Important: only for civil society organisations based in Council of Europe member states (European countries). Not open to individuals, and not open to organisations in Nigeria or other African countries.
The Council of Europe‘s Democratic Institutions and Civil Society Division is offering up to three grants of up to €20,000 to civil society organisations for projects that strengthen democracy and help civil society engage with the Council of Europe. Projects run from February to October 2027.
Deadline: 2 December 2026, 23:59 CET (as reported).
Key Details
- Funder: Council of Europe (Democratic Institutions and Civil Society Division)
- Grants: up to 3, each up to €20,000 (co-funding)
- Project period: February–October 2027
- Open to: legally registered civil society organisations in Council of Europe member states
- Partnership: organisations from at least four member states
- Deadline: 2 December 2026, 23:59 CET
Benefits
- co-funding of up to €20,000 for a democracy-focused project
- a chance to work directly with Council of Europe standards and mechanisms
- visibility and networking across member states
What Projects Should Do
- inform civil society and the public about Council of Europe standards on democracy and civic space, including the Reykjavík Principles for Democracy
- build civil society’s capacity to use those standards in advocacy, monitoring and dialogue
- raise awareness of Council of Europe mechanisms and ways for civil society to engage
Eligibility
- a legally constituted civil society organisation in a Council of Europe member state
- at least five years of relevant experience
- proven expertise in the field or past cooperation with the Council of Europe
- a project involving organisations from at least four member states, with balanced geographical and gender representation
The Council of Europe has 46 member states, all in Europe (including Türkiye, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan). African organisations are not eligible.
How to Apply
- Read the official Call for Proposals on the Council of Europe website.
- Complete the official application form and budget template.
- Build a partnership with organisations from at least four member states.
- Submit electronically by 2 December 2026, 23:59 CET.
The Council of Europe’s website could not be accessed for automated checking, so details are as reported by Opportunity Desk. Confirm all terms in the official call before applying.
Tips
- Agree partner roles early; all four-plus member-state partners must be named.
- Link activities clearly to the Reykjavík Principles.
- Keep the budget realistic for co-funding of €20,000.
- African readers: see Africa-focused civil society and democracy opportunities below instead.
