Granturi și Finanțări

ERIM (Equal Rights & Independent Media), a French based organisation, is launching a call for applications for civil society organisations, civil society initiatives, collectives or networks, and research institutions to produce research focused on the contexts, challenges, and dynamics affecting LGBTQIA+ organisations and movements, followed by targeted advocacy and/or awareness-raising campaigns /initiatives directly linked to the research findings.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE

The present call for application is launched by ERIM within the framework of its projects FIER·ES and Democracy in Eastern Partnership (DEAP).

ERIM (Equal Rights and Independent Media) is a not-for-profit organisation based in Lyon, France. Our mission is to promote human rights, strengthen independent media and civil society, develop and maintain democratic, fair and sustainable societies where people enjoy equal rights, have access to independent information and are empowered to build the society they want to live in. ERIM's approach emphasises partnerships with local development organisations to bring about change through training, partnerships, education, research and sub-granting schemes.

• The FIER·ES programme (Fostering the Inclusion, Equality and Resilience of LGBTQIA+ people) aims to support LGBTQIA+ CSOs and initiatives so that they are better able to carry out their mandate and mission and promote respect, inclusion, dignity and equality for LGBTQIA+ people in the Eastern Partnership countries and the Western Balkans. The programme is co-funded by Agence française de développement, coordinated by ERIM and led with its partners Genderdoc – M (Moldova) and the LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Turkey (ERA).

• Democracy in Eastern Partnership (DEAP) project aims to promote inclusive, resilient and democratic societies in the Eastern Partnership region by strengthening the capacities of civil society and grassroot organisations, supporting research and policy analysis, and organising cultural and networking events to promote the work of human rights defenders. It is funded by the European Union and implemented by ERIM.

 Objectives:

In the Eastern Partnership region, organisations defending the rights of LGBTQIA+ people face increasing pressure, disinformation, and hostility. These dynamics directly shape the safety, working conditions, and ability of LGBTQIA+ organisations and initiatives to operate at local and national levels. Within this context, this call aims to:

• Support evidence-based research that documents, analyses, or explores challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ organisations and movements;
• Strengthen the capacity of civil society actors to generate knowledge relevant for advocacy, public debate, and policy discussions;
• Use of research findings to inform, develop and implement targeted advocacy and/or awareness-raising campaigns or initiatives, at local, national, or international level;
• Contribute to a human rights–based understanding and to more informed public and policy discussions related to LGBTQIA+ organisations at the local, national, and regional levels.

SCOPE OF SUPPORTED ACTIONS

Mandatory Component: Research

All proposals must have research as their core component, focusing on issues affecting LGBTQIA+ community and/or LGBTQIA+ civic space. The research should generate evidence, analysis, or insights that can inform advocacy, awareness-raising, local initiatives, or policy discussions at local, national, regional, and/or international levels.

The research component may take one or a combination of the following forms (non-exhaustive):

• Research reviewing policies, laws, and their implementation and services, and how they affect LGBTQIA+ communities or organisations in practice
• Research based on fieldwork, case studies, and direct and meaningful engagement with LGBTQIA+ communities and organisations
• Contextual analysis of structural factors affecting LGBTQIA+ rights and protections
• Case studies or comparative research across regions or municipalities
• Needs assessments or risk analyses related to LGBTQIA+ civic space, including safety, inclusion, and access to rights and services
• Qualitative and/or quantitative research (interviews, surveys, desk research, data analysis, etc.)

Indicative research topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Legal, political, or administrative constraints affecting LGBTQIA+ community that prevent members from accessing their rights
• Safety, security, and wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ community, activists and organisations
• Participation of LGBTQIA+ community, organisations and initiatives in policy-making and consultation processes
• Impact of disinformation, hate speech, or restrictive laws and practices on LGBTQIA+ community and civil society

The research must:

• Be grounded in local realities, attentive to intersecting vulnerabilities, and supported by an appropriate methodology
• Not be substantially implemented at the time of application. Costs incurred before the submission of the application will not be eligible for funding.
• Demonstrate relevance and added value for advocacy, awareness-raising, or local initiatives
• Include an executive summary and actionable recommendations
• Be accessible and usable for civil society actors, decision-makers, and other relevant stakeholders

 Required Follow-up Component: Targeted Advocacy or Awareness-raising campaigns or initiatives

In addition to research, proposals must include targeted follow-up actions that are clearly linked to the research findings.

Examples of eligible follow-up actions include (non-exhaustive):

• Dialogues, roundtables, or exchanges with practitioners, experts, or community actors
• Sharing or discussing research findings with relevant stakeholders, including public authorities where appropriate
• Targeted advocacy, awareness-raising, or communication actions, Innovative / original activities are encouraged
• Public, semi-public, or closed discussions and community conversations based on research findings
• Small-scale local or community-based initiatives focused on discussion, awareness raising informed by the research, such as facilitated discussions, community conversations, workshops, or other participatory formats aimed at sharing and reflecting on research findings
• Participation in relevant national, regional, or international fora to present and discuss research findings and recommendations (for example organise a side event or presentation)
• Targeted media or digital campaigns translating research findings into accessible, rights-based messages.
• Publication of the research
  
  

GRANT SIZE, DURATION, AND NUMBER

• Maximum grant amount: 10,000 EUR
• Maximum duration:  up to 10 months

Budgets must be clearly linked to proposed activities.

We expect the projects to start from April 2026.

In addition to the grant, selected organisations will benefit from mentoring support for the development and Implementation of the advocacy and awareness-raising actions.

ELIGIBILITY 

This call is open to civil society organisations and initiatives, collectives, networks, and research institutions, engaged in research, documentation, or other evidence-based work related to the contexts, challenges, and dynamics affecting LGBTQIA+ organisations and movements, as well as civic space. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to:

• LGBTQIA+ organisations and initiatives
• Human rights and women’s rights organisations which have proven track record of actions for LGBTQIA+ community
• Grassroots and community-based organisations working with or for LGBTQIA+ communities
• Civil society initiatives, collectives, or networks with a focus on LGBTQIA+ rights and inclusion
• Research institutions whose work is closely connected to the work and contexts of civil society and LGBTQIA+ organisations

Applicants must be based in Moldova or Ukraine and can submit only one application.

The following are not eligible:

• Political parties or party-affiliated organisations
• For-profit entities
• Religious organisations
• Public Institutions

SELECTION CRITERIA

Minimum Eligibility Criteria

Applications will first be screened against the minimum eligibility criteria below.
Only applications meeting all minimum criteria will be considered for further assessment. To be eligible under this call, applicants must:

• Be a civil society organisation or initiative (including informal groups), a collective or network, or a research institution whose work is closely connected to civil society and LGBTQIA+ organisations
• Be based in Moldova or Ukraine
• Have been active for at least two years in areas relevant to LGBTQIA+ rights, human rights, civic space, or related fields
• Have a mission and activities that are consistent with democratic principles, human rights, and non-discrimination, including respect for LGBTQIA+ rights
• Submit a complete application in line with the requirements of this call and within the specified deadline

Selection Criteria
Eligible applications will be assessed based on the following selection criteria:

• Relevance and clarity of the research focus
• Feasibility of the research approach and proposed timeline
• Link between research and follow-up actions
• Demonstrate experience or capacity to conduct research, documentation, or evidence-based work relevant to the proposed action and advocacy or awareness raising campaigns
• Relevance of the targeted Advocacy or Awareness-raising campaigns or initiatives in relation to the research findings and the project’s objectives
• Expected impact / contribution of the targeted advocacy or awareness-raising campaigns or initiatives on public debate, policy discussions and ultimately rights of LGBTQI+ community
• Dissemination and outreach strategy
• Budget coherence and cost-effectiveness
• Organisational base located outside the capital city, or demonstrated substantial and sustained operational activity in other regions.

ELIGIBLE AND NON-ELIGIBLE COSTS

Eligible costs may include:

• Research-related costs, such as consultancy fees, daily rates, data collection, interviews, fieldwork, or desk research
• Travel, per diem, and accommodation costs directly related to research activities or eligible follow-up actions based on the research
• Publication, translation, and dissemination costs related to research findings
• Communication and outreach costs aimed at sharing and discussing research findings
• Costs related to discussions, dialogues, workshops, or participatory activities focused on discussion, awareness, or collective reflection informed by the research
• Costs related to events organised as platforms for presenting or showcasing the results of the funded research
• Facilitation, moderation, or technical support costs directly linked to eligible follow-up actions

• Costs related to participation in relevant national, regional, or international fora (in Europe) to present and discuss research findings
• Overhead costs (up to 20%) directly related to the implementation of the project, such as accounting, financial management, basic administration, or utilities, provided that they are reasonable and proportionate to the grant amount.

The following costs are not eligible under this call:

• Core operational or organisational costs not directly linked to the proposed research and follow-up actions
• Direct service provision or assistance to individuals
• Participation in conferences or events not directly linked to the dissemination or discussion of the supported research
• Equipment or software purchases, unless clearly justified as essential for the research and proportionate to the grant amount

• Ongoing awareness raising or advocacy activities not clearly derived from or linked to the research findings

 APPLICATION PROCESS
The application package must include:

1. Application Form (download here)
2. Budget Form (provisional budget, to be discussed and agreed with selected applicants during the contracting process) (download here)

3. Example of previous research (or links)

Applications must be submitted in English to the email address: Research-Advocacy2026@proton.me

Please indicate in the email subject line: “Application – Research (Country name)”.
Applications should be submitted using the Application Form in Word and budget in Excel formats.

Proposals must be submitted online by February 17, 2026 at 18:00 CET.

ERIM will be hosting an information session (in English) on February 3, 2026 at 11:00 CET. To participate, please register here. If you would like to submit your questions anonymously, please use this form.