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CFPs: Improving Social Cohesion and Resilience in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Mercy Foundation’s Social Justice Small Grants Program in Australia

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Deadline: 02-Apr-2026

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is inviting grant applications to support local initiatives that strengthen social cohesion, intergroup trust, and inclusive citizen participation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The program prioritizes projects that empower youth and women, promote community dialogue, counter hate speech, and strengthen civil society capacity, with grants ranging from 30,000 BAM to 60,000 BAM.

Overview

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is funding local initiatives designed to strengthen social cohesion, intergroup trust, and democratic participation across selected communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This initiative is part of the SCORE project, which aims to foster a supportive environment for democratic development, inclusive governance, and European integration. The program focuses on empowering local actors—particularly civil society organizations (CSOs)—to address social divisions, encourage dialogue, and increase participation in public and political life.

The grant call seeks to support initiatives that help build trust between communities, increase civic engagement, and ensure marginalized groups—especially youth and women—have a stronger voice in decision-making processes.

Key Objectives of the Programme

The initiative aims to achieve several interconnected goals that support inclusive governance and community resilience.

Strengthening Social Cohesion

Projects should promote mutual trust and cooperation among different communities, particularly in areas where social divisions or tensions exist.

Promoting Inclusive Participation

The program encourages initiatives that enable youth, women, and marginalized groups to actively participate in:

Combating Division and Hate Speech

Supported initiatives should counter divisive narratives and hate speech by promoting positive messaging, inclusive dialogue, and responsible media content.

Building Local Organizational Capacity

The program also aims to strengthen the ability of local organizations to implement conflict-sensitive and inclusive community programs.

Priority Areas for Funded Projects

Projects should address one or more of the following priority areas.

1. Community Dialogue and Trust-Building

Activities that promote cooperation between communities, including:

These efforts aim to reduce divisions and build long-term trust between different groups.

2. Youth and Women’s Participation

Initiatives that increase the involvement of youth and women in decision-making processes, community leadership, and public policy discussions.

3. Countering Hate Speech and Divisive Narratives

Projects that use local media, storytelling, digital platforms, and communication campaigns to promote:

4. Strengthening Civil Society Organizations

Capacity-building initiatives that enable local CSOs to:

Broader Project Components

The grant call is part of a wider effort to improve research, data, and local governance mechanisms related to social cohesion.

Development of a Social Cohesion Database

A key component of the broader project is the creation of a publicly accessible database that collects information on:

This database will help policymakers and development organizations design evidence-based policies and programs.

Local Community Research

Targeted research will be conducted in selected communities to better understand:

These insights will guide policy decisions and local development initiatives.

Strengthening Local Dialogue Platforms

The project also supports mechanisms that allow communities to discuss challenges, resolve conflicts, and encourage inclusive participation in governance processes.

Funding Amount

The SCORE project has allocated up to 600,000 BAM (Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Marks) for this public call.

Each funded project must fall within the following funding range:

Funding will support projects implemented in ten selected local government units.

Project Duration

Projects funded under this call must follow these timeline requirements:

Projects begin after the signing of the grant contract with UNDP.

Who is Eligible?

The grant call is open to organizations operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina that work in areas related to civil society, community development, and social inclusion.

Eligible Applicants

The following entities can apply as project leaders:

Eligible Project Partners

Projects may include partnerships with:

Projects that involve partnerships representing different ethnic or national groups are particularly encouraged.

Participation of Private Companies

Private companies cannot participate as formal project partners, but they may still contribute to or participate in project activities.

Geographic Scope

Projects may be implemented in one or more of the ten selected local government units.

Partners involved in the project may be located:

How to Apply

Organizations interested in this funding opportunity should prepare and submit a detailed project proposal.

Step-by-Step Application Process

  1. Review the Call for Proposals
    Carefully study the guidelines and requirements provided by UNDP.

  2. Develop a Project Concept
    Design a project that clearly contributes to social cohesion, inclusive participation, and community trust-building.

  3. Form Partnerships (Optional but Encouraged)
    Consider collaborating with organizations representing different communities or ethnic groups.

  4. Prepare a Detailed Proposal
    The proposal should include:

    • Project objectives

    • Planned activities

    • Target beneficiaries

    • Implementation timeline

    • Budget between 30,000 and 60,000 BAM

  5. Submit the Application
    Applications must clearly indicate the project leader and partners.

  6. Evaluation and Selection
    UNDP evaluates proposals based on relevance, impact, feasibility, and contribution to social cohesion goals.

Tips for a Successful Application

Applicants can improve their chances by:

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common issues when preparing a proposal:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the purpose of this UNDP grant program?

The program supports local initiatives that strengthen social cohesion, intergroup trust, and inclusive participation in public and political life in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

2. How much funding is available?

The SCORE project has allocated up to 600,000 BAM for this call, with individual project grants ranging from 30,000 BAM to 60,000 BAM.

3. Who can apply for the grants?

Eligible applicants include civil society organizations and foundations operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

4. Can organizations apply with partners?

Yes. Projects may include partners such as CSOs, foundations, educational institutions, and cultural organizations.

5. Can private companies be project partners?

No. Private companies cannot participate as formal partners but may contribute to project activities.

6. How long can projects last?

Projects can run for up to six months and must be completed by November 2026.

7. What types of activities are prioritized?

Priority activities include community dialogue initiatives, youth and women’s participation programs, anti-hate speech campaigns, and capacity-building for civil society organizations.

Conclusion

The UNDP Social Cohesion Grant Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina provides important support for organizations working to build trust between communities, promote democratic participation, and empower marginalized groups.

For more information, visit UNDP.

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