European Union (EU) grants are a fundamental source of international funding for many African nonprofits. It runs various funding schemes supporting nonprofits working on initiatives ranging from access to clean water and healthcare services to human rights advocacy. However, landing these resources can be very difficult. The EU, like most international funders, comes with complex rules, but that shouldn’t discourage you from seeking the financial backing you need to scale your impact. After all, as a local organization, you don’t just have a deep community trust; you have on-the-ground experience that you can easily leverage to unlock that funding, as long as you understand how the system works. Here is a complete guide to EU funding for African NGOs.
What Are EU Grants?
EU Grants are financial contributions that the union provides to organisations to run projects aligned with its developmental goals, such as public health, climate action, and human rights. Most of these grants are distributed through ‘Calls for Proposals’, in which nonprofits are invited to submit project ideas to address local problems.
The EU rarely pays 100% of the project’s budget, though. The union mostly covers a significant percentage, usually 50-80%, with the applying NGO required to contribute matching funds to cover the remaining cost. Learn how matching grants for nonprofits work.
Related post: 10 Funding Opportunities for Women-Led Businesses and Nonprofits
Where Can NGOs in Africa Find EU Grants?
The Global Europe
The Global Europe, formerly the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), is the primary financial tool for the EU international cooperation for 2021–2027. It has a budget allocation of €79.5 billion, which is subdivided into:
- €60.38 billion for geographic programmes, with at least €29.18 billion allocated to support Sub-Saharan Africa.
- €6.36 billion for thematic programmes. This money is invested in projects that address global challenges, support human rights & democracy, strengthen civil society organisations, and promote peace, stability & conflict prevention.
- €3.18 billion to facilitate rapid response to various crises, bring about peace & stability, and build resilience across countries, societies, and local communities.
- €9.53 billion ‘cushion’ of unallocated funds to further support any of the above programmes, addressing unexpected challenges.
EU Delegations and country-specific calls
The EU operates through Delegations in African countries, which manage the local funding calls. They publish and review calls for proposals based on specific priorities. If, for instance, an NGO in Kenya wins an EU grant through a Kenya-specific funding call, like the recent EU Delegation to Kenya Call for Proposals, the process is entirely localised, with the NGO signing the grant contract with the Head of Contracts and Finance at the Delegation of the European Union to Kenya.
So, if you are looking for grants for NGOs in Kenya, you should make use of the EU Delegation to Kenya alongside the central Funding & Tenders Portal.
Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe is an EU programme that funds research and innovation projects to address climate change, contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and boost the union’s growth and competitiveness.
Many Horizon Europe opportunities are open to African nonprofits, but the exact eligibility rules vary by funding call.
Erasmus+
Erasmus+ is an EU programme that invests in education, training, youth, and sport, and most African countries are eligible to apply, as long as they meet the requirements, which vary from one opportunity to another.
In the programme guide, Kenya is listed under Region 9: Sub-Saharan Africa, allowing students, graduates, and academic institutions to access a range of programmes that address specific regional priorities, including digital transformation and sustainable growth.
Humanitarian and other EU funding programmes
EU grants for African NGOs can also be available through the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), which is designed to support crisis and disaster responses. Eligible NGOs can access DG ECHO funding indirectly through UN agencies and the International Red Cross (IRC), and subcontracting arrangements with larger NGOs, such as Oxfam and Save the Children, which partner with local organisations to run impactful projects.
Related post: Grant Readiness Checklist: Get Your Nonprofit Funding-Ready
What Types of Projects Does the EU Fund in Africa?
The European Union invests in various projects to achieve specific development goals. Here are the core project types the union regularly supports:
- Agriculture and food systems
- Climate, environment, and biodiversity
- Digitalisation and technology
- Education, training, and youth
- Gender, equality, and inclusion
- Governance, democracy, and human rights
- Jobs, enterprise, and sustainable economic development
- Migration, displacement, and livelihoods
- Peace and stability
- Research and innovation
- Infrastructure and connectivity
Important: Just because you have a brilliant project idea in one of the supported sectors doesn’t automatically make you eligible for funding. Programme priorities are established at the country, regional, and thematic levels, so your project must align with the funding call.
How to Find EU Grants for Your NGO
To find and secure EU funding for African NGOs, you need to search specific portals, understand each programme’s priority areas, and adhere to strict administrative requirements.
Search the EU Funding & Tenders Portal
This is the central electronic portal, where users can search for available grant opportunities. You can filter results by region, programme, and status.
Check your EU Delegation
The EU has dedicated delegations across African countries, which regularly publish local funding calls designed around specific national or multinational priorities. If you are a Kenya-based nonprofit, check the EU Delegation to Kenya.
How EU Funding Programmes Work
The EU funding system is generally structured and highly competitive, and applicants must thoroughly prepare before submitting any forms. There are strict compliance requirements that applying organisations must meet. Grant proposals must follow predefined formats and templates available via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
The core structural elements:
- Administrative Forms (Part A). A series of online forms where you provide general information about your project, participants, legal status, and budget breakdown.
- Technical Narrative (Part B). This is a mandatory PDF/Word template that organisations must download from the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, complete, and reupload as a PDF. It’s structured into core sections: Excellence, Impact, and Quality/Efficiency of Implementation, and applicants must not interfere with the structure. You should also never go above the page limits; if you do, evaluators will ignore those extra pages.
Most of the Union’s funding is consortium-led, often requiring partnerships involving at least three organisations from three different Associated Countries. One of the partners acts as the project coordinator, who manages the application process and communication with the European Commission. The coordinator also handles all administrative reporting.
What Funding Types Does the EU Offer?
Grants are the most form of financial backing offered by the EU. Beyond that, the union also offers service contracts & tenders, loans, guarantees, equity, subsidies, and prizes.
The Union also offers non-funding assistance, including technical support and capacity building, to help organisations strengthen their systems.
Related post: How Long Does the Grant Application Process Typically Take?
Tips for EU Funding Application
When the EU funding calls open, you should be able to fill out the forms and templates and fulfil any other requirements without making any mistakes. Here’s how to make your application stand out:
- Read the call document before writing. EU funding calls are structured and tailored to specific priorities. Ensure you read carefully to understand the types of projects eligible and the compliance requirements.
- Build a solid team. EU funding mostly requires a consortium of at least three legal entities from different countries (with at least one from an EU state). Consider mapping out the operational, commercial, and technical roles needed for the call topic first, then recruit complementary, value-adding participants to ensure you are presenting a strong, credible front.
- Get your administrative documents and legal records ready. Before applying, ensure you have a valid NGO registration certificate, proof of tax compliance, financial records, and authorised signatories. You should also ensure your accounts are active on the relevant funding portals, including PADOR and the EU Participant Portal.
- Your project narrative should be built around EU funding priorities. Always ensure you understand the funding call’s eligibility criteria and focus areas. Then build a narrative that addresses the specific issues the programme intends to solve.
- Begin the process early. Don’t wait until the last minute, then rush EU funding call applications. Dedicate 4-8 weeks to the entire process, from gathering your team to drafting the proposal and conducting internal approval.
- Develop a strategic budget. This is much more than estimating costs. You must ensure your budget is realistic and that it adheres to the European Commission’s strict financial rules. Try your best to ensure you maximise your funding, pass through institutional approval, and won’t put you through painful financial audits.
- Ensure you apply exclusively through the official tools, with the EU Funding & Tenders Portal as the central gateway. Before hitting submit, make sure you have included all required attachments and met all compliance requirements.
How to Avoid EU Grant Scams
Landing an EU funding opportunity can be transformative for your nonprofit, but you’re also a prime target for scammers. For this reason, recognising and addressing a grant scam is critical to your organisation’s success. Here are tips to safeguard your finances and sensitive data:
- Only use the official EU portals for applications
- Verify the call reference. If you come across an EU funding opportunity. Verify its reference via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.
- Read the original call documents. Actual EU funding calls are specific, often tailored to an exact focus area, such as digital security or energy. Reading, understanding, and cross-checking the original call documents prevents you from falling for fake documents.
- Don’t pay an application fee. Never agree to pay anyone asking for compensation for registration, processing, or beneficiary forms. The European Union doesn’t charge anything for the grant application or processing funding.
- Reach out to local offices. Seeing anything suspicious? Contact your EU delegation office for support and clarification.