Horizon Europe Call for proposals to gather scientific evidence on how local economic, political, and social ecosystems can foster democratic practices, increase trust in institutions, and promote human rights.

Horizon Europe Call for proposals to gather scientific evidence on how local economic, political, and social ecosystems can foster democratic practices, increase trust in institutions, and promote human rights. is sponsored by European Commission, Horizon Europe Programme.

This initiative seeks to gather scientific evidence on how local economic, political, and social ecosystems can foster democratic practices, increase trust in institutions, and promote human rights. Projects are expected to receive awards within the specified range.

HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-02 - EU Funding Call for proposals to gather scientific evidence on how local economic, political, and social ecosystems can foster democratic practices, increase trust in institutions, and promote human rights. This initiative features a total budget of €12. 00 million, with individual projects expected to receive awards ranging between €3.

50 million and €4. 00 million. To qualify for funding, proposals must be submitted by a consortium that includes at least one independent legal entity from an EU Member State and at least two other independent entities from different Member States or Associated Countries.

Funded projects will focus primarily on low- and middle-income countries, investigating how sub-national governance and decentralized democratic practices can build societal resilience against global democratic backsliding.

Research teams are encouraged to utilize participatory and multidisciplinary approaches—integrating fields like political science, economics, and gender studies—while actively involving local stakeholders such as trade unions, traditional leaders, and marginalized groups.

Ultimately, selected projects must provide EU institutions and national decision-makers with evidence-based toolkits, monitoring frameworks, and recommendations for operating in fragile or unstable contexts, illustrating the link between efficient local public service delivery and pro-democratic citizen sentiment. To view calls for proposals, a subscription is required.

Members get full access to our grant database and receive 2-3 updates on new opportunities every week. The above text is a summary of original content published on the website of the European Commission (or related institutions). Licensed under CC BY 4.

0 . For complete application details, please view the full text on the issuing authority’s official website by clicking the provided link above. In case of any discrepancy between a translation and the original English text, the English version shall prevail.

Call for applications to support nonpartisan programs that promote human rights, support independent media, strengthen democracy, and foster civil society and a market economy.

Call for proposals to support projects that enhance lifelong civic education and democratic participation through Vocational Education and Training (VET) or adult education programs, focusing on inclusivity, digital literacy, and collaboration with relevant European partnerships Call for proposals to support the establishment of a Research and Innovation Network for a Union of Equality aimed at fostering inclusive democracies through collaboration among academic institutions, public bodies, and civil society Call for applications to consolidate and expand the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform, connect National Coalitions for Digital Skills and Jobs to the Core Platform, and support the creation of new coalition websites in Member States Call for proposals to support innovative projects that enhance the digital transformation of the news media industry, promote sustainable business models, and empower citizens in democratic decision-making through reliable journalism