The projects funded are intended to create and maintain spaces for exchange. Support is provided for civil-society partners who are working to resolve conflicts within society, to promote pluralism, freedom of education, research and the media and are engaged in the fight against disinformation. Against the backdrop of increasing rivalry between systems in the international arena, we are offering civil society reliable partnerships, keeping channels of communication open and strengthening the next generation of social decision-makers and activists.

Content may encompass the entire spectrum of political, media policy and socio-economic projects within the context of Germany’s cultural and societal diplomacy. Funded projects should aim in particular to build the capacities of civil-society actors and expand contacts between them, as well as to strengthen the pluralism of information, opinion and the media. Further priorities include promoting identity-defining elements, a dialogue on values and freedom of education and research. The idea is also that funded projects will increase the participation of young people, women and disadvantaged sections of the population.

Civil-society NGOs and independent media and cultural institutions in the target countries and in Germany are eligible to apply for and to receive funding. An application may only be submitted by legal persons; submission by individuals (natural persons) is not permitted.

Examples of projects

1. Coming to terms with the past after the civil war and the fall of the Assad regime and rebuilding and developing Syria are important goals for the Federal Government and these were agreed in the German-Syrian Action Plan. Using ZANMO funding, the Federal Foreign Office is, for example, helping develop a modern media studies programme at the University of Damascus intended to strengthen free and independent media use and design in the long term and to support the rebuilding of the university sector and educations programmes.
2. Civil society in the Sahel is constantly under pressure as a result of authoritarian political trends and terrorist threats, among other things. At the same time, there is a lack of further training on the opportunities and possibilities of digital transformation. Nor are there sufficient forums for dialogue on its impact on society, politics and the media. Via workshops and networking events, the Digital Sahel project helped civil-society actors in six countries in the region to develop and implement their ideas on digital projects with an impact on society, for example in the fields of culture, ecology, and equal rights for women and marginalised groups.

Further information

• Federal Foreign Office Funding Concept on cooperation with civil societies in Africa and the Near and Middle East (ZANMO)

• More information on applying for project funding (German only)