*** Please note that this is a private invitation. You may send it to your trusted partners, colleagues, and peers, but please do not publish it on social media, websites, or other public sources. ***
Call for applications for Georgian civil society organisations and Independent Media working to protect human rights and promote democratic values.
Who can apply?
Registered or unregistered civil society organisations, including NGOs, media outlets, initiative groups, social entrepreneurship groups, cultural/creative organisations, etc. based in Georgia or outside its borders but focused on beneficiaries within the country are eligible to apply. The applicant organisation/initiative group/media must be able to provide services and carry out activities that promote democracy and human rights in Georgia. This call is addressed to applicants who have been directly affected by restrictive legal measures and human rights violations in Georgia and need support.
Applications submitted by political, religious organisations will not be considered. Applications from media or individuals of other nationalities, as well as from state-affiliated or state-controlled media, coworking spaces, or individuals employed by such entities, are not eligible.
Priority will be given to applications from organisations and media located within the country. Applications from regional organisations, media or initiative groups are strongly encouraged.
How does the methodology for capacity development work
Timeline- up to 3 months
We are looking for CSOs/media/initiative groups interested in receiving personalised support using the OCA (Organisational Capacity Assessment) methodology from a three-stage organisational development programme:
- Assessment stage: Organisational capacity is assessed by experts in the form of interviews with key team members/board members on the following areas of the organisation's activities:
- Good Governance and Leadership
- Financial Management
- Financial Sustainability
- Human Resources management
- Service provision and services development
- Outreach, branding and external communication
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Security and equipment
- Joint discussion on the assessment results and development of a plan based on the submitted application. Please be aware that your application might change and be adapted based on the evaluation results
- Financial support for the implementation of the capacity development plan
What does Capacity Development support include:
Funding may be used to cover the following, among other things (non-exhaustive list):
- Training, internal mentoring, and consulting tailored to the needs of the organisation (training in financial, human resources, and organisational management; fundraising and grant writing; reporting; grant management; digital and physical security, etc.)
- Conducting strategic planning, risk assessment and mitigation, defining the organisation's vision and mission
- Updating, setting up and creating new internal procedures, tools, and/or policies in line with new realities
- Other needs identified through OCA
Organisations can apply for capacity-building grants with a budget of up to €20 000. The project duration is between 6 and 12 months.
What are the selection criteria?
- Be a civil society organisation (NGO, media outlet, social enterprise, cultural/creative organisation, initiative group, etc.).
- Proven experience in promoting or producing content related to democracy, human rights, freedom of speech, or freedom of information in Georgia for at least one year; this will be demonstrated by references and/or your recommendations, links to the published materials in media. If your organisation is relocated, experience prior to relocation will be considered.
- The application has been completed and submitted before the deadline
- The application identifies clear areas for improvement or capacity building.
- A clear vision of how the requested support will contribute to strengthening organisation capacity.
- The budget is clear, well-founded and cost-effective.
- The impact of the proposed project is sustainable.
Confidentiality
We understand the risks faced by applicants working in restrictive environments. Our organisation has a long history of working with beneficiaries and partners in the region. We use secure file management systems and secure communication channels to ensure the confidentiality of your application and any associated information.
All personal data submitted will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection laws and used solely for the purposes of grant administration.
The deadline for submitting the application is: 29th of January 2026.
==> please follow this link to the application form.
For further inquiries, questions can be sent via contact form up until 19th of January. You will be notified of the selection results no later than 6 weeks after the application deadline.