Deadline: 11-Aug-25
Applications are now open for the EU’s Support for Sustainable and Innovative Social Protection Programmes in Nigeria. This initiative seeks to improve social protection systems and reduce poverty among poor and vulnerable households, with a strong focus on women and girls living in communities affected by climate change.
The main objective is to assist the Nigerian government in strengthening its social protection framework. This includes improving the management and coordination of social registers and providing direct support to beneficiaries through the national safety net strategy. The programme is divided into two lots. Under Lot 1, the focus is on advocacy and sensitization for the use and coordination of the National Social Register (NSR). Under Lot 2, the aim is to implement a full-scale social safety net initiative, with particular attention to Kebbi State, to test and demonstrate effective “social protection in practice.”
Lot 1 aims to enhance the capacity of government staff at both national and state levels in using the NSR effectively. It encourages the use of the NSR as a national planning tool and seeks to engage communities and stakeholders through awareness campaigns. It also involves supporting legislative frameworks, fostering feedback mechanisms, conducting policy-informing research, and building networks of civil society actors to advocate for inclusive and effective protection programmes.
Lot 2 focuses on targeted support for vulnerable populations in climate-impacted communities. This includes comprehensive mapping of poor households, providing sustainable livelihoods, and ensuring access to food and financial resources. The initiative promotes green jobs, establishes food banks, and supports savings groups through conditional cash transfers. There’s a special focus on women, girls, and communities near protected reserves. It aims to strengthen social resilience and integrate climate-smart solutions in livelihoods.
Both lots emphasize themes such as poverty reduction, social insurance, education, health, and digital database management. Lot 2 adds focus on income generation, food security, and financial inclusion using green skills and climate adaptation practices.
A total of €12.5 million is available for this call, with €2.5 million allocated for Lot 1 and €10 million for Lot 2. Projects must last between 30 and 36 months. However, certain activities are ineligible for funding, such as individual scholarships, sponsorships for events, or any actions that violate human rights or harm the environment.
Eligible activities under Lot 1 include expanding the NSR, raising awareness on digitalized systems, supporting database interoperability, and conducting advocacy at all government levels. It also involves capacity building for local civil society, organizing events to share experiences, and working with states to develop and finance social protection policies.
Lot 2 activities include identifying and registering vulnerable households, documenting lessons learned, creating state-specific poverty reports, and supporting the legal framework for social safety nets. Local staff training, community capacity development, and promoting environmentally sustainable activities such as tree planting and waste recycling are also encouraged.
Ineligible costs include debt service, land purchases, exchange losses, duplicate funding, and bonuses in staff salaries. Volunteer work may count, but in-kind contributions in general are not eligible.
To apply, organizations must meet specific eligibility criteria. Applicants must be legally registered nonprofit entities, such as NGOs, public operators, or local authorities. They must be established in an EU Member State, Nigeria, or another eligible country under EU rules, and have at least four years of experience in rural development and community programmes. International organizations may apply even without being established in the listed countries due to their legal status.
Applicants must be directly responsible for the project’s implementation. Certain entities are not considered affiliated for the purposes of this grant—such as those under contract with the applicant or those cooperating informally. The EU seeks well-coordinated and experienced actors to take this opportunity forward for building inclusive, climate-resilient social protection systems in Nigeria.
For more information, visit EC.
