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2026 CSO Call for Expressions of Project Intentions

Agence Française de Développement (AFD)

Agence Française de Développement (AFD) is inviting French and locally governed civil society organisations to submit Expressions of Project Intentions for projects to be considered for financing in 2027 under the CSO Initiatives mechanism. The call supports civil society-led development initiatives contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals, international solidarity, stronger local civil society and concrete benefits for communities in ODA-eligible countries.

Who can apply

  • French civil society organisations
  • Locally governed civil society organisations registered in OECD DAC ODA-eligible countries
  • Eligible local NGOs and CSOs
  • Eligible unions
  • Locally governed CSOs that have previously received qualifying financing from an AFD Group entity
  • Locally governed CSOs that have previously received qualifying financing through an eligible lead CSO
  • Locally governed CSOs that have received qualifying financing from a French Embassy

Focus areas

  • Sustainable Development Goals
  • Civil society strengthening
  • International solidarity
  • Gender equality
  • Youth participation and empowerment
  • Climate action
  • Biodiversity
  • Agriculture and rural development
  • Water and sanitation
  • Education and training
  • Health and social protection
  • Governance and human rights
  • Employment and livelihoods
  • Food security and nutrition
  • Local development
  • Citizen participation

Requirements

  • The applicant must be an eligible civil society organisation.
  • Locally governed applicants must be legally registered in an OECD DAC ODA-eligible country.
  • Locally governed CSOs must have previously received qualifying financing for a completed project.
  • Qualifying previous financing may come from an AFD Group entity, including AFD, Expertise France, Proparco, FFEM or FID, directly or through an eligible lead CSO.
  • Qualifying previous financing may also come from a French Embassy where the annual financing exceeded €100,000.
  • The proposed project must contribute to sustainable development and strengthen civil society or generate concrete benefits for beneficiary populations.
  • The project must comply with the eligibility rules in the 2026 AFD CSO Initiatives methodological guidance.
  • Project intentions and administrative documents must be submitted through the OSCar platform.
  • Applicants without an OSCar account must request account creation no later than 15 September 2026.

Application steps

  • Review the official AFD 2026 CSO Call for Expressions of Project Intentions.
  • Confirm organisational and prior-funding eligibility.
  • Review the 2026 CSO Initiatives methodological guide and project-intention template.
  • If the organisation does not already have an OSCar account, request account creation by 15 September 2026.
  • Prepare the required OSCar authorisation documentation.
  • Develop the project intention and required administrative documents.
  • Create or access the organisation’s OSCar account.
  • Upload the project intention and supporting administrative documents through OSCar.
  • Submit the complete Expression of Project Intention by 9 October 2026 at 18:00 Paris time.
Global Grants Hub strategic note

This is a major AFD civil society funding opportunity, but it is not open to every NGO. Locally governed CSOs must satisfy a strict prior-funding condition involving previous completed financing from an eligible AFD Group entity, an eligible lead CSO or qualifying French Embassy support. Organisations without an existing OSCar account should act immediately because the account-creation request deadline is 15 September 2026, well before the main 9 October application deadline. Uganda is eligible as an ODA-recipient country, but Ugandan organisations should first confirm the prior-financing requirement before investing substantial time in proposal preparation.

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