strategic funding initiative that supports Danish civil society organizations and their global majority partners in transforming unequal power structures in international development. By funding collaborative learning, innovation, and capacity-building projects, it promotes more equitable, transparent, and effective global partnerships.