Switzerland Embassy Launches Small Grants for Civil Society (Sri Lanka and Maldives)

Deadline: 20-Jan-2026

The Embassy of Switzerland in Sri Lanka and the Maldives is offering Small Action Fund grants to support civil society projects that promote democracy, human development, gender equality, and human rights. Grants ranging from LKR 3 million to LKR 5 million are available for one-year projects benefiting vulnerable groups in Sri Lanka or the Maldives.

Programme Overview

The Embassy of Switzerland in Sri Lanka and in the Maldives invites applications for small development projects under its Small Action Fund.

The fund supports civil society initiatives that address key social, economic, and human rights challenges, with a strong focus on inclusion, empowerment, and sustainable impact at the community level.

Thematic Focus Areas

Funded projects must align with at least one of the following priority areas:

• Democracy, governance, and reconciliation

• Human development, including SDG-related initiatives and culture for development

• Gender equality and social inclusion

Projects are expected to contribute to strengthening rights, participation, and opportunities for marginalized communities.

Funding Amount and Duration

• Grant size: LKR 3 million to LKR 5 million

• Project duration: Maximum one calendar year

• All activities must be completed no later than 1 November 2026

Administrative costs must not exceed 15% of the total project budget.

Who Can Apply?

Eligible Applicants

Applications may be submitted by:

• Civil society organizations

• Non-governmental and non-profit organizations

• Organizations legally registered in Sri Lanka or the Maldives

Applicants must demonstrate adequate organizational structures and implementation capacity.

Geographic Scope

• Projects must be implemented in Sri Lanka or the Maldives

Target Groups and Expected Impact

Proposals must directly benefit at least one vulnerable or marginalized group, including:

• Minority communities

• Women and girls

• Youth and children

• War victims

• LGBTQI individuals

• Persons with disabilities

Projects should focus on empowerment, social integration, and the fulfilment of human rights, rather than short-term or purely service-delivery approaches.

What the Fund Supports

The Small Action Fund supports specific activities and well-defined projects that:

• Address pressing social, economic, or human rights challenges

• Strengthen civil society engagement and accountability

• Promote inclusion, participation, and equality

• Deliver measurable outcomes within a one-year timeframe

Ineligible Applicants and Activities

The following are not eligible for funding:

• Organizations affiliated with political parties, religious institutions, or the military

• Individual applicants

• Public institutions or government bodies

• Purely commercial activities

• Scholarships, stipends, tuition fees, or study tours abroad

• Planning-only or evaluation-only activities

• Projects requesting funding exclusively for staff salaries

• Projects requesting funding only for purchasing supplies or equipment

Key Conditions and Restrictions

• Administrative costs must remain below 15% of the total budget

• Projects must deliver concrete activities and outcomes

• Proposals focused solely on staffing or procurement will be rejected

• Activities must be realistic, achievable, and completed within the approved timeline

Why This Opportunity Matters

This funding opportunity encourages dynamic and locally rooted civil society actors to:

• Advance democracy and inclusive governance

• Promote social justice and human rights

• Strengthen gender equality and inclusion

• Support sustainable, community-driven development

The Small Action Fund is particularly valuable for organizations seeking flexible yet impactful funding to implement focused interventions with tangible results.

Final Note for Applicants

Applicants are encouraged to clearly demonstrate:

• Alignment with thematic priorities

• Direct benefits for vulnerable groups

• Strong implementation capacity

• A realistic budget and activity plan

Well-designed proposals that emphasize empowerment, inclusion, and rights-based approaches will be best positioned for support.

For more information, visit Embassy of Switzerland in Sri Lanka and in the Maldives.