CFPs: International One-off Youth Co-operation Activities Supporting Young People

The European Youth Foundation (EYF) of the Council of Europe is inviting applications for International One-off Youth Co-operation Activities that promote democracy, human rights, peace, intercultural dialogue, and youth participation, with a special focus on supporting young people from Ukraine. Eligible organisations can apply for grants of up to €25,000 to organise international youth meetings involving participants from at least seven Council of Europe member States.

About the International Youth Co-operation Activities Grant

The European Youth Foundation (EYF) supports international youth projects that strengthen cooperation, solidarity, democratic participation, and human rights education across Europe.

This funding call places particular emphasis on responding to the needs of young people from Ukraine affected by the ongoing war of aggression. It encourages meaningful international cooperation that promotes peace, inclusion, democratic values, intercultural dialogue, and youth empowerment.

Projects should create opportunities for young people to learn, collaborate, exchange experiences, and develop initiatives that strengthen democratic societies and active citizenship.

Funding Information

The programme offers the following funding:

Maximum Grant Amount: €25,000
Project Start Period: Between 1 December 2026 and 31 December 2026
Project Completion Deadline: No later than 31 December 2027
Co-financing: Required through financial, human resource, or in-kind contributions

Applicants must prepare a clear, realistic, and cost-effective project budget.

Programme Objectives

The programme aims to:

Support young people from Ukraine.
Strengthen international understanding and solidarity.
Promote democracy and democratic participation.
Advance human rights education.
Encourage intercultural dialogue.
Promote peace and inclusion.
Improve young people’s access to rights.
Strengthen youth organisations.
Build capacity for future youth action.
Support educational, awareness-raising, cooperation, and advocacy initiatives.

Thematic Priorities

Projects should contribute to one or more of the following priority areas:

Revitalising pluralistic democracy
Young people’s access to rights
Peaceful and inclusive societies
Human rights
Youth participation
Youth work
Democracy education
Peacebuilding
Combating discrimination
Intercultural dialogue

Applicants should clearly explain how their project addresses these priorities.

Eligible Activities

Funding supports international youth meetings and related activities, including:

Youth camps
Seminars
Conferences
Training courses
Study visits
Preparatory meetings
Evaluation meetings
Follow-up activities

Projects should apply:

Non-formal education
Human rights education
Intercultural learning
Youth participation methods
Council of Europe quality standards

Project Team Requirements

Projects should:

Be designed and delivered by culturally diverse project teams.
Include young people and youth leaders from different countries.
Ideally include young people or youth leaders from Ukraine within the project team.
Promote equal participation and shared leadership.

Project Duration and Timeline

Projects must:

Begin between 1 December and 31 December 2026.
Be completed no later than 31 December 2027.
Include activities lasting at least four programme days.

Projects should follow the approved implementation schedule.

Project Location

Activities should generally take place in one or more of the 46 Council of Europe member States.

International activities conducted outside member States should be clearly justified if applicable.

Who is Eligible?

Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements established by the European Youth Foundation.

Projects must:

Involve participants from at least seven Council of Europe member States.
Include young people from Ukraine.
Meet all participant and organisational eligibility requirements.
Promote international cooperation.

Participant Requirements

Eligible projects must ensure that:

Participants come from at least seven Council of Europe member States.
Young people from Ukraine participate, whether they currently live in Ukraine or another Council of Europe member State.
At least 75% of participants are 30 years of age or younger.
Young people with disabilities are actively included.
Gender equality is promoted.
Social inclusion is integrated throughout the project.

Applications that fail to satisfy these participation requirements will not be considered.

Budget Requirements

Applicants may request grants of up to €25,000.

Budgets must be:

Clear
Accurate
Complete
Cost-effective
Directly linked to project activities

Applicants are also expected to contribute through:

Financial contributions
Human resources
Volunteer support
In-kind contributions
Third-party support

How to Apply

Step 1: Develop Your Project

Prepare an international youth cooperation project that promotes democracy, peace, human rights, and youth participation.

Clearly explain how the project addresses the needs of young people from Ukraine.

Step 2: Build an International Partnership

Ensure your project includes participants from at least:

Seven Council of Europe member States
Ukraine

Create a culturally diverse project team with balanced participation.

Step 3: Design the Activities

Plan activities such as:

Youth camps
Training courses
Conferences
Seminars
Study visits
Educational exchanges

Use non-formal education and human rights education methods throughout the project.

Step 4: Prepare the Budget

Develop a realistic budget that:

Supports all planned activities.
Demonstrates value for money.
Includes co-financing contributions.

Step 5: Submit the Application

Submit a complete application that meets all programme, budget, timeline, and participant requirements before the deadline.

Why This Grant Matters

International youth cooperation helps strengthen democratic societies, promote peace, and build lasting partnerships across Europe.

This programme supports:

Youth leadership
Peacebuilding
Democratic participation
Human rights awareness
International solidarity
Intercultural understanding
Support for young people from Ukraine
Inclusive youth development

By encouraging international exchanges and collaborative learning, the programme helps young people become active contributors to democratic and peaceful societies.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can improve their chances by:

Clearly addressing the needs of young people from Ukraine.
Demonstrating strong international cooperation.
Including diverse project partners.
Using participatory and non-formal education methods.
Promoting inclusion and accessibility.
Preparing a realistic and well-structured budget.
Demonstrating measurable long-term impact.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common application errors:

Failing to include participants from at least seven Council of Europe member States.
Not involving young people from Ukraine.
Proposing activities lasting fewer than four programme days.
Preparing unrealistic or incomplete budgets.
Failing to include co-financing.
Overlooking accessibility and inclusion requirements.
Not demonstrating clear links to programme priorities.
Submitting projects outside the permitted implementation period.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the European Youth Foundation International Youth Co-operation Activities programme?

It is a funding programme that supports international youth projects promoting democracy, human rights, intercultural dialogue, peace, and youth participation, with a special focus on supporting young people from Ukraine.

2. How much funding is available?

Applicants may request grants of up to €25,000 per project.

3. What types of activities are eligible?

Eligible activities include youth camps, seminars, conferences, training courses, study visits, and related preparatory, evaluation, or follow-up meetings.

4. Who must participate in the project?

Projects must involve participants from at least seven Council of Europe member States, including young people from Ukraine. At least 75% of participants must be 30 years old or younger.

5. Where must projects take place?

Activities should generally be organised within one or more of the 46 Council of Europe member States.

6. Is co-financing required?

Yes. Applicants are expected to contribute through financial resources, staff time, volunteer support, or in-kind contributions.

7. What makes a strong application?

Strong proposals demonstrate meaningful international cooperation, active participation of young people from Ukraine, high-quality educational activities, inclusive participation, clear links to democratic values, and a realistic budget with measurable outcomes.

Conclusion

The European Youth Foundation International Youth Co-operation Activities programme offers an outstanding opportunity for youth organisations to organise international projects that strengthen democracy, human rights, peace, and intercultural dialogue across Europe. With grants of up to €25,000, the programme supports high-quality international youth meetings that empower young people, foster cooperation, and provide meaningful support to young people from Ukraine. Organisations that develop inclusive, innovative, and well-structured projects aligned with the programme’s priorities will be well positioned for funding success.