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Strategic Analysis
A winning proposal must frame the critical nexus between official development assistance (ODA), democratic resilience, and global power shifts by combining robust interdisciplinary Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) methodologies with concrete policy intelligence. It should position EU development cooperation as a strategic vehicle for democratic governance, directly confronting non-EU authoritarian donor alternatives and debt-trap vulnerabilities while mobilizing civil society organisations (CSOs) across Enlargement, Neighbourhood, and LMIC contexts.
Everything the call asks for, seen from the call's point of view. Each line shows what answers it, and which partner carries it.
This matrix lists everything the call asks for: outcomes, impacts, scope, the requirements buried in the call text, and policy alignment. Sign up free and GrantForge tracks each line against the concept you build.
| Requirement | Covered by | Carried | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope activities | |||
| SC1Elucidate the complex relationships between development aid, democratic governance, equality, security, and global challenges (including by SSH disciplines), examining the effects of development aid on democratic institutions and processes, identifying gaps in funding for democratic governance, and exploring innovative approaches to supporting democratic governance and reducing inequality. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC2Examine the role and influence of other non-EU aid donors, including public, private, and philanthropic actors, as well as economic and geopolitical competitors, investigating why their support may be more attractive to developing countries, how they fill vacuums left by traditional donors, and the resulting new socio-economic dependencies and power relations. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC3Investigate the interplay between development aid, security, and democratic governance, focusing on the impact of development aid on democratic institutions, reducing socio-economic and gender inequalities, fostering democratic resilience, promoting inclusive governance, identifying funding gaps for democratic governance initiatives, and evaluating the consequences of declining democratic trends on global development strategies and the achievement of SDGs. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC4Identify new opportunities to enhance the EU's soft power and geopolitical influence across the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus, including through the development of dedicated diplomacies (e.g., climate diplomacy, water diplomacy, science diplomacy). | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC5Strive to include development aid civil society organisations in the project activities. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC6Use a gender-sensitive and intersectional approach in the research, and where applicable incorporate participatory research approaches to enhance inclusivity and stakeholder engagement. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC7Focus research on the geographical scope covering the EU Enlargement, Neighbourhood, and low- and lower middle-income countries, particularly their relationship with the EU, engaging in international cooperation. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected outcomes | |||
| EO1EU and national policymakers and development aid agencies are better equipped to deal with the complexities and challenges of the relations between the EU and low- and middle-income countries and increase their intelligence to develop EU strategies and policies that promote a more inclusive and equitable multilateralism. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO2Organisations for development cooperation have enhanced capacity and solutions to support democratic institutions and address key global challenges, such as climate action, democracy and rule of law, human rights and gender equality. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO3Strengthened multilateral partnerships between the EU as a donor of development aid and low- and middle-income countries in the field of development cooperation. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Other requirements | |||
| REQ1Involvement of development aid civil society organisationsActions should strive to include development aid civil society organisations in the project activities. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ2Gender-sensitive and intersectional research approachProposals should use a gender-sensitive and intersectional approach in their research. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ3Collaboration with relevant EU-funded projectsProposals are encouraged to identify other relevant EU-funded projects related to EU democracy support, civil society engagement, and international cooperation on sustainable peace and democratic governance, and explore potential collaboration opportunities. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ4Participatory research approaches and stakeholder engagementProposals may incorporate participatory research approaches to enhance inclusivity and stakeholder engagement. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ5International cooperation with Enlargement, Neighbourhood, and LMICsBecause the geographical scope covers EU Enlargement, Neighbourhood, and low- and lower middle-income countries with a focus on their relationship with the EU, international cooperation is strongly encouraged. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ6Synergies with EU programmesSynergies and interaction are encouraged with programmes including Digital Europe (DIGITAL), Technical Support Instrument, CERV, Erasmus+, ESF+, and Global Europe (NDICI). | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ7Leveraging European Research Infrastructures, EOSC, and Data SpacesApplicants are encouraged to consider services offered by European Research Infrastructures, particularly in the social sciences and humanities (e.g. CESSDA, ESS, SHARE, EHRI), federated under EOSC and relevant Data Spaces. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ8FAIR data complianceParticular efforts should be made to ensure that data produced in the context of this destination is FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable). | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ9Openness and transparency to civil societyActions must promote the highest standards of transparency and openness, and when applicable open up research processes, criteria, methodologies, and data to civil society. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected impacts | |||
| EI1Reinvigorating democratic governance by improving the independence, accountability, transparency, effectiveness and trustworthiness of institutions and policies based on rule of law, and through the expansion of active and inclusive citizens’ participation and engagement empowered by the safeguarding of fundamental rights. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Underlying policies | |||
| POL1treaty on european union (article 2)Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) establishes the foundational values of the European Union, including respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. It provides the legal and normative bedrock for both internal EU governance and external action. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL2european neighbourhood policy (enp)The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) governs the EU's strategic relationships with 16 of its closest eastern and southern neighbours to promote stability, security, and prosperity. It aims to foster democratic governance, rule of law reforms, economic resilience, and regional integration through bilateral and regional cooperation frameworks. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL3sustainable development goals (sdgs)The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development comprises 17 universal goals aimed at ending poverty, reducing inequalities, and building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. In EU external action, the European Consensus on Development aligns EU development aid and cooperation policy directly with the delivery of these global goals. | · | · | Sign up to track |
The binding rules of this call. Items marked auto are verified by GrantForge from the call and the template. The others are yours to confirm.
LMIC entities auto-eligible
Low/middle-income country entities are automatically eligible for funding.
EU space data infrastructures
If the project uses satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation or timing data/services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other sources may be added but not substitute EU infrastructures.
Civil applications only
Horizon Europe funds exclusively civil applications. Research with exclusive military or dual-use application is excluded.
Gender Equality Plan
Having a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) is an eligibility criterion for public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions from Member States and Associated Countries.
Open Science
Mandatory open access to peer-reviewed scientific publications and responsible management of research data (FAIR principles, DMP required).
4 key insights you must internalise before writing. Each is grounded in the call text and tells you what evaluators will actually look for. Share these with your consortium before drafting.
Evaluators will strictly assess whether the proposal delivers on all three eliminating expected outcomes. Failing to provide concrete policy intelligence, actionable operational solutions for development bodies, or durable multilateral partnerships will result in immediate scoring penalties. Ensure each outcome has a dedicated, highly visible pathway to impact.
Source: evaluation_pre_award
The consortium must demonstrate tangible participation and co-creation with local civil society organisations (CSOs) and research institutions located in the EU Enlargement, Neighbourhood, and LMIC areas. Evaluators will heavily scrutinize this geographical balance, meaning proposals relying solely on EU-based actors to study these regions will fail this evaluation checkpoint.
Source: evaluation_pre_award
Proposals cannot analyze EU development aid in isolation. Evaluators demand comparative geopolitical rigor, requiring an empirical contrast of EU instruments against alternative non-EU donors like China, Gulf States, and private actors. The research design must explicitly map how these competitors create socio-economic dependencies and fill funding vacuums.
Source: evaluation_pre_award
Because this is a lump-sum RIA, the payment structure depends entirely on deliverable approval. Within the strict 45-page limit, work packages must clearly link financial breakdowns to well-defined milestones. Avoid overly fragmented deliverables that consume page count and complicate the payment cadence.
Source: evaluation_pre_award
Specific requirements
EU space data infrastructures
If the project uses satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation or timing data/services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other sources may be added but not substitute EU infrastructures.
Civil applications only
Horizon Europe funds exclusively civil applications. Research with exclusive military or dual-use application is excluded.
Gender Equality Plan
Having a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) is an eligibility criterion for public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions from Member States and Associated Countries.
Open Science
Mandatory open access to peer-reviewed scientific publications and responsible management of research data (FAIR principles, DMP required).
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As described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
As described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
As described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
As described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
As described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
As described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
As described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
The granting authority may, up to 4 years after the end of the action, object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5.
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
In addition, as described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
As described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 5. Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Evaluators will strictly assess whether the consortium delivers on all three eliminating expected outcomes: concrete policy intelligence for EU/national agencies (@EO1), actionable operational solutions for development cooperation bodies (@EO2), and durable multilateral partnerships (@EO3). Evaluators will scrutinize:
TRL 2 → 6
Based on programme defaults
Elucidate the complex relationships between development aid, democratic governance, equality, security, and global challenges (including by SSH disciplines), examining the effects of development aid on democratic institutions and processes, identifying gaps in funding for democratic governance, and exploring innovative approaches to supporting democratic governance and reducing inequality.
Examine the role and influence of other non-EU aid donors, including public, private, and philanthropic actors, as well as economic and geopolitical competitors, investigating why their support may be more attractive to developing countries, how they fill vacuums left by traditional donors, and the resulting new socio-economic dependencies and power relations.
Investigate the interplay between development aid, security, and democratic governance, focusing on the impact of development aid on democratic institutions, reducing socio-economic and gender inequalities, fostering democratic resilience, promoting inclusive governance, identifying funding gaps for democratic governance initiatives, and evaluating the consequences of declining democratic trends on global development strategies and the achievement of SDGs.
Identify new opportunities to enhance the EU's soft power and geopolitical influence across the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus, including through the development of dedicated diplomacies (e.g., climate diplomacy, water diplomacy, science diplomacy).
Strive to include development aid civil society organisations in the project activities.
Use a gender-sensitive and intersectional approach in the research, and where applicable incorporate participatory research approaches to enhance inclusivity and stakeholder engagement.
Focus research on the geographical scope covering the EU Enlargement, Neighbourhood, and low- and lower middle-income countries, particularly their relationship with the EU, engaging in international cooperation.
EU and national policymakers and development aid agencies are better equipped to deal with the complexities and challenges of the relations between the EU and low- and middle-income countries and increase their intelligence to develop EU strategies and policies that promote a more inclusive and equitable multilateralism.
Organisations for development cooperation have enhanced capacity and solutions to support democratic institutions and address key global challenges, such as climate action, democracy and rule of law, human rights and gender equality.
Strengthened multilateral partnerships between the EU as a donor of development aid and low- and middle-income countries in the field of development cooperation.
Reinvigorating democratic governance by improving the independence, accountability, transparency, effectiveness and trustworthiness of institutions and policies based on rule of law, and through the expansion of active and inclusive citizens’ participation and engagement empowered by the safeguarding of fundamental rights.
Treaty on European Union (Article 2)
highArticle 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) establishes the foundational values of the European Union, including respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. It provides the legal and normative bedrock for both internal EU governance and external action.
Evaluators expect proposals to directly operationalise core values such as the rule of law and human rights in their research methodologies and project frameworks. Clear pathways must demonstrate how project findings support democratic resilience and democratic institution-building in partner countries receiving development aid.
European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)
highThe European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) governs the EU's strategic relationships with 16 of its closest eastern and southern neighbours to promote stability, security, and prosperity. It aims to foster democratic governance, rule of law reforms, economic resilience, and regional integration through bilateral and regional cooperation frameworks.
Evaluators expect to see concrete engagement with neighbourhood partner institutions and civil society, demonstrating an understanding of local political economies. Proposals should explain how research outcomes will inform EU external assistance tools and support local reforms in democratic governance.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
highThe UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development comprises 17 universal goals aimed at ending poverty, reducing inequalities, and building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. In EU external action, the European Consensus on Development aligns EU development aid and cooperation policy directly with the delivery of these global goals.
Evaluators expect proposals to map specific project activities and indicators to relevant SDGs—particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The proposal should explain how democratic governance interventions contribute to sustainable, locally-owned development impacts.
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