Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) for Local and Grassroot CSOs -The Civil Society Fund Plus Programme

The Civil Society Fund Plus (CSF Plus) Programme is financed by the European Union (EU) and designed to promote vibrant, inclusive, and independent civil society, fostering participatory governance, democratic engagement, and open dialogue between civil society actors and policymakers. Christian Aid has been awarded a contract to implement the programme along with three national CSOs including Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Forum (ECSF), Civil Society Resource Center (CSRC) and Chura Abugida Artistic Association (CAAA) as co-beneficiaries. The program will be operationalizing in Addis Ababa City Administration, Central Ethiopia, South Ethiopia and Tigray Regional states for a period of four years (01 February 2025 – 31 January 2029).

Christian Aid in partnership with the co-beneficiaries are excited to announce an open call for Expression of Interest (EOI) focusing on smaller and emerging local and grassroot CSOs, operating at local level and working for the economic and social benefit of marginalized communities and/or engaging in governance, democracy, peacebuilding, human rights issues at regional, zonal, and Woreda levels. You are cordially invited to apply for this initiative which aims at increasing the capacity and space of local and grassroots CSOs to effectively engage them as credible actors of good governance and development.

What We Provide:

• Financial Support to Subgrantees: this will focus on providing grants to support community-driven projects that align with the call’s thematic areas as outlined under the EoI Guideline under Annex III.
• Tailored Capacity Strengthening: providing access to training, workshops, and resources to strengthen organizational skills and impact.
• Networking Opportunities: connect with other CSOs, share best practices, and build powerful collaborations.

We welcome applications from:

• Local and grassroot CSOs working in the target areas.
• Associations from the target regions representing multiple CSOs with shared interest.
• CSO networks promoting collaboration, knowledge sharing and advocating for CSO enabling environment from the projects’ target regions as well as from Addis Ababa.

We particularly welcome applications from organizations led by women, youth and organizations of persons disabilities or their organizations.

Project Areas:

 We are particularly interested in supporting projects that operate on creating and enabling environment for CSOs and civil space protection, governance and social inclusion, empowering youth voice and agency, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, creating social cohesion, and prevention of illegal migration, advancing women’s rights and leadership, and social accountability for basic services. These thematic areas have a menu of possible activities in the EOI guideline (Annex III) for reference, which is not an exhaustive list.