Overview of open calls

Civil Society Fund calls that are open for donor country partnerships:

N.B.: Before sending in an application, be sure to check with the Fund Operator whether the call is still open. Deadlines can change if the funds are exhausted.

Croatia

Call No. 1 – Call for evidence-based advocacy projects (Call guidelines)

Focus Area: Aimed at strengthening the role of civil society organisations in democratic processes, public policymaking, and the protection of fundamental rights and the rule of law. The call supports initiatives that use high-quality research, public policy analysis, monitoring of legislation, and strategic advocacy to foster structured dialogue with decision-makers and increase civic participation at local, national, and European levels.

Funding Budget: €600,000

Grant Range: €100,000 to €150,000 per project

Project Duration: 18 to 24 months

Deadline: 04 September 2026 (Questions deadline: 27 August 2026)

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) encouraged.

Call No. 2 – Call for Civic Education Projects (call guidelines)

Focus Area: Aimed at strengthening democratic values, the rule of law, and civic engagement through participatory civic education. LOT 1 supports scaling and evaluating established civic education programmes, while LOT 2 supports new or improved projects that connect civic learning with active participation. Under LOT 2, special strategic priority is given to the development and/or improvement of mentorship programmes for Roma youth, particularly young Roma women and girls.

Funding Budget: €2,030,000

Grant Range: LOT 1: €150,000 to €200,000 per project; LOT 2: €80,000 to €100,000 per project

Project Duration: LOT 1: 36 months; LOT 2: 18 to 24 months

Deadline: 19 October 2026 (Questions deadline: 11 October 2026)

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) encouraged.

Romania

Call No. 1 – Strengthening Democracy and Rule of Law through Civil Society Initiatives (call guidelines)

Focus Area: Aimed at strengthening democratic values and the rule of law by enhancing the capacity of civil society organisations to promote participatory governance, citizen engagement, and institutional accountability. The call supports initiatives focused on systemic change, policy influence, institutional strengthening, and the development of sustainable and scalable models, including efforts to safeguard human rights, represent underrepresented groups, and strengthen long-term democratic processes.

Funding Budget: €3,718,664

Grant Range: €200,001 to €350,000 per project

Project Duration: 36 to 48 months

Deadline: 08 October 2026 (Questions deadline: 29 September 2026)

Up to 20% of the total project budget may be allocated to organisational development of the Applicant and, where applicable, Romanian CSO partner(s). Between 3% and 5% may be allocated to monitoring and rapid response actions.

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) encouraged.

Call No. 2 – Empowering Civic Participation in Underserved Communities (call guidelines)

Focus Area: Aimed at empowering young people and underserved communities to participate actively in democratic processes and local decision-making. The call supports small-scale interventions focused on local advocacy and community activation, as well as larger projects that develop innovative participation models, contribute to policy development, and promote systemic change. Particular emphasis is placed on strengthening collaboration between citizens, civil society organisations, and public authorities, improving institutional accountability, and reaching young people, NEETs, and communities with limited access to civic participation and decision-making.

Funding Budget: €4,500,000

Grant Range: €15,000 to €350,000 per project

Project Duration: 4 to 9 months for Small Grants; 36 to 48 months for Large Grants

Deadline: 08 October 2026 (Questions deadline: 29 September 2026)

For Large Grants, up to 20% of the total project budget may be allocated to organisational development, while 3% to 5% may be allocated to monitoring and rapid response actions.

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) encouraged.

Call No. 3 – Community-Driven Projects for Human Rights and Social Justice (call guidelines)

Focus Area: Aimed at strengthening human rights and social justice by empowering underserved communities and marginalised groups and improving their access to rights, services, and protection mechanisms. The call supports initiatives focused on systemic change, policy influence, institutional strengthening, and sustainable and scalable models, including monitoring human rights violations, strengthening legal protection and institutional accountability, combating discrimination and hate crime, and advocating for equality and systemic reforms. Particular attention is given to refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and people displaced by the war in Ukraine, with a focus on social inclusion and community cohesion.

Funding Budget: €6,300,000, including a special allocation of €1,555,624 for addressing challenges arising from the invasion of Ukraine

Grant Range: €200,001 to €350,000 per project

Project Duration: 36 to 48 months

Deadline: 08 October 2026 (Questions deadline: 29 September 2026)

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) encouraged.

Call No. 4 – Promoting Diversity, Equality and Combating Gender-Based Violence (call guidelines)

Focus Area: Aimed at strengthening the role of civil society in protecting human rights, promoting equality, and addressing discrimination and gender-based violence. The call supports initiatives advancing gender equality, combating discrimination against LGBTIQ+ persons, preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV), and promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Medium Grants focus on improving access to inclusive, rights-based services for underserved groups facing multiple vulnerabilities, while Large Grants support systemic change, policy influence, institutional strengthening, and the development of sustainable and scalable models.

Funding Budget: €4,478,018, including a special allocation of €1,500,000 dedicated to addressing gender-based violence

Grant Range: €100,000 to €350,000 per project

Project Duration: 24 to 36 months for Medium Grants; 36 to 48 months for Large Grants

Deadline: 08 October 2026 (Questions deadline: 29 September 2026)

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) encouraged.

Call No. 5 – Roma Inclusion and Empowerment through the Development of Interethnic Communities (call guidelines)

Focus Area: Aimed at promoting the medium- and long-term inclusion and empowerment of Roma within interethnic communities while strengthening social cohesion and trust between ethnic groups. The call supports initiatives addressing structural inequalities and discrimination affecting Roma and other disadvantaged or vulnerable groups, with gender equality and the empowerment of Roma women and girls as a cross-cutting priority. Small Grants focus on targeted interventions, local advocacy, and community activation in underserved areas, while Large Grants aim to achieve systemic change by linking policy implementation with innovative service models.

Funding Budget: €6,500,000

Grant Range: €15,000 to €350,000 per project

Project Duration: 4 to 9 months for Small Grants; 36 to 48 months for Large Grants

Deadline: 08 October 2026 (Questions deadline: 29 September 2026)

Projects must demonstrate the presence and situation of the Roma population in the targeted communities. For Large Grants, up to 20% of the total project budget may be allocated to organisational development, while 3% to 5% may be allocated to monitoring and rapid response actions.

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) encouraged.

Call No. 6 – Protecting Human Rights through Climate and Environmental Actions (call guidelines)

Focus Area: Aimed at advancing the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment by strengthening civil society organisations’ capacity for advocacy, community engagement, and policy involvement. The call supports initiatives promoting environmental justice and a just green transition, particularly for marginalised and vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and the socio-economic impacts of climate and environmental policies. Small Grants focus on targeted local interventions, advocacy, and community activation in underserved areas, while Large Grants support systemic change, policy implementation, and innovative initiatives.

Funding Budget: €6,000,000

Grant Range: €15,000 to €350,000 per project

Project Duration: 4 to 9 months for Small Grants; 36 to 48 months for Large Grants

Deadline: 08 October 2026 (Questions deadline: 29 September 2026)

For Large Grants, up to 20% of the total project budget may be allocated to organisational development of the Applicant and, where applicable, Romanian CSO partner(s). Between 3% and 5% may be allocated to monitoring and rapid response actions.

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) encouraged.

Bulgaria

Call No. 2 – Rolling Call for Small Grants (Call guidelines)

Focus Area: Dedicated to strengthening civil society and supporting organisations that contribute to a more democratic, inclusive, and resilient society. It aims to foster civic participation, protect fundamental rights, encourage social justice and equality, and promote sustainable responses to emerging societal challenges. The call places particular emphasis on supporting smaller, community-based organisations, as well as initiatives working with underrepresented or vulnerable groups, through a simplified and accessible funding mechanism.

Funding Budget: €4,150,000

Grant Range: €10,000 to €25,000 per project

Project Duration: 6 to 12 months

Deadline: 29 June 2030 (with ongoing rolling application sessions; the first evaluation cutoff is 29 September 2026)

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) encouraged.

Slovenia

Call No. 1 – Rolling Call for Proposals: Quick-Response Small Projects/Actions (Call guidelines)

Focus Area: Supports urgent advocacy, legal, communication, and rapid-response actions designed as an immediate response to emerging challenges (such as pressure on NGO operations, disinformation, hate speech, rights violations, or harmful legislative changes). Key priority areas include the protection of democracy, the rule of law, human rights, media literacy, gender equality (including SRHR and LGBTQI+ rights), and environmental protection/climate action (focused on public participation, advocacy, and strategic litigation). Youth involvement in mobilization and campaign implementation is particularly encouraged.

Funding Budget: €300,000
Grant Range: €1,000 to €10,000 per project
Project Duration: 1 to 12 months
Deadline: Continuous rolling call (Applications opened 1 June 2026 and remain open until funds are fully allocated)

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) encouraged.

Slovakia

Call No. 1 – Small Grants (Call guidelines)

Focus Area: Supports small-scale civil society initiatives that strengthen democratic values, the rule of law, human rights, and social cohesion, while addressing challenges such as disinformation, declining trust in democratic institutions, and the impacts of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Funding Budget: €990,000

Grant Range: Up to €25,000 per project

Project Duration: 1to12 months

Deadline: Rolling call (applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and assessed at regular intervals until the budget is exhausted)

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) encouraged.

Call No. 7 – Bilateral Cooperation (Call guidelines)

Focus Area: Supports initiatives aimed at strengthening relations between Slovak CSOs and entities in the donor states. Funding is intended for networking, sharing know-how, transferring best practices, and developing joint project partnerships.

Funding Budget: €120,000

Grant Range: Up to €5,000 per project

Project Duration: Up to 12 months

Deadline: Rolling call (Applications accepted ongoingly until the allocated funds are fully exhausted)

Partnerships is mandatory (Projects must involve at least one partner from Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein)

Poland

Call No. 2 – Call for proposals on countering disinformation

Focus Area: Supports civil society activities aimed at strengthening democratic values, the rule of law, and human rights through increased information integrity, media literacy, and organizational development.

Funding Budget: €2,928,000

Grant Range: €25,001 to €80,000 for project implementation (up to €112,000 including optional top-ups for capacity building and donor-state bilateral cooperation)

Project Duration: 12 to 24 months

Deadline: 06 October 2026 (12:00 CEST)

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) encouraged.

Czechia

Call No. 1 – Project Grants (Call guidelines)

Focus Area: Supports initiatives that strengthen civic engagement, protection of human rights, information integrity, gender equality, a just green transition, and participation in democratic processes. The call aims to foster stronger, more sustainable, and better-connected civil society organisations.

Funding Budget: €5,960,000

Grant Range: From €25,001 to €100,000

Project Duration: 18, 24, 36 months

Deadline: 15 September 2026

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) encouraged.

Call No. 2 – Project Grants for Systemic Change (Call guidelines)

Focus Area: Supports strategic, large-scale civil society initiatives aimed at achieving structural and systemic changes in public policies, institutional practices, or societal frameworks. Focuses on long-term impacts regarding democracy, human rights, civic participation, and institutional transparency.

Funding Budget: €1,600,000 (Total Pool)

Grant Range: €100,000 to €200,000 per project

Project Duration: 36 months

Deadline: 15 September 2026

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) encouraged.

Call No. 3 – Small Project Regional Grants, Karlovy Vary and Pilsen Regions (Call guidelines)

Focus Area: Supports smaller-scale, localized civil society initiatives explicitly targeting the Karlovy Vary and Pilsen regions. Funding is geared toward boosting civic participation, addressing regional socio-economic challenges, promoting democratic governance, and fostering community resilience.

Funding Budget: €51,558

Grant Range: €2,000 to €5,000 per project

Project Duration: 6 months

Deadline: 15 September 2026

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) encouraged.

Portugal

Call No. 01 – Large Projects: Strengthening Democratic Values and the Rule of Law (Call guidelines)

Focus Area: Funds major, multi-year initiatives designed to achieve structural, systemic change within Portuguese civil society. The call focuses heavily on strengthening democratic values, enforcing the rule of law, protecting fundamental human rights, and building the structural resilience and long-term capacity of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Funding Budget: €1,562,500

Grant Range: €37,500 to €62,500 per project

Project Duration: Between 12 and 24 months

Deadline: 29 September 2026

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) encouraged.

Call No. 02 – Large Projects: Supporting and Defending Human Rights (Call guidelines)

Focus Area: Seeks to support initiatives that protect and advance human rights, promote social and environmental justice, and address discrimination and gender inequality, with a special concern for LGBTIQ+ rights, supporting migrants and refugees, addressing gender-based violence, and strengthening climate action and a just green transition.

Funding Budget: €1,562,500
Grant Range: €37,500 to €62,500 per project
Project Duration: Between 12 and 24 months
Deadline: 29 September 2026

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) encouraged.

Call No. 03 – Small Projects: Strengthening Civil Society Organisations (Call guidelines)

Focus Area: Focuses on two pillars: strengthening the organisational development and long-term sustainability of CSOs by enhancing staff and volunteer capacities, and improving the enabling environment by reinforcing umbrella networks, fostering cooperation platforms, and reducing fragmentation to increase collective sector impact.

Funding Budget: €450,000

Grant Range: €25,000 to €37,500 per project

Project Duration: Between 6 and 18 months

Deadline: 29 September 2026

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) are encouraged.

Estonia

Call No. 1 – Strategic Projects (Call guidelines)

Focus Area: Supports strategic projects that contribute to a more vibrant and resilient civil society protecting and promoting democracy, the rule of law, and human rights.

Funding Budget: €1,405,000

Grant Range: €50,001 to €120,000 per project

Project Duration: 12 to 24 months

Deadline: 28 September 2026

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) are encouraged.

A Note on Funding Mechanisms under the Civil Society Fund

Under the 2021–2028 EEA and Norway Grants framework (with projects eligible to run until April 2031), the funding previously known as the Active Citizens Fund has transitioned to the Civil Society Fund.

There are two main avenues for engaging in project partnerships:

- Standard/Thematic Project Grants: These are larger, multi-year initiatives designed to achieve systemic change or run sustained regional and thematic programmes. While only organisations based in the beneficiary countries can officially act as the primary applicant (Project Promoter), entities from the donor states (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) are actively sought after and highly encouraged to join as partners. Unlike the tail-end of the previous cycle, the rollout of the 2021–2028 framework means major calls for these large-scale partnerships are open and launching across multiple countries throughout 2026.

- Bilateral Funds / Bilateral Initiatives: These are highly flexible, smaller sources of funding explicitly set aside to build cross-border relationships. They finance activities such as partner-matching searches, study tours, joint workshops, conferences, and initial networking. In many cases, these initiatives can be launched on a rolling basis, allowing both beneficiary country organisations and donor-state partners to proactively trigger contact and seed future collaborations.

With the new funding period fully underway as of 2026, a wide range of both large thematic grants and rolling bilateral funding opportunities are actively live.

The information above is updated as frequently as possible, but discrepancies may arise due to varying country timelines. Please check out www.eeagrants.org for a comprehensive overview of all EEA and Norway Grants programmes.

2026 PREVIOUS CALLS

Poland

Call No. 1 – Thematic Projects (Call guidelines)

Focus Area: Supports projects that strengthen democratic values and the rule of law while promoting and protecting human rights.

Funding Budget: €17,250,920

Grant Range: €10,000 to €112,000 per project.

Deadline: 29 July 2026 at 12:00 noon.

Donor-country partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) encouraged.