More than 50 representatives of civil society organizations took part in the first information meeting dedicated to the Current Competition for Small Projects under the EEA Civil Society Fund in Bulgaria. The great interest in the meeting led to the preliminary filling of the capacity of the hall, which is why the registration for the first information meeting was closed a few days before the officially announced closing date.
The event took place on July 15, 2026 in Sofia and marked the beginning of a series of meetings aimed at assisting potential candidates in the preparation of their project proposals.
During the meeting, the participants got acquainted in detail with the conditions for application, eligible activities, funding model, the method of reporting and the process for submitting project proposals through the EGRANT electronic system. The participants had the opportunity to ask their questions and receive practical guidance for the preparation of project proposals.
Small projects with the potential for big change
From June 30, 2026, civil society organizations and community centers can apply for the Current Competition for Small Projects, announced within the framework of the EEA Civil Society Fund in Bulgaria.
The Fund aims to support the development of a vibrant and resilient civil society that protects and promotes democracy, the rule of law and human rights. In Bulgaria, it will support organizations that work for real change in their communities and contribute to building a more democratic, inclusive and sustainable society.
The competition is aimed at small projects with potential for development – initiatives whose results and experience can be upgraded, expanded or applied in other communities.
A grant of between €10,000 and €25,000 is envisaged, covering 100% of the eligible costs, without requiring its own financial contribution. The total budget of the competition is €4.15 million, and projects can last from 6 to 12 months.
Project proposals can be submitted under one of four priorities:
- Democracy and participation;
- Human Rights and Social Justice;
- Organizational development;
- Addressing the challenges arising from the war in Ukraine.
The application is made entirely online through the EGRANT system. Project proposals will be accepted on an ongoing basis until 29 June 2030, with the deadline for applications in the first period of the first session being 29 September 2026.
More information meetings
The first meeting marked the beginning of the information campaign for the competition. The second meeting will be held online tomorrow, July 16, 2026 at 16:00.
In September, additional online and face-to-face information meetings are planned in various settlements in the country. The dates and places of their holding will be published in a timely manner on the websites of WCIF and the EEA Civil Society Fund in Bulgaria.
If interest is expressed, additional information meetings can be organized at the invitation of a civil organization that is ready to host the event, with guaranteed participation of at least 10 organizations.
An ongoing call for small projects is part of the EEA Civil Society Fund program in Bulgaria, which supports the development of a vibrant and sustainable civil society, protecting and promoting democracy, the rule of law and human rights. The EEA Civil Society Fund in Bulgaria has a total budget of €23.46 million and is managed by a consortium led by the Open Society Institute – Sofia Foundation, in partnership with the Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation (WCIF), the Trust for Social Achievement (TSA) Foundation and Frivillighet Norge/Civil Society Norway. The programme is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway under the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism mechanism.
The current competition for small projects is managed by the Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation.
More information about the competition and the program is available on the website of the EEA Civil Society Fund in Bulgaria: https://www.civilsocietyfund.bg/
