Deadline: 15-Sep-2026
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.
For more information, visit Global Focus.