CEBRICS

Strengthening Democracy Education in Schools and Beyond

Democracy education is crucial to cultivate the attitudes of pluralism, participation, and inclusion in society, especially in the younger generations, and thus also to strengthen societies’ ability to resist populism and authoritarian temptations. With an eye on the trend of political passivity and indifference toward democracy in Central Europe, it is crucial that young people discover their agency and develop an active participatory attitude toward public affairs, driven by the desire to change and improve society.

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 equip citizens or the youth with civic skills, nurture democratic attitudes among them, and foster their engagement in democratic processes in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Poland.

Eligibility

Under this call, ECE will support projects with a duration of 4 to 12 months. Grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 will be made available to CSOs with a track record in democracy education and youth participation. 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:

Address and advance fundamental democratic values such as freedom, equality, pluralism, participation, inclusion, civic courage and agency, and accountability.
Foster fact-based critical thinking and equip the target group with the tools and skills needed to critically analyze political information and (social-)media sources.
Encourage participation in democratic processes, help young people to develop public agency, and empower them to become advocates of democracy within their communities.
Employ interactive and participatory teaching methods and creative approaches to learning.
Foster partnerships with local organizations, schools, and community leaders.

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

Application Process

Project proposals must be sent to [email protected].

ECE accepts and evaluates applications on a rolling basis. An expert panel will review the applications in three rounds:

Submission deadline: January 15, 2024 / Results announced: February 15, 2024
Submission deadline: March 15, 2024 / Results announced: April 15, 2024
Submission deadline: June 15, 2024 / Results announced: July 15, 2024

When planning your project’s timeline, please consider the above dates and respect the submission deadline for each round. If you miss the deadline, your application will be considered in the next round, three months later.

Please use the call’s reference “INT3 – 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.

Application form (in both PDF and WORD format)
Budget form

Only proposals submitted using these forms will be considered.

The earliest potential starting dates of selected projects are March 15, 2024 (in case of projects submitted until January 15), May 15 (for projects submitted until March 15) and September 1 (for projects submitted until June 15).

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 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 following 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.

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 November 16, 2023.

Enhancing Women’s Participation in Public Deliberation and Democratic Processes

Women and men should enjoy equal rights and opportunities. Yet political and social dynamics regularly challenge women’s participation in the making of political decisions and in public life, often with far-reaching consequences for women individually and collectively.

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. This funding opportunity aims to support civil society organizations (CSOs) with the objective to empower women’s participation in civil society, politics, and public life in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Poland.

Eligibility

Under this call, ECE will support projects with a duration of 4 to 12 months. Grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 will be made available to CSOs with a proven track record in fostering women’s participation. CSOs must be legally registered in Bulgaria, Hungary, or Poland.

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

Enhance public participation of women through awareness-raising advocacy, educational campaigns, or training.
Boost and innovate civic engagement of women at the local, regional, or national level with special attention to their participation in public deliberation, political decision-making, and implementation or monitoring of policy processes.
Reach out to new constituencies, attract new activists, and respond to emerging needs.
Mobilize citizens and local communities in a sustainable way.
Further cross-sectoral cooperation of CSOs and strengthen networks of pro-democratic actors.

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

Application Process

Project proposals must be sent to [email protected].

ECE accepts and evaluates applications on a rolling basis. An expert panel will review the applications in three rounds:

Submission deadline: January 15, 2024 / Results announced: February 15, 2024
Submission deadline: March 15, 2024 / Results announced: April 15, 2024
Submission deadline: June 15, 2024 / Results announced: July 15, 2024

When planning your project’s timeline, please consider the above dates and respect the submission deadline for each round. If you miss the deadline, your application will be considered in the next round, three months later.

Please use the call’s reference “INT4 – Women’s Participation” 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.

Application form (in both PDF and WORD format)
Budget form

Only proposals submitted using these forms will be considered.

The earliest potential starting dates of selected projects are March 15, 2024 (in case of projects submitted until January 15), May 15 (for projects submitted until March 15) and September 1 (for projects submitted until June 15).

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 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 following 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.

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 November 16, 2023.

Enhancing the Participation of Minorities and Vulnerable Groups in Public Deliberation and Democratic Processes

People should enjoy equal rights and opportunities irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age, or disability. Yet political and social dynamics regularly challenge the participation of vulnerable groups in the making of political decisions and public life, often with far-reaching consequences for their members individually and collectively.

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. This funding opportunity aims to support civil society organizations (CSOs) advocating the rights of minorities and vulnerable groups, and working to enhance their participation in public deliberation and democratic processes 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 $25,000 will be made available to CSOs with a proven track record in empowering vulnerable groups. CSOs must be legally registered in Bulgaria, Hungary, or Poland.

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

Enhance public participation of vulnerable groups through awareness-raising advocacy, educational campaigns, or training.
Boost and innovate civic engagement of vulnerable groups at the local, regional, or national level with special attention to their participation in public deliberation, political decision-making, and implementation or monitoring of policy processes.
Reach out to new constituencies, attract new activists, and respond to emerging needs.
Mobilize citizens and local communities in a sustainable way.
Further cross-sectoral cooperation of CSOs and strengthen networks of pro-democratic actors.

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

Application Process

Project proposals must be sent to [email protected].

ECE accepts and evaluates applications on a rolling basis. An expert panel will review the applications in three rounds:

Submission deadline: January 15, 2024 / Results announced: February 15, 2024
Submission deadline: March 15, 2024 / Results announced: April 15, 2024
Submission deadline: June 15, 2024 / Results announced: July 15, 2024

When planning your project’s timeline, please consider the above dates and respect the submission deadline for each round. If you miss the deadline, your application will be considered in the next round, three months later.

Please use the call’s reference “INT5 – Participation of Vulnerable Groups” 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.

Application form (in both PDF and WORD format)
Budget form

Only proposals submitted using these forms will be considered.

The earliest potential starting dates of selected projects are March 15, 2024 (in case of projects submitted until January 15), May 15 (for projects submitted until March 15) and September 1 (for projects submitted until June 15).

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 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 following 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.

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 November 16, 2023.

Strengthening the Presence of Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Watchdogs in Peripheral and Rural Areas

Increasing political polarization of societies and deepening urban-rural and regional cleavages have a profound impact on democratic politics. To foster equal rights and opportunities and good governance for citizens irrespective of where they live within a country, the Engaging Central Europe (ECE) program of The German Marshall Found of the United States, is launching a dedicated Call for Proposals.

The objective of the call is to strengthen the presence of human rights and anti-corruption watchdog civil society organizations (CSOs) in peripheral and rural areas, and to enhance advocacy for human rights and transparency in peripheries, along with stronger engagement of rural citizens in asserting their voices and rights 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 $25,000 will be made available to CSOs with a track record in the protection of democracy, transparency, and human rights. CSOs must be legally registered in Bulgaria, Hungary, or Poland.

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

Respond to the concerns of residents in remote or rural regions, addressing their unique needs and challenges.
Foster community engagement by promoting participation, transparency, good governance, and human rights issues, mobilizing citizens in rural areas.
Conduct watchdog and monitoring activities.
Establish or reinforce structures and networks to ensure the continuous presence of civic and watchdog CSOs outside major urban centers.
Empower local human rights activists in peripheral and rural areas in a sustainable way.

Application Process

Project proposals must be sent to [email protected].

ECE accepts and evaluates applications on a rolling basis. An expert panel will review the applications in three rounds:

Submission deadline: January 15, 2024 / Results announced: February 15, 2024
Submission deadline: March 15, 2024 / Results announced: April 15, 2024
Submission deadline: June 15, 2024 / Results announced: July 15, 2024

When planning your project’s timeline, please consider the above dates and respect the submission deadline for each round. If you miss the deadline, your application will be considered in the next round, three months later.

Please use the call’s reference “INT6 – Strengthening Watchdogs in Peripheral Areas” 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.

Application form (in both PDF and WORD format)
Budget form

Only proposals submitted using these forms will be considered.

The earliest potential starting dates of selected projects are February 15, 2024 (in case of projects submitted until December 15), May 15 (for projects submitted until March 15) and September 1 (for projects submitted until June 15).

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 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 following 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.

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 November 16, 2023.

Enhancing Innovative Forms of Public Participation

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.

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. This funding opportunity aims to support civil society organizations (CSOs) in Bulgaria, Hungary, or Poland that encourage active citizenship and create innovate formats of offline or online public deliberation and participation at the local, regional, or national level.

Eligibility

Under this call, ECE will support projects with a duration of 4 to 12 months. Grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 will be made available to CSOs fostering active citizen participation. CSOs must be legally registered in Bulgaria, Hungary, or Poland.

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

Offer inclusive online and offline participatory processes, frameworks, event series, and other participatory formats.
Devise tools or create venues of democratic oversight of political decision-making or the use of public resources.
Empower citizens to take collective action.
Address and promote democratic accountability, transparency, and open government.
Boost and innovate political or public engagement at the local, regional, or national level with special attention to participation in public deliberation, political decision-making, and implementation or monitoring of policy processes.
Reach out to new constituencies and respond to emerging needs for public participation.

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

Application Process

Project proposals must be sent to [email protected].

ECE accepts and evaluates applications on a rolling basis. An expert panel will review the applications in three rounds:

Submission deadline: January 15, 2024 / Results announced: February 15, 2024
Submission deadline: March 15, 2024 / Results announced: April 15, 2024
Submission deadline: June 15, 2024 / Results announced: July 15, 2024

When planning your project’s timeline, please consider the above dates and respect the submission deadline for each round. If you miss the deadline, your application will be considered in the next round, three months later.

Please use the call’s reference “INT7 – Innovative Forms of Public Participation” 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.

Application form (in both PDF and WORD format)
Budget form

Only proposals submitted using these forms will be considered.

The earliest potential starting dates of selected projects are March 15, 2024 (in case of projects submitted until January 15), May 15 (for projects submitted until March 15) and September 1 (for projects submitted until June 15).

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 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 following 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.

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 November 16, 2023.

Educational Campaigns on Human Rights and the Rule of Law

The rule of law is an essential prerequisite of any functional democratic and just society. It ensures that every individual is equal before the law, guarantees fundamental rights, and promotes accountability and fairness in governance. For many citizens across Central and Eastern Europe, however, the concept remains distant and thus often unappealing.

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. This funding opportunity aims to support civil society organizations (CSOs) in Bulgaria, Hungary, or Poland that engage in and develop educational campaigns focusing on human rights and the rule of law.

Eligibility 

Under this call, ECE will support projects with a duration of 4 to 12 months. Grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 will be made available to CSOs with a track record in education and campaigning for human rights and accountability. 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: 

Develop educational campaigns that promote understanding of the rule of law, individual rights, and their interconnection.
Employ creative methods and approaches to deliver educational messages, including but not limited to workshops, multimedia content, awareness campaigns, and community events.
Illustrate the specific impact of the rule of law on people’s daily lives, emphasizing the connection between the legal frameworks and everyday experiences.
Aim to reach communities where awareness about human rights and the rule of law is low or non-existent.
Encourage active citizen involvement and participation.

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

Application Process

Project proposals must be sent to [email protected].

ECE accepts and evaluates applications on a rolling basis. An expert panel will review the applications in three rounds:

Submission deadline: January 15, 2024 / Results announced: February 15, 2024
Submission deadline: March 15, 2024 / Results announced: April 15, 2024
Submission deadline: June 15, 2024 / Results announced: July 15, 2024

When planning your project’s timeline, please consider the above dates and respect the submission deadline for each round. If you miss the deadline, your application will be considered in the next round, three months later.

Please use the call’s reference “INT9 – Human Rights 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.

Application form (in both PDF and WORD format)
Budget form

Only proposals submitted using these forms will be considered.

The earliest potential starting dates of selected projects are March 15, 2024 (in case of projects submitted until January 15), May 15 (for projects submitted until March 15) and September 1 (for projects submitted until June 15).

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 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 following 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.

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 November 16, 2023.

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 $25,000 will be made available to civil society organization (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].

ECE accepts and evaluates applications on a rolling basis. An expert panel will review the applications in three rounds:

Submission deadline: January 15, 2024 / Results announced: February 15, 2024
Submission deadline: March 15, 2024 / Results announced: April 15, 2024
Submission deadline: June 15, 2024 / Results announced: July 15, 2024

When planning your project’s timeline, please consider the above dates and respect the submission deadline for each round. If you miss the deadline, your application will be considered in the next round, three months later.

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.

Application form (in both PDF and WORD format)
Budget form

Only proposals submitted using these forms will be considered.

The earliest potential starting dates of selected projects are March 15, 2024 (in case of projects submitted until January 15), May 15 (for projects submitted until March 15) and September 1 (for projects submitted until June 15).

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 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 following 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.

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 November 16, 2023.

Strengthening Watchdogs’ Strategic Litigation Capabilities

In spite of the attempts of populists and illiberal leaders to undermine the independence of 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 $25,000 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].

ECE accepts and evaluates applications on a rolling basis. An expert panel will review the applications in three rounds:

Submission deadline: January 15, 2024 / Results announced: February 15, 2024
Submission deadline: March 15, 2024 / Results announced: April 15, 2024
Submission deadline: June 15, 2024 / Results announced: July 15, 2024

When planning your project’s timeline, please consider the above dates and respect the submission deadline for each round. If you miss the deadline, your application will be considered in the next round, three months later.

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.

Application form (in both PDF and WORD format)
Budget form

Only proposals submitted using these forms will be considered.

The earliest potential starting dates of selected projects are March 15, 2024 (in case of projects submitted until January 15), May 15 (for projects submitted until March 15) and September 1 (for projects submitted until June 15).

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 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 following 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.

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 November 16, 2023.

CEBRICS

Calls for Proposals

Program Experts

CEBRICS

Calls for Proposals

Program Experts

Daniel Hegedüs

Joanna Kopacka

Dimitar Keranov