Falling Walls Lab Colombo: Pitch Your Breakthrough Idea (Sri Lanka)

Deadline: 12-Apr-2026

The European Commission has launched a major funding call in Somalia to support women’s economic empowerment, inclusive market participation, civil society strengthening, and human rights protection. The programme has a total budget of EUR 3,816,000, including EUR 2,596,000 for women’s economic inclusion and EUR 1,220,000 for civil society and human rights initiatives.

About the Funding Opportunity

This EU call for proposals supports civil society and human rights actions in Somalia through two main areas:

• Women’s economic empowerment and inclusive participation in markets

• Strengthening civil society for human rights, accountability, and rule of law

The programme is designed to help local actors improve economic inclusion, market access, legal protection, civic engagement, and rights-based advocacy in fragile and conflict-affected settings.

Total Budget

• Total indicative budget: EUR 3,816,000

Budget by component

• Women’s economic empowerment and market inclusion: EUR 2,596,000

• Civil society and human rights: EUR 1,220,000

Priority Areas

1. Women’s Economic Empowerment

Projects may support:

• Strengthening women’s networks

• Expanding women-led micro and small enterprises

• Improving skills training and mentorship

• Increasing financial inclusion

• Supporting digital connectivity and digital trade tools

• Improving market access and value chain participation

• Promoting women’s role in economic decision-making

• Supporting cross-border trade facilitation

• Improving the enabling environment for women entrepreneurs

• Legal literacy and awareness for women in business

2. Civil Society and Human Rights

Projects may support:

• Human rights monitoring and reporting

• Advocacy and accountability campaigns

• Rule of law and civic engagement initiatives

• Legal aid services

• Support for human rights defenders

• Community-based observatories

• Media freedom and investigative reporting

• Digital tools for case tracking and reporting

• Collaboration among CSOs working on governance and justice

• Mentorship and small grants for emerging, women-led, or youth-led groups

Why This Programme Matters

This funding is important because Somali women remain highly active in informal trade but often excluded from formal markets due to:

• Limited access to finance

• Low digital access

• Lack of business training

• Weak asset ownership

• Unsafe or inaccessible market spaces

• Restrictive social norms

It also matters because civil society in Somalia plays a critical role in:

• Community resilience

• Conflict prevention

• Peacebuilding

• Human rights protection

• Public accountability

• Legal empowerment

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants must be:

• Non-profit legal entities

• Such as:

  • Civil society organisations (CSOs)

  • Business membership organisations (BMOs)

Establishment requirements

Applicants must be effectively established:

• In Somalia, or

• For the women’s economic empowerment component, in certain eligible countries including:

  • EU Member States

  • OECD-DAC listed developing countries

Experience Requirements

Applicants must show:

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in areas such as:

  • Women’s empowerment

  • Livelihoods

  • Human rights

  • Democracy

• At least 1 donor-funded grant contract managed in the last 4 years

• That previous contract must have been worth at least EUR 305,000

What Strong Projects Should Do

A competitive proposal should:

1. Address clear barriers facing women in markets or entrepreneurship

2. Show practical pathways to:

   • Finance

   • Skills

   • Digital tools

   • Safe market access

3. Include local partnerships with:

   • Women’s groups

   • Community networks

   • Rights-based CSOs

4. Demonstrate strong understanding of Somalia’s:

   • Fragility context

   • Informal economy

   • Gender norms

   • Human rights environment

5. Include measurable outcomes on:

   • Economic participation

   • Rights protection

   • Advocacy

   • Institutional or community change

Tips for a Strong Application

• Prioritize women-led and community-based approaches

• Show how the project benefits rural women, displaced women, or women with disabilities

• Combine economic inclusion with rights awareness where relevant

• Include practical systems for monitoring, reporting, and accountability

• Demonstrate previous success with large donor-funded programmes

• Build realistic partnerships and implementation structures

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying without the required 5 years of experience

• Failing to prove management of a EUR 305,000+ donor-funded contract

• Submitting a proposal that is too broad without clear outcomes

• Ignoring Somalia’s fragile and conflict-sensitive context

• Weak plans for inclusion of women, youth, displaced persons, or persons with disabilities

• Limited evidence of local legitimacy or implementation capacity

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is this EU funding call in Somalia about?

It supports projects on women’s economic empowerment, inclusive market access, civil society strengthening, and human rights protection in Somalia.

2. What is the total budget?

The total indicative budget is EUR 3,816,000.

3. How much is allocated for women’s economic empowerment?

A total of EUR 2,596,000 is allocated for women’s economic empowerment and inclusive market participation.

4. How much is allocated for civil society and human rights?

A total of EUR 1,220,000 is dedicated to civil society and human rights actions.

5. Who can apply?

Eligible applicants are non-profit legal entities, including civil society organisations and business membership organisations.

6. Do applicants need prior experience?

Yes. Applicants must have at least 5 years of relevant experience and must have managed at least one donor-funded grant worth EUR 305,000 or more in the last 4 years.

7. Can organizations outside Somalia apply?

Yes, but mainly under the women’s economic empowerment component, and only if they are established in eligible countries such as EU Member States or OECD-DAC listed developing countries.

Conclusion

The EU Civil Society and Human Rights Programme in Somalia is a significant funding opportunity for organizations working at the intersection of women’s economic inclusion, entrepreneurship, rights protection, and democratic participation.

With EUR 3.8 million available, the call is especially relevant for experienced CSOs and business membership organisations that can deliver practical, locally grounded solutions for women’s market access, civil society resilience, and human rights accountability in Somalia.

For more information, visit Falling Walls Foundation.