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Apply Now: EU Peacebuilding Initiative 2026 (Israel and Palestine)

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Entries open for ICIP Peace in Progress Award

Deadline: 24-Jul-2026

The EU Peacebuilding Initiative 2026 invites eligible non-profit organisations to submit proposals that strengthen support for peacebuilding and a negotiated two-state solution in Israel and Palestine. The programme has an overall indicative budget of EUR 8 million, divided equally between two lots, with individual grants ranging from EUR 400,000 to EUR 800,000. The initiative focuses on civic and political engagement, trust-building, human rights, tolerance, mutual understanding, youth participation, women’s meaningful participation, and civil society advocacy.

Overview

The EU Peacebuilding Initiative 2026 supports civil society actions that promote peacebuilding, dialogue, and public support for a just and negotiated two-state solution in Israel and Palestine.

The programme aims to rebuild conditions for dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians by strengthening political and trust-building dimensions of peacebuilding.

It focuses on civil society engagement, positive societal change, advocacy, and dialogue with audiences that may be skeptical, unconvinced, or less exposed to the Middle East Peace Process and the two-state solution vision.

Purpose of the Programme

The purpose of the EU Peacebuilding Initiative 2026 is to increase support for the two-state solution among relevant sections of society, the general public, and decision-makers in Israel and Palestine.

The programme seeks to preserve and promote the viability and societal acceptance of a just and sustainable peace.

It supports initiatives that address underlying causes of conflict, strengthen civil society influence, promote human rights, and create a climate more conducive to peacebuilding.

Key Focus Areas

The programme focuses on peacebuilding, civic engagement, political engagement, trust-building, human rights, tolerance, mutual understanding, negotiated two-state solution, youth mainstreaming, women’s meaningful participation, civil society advocacy, social attitude change, dialogue, bridge-building, countering harmful narratives, peace education, and engagement with skeptical or unconvinced audiences.

Global Objective

The global objective is to increase support among relevant sections of society, the general public, and decision-makers in Israel and Palestine for the two-state solution.

The programme treats the two-state solution as a foundation for creating a climate conducive to peacebuilding.

It places emphasis on engaging constituencies and stakeholders who are traditionally less exposed to, less committed to, or unconvinced by the Middle East Peace Process and the two-state solution vision.

Specific Objective

The specific objective is to strengthen civil society’s influence on decision-makers and society in support of a just and negotiated two-state solution.

This includes strengthening cooperation, advocacy, dialogue, and public engagement around peacebuilding and conflict transformation.

Expected Outcomes

Expected outcomes include:

What the Programme Supports

The EU Peacebuilding Initiative 2026 supports civil society actions that strengthen peacebuilding and promote public and political support for a negotiated two-state solution.

Eligible actions may include:

Supported actions should contribute to political and trust-building dimensions of peacebuilding.

Focus on Political and Trust-Building Dimensions

Given developments since late 2023, the initiative will exclusively support political and trust-building dimensions.

This includes civic and political engagement in peacebuilding, advocacy, dialogue, and activities that promote positive societal attitudinal change.

Projects should not be limited to general awareness activities. They should show how civil society action can influence public discourse, policymakers, communities, and constituencies relevant to peacebuilding.

Youth and Women’s Participation

The programme places strong emphasis on youth and women’s participation.

Projects should mainstream young people and support their active role in peacebuilding and conflict transformation.

Women’s meaningful participation should also be included across project design, leadership, implementation, advocacy, and dialogue processes.

Engagement with Skeptical Audiences

A key priority is engaging people and groups that are skeptical, unconvinced, or opposed to a negotiated two-state solution.

Projects should be designed to reach beyond already supportive audiences.

Applicants should explain how they will engage less exposed or less committed constituencies through dialogue, evidence, advocacy, storytelling, education, or community-based approaches.

Funding Amount

The overall indicative budget available under this call is EUR 8 million.

The funding is divided equally between two lots:

Individual grant requests must range between EUR 400,000 and EUR 800,000.

Eligible Lots

The call includes two funding lots.

Lot for Palestine or EU-Led Applications

This lot has an indicative budget of EUR 4 million.

It supports applications led by organisations established in Palestine or a European Union Member State.

Lot for Israel or EU-Led Applications

This lot has an indicative budget of EUR 4 million.

It supports applications led by organisations established in Israel or a European Union Member State.

Applicants should select the correct lot based on the location and establishment status of the lead applicant.

Who Is Eligible?

Lead applicants must be legal, non-profit entities.

Eligible lead applicants may include:

Applicants must be effectively established in Israel, Palestine, or a European Union Member State.

Lead applicants must also be directly responsible for preparing and managing the proposed action together with any co-applicants and affiliated entities.

Eligible Partners and Participants

The programme supports cooperation among civil society actors, institutions, media, researchers, educational bodies, policy actors, and community organisations.

Projects may involve partners that contribute to:

The roles of all co-applicants and affiliated entities should be clearly defined.

Why It Matters

Peacebuilding requires more than formal negotiations. It also requires public trust, civic engagement, mutual understanding, human rights, and social acceptance of peaceful political solutions.

The EU Peacebuilding Initiative 2026 matters because it supports civil society organisations working to preserve the conditions for dialogue and strengthen support for a negotiated two-state solution.

By focusing on skeptical audiences, youth, women, policymakers, and civil society cooperation, the programme encourages long-term societal engagement in peacebuilding and conflict transformation.

How to Apply

Applicants should prepare a strong concept and proposal that clearly explains the peacebuilding challenge, target audiences, methodology, partners, expected outcomes, budget, and contribution to the two-state solution.

Step 1: Confirm Lead Applicant Eligibility

The lead applicant must be a legal, non-profit entity effectively established in Israel, Palestine, or a European Union Member State.

The applicant must also be directly responsible for preparing and managing the action.

Step 2: Select the Correct Lot

Applicants should identify the correct lot based on the establishment location of the lead applicant.

The proposal should be submitted under the relevant funding allocation for Palestine or EU-led applications, or Israel or EU-led applications.

Step 3: Define the Peacebuilding Challenge

The proposal should clearly explain the specific conflict-related challenge the action will address.

This may include lack of trust, harmful narratives, limited civic engagement, weak public support for peacebuilding, reduced youth participation, or limited dialogue with skeptical constituencies.

Step 4: Identify Target Audiences

Applicants should clearly define the audiences they will engage.

Target groups may include:

The proposal should explain why these audiences are important and how they will be reached.

Step 5: Design the Action

The proposed action should include practical and structured activities.

These may include dialogue, advocacy, peace education, research, media engagement, human rights-based programming, networking, policy engagement, or bridge-building activities.

The design should show how activities will contribute to trust-building, civic engagement, and support for a negotiated two-state solution.

Step 6: Mainstream Youth and Women

Applicants should explain how young people and women will participate meaningfully.

This should go beyond counting participants and include leadership roles, decision-making opportunities, advocacy involvement, and active participation in conflict transformation processes.

Step 7: Develop the Advocacy and Dialogue Strategy

The proposal should explain how civil society will influence decision-makers and public discourse.

This may include:

Step 8: Prepare the Budget

Individual grant requests must range from EUR 400,000 to EUR 800,000.

The budget should be realistic, eligible, and directly linked to the proposed action.

Applicants should ensure the budget aligns with the selected lot and project scope.

Step 9: Submit the Application

Applicants should submit a complete application with all required information, including organisational details, action description, budget, partnership structure, methodology, expected outcomes, and implementation plan.

A strong application should be clear, politically sensitive, inclusive, and focused on measurable peacebuilding results.

Selection Considerations

Applications are likely to be assessed based on relevance, feasibility, quality, impact, and alignment with the programme’s objectives.

Key assessment areas may include:

Tips for a Strong Proposal

Applicants should:

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Common mistakes include:

FAQ

1. What is the EU Peacebuilding Initiative 2026?

It is a call for proposals supporting civil society actions that strengthen peacebuilding and support for a just and negotiated two-state solution in Israel and Palestine.

2. How much funding is available?

The overall indicative budget is EUR 8 million.

3. How much can each project request?

Individual grant requests must range between EUR 400,000 and EUR 800,000.

4. How is the funding divided?

Funding is divided equally between two lots: EUR 4 million for applications led by organisations established in Palestine or an EU Member State, and EUR 4 million for applications led by organisations established in Israel or an EU Member State.

5. Who can apply?

Legal non-profit entities such as NGOs may apply. Educational and training institutions, universities, research centres, think tanks, and non-profit media organisations may also participate.

6. What types of actions are eligible?

Eligible actions may include peacebuilding, trust-building, advocacy, peace education, research, dialogue, human rights-based initiatives, countering misinformation, challenging stereotypes, and networking across Israeli and Palestinian societies.

7. What groups should projects engage?

Projects should engage relevant sections of society, decision-makers, the general public, youth, women, skeptical audiences, and constituencies less exposed or less committed to the Middle East Peace Process and the two-state solution vision.

Conclusion

The EU Peacebuilding Initiative 2026 provides major support for civil society organisations working to strengthen peacebuilding, civic engagement, trust-building, and public support for a just and negotiated two-state solution in Israel and Palestine. With an indicative budget of EUR 8 million and individual grants ranging from EUR 400,000 to EUR 800,000, the programme supports actions that engage youth, women, policymakers, opinion shapers, and skeptical constituencies. Applicants should submit conflict-sensitive, inclusive, and well-structured proposals that promote dialogue, human rights, mutual understanding, and civil society influence on public discourse and decision-making.

For more information, visit EC.

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