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Expanding Cooperation with Civil Society in the Eastern Partnership Countries and Russia (Eastern Partnership Programme)

Supporting civil-society engagement

Supporting civil-society engagement, © Potsdam Media International e.V.

27.10.2023 - Article

Civil societies play a crucial role in building and maintaining democratic, stable and inclusive societies. The German Government provides a targeted funding programme in the countries of the Eastern Partnership and in Russia.

Through the programme “Expanding Cooperation with Civil Society in the Eastern Partnership Countries and Russia” (Eastern Partnership Programme), the German Government provides funding for measures to build or expand permanent civil society cooperation structures between democratic, non-governmental stakeholders in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Russia and their ties with German civil society.

The goal is to strengthen the civil societies in the programme countries in their role as key stakeholders for democratic development and to support the ongoing transformation processes in these countries.

The entire spectrum of cultural and education policy projects can receive support through the programme: media, academia, education and vocational training, culture, language and work with young people.

Target countries and focuses of projects

With the programme, the German Government, through the Federal Foreign Office, funds democratic civil society initiatives that provide comprehensive support to the transformation and internal integration processes in the Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine) and Russia.

The main focuses of the 2024 programme year are:

  1. preserving and rebuilding democratically oriented civil-society structures in the region or in temporary exile,
  2. strengthening the resilience of societies, particularly in the face of disinformation, and providing special support for vulnerable groups.

Aims of cooperation with civil society

The measures eligible for funding are those that establish or expand permanent civil‑society cooperation structures between actors from Germany and the Eastern Partnership countries or Russia. Projects must also pursue one of the following four objectives:

  1. Strengthening pluralism and resilience – in order to promote pluralism of opinion and the media and to tackle disinformation.

    The concept of pluralism is a key element of modern democracies, whose legitimacy primarily lies in the recognition of and respect for the wide range of opinions, interests and goals found in society.
    The Federal Foreign Office supports projects that facilitate the establishment and furthering of pluralism of information, opinion and the media and which tackle disinformation and increase resilience. Particular consideration will be given to projects that seek to build up society’s resilience against unreliable and false information by strengthening and training media stakeholders and improving access to high-quality, pluralist (local) media. Moreover, journalists and media professionals are to be supported also in temporary exile in order to enable them to continue to go about their work until it is possible for them to return to their home countries.

  2. Promoting the discussion of values and human rights – with a view to deepening mutual understanding.
    Exchange and cultural projects in particular can be funded under this goal. Organised encounters are intended to make it possible to exchange views on fundamental values such as respect for human rights, sound administration, the independence of the judiciary, the right of the individual to life and self-determination, and the principle of majority rule. Standing up for these values together also promotes mutual understanding within the Eastern Partnership region as well as awareness of these countries in Germany. Measures that teach and enhance the values mentioned above through civil-society exchange or cultural policy measures and which promote networking of civil societies in the partner countries are eligible for funding. Initiatives which bring into focus the distinct identities of the partner countries in Germany are also promoted, partly in order to establish a nuanced understanding in Germany of the background to the Russian war of aggression as well as the history of the entire Eastern Partnership region.
  3. Creating future prospects and democratic transformation – to strengthen democracies, tackle corruption, support closer relations with the EU and facilitate individual educational opportunities.
    Under this objective, initiatives can be supported that strengthen democratic efforts, are instrumental in fighting corruption and help the Eastern Partnership countries move closer to the EU. Especially in Ukraine, our priority is supporting transformation processes and the preservation and reconstruction of civil-society structures that have been destroyed by Russia’s war of aggression. Furthermore, we support projects that, at the same time, are focused on the future accession to the EU of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia. Academic, professional and socio-political training and further training measures that encourage greater social engagement and facilitate political and social participation are also eligible for funding. The intention is to also help ensure that (civil) society structures are preserved in fields in which they face particular challenges.
  4. Supporting dialogue and rapprochement – confidence-building measures for overcoming regional conflicts in the future.
    Measures that deploy instruments from the fields of culture and education in unresolved regional conflicts and have an impact in terms of preventing or overcoming crises, thereby laying the foundations for understanding in the future, are eligible for funding. In 2024, this funding goal is focused in particular on the countries of the Southern Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia), as well as on the Republic of Moldova. In view of current developments in the Southern Caucasus, fostering dialogue and rapprochement in the region is especially important at the present time and of continued relevance. Funding is also available for projects that facilitate the integration of refugees from the Eastern Partnership countries in their new place of residence, for many people from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus have left their homes because they experienced threats and repression as a result of their convictions and have been taken in by other Eastern Partnership countries.

Submitting project ideas

Project outlines (in English or German) for 2024 can be submitted here from 20 October to 17 November 2023. Further information and instructions on how to submit project outlines can also be found on the website. The evaluation of project outlines is expected to be completed by early 2024. Applicants will be notified by email of whether, taking into account all other project outlines received, an application for funding in accordance with Section 44 of the Federal Budget Code is likely to be successful.

More information on the programme can be found here:

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