Objective

This call aims to prevent and combat gender-based violence and violence against children through EU action grants under the Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values Programme (CERV). The funding supports projects that address various forms of gender-based violence, improve support and protection for victims, and implement integrated child protection systems. The program aligns with the EU Gender Equality Strategy (2020-2025), the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child, the Victims’ Rights Directive, and the Istanbul Convention.

Eligibility Criteria

Priority 1: Large-scale actions tackling gender-based violence, including regranting to CSOs

• Projects must implement large-scale integrated and long-term actions to combat gender-based violence.
• Regranting (financial support to third-party CSOs) is mandatory to support grassroots organizations, particularly those in remote and rural areas.
• Funding should prioritize CSOs with limited capacity or restricted access to funding sources.
• Focus areas include:
  • Domestic and sexual violence
  • Gender-based cyber violence (online harassment, cyberstalking, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, etc.)
  • Harmful practices (female genital mutilation, forced marriage, honor-based violence, etc.)
• Projects should include capacity-building programs for CSOs and align with the values and principles of this call.

Priority 2: Protection and support for victims and survivors of gender-based and domestic violence

• Projects should set up specialized support services such as:
  • One-stop centers for victims providing legal, medical, and psychological assistance.
  • Rape crisis centers or sexual violence referral centers in line with Article 26 of the VAW/DV Directive.
  • Services targeting high-risk groups, including migrant women, LGBTIQ individuals, ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities.
  • Development of risk-assessment tools for early identification and intervention.

Priority 3: Targeted prevention of gender-based violence, including cyber violence

• Awareness campaigns focusing on gender equality and preventing gender-based violence.
• Training programs for professionals, educators, law enforcement, and social workers.
• Measures to combat cyberviolence, including:
  • Education on digital literacy to protect against cyber harassment and abuse.
  • Strengthening cooperation between CSOs, IT platforms, and authorities.
• Programs for perpetrators, focusing on rehabilitation, prevention, and behavioral change.

Priority 4: Strengthening integrated child protection systems

• Projects should develop comprehensive, cross-sectoral strategies for preventing and responding to violence against children.
• Key areas include:
  • Multidisciplinary cooperation between education, health, social services, and law enforcement.
  • Mechanisms to detect and report child abuse early.
  • Creating child-friendly legal and support systems.
• Involvement of public authorities is mandatory for this priority.

Eligible Countries

• EU Member States and countries associated with the CERV Programme.
• Countries in ongoing negotiations for association agreements may be eligible if agreements are finalized before the grant signature.

Deadline

• 07 May 2025 17:00:00 Brussels time

Available Budget & Grant Amounts

• Total indicative budget: €23M allocated across four priorities.
• Funding per priority:
  • Priority 1: €1M – €3M (24-36 months, regranting mandatory).
  • Priority 2: Minimum €100K (12-24 months).
  • Priority 3: Minimum €100K (12-24 months).
  • Priority 4: €100K – €1M (12-24 months).
• Projects can be national or transnational, with transnational projects encouraged.

Additional Information

Regranting Mechanism

• Funding will be redistributed to CSOs active at local, regional, and national levels to enhance their capacity in preventing and combatting gender-based violence. Check the information in the call for proposals document for more details on eligibility conditions, financial support structure, and selection criteria.
• Intermediary organizations must ensure transparency, accountability, and capacity-building for third-party CSOs.

Public Authorities & Partnerships

• Involvement of public authorities is strongly recommended for all priorities and mandatory for Priority 4.
• Partnerships with government agencies, law enforcement, and community-based organizations are encouraged to strengthen project impact.

Sustainability & Impact

• Projects must demonstrate long-term impact, with clear plans for sustainability beyond the funding period.
• Applicants should integrate gender-sensitive and child-sensitive indicators to measure outcomes effectively.

For more details, visit the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.