This call for proposals from the European Commission aims to empower civil society organizations (CSOs) in Armenia to become effective drivers of change. The initiative focuses on enhancing the capacity and resilience of Armenian CSOs, enabling them to actively participate in policy dialogue and influence policy-making processes.

Focus and Objectives

The global objective is to strengthen Armenian civil society organizations, making them trusted, independent, and effective actors. The call prioritizes two key areas:

• Enhancing the capacity of independent media outlets and journalists to operate freely and ethically.
• Strengthening the capacity, sustainability, and impact of Armenian CSOs.

The call is divided into two lots: Lot 1: Freedom and Professionalism of Media and Lot 2: Strengthening civil society in Armenia. Each lot has specific outcomes and indicators to measure the progress and impact of the actions implemented.

Actions under each lot should be gender-sensitive and rights-based, addressing cross-cutting issues such as gender equality, environmental practice, and inclusion of people with disabilities and minority groups. Priority will be given to actions that reflect a Rights-Based Approach, ensuring the inclusion and participation of vulnerable groups.

Financial Allocation

The total indicative amount available for this call for proposals is EUR 3,970,000. The contracting authority reserves the right not to award all available funds. The funds are allocated as follows:

• Lot 1: EUR 970,000
• Lot 2: EUR 3,000,000

The size of grants for Lot 1 is a minimum of EUR 970,000 and a maximum of EUR 970,000. For Lot 2, the grant size is a minimum of EUR 3,000,000 and a maximum of EUR 3,000,000. The EU contribution must fall between 60% and 90% of the total eligible costs of the action.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, the lead applicant must be a legal person, non-profit-making, and a non-governmental organization. The lead applicant must be effectively established in a Member State of the European Union or in Armenia or any other eligible country as stipulated in the basic act NDICI-GE. They must be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action, not acting as an intermediary.

For Lot 1, the lead applicant must act with at least one co-applicant. For Lot 2, the lead applicant must act with at least two co-applicants. Co-applicants participate in designing and implementing the action, and their costs are eligible.

Affiliated entities must satisfy the same eligibility criteria as the lead applicant and co-applicants. They must have a structural link with the applicants, such as control or membership.

How to Apply

To apply, organizations must register in PADOR and submit their application in PROSPECT. Online submission via PROSPECT is mandatory for this call. The application process involves two stages: submission of a concept note followed by a full application for pre-selected applicants.

The concept note must be submitted in accordance with the instructions in the grant application form. Lead applicants must provide an estimate of the requested EU contribution. A detailed budget is only required for the full application stage.

The deadline for submission of concept notes is 05/05/2025 at 12:00 (Brussels date and time). Full applications will be due at a later date, communicated to pre-selected applicants.

Eligible Activities

Eligible activities vary depending on the lot. For Lot 1, activities include supporting CSOs and media in promoting accountability, advocacy for legal reform, training in human rights reporting, and promoting media self-regulation. For Lot 2, activities include needs-based training for CSOs, strengthening CSO leadership, supporting CSO networking, and facilitating dialogue between CSOs and government.

Both lots allow for financial support to third parties (FSTP). For Lot 1, FSTP should constitute at least 25% of the overall EU contribution. For Lot 2, FSTP should constitute at least 40% of the overall EU contribution. The maximum amount of financial support per third party is EUR 60,000, except in specific cases.

Applicants must ensure the visibility of the European Union as the funder of the action. All measures relating to visibility must comply with the latest Communication and Visibility Requirements for EU-funded external action.

Potential Research Topics

• Media Studies: Research on disinformation and media manipulation in Armenia.
• Political Science: Studies on the role of civil society in policy-making and governance.
• Sociology: Research on the impact of civil society organizations on vulnerable groups.
• Law: Analysis of the legal environment for media and civil society organizations.
• Economics: Studies on the financial sustainability of media outlets and CSOs.