Deadline: 29-Jul-2026
The British Embassy Ulaanbaatar is inviting proposals from eligible non-profit organisations to strengthen civic space, increase civic participation, and promote youth-centred voter education across Mongolia. The programme offers up to £40,000 for projects supporting civil society organisations and up to £35,000 for youth-focused voter education initiatives, with activities running from October 2026 to December 2027.
Overview
The funding opportunity supports projects that strengthen democratic participation, civic engagement, and civil society capacity in Mongolia.
The programme seeks to empower local and rural civil society organisations, improve election monitoring and accountability, and encourage informed participation among young people through accessible voter education and public debate.
Projects should contribute to a stronger, more inclusive civic environment while maintaining political neutrality and supporting evidence-based public participation.
Key Details
- Funder: British Embassy Ulaanbaatar
- Country: Mongolia
- Funding type: Project grants
- Project implementation period: October 2026 – December 2027
- Eligible applicants: Registered non-profit organisations and eligible consortia
- Geographic focus: Mongolia, including rural communities
Funding Components
Component 1: Civic Space and Civil Society Strengthening
- Maximum available budget: Up to £40,000
- One or more projects may be funded.
This component supports initiatives that strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations, particularly outside Ulaanbaatar.
Component 2: Youth-Centred Voter Education
- Maximum available budget: Up to £35,000
- One or more projects may be funded.
This component supports youth-led or youth-focused voter education programmes and public debate initiatives.
Focus Areas
The programme supports projects related to:
- Civic space
- Civic participation
- Civil society strengthening
- Rural civil society organisations
- Election monitoring
- Accountability
- Youth voter education
- Public debates
- Civic engagement
- Access to reliable non-partisan information
- Democratic participation
- Community engagement
- Rural outreach
Key Concepts Explained
What is Civic Space?
Civic space is the environment that enables people and organisations to participate in public life, express opinions, organise collectively, and engage in democratic processes.
What is Civic Participation?
Civic participation refers to the active involvement of citizens in community decision-making, public dialogue, elections, and democratic governance.
What is Voter Education?
Voter education provides citizens with impartial information about elections, voting rights, democratic participation, and informed decision-making.
What is Election Monitoring?
Election monitoring involves observing electoral processes to promote transparency, accountability, fairness, and public confidence.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include:
- Registered non-profit organisations
- Consortia led by not-for-profit organisations
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Relevant technical experience
- Strong local knowledge
- Capacity to deliver projects across Mongolia
- Experience working in rural communities
- Effective project management capability
Project Priorities
Civic Space and Civil Society Projects
Projects may include activities that:
- Build CSO capacity
- Strengthen local networks
- Improve election monitoring
- Support accountability initiatives
- Monitor public commitments
- Expand civic participation
- Strengthen rural organisations
Youth Voter Education Projects
Projects may include activities that:
- Develop voter education programmes
- Organise public debates
- Produce accessible educational materials
- Increase youth participation
- Improve access to reliable, non-partisan information
- Engage rural youth communities
Project Timeline
Successful projects are expected to:
- Begin implementation by October 2026
- Finish activities by December 2027
How Proposals Will Be Assessed
Applications will be evaluated based on:
- Relevance to programme objectives
- Local knowledge
- Previous experience
- Innovation
- Potential impact
- Ability to engage diverse societal groups
- Value for money
- Effective risk management
- Maintenance of political non-partisanship
How to Apply
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Ensure your organisation is a registered non-profit or an eligible consortium led by a not-for-profit organisation.
Step 2: Select the Appropriate Funding Component
Choose whether your proposal focuses on:
- Civic space and civil society strengthening, or
- Youth-centred voter education and public debates.
Step 3: Develop the Project
Design activities that address civic participation, democratic engagement, or voter education while responding to local needs.
Step 4: Demonstrate Local Experience
Provide evidence of previous work in Mongolia, particularly in rural communities.
Step 5: Prepare the Budget
Develop a realistic budget aligned with the relevant funding component.
Step 6: Address Risk Management
Explain how the project will remain non-partisan and manage implementation risks effectively.
Step 7: Submit the Proposal
Complete and submit the proposal according to the British Embassy’s application requirements.
Why It Matters
Strong civic participation helps build accountable institutions and inclusive democratic processes.
This programme supports:
- Stronger civil society
- Increased democratic participation
- Better election accountability
- Youth engagement in public affairs
- Rural community inclusion
- Access to impartial information
- Community-led governance
- Sustainable civic networks
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Proposing politically partisan activities.
- Failing to demonstrate rural implementation capacity.
- Providing weak evidence of previous experience.
- Submitting unrealistic budgets.
- Ignoring risk management requirements.
- Failing to explain community impact.
- Overlooking youth engagement where relevant.
- Providing limited evidence of local knowledge.
Tips for a Strong Application
Applicants should:
- Clearly explain the civic challenge being addressed.
- Demonstrate experience working in Mongolia.
- Highlight engagement with rural communities.
- Show how the project will remain politically neutral.
- Include measurable outcomes.
- Build partnerships with local organisations where appropriate.
- Demonstrate value for money.
- Present a practical implementation plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply?
Registered non-profit organisations and consortia led by not-for-profit organisations are eligible to apply.
How much funding is available?
Up to £40,000 is available for civic space and civil society projects, while up to £35,000 is available for youth-centred voter education projects.
What activities are supported?
Projects supporting civic participation, election monitoring, civil society strengthening, youth voter education, public debates, and access to reliable non-partisan information are eligible.
When should projects begin?
Successful projects are expected to start by October 2026.
When must projects end?
All funded activities should conclude by December 2027.
How will proposals be evaluated?
Applications are assessed on relevance, experience, innovation, impact, local knowledge, value for money, risk management, and commitment to non-partisanship.
Can projects work in rural areas?
Yes. The programme specifically encourages activities that strengthen civil society and civic participation in rural communities across Mongolia.
Conclusion
The British Embassy Ulaanbaatar Call for Proposals supports non-profit organisations working to strengthen civic space, democratic participation, and youth engagement across Mongolia. With funding of up to £40,000 for civil society initiatives and £35,000 for youth-focused voter education, the programme aims to build stronger local organisations, improve election accountability, and encourage informed civic participation in both urban and rural communities.
For more information, visit GOV.UK.