EU Call for Proposals for Civil Society Organisations 2026 (Moldova)

Deadline: 31-Mar-2026

The EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova invites civil society organisations (CSOs) and independent media to apply for grants to strengthen democratic governance, social cohesion, and EU accession reforms. The Call for Proposals 2026 offers EUR 12,500,000 across five thematic lots, supporting capacity building, gender equality, participatory governance, and investigative journalism.

About the Initiative

The 2026 EU Moldova call aims to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations and independent media to contribute effectively to democratic governance, sustainable development, and resilience to disinformation during Moldova’s EU accession process. Projects are expected to be gender-sensitive, rights-based, inclusive, and coordinated with relevant national and local authorities.

Key Focus Areas

The programme is structured around five thematic lots:

1. Social Cohesion and Community Services (Lot 1) – Improve social services and strengthen civil society engagement in the social sector.

2. Gender Equality and Gender-Based Violence (Lot 2) – Advance gender equality and support prevention and response to gender-based violence, including collaboration with authorities.

3. Civil Society Capacity and Sustainability (Lot 3) – Enhance operational effectiveness, advocacy, and sustainability of grassroots organisations and networks.

4. Participatory Governance and EU-Related Reforms (Lot 4) – Foster partnerships between CSOs and local public authorities to implement EU accession reforms.

5. Independent Media and Investigative Journalism (Lot 5) – Strengthen media capacity, fact-checking, investigative journalism, and long-term sustainability.

Why It Matters

Strengthening civil society and independent media is crucial for:

• Promoting democratic governance and social cohesion.

• Enhancing the capacity of CSOs to support vulnerable groups and community-based services.

• Fostering gender equality and preventing gender-based violence.

• Enabling participatory governance and effective EU accession reforms.

• Supporting professional, sustainable independent media that combats disinformation.

Who is Eligible?

• Legal, non-profit entities such as non-governmental organisations, local authorities, or international organisations.

• Entities must be effectively established in eligible countries, including EU Member States and the Republic of Moldova.

• Projects should comply with PRAG framework requirements for applicants, eligible actions, and eligible costs.

Funding: Total indicative allocation EUR 12,500,000, with individual lot allocations ranging from EUR 1,000,000 to EUR 4,000,000. Grant requests must cover 50–95% of total eligible costs; remaining funding may come from non-EU sources.

How to Apply

1. Check Eligibility – Confirm your organisation meets PRAG and call-specific requirements.

2. Select Appropriate Lot – Choose the thematic area matching your project’s objectives.

3. Define Objectives and Actions – Align proposed actions with the lot’s focus, ensuring gender sensitivity, inclusivity, and rights-based approaches.

4. Coordinate with Authorities – Work closely with relevant national and local authorities to ensure alignment and impact.

5. Develop Budget – Prepare grant requests within the minimum and maximum thresholds per lot and include co-funding sources.

6. Submit Proposal – Follow the EU Delegation submission guidelines and timelines.

7. Evaluation and Funding – Proposals evaluated on relevance, impact, sustainability, inclusivity, and alignment with EU accession goals.

Common Tips for Applicants

• Ensure actions are rights-based, gender-sensitive, and inclusive.

• Demonstrate collaboration with authorities and local stakeholders.

• Clearly define measurable outcomes aligned with EU accession objectives.

• Include strategies for sustainability and capacity building of CSOs or media organisations.

• Ensure adherence to PRAG framework requirements for budgets and eligible costs.

FAQs

1. Who can apply? Legal, non-profit entities such as NGOs, local authorities, or international organisations established in EU Member States or Moldova.

2. What is the total funding available? EUR 12,500,000, divided across five thematic lots.

3. How much funding can a project request? Grant requests must fall within the lot-specific minimum and maximum allocations and cover 50–95% of eligible costs.

4. Are projects required to coordinate with authorities? Yes, close coordination with relevant national and local authorities is mandatory.

5. Is gender and inclusivity considered? Yes, all proposals must be gender-sensitive, rights-based, and inclusive of vulnerable and minority groups.

6. Which types of projects are eligible? Projects strengthening civil society, community-based services, participatory governance, gender equality, and independent media capacity.

7. Is EU accession alignment required? Yes, projects must support democratic governance, EU reforms, and resilience to disinformation during Moldova’s EU accession process.

Conclusion

The EU Delegation’s 2026 funding for civil society and independent media in Moldova empowers organisations to strengthen democratic governance, social cohesion, and EU accession reforms. By supporting capacity building, participatory governance, gender equality, and sustainable media practices, funded projects will foster resilience, inclusivity, and professional effectiveness in line with EU objectives.

For more information, visit European Union.