European Commission Civil Society Grants 2026 in India: Apply for €1.5 Million to €2 Million for Climate Action, Policy Dialogue and Sustainable Value Chains ·Unknown

The European Commission has launched a major Call for Proposals offering substantial grant funding to strengthen civil society organisations working on good governance, policy dialogue, climate action, sustainable economic development, social inclusion and sustainable value chains in India.

Officially titled “India – Civil Society Contribution to Policy Dialogue, Climate Action and Sustainable Value Chains,” the funding opportunity is being implemented by the European Commission under reference EuropeAid/187022/DD/ACT/IN.

With an overall indicative financial allocation of €9,976,000, the call offers individual grants ranging from €1.5 million to €2 million for eligible projects. The programme is particularly focused on strengthening civil society organisations as independent actors of good governance and development while increasing their contribution to EU-India cooperation.

The call is divided into two funding lots. The first covers eligible interventions across India and focuses on civil society participation in EU-India sectoral policy dialogue, inclusive development, climate action and sustainable value chains. The second has a specific geographic focus on India’s North Eastern Region and seeks to strengthen inclusive green economic development, environmental governance, climate resilience and sustainable value chains.

This is a restricted Call for Proposals, meaning applicants will initially submit only a concept note. Organisations whose concept notes are pre-selected will subsequently be invited to prepare and submit a complete application.

The deadline for submitting concept notes is 15 September 2026 at 09:00 Brussels time.

About the European Commission Civil Society Grant Call in India

The programme forms part of broader cooperation between the European Union and India and reflects the growing strategic relationship between the two partners.

EU-India cooperation covers a wide range of areas, including:

• Climate action;
• Clean energy;
• Sustainable urbanisation;
• Water;
• Biodiversity;
• Agroecology and agroforestry;
• Resource efficiency;
• Circular economy;
• Digital transition;
• Science and technology;
• Research and education;
• Migration and mobility; and
• Sustainable development.

The call is funded under the EU Civil Society Organisations Thematic Programme and seeks to strengthen civil society organisations as independent actors capable of contributing meaningfully to governance, sustainable development and policy dialogue.

The programme recognises that civil society has an important role to play in shaping policies, generating evidence, representing communities, promoting transparency, strengthening accountability and ensuring that development initiatives respond to the needs of communities.

Why the European Union Is Supporting Civil Society in India

India has a large and diverse civil society landscape encompassing organisations working in areas such as community development, environmental protection, human rights, social inclusion, public policy, research, advocacy and service delivery.

Civil society organisations can provide critical knowledge, experience, data and community perspectives that strengthen policymaking and development.

The European Commission therefore seeks to create opportunities for capable organisations to contribute their expertise to important policy and development discussions while operating within India’s applicable legal and regulatory framework.

The programme is particularly concerned with strengthening civil society participation in:

• EU-India policy dialogue;
• Sustainable development;
• Climate action;
• Inclusive economic development;
• Sustainable value chains;
• Global Gateway investments;
• Environmental governance;
• Community empowerment;
• Evidence-based advocacy;
• Gender equality;
• Youth participation; and
• Development of India’s North Eastern Region.

Overall Objective of the Call for Proposals

The global objective is to:

Strengthen local civil society organisations’ engagement as actors of good governance and development in India.

This overarching objective is supported by three specific objectives.

Specific Objective 1: Strengthening Civil Society Participation in EU-India Policy Dialogue

The first specific objective seeks to strengthen the capacities of civil society organisations to contribute to and constructively engage in EU-India sectoral policy dialogue partnerships under the EU-India Comprehensive Strategic Agenda.

Relevant sectors include:

• Clean energy;
• Climate action;
• Resource efficiency;
• Circular economy;
• Water;
• Sustainable urbanisation; and
• Digital development.

The objective also seeks to encourage inclusive policies benefiting vulnerable and marginalised populations.

Particular attention is given to:

• Women;
• Young people;
• Persons with disabilities;
• Older people;
• Children; and
• Other minorities and vulnerable groups.

Specific Objective 2: Sustainable Economic Growth, Climate Action and Sustainable Value Chains

The second objective seeks to strengthen civil society organisations’ contribution to:

• Sustainable economic growth;
• Job creation;
• Social inclusion;
• Welfare;
• Climate action; and
• Sustainable value chains in India.

The objective recognises that CSOs can play an important role in creating more inclusive, environmentally sustainable and socially responsible economic systems.

Specific Objective 3: Sustainable Development in India’s North Eastern Region

The third objective focuses specifically on India’s North Eastern Region.

It seeks to promote civil society contributions to:

• Sustainable economic growth;
• Employment;
• Social inclusion;
• Welfare;
• Climate action; and
• Sustainable value chains.

This objective forms the basis of Lot 2 of the funding programme.

Two Funding Lots Available

Applicants must select only one of the two lots.

A proposal must address at least one priority under its selected lot.

However, applicants are encouraged to address more than one priority where those priorities can be coherently integrated into the proposed project and create meaningful synergies.

Lot 1: Civil Society Policy Dialogue, Inclusive Development and Global Gateway

Lot 1 combines Specific Objectives 1 and 2.

Projects under this lot may be implemented anywhere in India.

The indicative financial allocation for Lot 1 is:

€5,976,000

Lot 1 contains four major priority areas.

Lot 1 Priority 1: Networking, Stakeholder Engagement and Public Outreach

This priority seeks to strengthen local and national civil society networks and platforms.

The intention is to create opportunities for legitimate civil society voices to participate in multi-stakeholder dialogue.

Potential stakeholders may include:

• Civil society organisations;
• Private-sector organisations;
• Think tanks;
• Universities and academia;
• Trade unions;
• Cooperatives;
• People’s movements;
• Community-based organisations;
• Research institutions; and
• Other relevant actors.

Projects should also consider accessibility so that diverse organisations can meaningfully participate in meetings, platforms and policy discussions.

Lot 1 Priority 2: Inclusive Policies for Women, Youth and Vulnerable Groups

The second priority focuses on inclusive governance.

It seeks to ensure that women, young people and vulnerable or marginalised communities are meaningfully represented in:

• Policy dialogue;
• Decision-making;
• Development processes;
• Governance;
• Economic opportunities; and
• Multi-stakeholder engagement.

Projects may also strengthen the ability of civil society organisations to address social and economic inequalities using participatory and rights-based approaches.

Lot 1 Priority 3: Participatory Governance, Evidence-Based Advocacy and Community Empowerment

Civil society organisations can play an important role in generating credible evidence and ensuring that communities have access to transparent and reliable information.

Projects under this priority may strengthen:

• Participatory governance;
• Evidence generation;
• Evidence-based policymaking;
• Community empowerment;
• Access to credible information;
• Inclusive development;
• Environmental action;
• Climate action; and
• Biodiversity protection.

Applicants should demonstrate how evidence and high-quality data can contribute to better decision-making and stronger public participation.

Lot 1 Priority 4: Global Gateway

This priority focuses on civil society participation in the implementation, monitoring and accountability of the EU Global Gateway strategy and related investments in India.

The programme seeks to ensure that major infrastructure and investment initiatives maintain high standards relating to:

• Environmental sustainability;
• Social responsibility;
• Climate justice;
• Inclusive participation;
• Transparency;
• Accountability; and
• Public oversight.

Civil society participation can also help ensure that major investments remain responsive to local communities and contribute to sustainable development.

Lot 2: Civil Society and Sustainable Development in India’s North Eastern Region

Lot 2 corresponds to Specific Objective 3 and has an indicative financial allocation of:

€4,000,000

Unlike Lot 1, which can cover the entire country, Lot 2 projects must primarily take place in India’s North Eastern Region.

The eligible North Eastern states identified in the guidelines are:

• Arunachal Pradesh;
• Assam;
• Manipur;
• Meghalaya;
• Mizoram;
• Nagaland;
• Sikkim; and
• Tripura.

Lot 2 Priority 1: Inclusive Green Economic Development and Sustainable Value Chains

This priority seeks to strengthen the role of civil society organisations in supporting inclusive, climate-resilient and low-carbon economic development.

Potential areas of intervention include:

• Sustainable value chains;
• Local entrepreneurship;
• Green economic development;
• Responsible private-sector engagement;
• Climate-resilient livelihoods; and
• Policy dialogue.

Civil society organisations are expected to serve as facilitators connecting communities, policymakers, entrepreneurs and other development actors.

Lot 2 Priority 2: Climate Resilience, Environmental Governance and Ecological Sustainability

This priority seeks to strengthen civil society participation in protecting ecosystems and improving environmental governance.

Activities may involve:

• Community mobilisation;
• Climate resilience;
• Ecosystem protection;
• Evidence generation;
• Environmental governance;
• Locally driven environmental action; and
• Sustainable natural resource management.

Lot 2 Priority 3: Participatory Governance, Evidence-Based Advocacy and Community Empowerment

Projects can strengthen civil society organisations as producers and communicators of credible evidence.

Relevant interventions may promote:

• Participatory governance;
• Evidence-based policymaking;
• Community empowerment;
• Inclusive development;
• Access to transparent information;
• Climate action;
• Biodiversity protection;
• Environmental governance; and
• Civil society engagement in Global Gateway initiatives.

Lot 2 Priority 4: Engagement with EU Private-Sector Investments

This priority seeks to strengthen engagement between civil society and EU-linked private-sector investment in high-potential sustainable value chains, industries and services.

Potential partners may include:

• European businesses;
• Cooperatives;
• Entrepreneurs;
• Development finance institutions;
• Impact investors; and
• North Eastern entrepreneurs.

Particular opportunities may exist in sectors such as:

• Crafts;
• Design;
• Local trade;
• Organic agriculture; and
• Other sustainable agricultural activities.

Total Funding Available

The overall indicative amount available under the call is:

€9,976,000

The indicative distribution is:

• Lot 1: €5,976,000
• Lot 2: €4,000,000

The guidelines note that €4,988,000 in 2026 appropriations is available and certain, while the remaining €4,988,000 associated with 2027 appropriations is subject to confirmation.

The European Commission also reserves the right not to award all available funds.

If the allocation for one lot cannot be fully used because of an insufficient number or quality of proposals, remaining funding may be reallocated to the other lot.

How Much Can Each Organisation Request?

Individual grant requests must fall between:

Minimum grant: €1,500,000

Maximum grant: €2,000,000

This makes the programme a substantial institutional and development funding opportunity rather than a small-grants programme.

EU Co-Financing Rate

The requested European Union grant must generally represent between:

• Minimum: 75% of total eligible project costs
• Maximum: 80% of total eligible project costs

However, the EU contribution may reach:

Up to 90% of total eligible costs

where the applicable requirements are met and all members of the partnership, including the lead applicant, co-applicants and affiliated entities where applicable, are local organisations established in India.

Applicants must finance the remaining balance from sources other than the general budget of the European Union or the European Development Fund.

How Long Can Projects Last?

Eligible projects must have an initial planned duration of:

Minimum: 36 months

Maximum: 48 months

In other words, successful projects are expected to operate for approximately three to four years.

Where Must Projects Take Place?

Geographic eligibility depends on the selected lot.

Lot 1

Projects can be implemented anywhere in India, without a specific geographic restriction within the country.

Lot 2

Projects must take place in India’s North Eastern Region:

• Arunachal Pradesh;
• Assam;
• Manipur;
• Meghalaya;
• Mizoram;
• Nagaland;
• Sikkim; and
• Tripura.

Some activities may exceptionally take place outside India when they explicitly benefit India and the actors targeted by the project.

Examples mentioned in the guidelines include:

• Capacity-building activities;
• Exhibitions;
• Trade fairs;
• Exposure visits;
• Peer-learning visits; and
• Other relevant market-entry activities.

What Types of Organisations Can Apply?

Lead applicants must satisfy several core requirements.

An eligible lead applicant must:

1. Be a legal person;
2. Be non-profit-making;
3. Be an eligible type of civil society organisation;
4. Be effectively established in an eligible country;
5. Be directly responsible for preparing and managing the proposed action rather than acting merely as an intermediary; and
6. Not fall under applicable exclusion situations.

Eligible organisational types can include nongovernmental organisations and other qualifying civil society organisations or civil society organisation associations.

The broader CSO framework referenced in the guidelines encompasses organisations such as:

• Nongovernmental organisations;
• Women’s organisations;
• Youth organisations;
• Organisations representing Indigenous peoples;
• Diaspora organisations;
• Migrants’ organisations;
• Citizens’ groups;
• Local traders’ associations;
• Cooperatives;
• Organisations representing economic and social interests;
• Anti-corruption and good-governance organisations;
• Civil-rights organisations;
• Organisations combating discrimination;
• Environmental organisations;
• Educational organisations;
• Research and scientific organisations;
• Universities;
• Religious associations and communities;
• Not-for-profit media;
• Independent foundations; and
• Other qualifying non-State, not-for-profit civil society structures.

Which Countries Can Lead Applicants Come From?

Eligible lead applicants must be effectively established in:

• India;
• A Member State of the European Union; or
• A Member State of the European Economic Area (EEA).

EEA eligibility therefore includes the EU Member States together with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

International organisations are specifically stated to be ineligible to apply or act as co-applicants under this Call for Proposals.

Special Rules for EU and EEA-Based Lead Applicants

A lead applicant established in an EU or EEA Member State cannot simply implement the project independently.

It must work with a minimum of two Indian co-applicants.

The Indian co-applicants must have valid Foreign Contribution Regulation Act registration at the required stages.

EU/EEA lead applicants should also demonstrate:

• Previous experience in India; or
• Established partnerships in India.

Partnership quality and local anchoring form part of the relevant assessment considerations.

Foreign entities undertaking direct implementation in India must also demonstrate appropriate Reserve Bank of India approval where required under applicable foreign exchange rules.

Special Requirements for Indian Lead Applicants

An Indian lead applicant may apply:

• Individually;
• With co-applicants; or
• With affiliated entities.

However, the Indian lead applicant must hold valid Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration at the time of the full application and at contract signature.

Applicants must ensure compliance with applicable Indian laws and regulations, including relevant requirements concerning:

• FCRA;
• Taxation;
• Social security;
• Foreign exchange;
• FEMA/RBI requirements;
• Registration; and
• Reporting.

Role of Co-Applicants

Co-applicants participate directly in designing and implementing the action.

Their eligible project costs may be treated in the same way as costs incurred by the lead applicant, subject to the applicable rules.

Co-applicants must satisfy the relevant eligibility criteria and sign the required mandate at the full application stage.

Where a grant is awarded, eligible co-applicants become beneficiaries alongside the coordinator.

Affiliated Entities

Lead applicants and co-applicants may also work with affiliated entities.

Generally, an affiliated entity must have an existing structural relationship with the applicant, particularly through:

• Legal control;
• Capital links; or
• Membership structures.

Examples can include parent organisations, subsidiaries, entities under common control, federations, networks or associations where the required structural relationship exists.

Affiliated entities must satisfy the relevant eligibility requirements.

Associates and Contractors

Other organisations or individuals may participate as associates.

Associates can play a meaningful role in project implementation but generally cannot receive funding from the grant except for eligible travel or per diem expenses.

Beneficiaries and affiliated entities may also engage contractors in accordance with applicable procurement rules.

Each organisation should participate in only one role within an action to maintain clarity and avoid conflicts of interest.

What Types of Projects Are Eligible?

Projects must consist of a coherent set of activities designed to achieve specific, measurable objectives and results within the permitted timeframe.

Project justification should be based on:

• Recent and reliable information;
• Consultation with target groups;
• Stakeholder participation;
• Clearly identified needs;
• Objective indicators; and
• Verifiable expected results.

The programme prioritises strengthening the role and capacity of civil society over direct service delivery or infrastructure investment, except where such interventions are exceptionally and adequately justified.

Key Methodological Principles

Regardless of the lot selected, proposals should incorporate important cross-cutting principles.

Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

Projects should incorporate gender-responsive design based on meaningful gender analysis.

Applicants are expected to integrate:

• Gender mainstreaming;
• Women’s empowerment;
• Sex-disaggregated indicators; and
• Gender-responsive monitoring.

Human Rights-Based and Inclusive Approaches

Projects should adopt participatory, rights-based approaches and promote meaningful inclusion.

Particular attention should be given to groups including:

• Women;
• Youth;
• Children;
• Persons with disabilities;
• Indigenous peoples;
• LGBTQI+ persons;
• Internally displaced populations; and
• Communities affected by conflict or disasters.

Intersectionality should also be considered.

Results-Based Design and Monitoring

Applicants should develop evidence-based intervention logic connecting:

• Identified needs;
• Activities;
• Outputs;
• Outcomes; and
• Long-term impacts.

Strong monitoring, evaluation and learning systems are expected.

Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships

Collaboration among different sectors is strongly encouraged.

Relevant partners may include:

• Civil society;
• Communities;
• Government authorities;
• Private-sector organisations;
• Universities;
• Research organisations;
• Cooperatives;
• Investors; and
• Other stakeholders.

Innovation, Replication and Scalability

Applicants should consider innovative and locally relevant approaches capable of being:

• Replicated;
• Expanded;
• Scaled; or
• Sustained beyond the initial funding period.

Efficient and Sustainable Use of Resources

Project implementation should demonstrate:

• Cost effectiveness;
• Efficient resource use;
• Local ownership;
• Capacity development;
• Sustainability; and
• Reduced long-term dependency on external support.

Financial Support to Third Parties

Applicants may propose providing financial support to third parties when this contributes to achieving the project’s objectives.

The standard maximum amount of financial support per third party is:

€60,000

The threshold may exceptionally be exceeded where achieving the project’s objectives would otherwise be impossible or excessively difficult.

Applicants proposing Financial Support to Third Parties must establish clear rules concerning:

• Objectives and expected results;
• Eligible activities;
• Categories of recipients;
• Selection criteria;
• Method for determining funding amounts;
• Maximum support;
• Monitoring and evaluation;
• Risk assessment;
• Mitigation measures; and
• Supporting documentation.

Applicants using this approach are expected to demonstrate appropriate previous grant-making capacity and justify why the mechanism adds value to the overall project.

Activities That Are Not Eligible

The programme excludes several categories of activities.

These include projects concerned only or mainly with:

• Individual sponsorship for workshops, conferences, seminars or congresses;
• Individual scholarships for study or training;
• One-off conferences without a broader programme of activities;
• Political parties or political personalities;
• Proselytising activities; and
• Activities that discriminate against individuals or groups.

Projects that could result in human-rights violations or significant adverse environmental or climate impacts are also ineligible.

Activities that breach fundamental EU values—including human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law and human rights—are likewise excluded.

Ethical and Compliance Requirements

Successful applicants must respect important ethical and legal principles.

These include:

• Avoidance of conflicts of interest;
• Environmental legislation;
• Core labour standards;
• Fundamental EU values;
• Human rights;
• Zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment;
• Anti-corruption requirements;
• Anti-bribery requirements; and
• Rules against fraud and irregularities.

EU Visibility Requirements

Successful projects are generally required to acknowledge European Union financial support.

Recipients must take appropriate steps to ensure EU visibility through correct and prominent use of:

• The EU emblem;
• Relevant funding statements; and
• Applicable communication and visibility requirements.

Exceptional derogations may be considered where visibility could create security concerns or significant local political sensitivities, subject to prior agreement with the EU.

Number of Applications Allowed

The rules limit the number of applications and awards involving lead applicants.

A lead applicant:

• May submit only one application under the call;
• May receive only one grant under the call; but
• May simultaneously participate as a co-applicant or affiliated entity in another application.

Co-applicants and affiliated entities may participate in more than one proposal and may potentially be involved in more than one funded grant, subject to the applicable rules.

How to Apply for the European Commission Civil Society Grants 2026

Applications follow a restricted two-stage process.

Stage 1: Submit a Concept Note

Initially, applicants submit only the required concept note and declaration by the lead applicant.

The concept note must be prepared using the prescribed Annex A.1 format.

Applications must be submitted in English.

Applicants should ensure that all essential information is included because only the concept note will be evaluated at the first stage.

No additional annexes should be submitted with the concept note.

Stage 2: Full Application

Only lead applicants whose concept notes are pre-selected will be invited to submit full applications.

The full application must follow Annex A.2 and include the required supporting documentation and relevant annexes.

Applicants should note that the fundamental elements presented at concept-note stage generally cannot be substantially changed later.

For example, the requested EU contribution may generally not vary from the initial estimate by more than 20%.

Changes to co-applicants, affiliated entities or project duration are permitted only under specified and duly justified circumstances.

Mandatory Registration Requirements

Organisations applying under the programme need to use several European Commission systems.

PADOR Registration

Lead applicants, co-applicants and affiliated entities must register in PADOR, subject to the procedures described in the guidelines.

PADOR provides registered organisations with a unique EuropeAid identification number.

Lead applicants must be registered at the concept-note stage, while co-applicants and affiliated entities must complete the relevant registration by the full application stage.

European Commission Participant Register

Lead applicants and co-applicants are also required to register in the European Commission Participant Register.

Registration provides a nine-digit Participant Identification Code (PIC).

PROSPECT

The actual application must be submitted electronically through PROSPECT.

Online submission through PROSPECT is mandatory.

Concept notes sent through alternative channels such as ordinary email or fax will not be accepted.

Application Deadline

The official deadline for submission of concept notes is:

15 September 2026 at 09:00 Brussels time.

Applicants should pay particular attention to the timezone because dates and times displayed in PROSPECT use Brussels time.

Late concept notes will be rejected.

Applicants are strongly advised not to wait until the final day because technical difficulties, internet problems, electricity interruptions or heavy platform traffic will not generally justify a late submission.

Evaluation Process

Applications go through several stages.

Step 1: Administrative Checks and Concept Note Evaluation

Concept notes are first checked for administrative compliance and then evaluated for quality and relevance.

The concept note evaluation carries a maximum score of 50 points.

Only concept notes receiving at least 30 points will be considered for pre-selection.

The ranking and available financial envelope will then determine which applicants are invited to submit full applications.

Step 2: Full Application Evaluation

Pre-selected organisations submit complete applications.

Full applications are assessed for matters including:

• Compliance with submission requirements;
• Applicant capacity;
• Financial capacity;
• Project quality;
• Relevance;
• Project design;
• Expected effectiveness;
• Sustainability;
• Budget; and
• Overall value and impact.

Step 3: Eligibility Verification

Following evaluation of full applications, the contracting authority verifies the eligibility of provisionally selected applicants and organisations on the reserve list.

Supporting documentation and declarations are used to confirm that applicants satisfy the conditions of the programme.

Preparing a Competitive Application

Given the scale of the grants and detailed evaluation procedure, applicants should avoid presenting broad project concepts without a strong evidence base.

A competitive proposal should clearly demonstrate:

1. A well-defined development or governance challenge;
2. Strong evidence supporting the identified need;
3. Meaningful participation of affected communities;
4. Clear alignment with the selected lot and its priorities;
5. Measurable objectives and results;
6. A strong intervention logic;
7. Realistic indicators;
8. Meaningful gender integration;
9. Youth and vulnerable-group inclusion;
10. Appropriate environmental and climate considerations;
11. Strong partnerships;
12. Local ownership;
13. Financial sustainability;
14. Cost effectiveness;
15. Potential for replication or scaling;
16. Appropriate risk analysis; and
17. A credible strategy for sustainability after EU financing ends.

Applicants should also demonstrate that their organisational structure, partnerships, legal status and regulatory arrangements satisfy all eligibility requirements before investing substantial resources in preparing a proposal.

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Important Compliance Considerations for Organisations Operating in India

The call places significant emphasis on compliance with India’s regulatory framework, particularly where foreign funding is involved.

Applicants should carefully review applicable requirements concerning the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act and subsequent amendments or addenda.

Project priorities and activities must comply with the permitted areas of operation and purposes/activities under the relevant Indian regulatory framework.

Foreign entities directly implementing activities in India should also carefully assess applicable FEMA and Reserve Bank of India requirements.

Applicants should therefore treat legal and regulatory compliance as an essential part of project design rather than something to address only after selection.

Why This European Commission Grant Opportunity Matters

The scale of this funding creates an opportunity for established civil society organisations to undertake ambitious, multi-year interventions.

With individual awards reaching €2 million and project durations extending up to four years, successful organisations could build sustained programmes rather than relying solely on short-term activities.

The programme is particularly relevant to organisations seeking to strengthen:

• Civil society participation;
• Public policy dialogue;
• Climate governance;
• Green development;
• Sustainable value chains;
• Community empowerment;
• Women’s participation;
• Youth participation;
• Evidence-based advocacy;
• Responsible investment;
• Environmental protection;
• Sustainable entrepreneurship;
• EU-India cooperation; and
• Development in India’s North Eastern Region.

The call also creates significant opportunities for partnerships between Indian organisations and eligible European civil society organisations.

Visit HERE to learn more about the European Commission Civil Society Grants 2026 in India.

Key Details at a Glance

Contracting Authority: European Commission

Call: India – Civil Society Contribution to Policy Dialogue, Climate Action and Sustainable Value Chains

Reference: EuropeAid/187022/DD/ACT/IN

Overall Indicative Budget: €9,976,000

Lot 1 Allocation: €5,976,000

Lot 2 Allocation: €4,000,000

Minimum Grant: €1,500,000

Maximum Grant: €2,000,000

EU Contribution: Generally 75%–80% of eligible project costs, potentially up to 90% where the specified local-organisation conditions are satisfied

Project Duration: 36–48 months

Lot 1 Location: Anywhere in India

Lot 2 Location: North Eastern Region of India

Application Process: Restricted call — concept note followed by invitation-only full application

Application Language: English

Submission Method: Online through PROSPECT

Concept Note Deadline: 15 September 2026 at 09:00 Brussels time

Conclusion

The European Commission’s India – Civil Society Contribution to Policy Dialogue, Climate Action and Sustainable Value Chains Call for Proposals 2026 represents a major funding opportunity for established civil society organisations seeking to contribute to sustainable development, good governance, climate action, inclusive economic growth and stronger EU-India cooperation.

With nearly €10 million in overall indicative funding and individual grants ranging from €1.5 million to €2 million, the programme provides substantial resources for ambitious projects lasting between three and four years.

The two-lot structure gives organisations the opportunity either to address broader civil society, policy dialogue, climate and sustainable-development priorities across India or to focus specifically on the economic, environmental and governance challenges and opportunities of India’s North Eastern Region.

However, this is a highly structured European Commission funding process with detailed eligibility, partnership, regulatory, co-financing and application requirements. Prospective applicants should therefore carefully review the official Guidelines for Grant Applicants and associated annexes before preparing their concept notes.

Organisations should pay particular attention to their legal eligibility, FCRA and other applicable Indian regulatory requirements, partnership arrangements, selected lot, project geography, co-financing structure, monitoring framework and alignment with the programme’s cross-cutting requirements on gender equality, human rights, inclusion, environmental sustainability and youth participation.

Because this is a restricted Call for Proposals, the immediate priority is preparing a strong and compliant concept note. Only applicants that successfully pass the first stage will be invited to submit a full application.

Eligible organisations interested in this major European Commission funding opportunity should begin preparing early and ensure that their concept notes are successfully submitted through PROSPECT before 15 September 2026 at 09:00 Brussels time.

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