Deadline: 31-Jul-2026
The RIZA initiative is a multi-year EU funding programme designed to strengthen grassroots organisations working on fundamental rights, gender equality, democracy, and social inclusion, with a strong focus on migrant and refugee women. It runs over three funding cycles across four years and aims to support 99 small-scale grassroots NGOs across EU Member States.
Key Objectives of the RIZA Programme
The programme focuses on four main priorities: EU values and rule of law, equality and women’s rights, solidarity and democracy, and sustainability and resilience. It strengthens awareness of fundamental rights, promotes legal literacy, supports accountability mechanisms, advances gender equality, protects migrant and refugee women from discrimination, and improves access to essential services. It also encourages civic participation, community cohesion, prevention of extremism and polarisation, and long-term organisational resilience.
Types of Supported Activities
RIZA funds activities that support migrant and refugee women in understanding and exercising their rights, improving access to justice and protection systems, and strengthening safeguards against discrimination and violence. It also supports health and wellbeing programmes, self-advocacy and leadership training, documentation of rights violations, advocacy reports and campaigns, research and awareness initiatives, democratic dialogue, community engagement, and network-building among women-led organisations.
Funding Structure (Cycle 2)
Cycle 2 provides a total budget of €1,037,784 distributed through three grant types:
- Micro grants: €17,778
- Small grants: €32,778
- Medium grants: €60,000
Funding is provided as 100% lump-sum grants with no co-financing requirement. 90% of the grant is paid after signing the agreement, and the remaining 10% is released after project completion and reporting.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include:
- Migrant or refugee women-led organisations
- Grassroots women’s rights organisations working with migrant and refugee women
- Migrant, refugee, or diaspora-led organisations with women-focused programmes
- Grassroots human rights organisations serving migrant, refugee, or diaspora women
Eligibility requirements include:
- Non-profit status
- Independence from political and religious authorities
- Minimum 1 year of operational activity
- Annual budget below €300,000
- Compliance with EU values and governance standards
Application Rules
Applications can be submitted by:
- A single organisation
- A consortium of up to 3 organisations
Applications are accepted in:
- English
- Any of the 24 official EU languages
Current cycle priority:
- Southern-Mediterranean region (while remaining open to all EU Member States)
Eligible Costs
- Project staff salaries
- Project-related office costs
- Materials, supplies, and essential equipment/software
- Venue rental and catering for project events
- Childcare support during activities
- Travel and accommodation for project implementation and RIZA events
- Consultant and expert fees (up to 20% of total budget)
- Communication and dissemination activities
Non-Eligible Costs
- General administrative overhead unrelated to the project
- Non-project travel
- Entertainment and hospitality expenses
- Long-term infrastructure investments
- Non-essential equipment purchases
Why the RIZA Programme Matters
The programme strengthens grassroots organisations by improving legal awareness among migrant and refugee women, enhancing protection from discrimination and violence, supporting advocacy and leadership, increasing civic participation, and building long-term organisational resilience. It directly supports EU fundamental rights, equality, and democratic inclusion at community level.
How It Works (Step-by-Step)
- Verify eligibility (budget, legal status, experience)
- Design a project aligned with RIZA priorities
- Form a consortium (optional, up to 3 organisations)
- Submit application in eligible language
- Evaluation and selection process
- Grant agreement signing
- Receive 90% upfront funding
- Implement project activities
- Submit final report
- Receive remaining 10% payment
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying without meeting €300,000 budget limit
- Not meeting the 1-year operational requirement
- Weak alignment with migrant/refugee women focus
- Ignoring EU values compliance
- Overbudgeting non-essential equipment or infrastructure
- Poor monitoring, evaluation, and documentation
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the RIZA funding programme?
- It is an EU initiative supporting grassroots organisations working on fundamental rights, gender equality, and migrant/refugee women’s empowerment.
- Who can apply for RIZA grants?
- Non-profit grassroots organisations
- Migrant or refugee women-led organisations
- Diaspora-led or women-focused NGOs working with migrant communities
- Is co-financing required?
- No
- RIZA provides 100% lump-sum funding without co-financing requirements
- What is the maximum grant amount?
- Up to €60,000 in Cycle 2 (medium grants)
- Can organisations apply in partnership?
- Yes
- Up to 3 organisations can apply as a consortium
- Which languages are accepted for applications?
- English
- Any of the 24 official EU languages
- How is the funding paid out?
- 90% is paid after signing the agreement
- 10% is paid after project completion and final reporting
Conclusion
The RIZA programme is a targeted EU funding mechanism that empowers grassroots organisations working with migrant and refugee women. It supports rights-based action, advocacy, protection services, and capacity-building through fully funded grants. By strengthening local organisations, it advances EU values, equality, and democratic participation across Member States.
For more information, visit ENoMW.