Funding Opportunity for Media Organisations in Kosovo

The European Commission is inviting grant applications in Kosovo to support public interest journalism, investigative reporting, and linguistic diversity in media. The call has two lots with a combined indicative budget of EUR 1.5 million, supporting projects over 36 to 48 months.

About the Programme

This European Commission funding opportunity aims to strengthen:

Media freedom
Media pluralism
Public interest journalism
Investigative reporting
Linguistic diversity in Kosovo’s media environment

The call is divided into two lots, each targeting a different aspect of the media ecosystem.

Focus Areas

The programme supports initiatives that:

Provide accessible and reliable information
Promote transparency and accountability
Strengthen reporting on:
- Rule of law
- EU-related reforms
Increase representation of:
- Women
- Youth
- Underrepresented groups
Encourage inclusive multilingual storytelling
Support media production and digital platforms
Use innovative ways to reach diverse audiences

Lot 1: Public Interest Journalism & Investigative Reporting

This lot supports projects that:

Conduct investigations into important social and public issues
Deliver in-depth public interest reporting
Promote transparency in public institutions
Strengthen accountability journalism
Cover the rule of law and EU reform processes

Funding for Lot 1

Grant size: EUR 150,000 to EUR 200,000
Indicative budget: EUR 600,000
Project duration: 36 to 48 months

Lot 2: Linguistic Diversity in Media

This lot supports organisations that can manage financial support to third parties for media initiatives.

The focus is on:

Amplifying voices in underrepresented local languages
Creating content for diverse audiences
Supporting inclusive, multilingual storytelling
Strengthening media production and digital platforms for linguistic diversity

Funding for Lot 2

Grant size: EUR 850,000 to EUR 900,000
Indicative budget: EUR 900,000
Project duration: 36 to 48 months

Who Can Apply?

Eligible participants may include:

Lead applicants
Co-applicants
Affiliated entities

Applicants must meet the specific eligibility rules of the call and ensure their proposed action clearly aligns with the objectives and priorities of the selected lot.

Important Note

For Lot 2, applicants should have the capacity to manage:

Financial support to third parties

This means organisations should be experienced in subgranting or regranting mechanisms and in overseeing smaller downstream beneficiaries.

Why This Programme Matters

This call is especially important because it supports both:

Accountability journalism, and
Inclusion in the media landscape

It helps strengthen:

Democratic oversight
Public access to trustworthy information
Representation of diverse communities
Media access in non-majority languages
Coverage of governance and reform issues in Kosovo

How to Apply

Suggested Steps

Decide whether your proposal fits:
- Lot 1: Investigative/Public Interest Journalism, or
- Lot 2: Linguistic Diversity in Media
Review the exact eligibility criteria for:
- Lead applicants
- Co-applicants
- Affiliated entities
Design a project aligned with the selected lot’s priorities
Prepare a realistic budget within the allowed grant range
Ensure all eligible costs are clearly documented and justified
If applying under Lot 2, demonstrate capacity for financial support to third parties
Submit through the official European Commission process

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applying under the wrong lot
Proposing activities outside the lot-specific objectives
Ignoring the 36–48 month duration requirement
Failing to justify eligible costs clearly
Applying for Lot 2 without proven subgranting capacity
Weak alignment with media freedom, pluralism, or linguistic diversity goals

Quick Facts

Funder: European Commission
Country Focus: Kosovo
Theme: Media freedom, pluralism, journalism, linguistic diversity
Total Indicative Budget: EUR 1.5 million
Lot 1 Budget: EUR 600,000
Lot 1 Grant Range: EUR 150,000–200,000
Lot 2 Budget: EUR 900,000
Lot 2 Grant Range: EUR 850,000–900,000
Project Duration: 36–48 months

FAQ

1. What is the purpose of this call?

It supports public interest journalism, investigative reporting, and linguistic diversity in media to strengthen media freedom and pluralism in Kosovo.

2. How many lots are there?

There are two lots:

Lot 1: Public Interest Journalism & Investigative Reporting
Lot 2: Linguistic Diversity in Media

3. How much funding is available under Lot 1?

Lot 1 offers grants of EUR 150,000 to EUR 200,000, with an indicative budget of EUR 600,000.

4. How much funding is available under Lot 2?

Lot 2 offers grants of EUR 850,000 to EUR 900,000, with an indicative budget of EUR 900,000.

5. How long can projects run?

Projects under both lots can run for 36 to 48 months.

6. What is special about Lot 2?

Lot 2 supports organisations that can provide financial support to third parties, especially for media in underrepresented local languages.

Conclusion

This European Commission call is a major opportunity for organisations working to strengthen journalism, media freedom, and multilingual inclusion in Kosovo.

With EUR 1.5 million across two lots, the programme is particularly relevant for organisations focused on investigative reporting, public accountability, and media access for non-majority language communities.