Deadline: 26-May-25
The Croatian Platform for International Citizen Solidarity is pleased to announce the launch of its initiative titled “GEAR UP! – Small grants supporting local actions on Global Citizenship Education, Youth Engagement, and Sustainable Development in Serbia and Montenegro.”
Objectives
- The GEAR UP! project aims to foster a shared European vision of Global Citizenship Education (GCE) as a key tool for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. It focuses on raising awareness, particularly among young people, about climate change, sustainable development, and gender equality, while promoting strong and lasting cooperation between Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Local Authorities (LAs), whenever possible.
- Each funding proposal should address one or more specific objectives:
- Empower Local Authorities and/or Civil Society Organisations in Serbia and Montenegro through financial support, enabling them to raise awareness of global challenges, strengthen understanding of local-global interdependencies, and actively participate in decision-making processes.
- Build the capacities and networks of LAs and CSOs by enhancing skills, facilitating knowledge exchange, and providing resources for effective Global Citizenship Education at regional and European levels.
- Engage and educate young people (18-30 years old) in Serbia and Montenegro on sustainability and global challenges, through GCE initiatives led by LAs and/or CSOs.
Scope
- Awareness raising campaigns, training, seminars in the field of GCE, sustainable development, youth engagement/participation, gender equality;
- Interactive and educational round tables/workshops;
- Capacity building activities, public/cultural events (one-off, series or recurrent);
- Cultural and artistic initiatives (co-financing of theatre performances, exhibitions);
- Activities to promote correct and broad information and awareness on issues related to GCE and the UN 2030 Agenda.
Priorities
- Each proposal should address one or more priorities:
- sustainable development and SDGs
- youth engagement
- global citizenship education (with focus on civic engagement)
- social or environmental justice
- gender equality, non-discrimination principle and intersectionality
- awareness and critical understanding of global issues global/local interdependencies (considering culture and international development cooperation.
Funding Information
- Grants ranging from €5,000 to €15,000 to implement projects that promote awareness, civic participation, and social or environmental justice, with a special focus on youth.
- Duration: The GEAR UP! Call for Proposals supports projects ranging from a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 12 months. All funded projects must be implemented between September 2025 and October 2026, ensuring that activities are completed within this timeframe.
Eligible Countries
- The applicants must be based in Serbia or Montenegro and the activities must take place in their respective countries.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must:
- be a legal person (CSO or an association of CSOs) constituted in accordance with the legislation in force in the country (Serbia or Montenegro) or a small or medium-sized Local Authority based in Serbia or Montenegro
- be a consortium of Non-Profit Organisations and other Local Authorities with a clearly identified Lead Organization
- if a legal person, be a Civil Society Organization (CSO) or an association of CSOs constituted in accordance with the legislation in force in the country
- be non-profit making
- not be a beneficiary of a grant (neither lead, or co-applicant, or affiliated entity, nor associates or contractors) in the frame of the European Commission’s DEAR programme
- have been legally registered for a minimum of 12 months before the publication date of this Call for Proposals
- adhere to EU due diligence requirements, as listed in the Declaration on exclusion criteria.
For more information, visit GEAR UP!.