CSIF Ethiopia launches a new funding round offering up to €600,000 for consortia of eligible Ethiopian CSOs.

Addis Ababa, 10 December 2025 – The Civil Society Innovation Fund (CSIF) Ethiopia launches a new funding round for consortia of eligible Ethiopian CSOs. Through this new Call for Proposals (CfP), CSIF Ethiopia invites consortia of eligible Ethiopian CSOs to submit their application for grants ranging from €400,000 to €600,000 for projects lasting 25 - 30 months from 2026 - 2028. The call seeks innovative, inclusive, and impactful initiatives that contribute to civic space, social cohesion, human rights, gender transformation, and media freedom and freedom of expression. Selected projects will receive financial, technical, and capacity‑building support to design and implement evidence‑based, collaborative actions that respond to community needs and national priorities.

CSIF Ethiopia is a multi‑donor initiative dedicated to strengthening the role, capacity, and influence of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Ethiopia. It is pleased to announce a new funding round under CSIF II for the period 2026–2028. The overarching goal of the programme is to amplify civil society’s contribution to a democratic, peaceful, and inclusive Ethiopia, reinforcing the central role of citizens and communities in shaping the nation’s future.

The specific objectives of the Call for Proposals are to:

1. Enhance social cohesion and peacebuilding by supporting initiatives that promote dialogue, trust-building, and reconciliation among diverse groups, strengthen local conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms, and foster peaceful coexistence.

2. Promote gender transformation by addressing discriminatory policies, institutional barriers and practices, and harmful social norms through participatory and inclusive approaches that engage all stakeholders, centring women’s agency to ensure that interventions lead to systemic change and equitable opportunities for all.

3. Promote and protect human rights by enabling CSOs to advocate for justice, equality, and accountability; engage in human rights monitoring and documentation; and strengthen the protection of marginalized and vulnerable groups.

4. Expand and safeguard civic space by enhancing citizens’ participation in public life, supporting transparency and accountability, and fostering an enabling environment for independent civil society engagement.

5. Strengthen independent media and access to information by supporting initiatives that promote media freedom, enhance the safety and professionalism of journalists, counter misinformation and disinformation, amplify diverse and marginalised voices, and expand public access to accurate, inclusive, and reliable information.

The application follows a two‑stage competitive process – concept note and full proposal stages – designed to identify initiatives with strong potential for innovation, impact, learning, and scalability. The deadline for the first stage is 15 January 2026 and the second full proposal stage deadline 23rd February 2026. Applications will undergo administrative screening, technical evaluation, due diligence, and final approval by CSIF funding partners. Successful applicants will then sign grant agreements and receive orientation and capacity‑building support.

Underlining Ireland’s commitment to civic space globally, Irish Ambassador to Ethiopia, H.E. Olivia Leslie, said “Ireland is pleased to be part of this important initiative and looks forward to ongoing collaboration with civil society in Ethiopia”.

The Norwegian Ambassador to Ethiopia H. E. Stian Christensen said: “Reflecting Norway’s longstanding commitment to human rights and gender equality, the Royal Norwegian Embassy is proud to join this important effort and looks forward to deepening its partnership with civil society in Ethiopia”

Launched in 2019 with support from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), CSIF has since grown into a multi‑donor platform with contributions from the Embassy of Ireland in Ethiopia and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ethiopia. The first phase, CSIF I (2022–2025), invested €3 million to support 15 CSOs working in peacebuilding, gender equality, human rights, civic space, and media. Building on this success, CSIF II (2025–2028) began with €4.5 million from AFD and, with additional contributions from the Ireland and Norway, is expected to reach a total budget of approximately €10 million. This expansion will enable CSIF to support up to 40 CSOs nationwide, significantly enhancing its impact and reach. This collaborative effort reflects the shared commitment of international donors to empower Ethiopian civil society as a driver of democratic governance, social inclusion, and sustainable change.

AFD’s Country director for Ethiopia Louis-Antoine Souchet mentioned that “having Norway and Ireland joining CSIF is really great news, and is the sign that this project reaches a new stage and a new dimension. It now becomes a multi-donor platform that can support with funding and capacity building more CSOs and their grass-rooted projects in all the regions and strengthen significantly the civic space”.

CSIF Ethiopia is manged by Mannion Daniels Ltd (UK) and AGAR Development Partners (Ethiopia), with technical support from other partners.

For more details on eligibility, thematic priorities, and application guidelines, visit https://www.csinnovationfund.org/csif-call-for-proposals-2025