CEBRICS

Central Europe—Building Resilience in Civil Society
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Democracy and security are closely intertwined in Central Europe; thus, only a democratic Central Europe will be a secure Central Europe.

This claim is strongly reflected by the fact that over the past ten years Central Europe was the fastest-autocratizing region of the world, facing not only external but also significant domestic threats to democracy that ultimately translate into challenges to the democratic security and sovereignty of these countries as well as to the integrity of the Western alliance system.

To address these challenges, GMF’s “Central Europe—Building Resilience in Civil Society” (CEBRICS) project supports civil society organizations and other democratic actors across the region to advance democratic freedoms and security. 

The overall aim of CEBRICS is to increase the capacity and resilience of civil society to promote democratic principles and protect fundamental rights as well as to build the watchdog skills of civil society and social movements to enhance rule-of-law observance, combat corruption, and increase access to justice.

CEBRICS is a five-years USAID-funded single-donor regional grantmaking and capacity-building project for 2022–2026, with an initial focus on Bulgaria, Hungary, and Poland. Overall, GMF plans to provide about 230 grants, 300 microgrants, and 18 capacity-building courses over the project’s duration.

Factsheet

Calls for Proposals

Strengthening Democratic Participation Through Innovative Methods and Fostering Pluralism via Democracy Education in Hungary and Poland Supporting Anti-Corruption Watchdogs  Strengthening Watchdogs’ Strategic Litigation Capabilities

Strengthening Democratic Participation Through Innovative Methods and Fostering Pluralism via Democracy Education in Hungary and Poland 

Public trust in government is decreasing across Central Eastern Europe, while citizens disengage and lose interest in democratic processes. Insufficient transparency, lack of open governance, and too little accountability of public officials result in low levels of civic engagement. 

In contrast, civil society and the enabling infrastructures it creates are crucial to counter the negative trends of low public participation and political apathy, to foster civic engagement, and to ensure the equal enjoyment of fundamental rights and good governance in society as a whole.  

With an eye on this trend, it is crucial to foster citizens’ public participation; to cultivate the attitudes of pluralism, participation, and inclusion in society, especially in the younger generations, through democracy education; and to enhance the active participation of women and vulnerable groups in public deliberation and decision-making. 

For this reason, the Engaging Central Europe (ECE) program of The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) launches a dedicated Call for Proposals. This funding opportunity aims to support civil society organizations (CSOs) that  

  • Encourage active citizenship and create innovate formats of offline or online public deliberation and participation at the local, regional, or national level. 
  • Equip citizens or specifically youth with civic skills, nurture democratic attitudes among them, and foster their engagement in democratic processes. 
  • Enhance the participation of women and vulnerable groups in public deliberation and democratic processes.  

 

Eligibility  

Under this call, ECE will support projects with a duration of 4 to 12 months. Grants ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 will be made available to CSOs with a track record in fostering active citizen participation, in democracy education and youth participation, and in empowering women and vulnerable groups. Applicants must be legally registered in Hungary or Poland.  

Priority will be given to projects that meet one or more of the following criteria:  

  • Offer inclusive participatory processes and frameworks, online and offline, to engage citizens in public deliberation and decision-making. 
  • Develop tools and venues for democratic oversight of political decision-making and the use of public resources. 
  • Empower citizens to take collective action and promote democratic values like freedom, equality, pluralism, and civic agency. 
  • Promote accountability, transparency, and open government through innovative solutions. 
  • Foster political or public engagement at the local, regional, or national level, focusing on public deliberation and policy implementation. 
  • Reach out to new constituencies and address emerging needs for public participation. 
  • Equip the public with critical thinking skills to analyze political information and media sources. 
  • Empower young people to advocate for democracy and develop public agency within their communities. 
  • Build partnerships with local organizations, schools, and community leaders to strengthen civic engagement. 
  • Enhance public participation of women and vulnerable groups through advocacy, education, and training. 

Organizations that engage individuals or groups in peripheral areas are especially encouraged to apply. 

 

Application Process 

Project proposals must be sent to [email protected]  by November 18, 2024. 

Please respect this submission deadline.  

Please use the call’s reference “INT3 – Strengthening Democratic Participation Through Innovative Methods and Fostering Pluralism via Democracy Education” in the subject line of your application email. You will receive a confirmation email upon receipt of your application. 

To submit a project proposal, organizations must complete the forms below, in English or in one of the national languages. 

Only proposals submitted using these forms will be considered. 

An information session for applicants will be held on October 24, 2024, at 11:00 am (in Polish) and 3:00 pm (in Hungarian). You may register for the Polish event here and for the Hungarian event here. 

The earliest potential starting date of selected projects is March 1, 2025. When planning your project’s timeline, please consider the above date. 

There is no limit on the number of applications submitted and calls participated in by one organization. 

Project co-financing in the form of an organization’s own contribution or other grants is welcomed, but not mandatory. Administrative costs (i.e., utilities, accounting, and financial management) cannot exceed 7% of the total grant amount.   

Successful applicants are expected to sign a grant agreement with The German Marshall Fund of the United States.  

GMF reserves the right to amend the final grant amount, depending on the proposals received and the results of the evaluations.  

To learn more about ECE’s ongoing grantmaking program, civil society support, and democracy assistance work, please visit https://www.gmfus.org/grants/engaging-central-europe or email us at [email protected]. 

 

Award Criteria 

Project proposals will be evaluated based on a standard set of award criteria, including: 

  • Demonstrated alignment with call objectives, quality of problem statement, needs assessment, and relevance in relation to those objectives. (10) 
  • Feasibility of goals, the action proposed, and cost-effectiveness of the budget. (5)  
  • Commitment to democratic values and fundamental rights. (3) 
  • Synergies of the proposed action with other publicly or privately funded actions, focused on avoiding duplication. (3) 
  • Capability, organizational knowledge, and technical expertise of the applicant. (2) 
  • Creative approaches and ability to base activities on insights gained from past experiences, both successes and failures. (2) 

All: 25 points 

Bonus points will be awarded based on:  

  • The project’s activities take place in rural areas (+2), or in towns and regional capitals (+1). 

Applications will be evaluated and selected by experts affiliated with GMF within the frame of a single-stage call. Information on the evaluation results will be communicated to applicants and presented on this website within a month of the submission deadline. 

In the event of inconsistency or discrepancy between the English-language version and any other language version, the English-language version shall prevail. 

The number of grants provided through this call for proposals is limited and subject to the availability of funding. 

This call for proposals is published as part of the CEBRICS programing by GMF’s Engaging Central Europe program and is co-funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Its contents are the sole responsibility of GMF ECE and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID. 

 

Published on October 11, 2024. 

Supporting Anti-Corruption Watchdogs  

Corruption remains a pressing challenge across Central and Eastern Europe, undermining trust in institutions, hindering social progress, and strengthening the influence of malicious foreign and domestic actors. It transcends the public and private sectors, and it thrives where little or no public accountability is enforced.  

For this reason, the Engaging Central Europe (ECE) program of The German Marshall Fund of the United States is launching a dedicated Call for Proposals to empower anti-corruption watchdogs, strengthen their operations, and enhance their monitoring, analytical and advocacy skills in Bulgaria, Hungary, or Poland. 

 

Eligibility   

Under this call, ECE will support projects with a duration of 4 to 12 months. Grants ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 will be made available to civil society organizations (CSOs) with a track record in working on corruption, abuse of power, or transparency issues. Applicants must be legally registered in Bulgaria, Hungary, or Poland.   

Priority will be given to projects that meet one or more of the following criteria:   

  • Promote transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct within public and private institutions. 
  • Monitor and investigate any form of corruption or misuse of public funds. 
  • Encourage collaboration across sectors and between different stakeholders, including government agencies, business, academia, and CSOs.  
  • Advocate for legal and regulatory reforms aimed at closing loopholes and strengthening anti-corruption laws. 
  • Build the capacity of individuals, organizations, and institutions to prevent, detect, and respond effectively to corruption. 

Organizations that engage individuals or groups in peripheral areas are especially encouraged to apply.  

 

Application Process 

Project proposals must be sent to [email protected]  by March 17, 2025. 

Please respect this submission deadline.  

Please use the call’s reference “INT10 – Anti-Corruption Watchdogs” in the subject line of your application email. You will receive a confirmation email upon receipt of your application. 

To submit a project proposal, organizations must complete the forms below, in English or in one of the national languages. 

Only proposals submitted using these forms will be considered. 

An information session for applicants will be held on October 24, 2024, at 11:00 am (in Polish) and 3:00 pm (in Hungarian). You may register for the Polish event here and for the Hungarian event here. 

The earliest potential starting date of selected projects is September 1, 2025. When planning your project’s timeline, please consider the above date. 

There is no limit on the number of applications submitted and calls participated in by one organization. 

Project co-financing in the form of an organization’s own contribution or other grants is welcomed, but not mandatory. Administrative costs (i.e., utilities, accounting, and financial management) cannot exceed 7% of the total grant amount.   

Successful applicants are expected to sign a grant agreement with The German Marshall Fund of the United States.  

GMF reserves the right to amend the final grant amount, depending on the proposals received and the results of the evaluations.  

To learn more about ECE’s ongoing grantmaking program, civil society support, and democracy assistance work, please visit https://www.gmfus.org/grants/engaging-central-europe or email us at [email protected]. 

 

Award Criteria 

Project proposals will be evaluated based on a standard set of award criteria, including: 

  • Demonstrated alignment with call objectives, quality of problem statement, needs assessment, and relevance in relation to those objectives. (10) 
  • Feasibility of goals, the action proposed, and cost-effectiveness of the budget. (5)  
  • Commitment to democratic values and fundamental rights. (3) 
  • Synergies of the proposed action with other publicly or privately funded actions, focused on avoiding duplication. (3) 
  • Capability, organizational knowledge, and technical expertise of the applicant. (2) 
  • Creative approaches and ability to base activities on insights gained from past experiences, both successes and failures. (2) 

All: 25 points 

Bonus points will be awarded based on:  

  • The project’s activities take place in rural areas (+2) or in towns and regional capitals (+1). 

Applications will be evaluated and selected by experts affiliated with GMF within the frame of a single-stage call. Information on the evaluation results will be communicated to applicants and presented on this website within a month of the submission deadline. 

In the event of inconsistency or discrepancy between the English-language version and any other language version, the English-language version shall prevail. 

The number of grants provided through this call for proposals is limited and subject to the availability of funding. 

This call for proposals is published as part of the CEBRICS programing by GMF’s Engaging Central Europe program and is co-funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Its contents are the sole responsibility of GMF ECE and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID. 

 

Published on October 11, 2024. 

Strengthening Watchdogs’ Strategic Litigation Capabilities

In spite of the attempts of populists and illiberal leaders to undermine the independence of the judiciary, domestic and international courts often provide the most effective fora to contest discriminatory laws, challenge the dismantling of checks and balances, enforce freedom of information, and resist authoritarian legal engineering. Strategic litigation is a key asset in the toolkit of human rights and anti-corruption watchdogs to pursue the protection of fundamental rights, transparency, and liberal constitutionalism with legal means.    

For this reason, the Engaging Central Europe (ECE) program of The German Marshall Fund of the United States is launching a dedicated Call for Proposals to strengthen civil society watchdogs’ strategic litigation capabilities in Bulgaria, Hungary, or Poland.  

 

Eligibility   

Under this call, ECE will support projects with a duration of 4 to 12 months. Grants ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 will be made available to civil society organizations (CSOs) with a strong litigation track record in the field of human rights and transparency. Applicants must be legally registered in Bulgaria, Hungary, or Poland.   

Priority will be given to projects that meet one or more of the following criteria:   

  • Provide legal aid to marginalized communities and individuals affected by human rights violations. 
  • Engage in strategic litigation and represent aggrieved parties and victims of human rights violations with systemic importance before courts. 
  • Conduct workshops, seminars, or training to enhance CSOs’ legal expertise, with a special focus on available domestic, international, and European legal venues. 
  • Build complex communication and advocacy strategies around watchdogs’ existing litigation work. 
  • Use freedom of information (FOI) laws in a strategic manner to maintain transparency and to assist citizens and CSOs in filing FOI requests and appealing against denials. 

Organizations with outreach outside major urban centers are especially encouraged to apply.  

Organizations that engage individuals or groups in peripheral areas are especially encouraged to apply.  

 

Application Process 

Project proposals must be sent to [email protected]  by March 17, 2025. 

Please respect this submission deadline.  

Please use the call’s reference “INT15 – Strategic Litigation” in the subject line of your application email. You will receive a confirmation email upon receipt of your application. 

To submit a project proposal, organizations must complete the forms below, in English or in one of the national languages. 

Only proposals submitted using these forms will be considered. 

An information session for applicants will be held on October 24, 2024, at 11:00 am (in Polish) and 3:00 pm (in Hungarian). You may register for the Polish event here and for the Hungarian event here. 

The earliest potential starting date of selected projects is September 1, 2025. When planning your project’s timeline, please consider the above date. 

There is no limit on the number of applications submitted and calls participated in by one organization. 

Project co-financing in the form of an organization’s own contribution or other grants is welcomed, but not mandatory. Administrative costs (i.e., utilities, accounting, and financial management) cannot exceed 7% of the total grant amount.   

Successful applicants are expected to sign a grant agreement with The German Marshall Fund of the United States.  

GMF reserves the right to amend the final grant amount, depending on the proposals received and the results of the evaluations.  

To learn more about ECE’s ongoing grantmaking program, civil society support, and democracy assistance work, please visit https://www.gmfus.org/grants/engaging-central-europe or email us at [email protected]. 

 

Award Criteria 

Project proposals will be evaluated based on a standard set of award criteria, including: 

  • Demonstrated alignment with call objectives, quality of problem statement, needs assessment, and relevance in relation to those objectives. (10) 
  • Feasibility of goals, the action proposed, and cost-effectiveness of the budget. (5)  
  • Commitment to democratic values and fundamental rights. (3) 
  • Synergies of the proposed action with other publicly or privately funded actions, focused on avoiding duplication. (3) 
  • Capability, organizational knowledge, and technical expertise of the applicant. (2) 
  • Creative approaches and ability to base activities on insights gained from past experiences, both successes and failures. (2) 

All: 25 points 

Bonus points will be awarded based on:  

  • The project’s activities take place in rural areas (+2) or in towns and regional capitals (+1). 

Applications will be evaluated and selected by experts affiliated with GMF within the frame of a single-stage call. Information on the evaluation results will be communicated to applicants and presented on this website within a month of the submission deadline. 

In the event of inconsistency or discrepancy between the English-language version and any other language version, the English-language version shall prevail. 

The number of grants provided through this call for proposals is limited and subject to the availability of funding. 

This call for proposals is published as part of the CEBRICS programing by GMF’s Engaging Central Europe program and is co-funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Its contents are the sole responsibility of GMF ECE and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID. 

 

Published on October 11, 2024. 

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