Call for Applications: Small Grants for Civil Society Organizations to Promote Inclusive Democratic Participation in Lebanon

1. Background

The Arab Center for the Development of the Rule of Law and Integrity (ACRLI), in partnership with the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), is implementing the European Union–funded project “Inclusive Democratic Participation in Lebanon.”

The project responds to Lebanon’s ongoing challenges in democratic engagement and public trust by strengthening civic awareness, promoting inclusive participation and empowering civil society actors particularly at the local level. The action combines evidence-based dialogue, civic education, advocacy and grassroots empowerment to ensure that democratic participation is meaningful, inclusive, and accessible across geographic and social divides.

Within this framework, ACRLI will award four small sub-grants to local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to design and implement local advocacy and awareness campaigns promoting inclusive democratic participation across Lebanon.

2. Objective

The overall objective of the sub-grants is to support locally driven advocacy initiatives that enhance civic engagement and inclusive democratic participation at the community level.

Specifically, the sub-grants aim to:

• Promote awareness of democratic participation, citizen engagement and accountability;
• Strengthen the advocacy capacities of local and grassroots CSOs;
• Encourage inclusive participation, with particular attention to women, youth, persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups;
• Ensure that democratic values are translated into concrete, community-level actions and citizen experiences.

3. Scope of Work

Selected CSOs will be responsible for the design, implementation and documentation of a local advocacy and/or awareness campaign, in close coordination with ACRLI.

Indicative activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Community awareness sessions, public discussions or dialogue meetings;
• Local advocacy actions and outreach initiatives;
• Engagement with community leaders, activists and relevant local stakeholders;
• Activities promoting
• inclusive participation and citizen oversight.

All activities must be tailored to the local context and aligned with the project’s objectives.

Number of grants: 4 grants will be awarded to 4 CSOs from different governorates across Lebanon
Grant amount: Equal funding of USD 5000 will be allocated to each selected CSO
Duration: The implementation period will be defined in the grant agreement and aligned with the project timeline

4. Key Responsibilities of Selected CSOs

Selected CSOs will be expected to:

4.1 Implementation

• Design a local advocacy or awareness campaign within the agreed timeframe and in close coordination with the project manager;
• Implement at least 6 awareness sessions targeting different cities/villages of each of the 4 governorates. This includes mapping participants (CSOs/NGOs and community members), sending invitations and covering all logistics and venue costs;
• Develop the lecture/presentation and any supporting materials for the awareness session in close coordination with the project manager;  
• Ensure inclusive participation and community engagement throughout implementation;
• Coordinate activities with ACRLI and comply with approved work plans.

4.2 Coordination and Capacity Building

• Participate in trainings and guidance sessions provided under the project, including advocacy planning, stakeholder engagement and fund management;
• Apply technical guidance provided by ACRLI to strengthen advocacy approaches and outreach strategies.

4.3 Reporting and Documentation

• Submit narrative and financial reports using templates provided by ACRLI;
• Document activities through attendance lists, brief reports, photos, and supporting materials including participants feedback;

• Provide timely updates on progress, challenges, and lessons learned.

5. Eligibility Criteria

This call is open to local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operating in Lebanon that meet the following criteria:

• Legally registered non-profit CSOs or NGOs in Lebanon;
• Small local organizations — especially those working in under-served or remote areas where support is limited;
• Active operational presence in at least one Lebanese region, particularly rural, underserved or non-central areas;
• Demonstrated engagement in community-based initiatives, advocacy or civic activities;
• Alignment with principles of inclusive democratic participation and citizen engagement;
• Capacity to implement local activities effectively with modest financial resources.
• Organizations affiliated with political parties or engaging in partisan political activities are not eligible.
• Selected CSOs will be required to comply with applicable EU rules and reporting requirements. ACRLI will provide guidance to ensure transparent and responsible use of funds.

6. Selection and Evaluation

The selection process will follow principles of transparency, fairness, and equal opportunity, in line with international best practices and EU standards.

Applications will be assessed based on the following indicative criteria:

• Relevance of the proposed campaign to inclusive democratic participation;
• Inclusion of marginalized groups and underserved communities;
• Feasibility and clarity of the proposed methodology and activities;
• Organizational and implementation capacity;
• Expected impact and sustainability of results;
• Coherence and cost-effectiveness of the proposed budget.

7. Application Procedure

Interested CSOs are invited to submit:

• A brief Concept Note outlining the proposed advocacy and/or awareness campaign, including objectives, target groups, key activities, and expected results, to be submitted by email to the address indicated in the call no later than 6 February 2026 (end of business day).
• A simplified Budget, detailing the proposed allocation of the grant amount across planned activities and cost categories;
• Supporting Documents, including proof of legal registration in Lebanon and an organizational profile describing the CSO’s mandate and relevant experience in advocacy, civic engagement or similar activities.