Apply by 15 January 2026

3. Eligibility

A.    Organisational eligibility

• Be a registered Ethiopian civil society organisation (CSO) in accordance with the relevant national or regional legal framework.

• Ensure the lead organisation has a minimum of three years of demonstrated operational experience and robust governance, management, and financial systems, including the capacity to lead and coordinate a consortium and manage donor funds in compliance with standard accountability requirements.

• Ensure consortium member organisations have at least a legal registration certificate with clear governance and management structure and basic systems such as financial management and reporting systems.

• Demonstrate a track record or strong potential in implementing projects aligned with at least one of the CSIF’s thematic priority areas (civic space, social cohesion, human rights, gender transformation and media freedom and freedom of expression).

•  Be non-partisan, non-profit, and independent from any political or religious influence that could compromise impartiality.

•  Have no record of financial mismanagement or ineligibility from previous donor-funded programmes.

•  Be capable of implementing activities within the geographic scope and timeframe of the call.

 B.    Partnership and collaboration

• Applicants must submit proposals through a consortium of at least two and no more than four registered CSOs. Each CSO may participate in only one application and cannot be a partner in multiple proposals.

• CSIF requires consortia to include a balanced mix of organisations, particularly those based in regions with strong sub-national presence and operational experience. In addition, new and emerging CSOs who meet the eligibility criteria MUST be included as consortium members. These organisations should be considered as members and not leads, ensuring their participation while maintaining experienced leadership within the consortium.

• Partnerships must demonstrate complementary skills and shared objectives, with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for each consortium member.

• Collaboration with local authorities, community leaders, and community structures is encouraged where it enhances inclusivity, participation, and local ownership, including support for emerging CSOs, or community-based organizations outside the consortium as part of project activities to strengthen emerging civil society and promote sector diversity.

 C.    Project eligibility

• Focus on or cover a maximum of two CSIF’s thematic priorities and contribute to its overall objectives.

• Present a clear theory of change explaining how proposed activities will lead to expected outcomes and impacts.

• Demonstrate innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability in project design and approach.

• Ensure gender responsiveness and youth participation throughout planning, implementation, and monitoring.

• Include a realistic implementation plan, budget, and results framework.

• Comply with ethical standards and apply “do no harm” principles, ensuring respect for human rights, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.

• Demonstrate a clear preparedness to participate in inter and intra consortium coordination and learning meetings and/or engagements.

 D.    Geographic scope and operational presence

•  CSIF requires consortia to demonstrate geographical diversity in their composition and implementation plans. Applications must include CSOs from different regions of Ethiopia, ensuring representation beyond a single geographic area. CSOs may apply to operate in one or more regions and must demonstrate an active operational presence in each proposed target region.

• National or multi-regional projects must clearly justify the added value of this approach in advancing CSIF objectives and thematic priorities, such as leveraging diverse regional contexts or addressing cross-regional issues.

4. Application Stages

The application follows two-stage competitive application process to efficiently and fairly identify and select initiatives with strong potential for innovation, impact, learning, and scalability.

Stage 1: Concept Note

Applicants submit a concise Concept Note (only using Annex A template) a clear overview of the proposed idea, including its relevance, innovation, preliminary approach, consortium strength, and anticipated results.  Concept Notes will be evaluated based on the selection criteria defined in Section 5.2 for relevance, innovation, feasibility, and consortium capacity, including attention to human rights–based approaches (HRBA), gender equality, conflict sensitivity, and risk considerations where appropriate. Only the strongest submissions move forward and will be invited to submit a Full Proposal. We’ll inform the unsuccessful applicants.  See the list of Required documents for Stage 1 – Concept note submission on CSIF Call for Proposal Application Guideline section 7.2.

Stage 2: Full Proposal:

Only shortlisted applicants will be invited to prepare a Full Proposal (only using Annex B template). To support the development competitive and well aligned set of proposals, CSIF will offer virtual orientation sessions to clarify expectations, provide technical guidance, and ensure alignment with programme objectives. Full Proposals will be evaluated using the criteria outlined in Schedule 1 and due diligence reviews, including a co-creation process and field visits prior to final approval. See the list of required documents for Stage 1 – Full Proposal submission on CSIF Call for Proposal Application Guideline section 7.2.

5.     Application deadlines

• Stage 1 (Concept Note) deadline: Thursday 15th January 2026 by 5:00 p.m. EAT (East Africa Time)

• Stage 2 (Full Proposal) deadline: Monday 23rd February 2026 by 5:00 p.m. EAT