European Commission Civil Society Grants 2026 in India
The European Commission offers substantial grant funding to strengthen civil society organisations working on good governance, policy dialogue, climate action, and sustainable value chains in India. Individual grants range from €1.5 million to €2 million under a restricted two-stage application process.
Overview
The European Commission has launched a Call for Proposals titled “India – Civil Society Contribution to Policy Dialogue, Climate Action and Sustainable Value Chains” under reference EuropeAid/187022/DD/ACT/IN. With an overall indicative financial allocation of €9,976,000, the programme provides individual grants ranging from €1.5 million to €2 million. Projects are expected to run for an initial duration of 36 to 48 months.
The funding is divided into two lots:
- Lot 1: Covers eligible interventions across India focusing on civil society participation in EU-India sectoral policy dialogue, inclusive development, climate action, and sustainable value chains.
- Lot 2: Focuses specifically on India’s North Eastern Region (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura) to strengthen inclusive green economic development, environmental governance, and climate resilience.
Eligibility
Eligible lead applicants must be legal, non-profit-making civil society organisations effectively established in India, an EU Member State, or an EEA Member State (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway). International organisations are ineligible. Additional requirements apply depending on the applicant's origin:
- EU/EEA Lead Applicants: Must work with a minimum of two Indian co-applicants and demonstrate previous experience or established partnerships in India.
- Indian Lead Applicants: May apply individually, with co-applicants, or with affiliated entities, but must hold valid Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration.
The requested EU grant typically represents 75% to 80% of total eligible costs, and may reach up to 90% if all partnership members are local organisations established in India. Applicants must finance the remaining balance.
Benefits
How to Apply
This is a restricted Call for Proposals operating in a two-stage process:
- Stage 1: Applicants must first submit a concept note and declaration using Annex A.1 through the online PROSPECT electronic submission system.
- Stage 2: Only pre-selected lead applicants will be invited to submit full applications along with required supporting documentation.
Mandatory registrations include PADOR (for a EuropeAid ID) and the European Commission Participant Register (for a PIC). Submissions sent through alternative channels such as email or fax will not be accepted.
Deadline
The deadline for submitting concept notes is 15 September 2026 at 09:00 Brussels time.