Civil Society Fund in Hungary

The main objectives of the program:

• Strengthening democracy and the rule of law by supporting the participation of civil society organizations and active citizens in democratic processes, as well as improving information security and media literacy.
• Promoting the enforcement of human rights in the areas of social justice, equal treatment, gender equality, sexual and reproductive rights, the rights of LMBTQI+ communities, climate protection, environmental protection, and a just green transition.
• Improving the organizational functioning and operating environment of domestic civil society organizations committed to the above issues.

The program in numbers:

• Duration: 2026–2032
• 4th funding cycle
• Total amount of the program: €22,935,849, of which €19,368,865 is to be distributed directly through calls for proposals.

About the implementation:

• The Fund is implemented in each country through civil society organizations, independently of state institutions and with respect for the autonomy of the civil sector.
• The implementing organizations were selected through an open call for proposals announced in each country.
• The members of the consortium that won the fourth grant cycle in Hungary are: Ökotárs Foundation, Autonómia Foundation, Kárpátok Foundation - Hungary
• The implementing organizations will distribute the grant amount among Hungarian civil society actors in the coming years through an open call for proposals and based on expert evaluations.

About the Fund:

Based on an agreement between the countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) – Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein – and the European Union, the three countries contribute to reducing economic and social disparities in the region. To this end, the EEA and Norway Grants were established to provide support to Member States that have not yet reached the average level of development of the European Union.

The 15 beneficiary countries of the EEA and Norway Grants are currently: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

The Civil Society Funds, which serve to strengthen civil society in the beneficiary countries, are also part of the cooperation.

The fourth cycle of the Civil SocietyFund is a separate, independent source of funding in each beneficiary country, which can be applied for directly, independently of intergovernmental agreements.

History of the EEA and Norway Grants (in English): https://eeagrants.org/en/fmo/about-us/history