How to Access Funding from the EU (Even if You’re Based in an LMIC or the USA)
Many people assume EU funding is just for European institutions. Spoiler alert; It’s not.
The European Union is one of the world’s largest public donors — and many of its programs are explicitly open to NGOs, research institutions, and even social enterprises outside of Europe including those based in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and even countries in the USA, Canada, Australia and more.
The EU funds a wide range of work in climate, health, education, governance, digital innovation, peacebuilding, and more. Organization outside of Europe can access a wide range of EU/EC funding, especially for research, innovation, education, and development, in the form of grants, research partnerships, and blended finance.
But navigating the EU ecosystem can be daunting. Applications are often consortium-based, highly structured, and strict guidelines and processes and requires smart strategy and planning.
This guide breaks it down: how it works, who can apply, what they fund, and how to position your organization to access EU support — even if you’re based far from Brussels.
How the Guide is Structured
Why You Should Care About EU Funding – A snapshot of why the EU matters for global funding, and how much is on the table.
EU Funding Instruments You Should Know – An overview of the main EU funding tools, including NDICI to Horizon.
Who Can Apply? – A breakdown of which types of organizations are eligible and how country eligibility varies.
What the EU Funds – Key Themes Across Programs – A sector-by-sector look at what kinds of work the EU supports.
How EU Funding Works – Key structures, requirements, and how EU calls are typically organized.
Strengthen Your Chances – Strategies to boost your competitiveness and build strong partnerships.
Tips for Applying – Practical guidance for navigating the application process and avoiding common pitfalls.
What You Can Do Today – Steps you can take now to prepare for future calls.
Additional Resources – Tools, platforms, and portals to help you go deeper.
Why You Should Care About EU Funding
The European Union isn’t just a regional donor — it’s a global one. Through its central instruments alone, the EU channels tens of billions into development, research, and innovation efforts across the world.
The European Commission disbursed over €27 billion in development and humanitarian assistance in 2023, with a significant share directed to non-EU countries. Its main funding instruments — like NDICI – Global Europe and Horizon Europe — support work in climate, education, governance, health, digital innovation, and more. The EU and its Member States together accounted for €95.9 billion in ODA that year — over 42% of global aid flows.
Funding is structured across both geographic and thematic envelopes. Under NDICI – Global Europe (2021–2027), the largest geographic allocations go to:
Sub-Saharan Africa: €29.2 billion
EU Neighbourhood (MENA & Eastern Partnership): €19.3 billion
Asia & Pacific: €8.5 billion
Americas & Caribbean: €3.4 billion
Unallocated Reserve: €9.5 billion
Graphs from the 2024 Annual Report on the Implementation of the European Union's External Action Instruments in 2023.
Thematic commitments under NDICI and complementary mechanisms include:
Human Rights & Democracy: €1.36B
Civil Society: €1.36B
Peace, Stability & Conflict Prevention: €0.91B
Rapid Response Actions: €3.18B
Global Challenges: €2.73B (health, education, gender, climate, migration)
EFSD+ Blended Finance: over €10B mobilized in guarantees and investment
Global Gateway: aims to mobilize €300B in public and private finance
Meanwhile, Horizon Europe adds a €95.5B budget for 2021–2027 to fund global research and innovation. Its Pillar II alone holds €53.5B for themes like health, climate, food systems, and digital tech — with LMIC participation welcomed in many calls. Pillars I and III fund frontier science, fellowships, and startup/SME innovation.
Sources:
European Commission, Annual Activity Report 2023 – DG INTPA
Council of the EU Press Release, June 2024
European Commission, NDICI Global Europe Programming & Financing Overview
EFSD+ Factsheet, European Commission – External Action
European Commission, Global Gateway Strategy
European Commission, Horizon Europe Overview
European Commission – Multiannual Indicative Programming
EU Funding Instruments Should You Know
NDICI – Global Europe: The EU’s main external action tool (€79.5B, 2021–2027), funding development cooperation, governance, peacebuilding, climate adaptation, civil society, and migration in partner countries. Open to actors in Sub-Saharan Africa, MENA, Asia-Pacific, Latin America & Caribbean, and the EU Neighbourhood (Eastern Partnership, Southern Neighbourhood).
Horizon Europe: The EU’s €95.5B flagship research & innovation program. Open to global consortia, with many calls welcoming LMICs (Annex B), associated countries, and select high-income partners like the USA, Japan, and Canada (cluster-dependent). Global — with funding automatically available to LMICs and associated countries; selective access for others (e.g. US actors in health research).
ECHO – Humanitarian Aid: Funds humanitarian action, DRR, and emergency response worldwide — often via trusted framework partners (UN agencies, INGOs). Global — focused on crisis-affected and disaster-prone regions. Local actors often sub-grantees or implementing partners.
Global Gateway: The EU’s €300B connectivity and infrastructure strategy combining public and private finance in sectors like transport, energy, digital, education, and health. Projects typically involve governments, DFIs, and major consortia. Targeted at countries across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the EU Neighbourhood — aligned with NDICI and EFSD+ geographies.
EFSD+ (Blended Finance): Delivers guarantees and de-risking tools for investments in green energy, digital infrastructure, SMEs, and sustainable development. Not a direct grant program — funding flows through financial intermediaries and development finance institutions. Primarily focused on LMICs and fragile states in Africa, MENA, and the EU Neighbourhood — particularly where private capital is underdeveloped or high-risk.
EU Delegation Calls: Issued by EU offices in partner countries, these calls reflect national priorities and fund local or regional civil society, governance, service delivery, or inclusion projects. Country-specific — typically open to national/local actors in LMICs or Neighbourhood countries. Eligibility details vary by Delegation and call.
EU4Health: Aims to strengthen health systems, digital health, disease prevention, and crisis preparedness across Europe. Some calls (e.g. CSOs or coordination platforms) may allow non-EU participation. Primarily open to EU Member States and associated countries (e.g. Ukraine, Moldova, Western Balkans, Norway, Iceland); others eligible in exceptional calls.
CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights & Values): Supports civic participation, anti-discrimination, gender equality, and rights-based initiatives — especially within the EU. Mostly EU/EEA-based entities; non-EU actors may participate as partners if permitted in call text.
Digital Europe Programme: Invests in cross-border digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and AI. Most funding is directed to EU and associated country actors, with exceptions based on strategic need. EU Member States, associated countries (e.g. Norway, Iceland, Ukraine); third-country participation must be justified and allowed by call.
LIFE Programme: Funds environment and climate innovation projects, including circular economy, biodiversity, and nature-based solutions. EU and associated countries (e.g. Western Balkans, EEA countries); non-EU partners eligible if participation is considered essential to the project.
Erasmus+: The EU’s main education, training, youth, and sport programme (€26.2B for 2021–2027), supporting mobility, institutional partnerships, capacity-building, and policy dialogue. Open to universities, NGOs, youth groups, and education actors in and beyond Europe. Most actions open to EU Member States and associated countries; select international opportunities available to institutions in LMICs and partner countries through the international dimension (e.g. capacity-building, mobility, joint degrees).
You can find a full list of EU funding instruments here.
Who Can Apply?
The EU funds a wide variety of actors — but eligibility depends on the instrument, the call, and your legal status. Here’s how it typically breaks down:
Nonprofits & NGOs: Often serve as lead applicants or consortium members — especially under NDICI – Global Europe, ECHO, and EU Delegation calls. Civil society is central to EU external action.
Academic & Research Institutions: Eligible (and encouraged) under Horizon Europe, EU4Health, and Erasmus+. Universities and public research centers often coordinate proposals in science, health, climate, and education.
Think Tanks & Policy Institutes: Frequently included in governance, inclusion, and rights-based projects — especially under Human Rights & Democracy and Global Challenges envelopes.
Public Authorities & Local Governments: Eligible for work in urban development, education, health systems, governance, and environmental management. Often lead infrastructure-focused proposals.
Social Enterprises & Private Companies: Generally eligible under Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, EFSD+, and Global Gateway-linked calls. This includes SMEs, innovation-focused startups, and impact-driven businesses.
However, under NDICI or traditional development funding, they may need to partner with nonprofits or apply under blended finance mechanisms.
Regional & Multilateral Organizations: Involved in regional peacebuilding, migration management, and shared development agendas. Common in Delegation-led calls and thematic partnerships.
What the EU Funds – Key Themes Across Programs
The EU funds a vast range of work across sustainable development, humanitarian response, public policy, and scientific innovation.
Its major instruments — NDICI – Global Europe, Horizon Europe, Global Gateway, and others — align with global priorities such as climate action, inclusive governance, gender equality, and digital transformation.
Funding is often cross-sectoral and delivered through large-scale thematic clusters, geographic envelopes, and challenge-driven R&I calls. Here’s how it breaks down:
Health: The EU funds a wide spectrum of global health work—from health systems strengthening and pandemic preparedness to digital health, antimicrobial resistance, and research into cancer and rare diseases. Horizon Europe’s Cluster 1 leads on global health research (with many calls explicitly open to LMICs and the US), while NDICI – Global Europe and EU4Health support health systems and essential services.
Relevant instruments: Horizon Europe (Cluster 1), NDICI – Global Challenges, EU4Health.
Eligibility: Most instruments welcome LMICs; some Horizon calls are open to select high-income countries (like the US, Japan, Canada) based on strategic relevance. USA is explicitly eligible to receive funding for many specific Health Cluster topics, "in recognition of the opening of the US National Institutes of Health’s programmes to European researchers.”
Education & Skills: Funding spans basic education, TVET, inclusive learning models, digital literacy, and higher education partnerships—especially in fragile and low-income contexts. Horizon supports academic exchange and innovation; Erasmus+ enables international mobility.
Relevant instruments: NDICI (Geographic & Global Challenges), Erasmus+, Horizon Europe (MSCA & clusters).
Eligibility: LMICs broadly eligible; non-associated HICs can join some Horizon & Erasmus+ activities under specific conditions.
Climate & Environment: From just transitions and biodiversity to circular economy pilots and ecosystem restoration, the EU invests heavily in climate action. NDICI prioritizes climate across geographic programs; Horizon funds climate science and innovation; EFSD+ enables green blended finance.
Relevant instruments: NDICI – Global Europe, EFSD+, Horizon Europe (Cluster 5), Global Gateway.
Eligibility: LMICs are prioritized; HICs may join some Horizon calls on a case-by-case basis.
Gender & Inclusion: The EU is one of the largest funders of gender equality, women’s rights, and inclusion of marginalized communities. Funding supports everything from GBV prevention and feminist movements to intersectional policymaking and leadership pathways.
Relevant instruments: NDICI – Human Rights & Democracy, Civil Society envelope, EU4Gender, Horizon Europe (Gendered Innovation calls).
Eligibility: Strong focus on LMICs and civil society-led consortia.
Governance & Human Rights: Support includes civic space, independent media, justice systems, public sector reform, elections, and anti-corruption work. EU Delegations often fund local governance and rights initiatives through geographic programs.
Relevant instruments: NDICI (Human Rights & Democracy, CSOs), Delegation Calls, CERV.
Eligibility: Most programs accessible to local and international NGOs in LMICs and neighbourhood countries.
Migration & Displacement
Programs tackle root causes, support safe migration pathways, and assist forcibly displaced populations and host communities. Includes return/reintegration, rights-based border management, and protection programming.
Relevant instruments: NDICI – Geographic, Thematic, Rapid Response, EUTF (now embedded in NDICI).
Eligibility: Strong LMIC focus, often with local partnerships required.
Peace & Stability: Funding spans early warning, mediation, DDR, SSR, and crisis response. Often channelled through NDICI’s Peace & Stability window and EU Delegation programs.
Relevant instruments: NDICI (Peace & Stability, Rapid Response), Delegation Calls.
Eligibility: Primarily LMICs and fragile states, often via consortia.
Digital & Innovation: EU support covers AI, data systems, eGov, cybersecurity, and innovation ecosystems. Horizon Europe leads research and frontier digital tech, while NDICI backs digital transformation and infrastructure in partner countries.
Relevant instruments: Horizon Europe (Clusters 4 & 6), NDICI (Digitalization), Global Gateway, Digital Europe.
Eligibility: Broad participation via Horizon; digital infrastructure and transformation efforts target LMICs and neighbourhood states.
Food & Agriculture: Funding priorities include regenerative agriculture, nutrition, food system transformation, and climate-smart supply chains. Horizon supports research; NDICI and PRIMA fund field-level pilots and policies.
Relevant instruments: NDICI, Horizon Europe (Cluster 6), PRIMA, EIT Food.
Eligibility: Open to LMICs; PRIMA focuses on Mediterranean countries.
Infrastructure & Connectivity: Massive funding under Global Gateway and EFSD+ for transport corridors, internet access, digital infrastructure, and clean energy. Projects often combine grants with guarantees and loans.
Relevant instruments: Global Gateway, EFSD+, NDICI, Digital Europe.
Eligibility: Primarily LMICs and EU Neighbourhood countries.
Research & Frontier Science: Horizon Europe remains the EU’s flagship R&I engine, backing basic science, global challenges, and SME/startup ecosystems. LMICs are automatically eligible for most funding, and certain HICs (like the US, Japan, Canada) are selectively included in specific calls.
Relevant instruments: Horizon Europe (all pillars), MSCA, ERC.
Eligibility: LMICs broadly eligible; strategic HICs included by topic.
How EU Funding Works
EU funding is structured, competitive, and often requires careful preparation — but it's also designed to be catalytic. Calls typically fund projects through formal application processes with clear rules on who can apply, what’s covered, and how consortia must be formed.
Most funding is project-based and consortium-led. Applicants are often expected to apply as part of a partnership — typically including at least three organizations from different countries (especially in Horizon Europe). Some NDICI calls allow solo or co-applicant arrangements, especially for civil society or local actors.
Expect structure, templates, and strict compliance. Proposals follow detailed formats, including results frameworks, gender and environmental mainstreaming, financial forecasting, and sometimes co-financing requirements. EU grants are highly regulated — understanding the fine print is essential.
What kinds of funding are offered? Depending on the program, EU support may come in different forms:
Grants: The most common form — covering a share (often 80–100%) of eligible project costs. Instruments: NDICI, Horizon Europe, CERV, EU4Health
Service contracts & tenders: For predefined services (e.g. evaluations, technical assistance). Instruments: Often managed by EU Delegations, HaDEA, or DGs
Blended finance & guarantees: To attract private investment or de-risk infrastructure projects. Instruments: EFSD+, NDICI (investment window), Global Gateway
Prizes: In innovation-related programs (e.g. Horizon Europe) for solving defined challenges.
Technical assistance & capacity-building: Non-financial support to improve systems, processes, and stakeholder readiness. Instruments: TAIEX, Twinning, NDICI, EU Delegation programming
Pilot and research funding: For proof-of-concept and experimental approaches, especially under Horizon Europe. Instruments: Horizon Europe, MSCA, EIC Pathfinder
Budget size varies widely. EU grant sizes can range from €50,000 (for small pilots) to over €10 million (for large-scale global consortia). Blended finance and investment windows can mobilize hundreds of millions — especially under Global Gateway and EFSD+.
Strengthen Your Chances
EU funding is competitive — but not impossible. The strongest applicants are those who understand the system, build the right relationships, and prepare well in advance. Here’s how to improve your odds:
Partner smartly — and early. EU grants favor consortia with a clear division of roles, geographic spread, and proven expertise. Start building partnerships before calls launch — especially with European institutions who can act as lead applicants. Look for complementarity, not duplication.
Align with EU strategies. Proposals that clearly reflect EU priorities — like gender equality, digital transition, or climate resilience — tend to stand out. Show how your work advances EU values and policies, both thematically and geographically.
Study past projects. Explore previous grantees using tools like the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, Horizon Dashboard, or CORDIS. What kinds of projects get funded? Who leads them? What language do they use? Reverse-engineering can be revealing.
Attend info sessions. Many calls are preceded by webinars hosted by DGs, EU Delegations, HaDEA, or National Contact Points. These sessions often include tips from evaluators — and signals about what’s really being sought.
Get your house in order. Have your organizational profile ready: legal registration, audited financials, safeguarding policies, gender and inclusion commitments. For Horizon Europe, register your entity in the Participant Portal early.
Ask questions. EU calls allow for clarification during the open window. If something is unclear in the guidelines, submit a question to the helpdesk or managing authority. Your query (and the official answer) could benefit others too.
Invest in proposal capacity. Strong proposals often come from teams with dedicated grant writers, MEL advisors, and financial managers. If you don’t have that capacity in-house, consider external support or joint applications.
Tips for Applying
Once the call is open, the clock is ticking — and there’s no room for error. Here’s how to navigate the process and submit a standout application.
Read the call documents — carefully. EU calls are long, dense, and specific. Don’t skim. Understand the objectives, expected outcomes, eligible activities, and compliance requirements. Every call is different.
Build a strong, credible consortium. In most programs, you’ll need at least 3 partners from different countries (often including one from an EU Member State or Associated Country). Funders look for teams with complementary expertise, balanced roles, and geographic relevance.
Get your admin in order. Ensure your organization is registered in the EU Participant Portal (for Horizon) or PADOR (for NDICI/EuropeAid). Prepare legal documents, statutes, policies, and recent audits in advance — these are often required at submission or contract stage.
Center EU priorities in your narrative. Explicitly address cross-cutting issues like gender equality, climate/environmental sustainability, digital inclusion, and participation of marginalized groups. Use the language of the call.
Start early — and draft iteratively. EU proposals are not weekend jobs. Give yourself 4–8 weeks for consortium coordination, writing, and internal approvals. Use work plans, shared templates, and clear division of labor across partners.
Budget strategically. Design a budget that’s realistic, justified, and aligned with eligible cost categories. Include adequate staff time, indirect costs, and M&E. Most calls do not allow overheads beyond the flat 7% indirect cost rate (unless otherwise specified).
Use the official tools. For Horizon: Complete Part A (admin), Part B (technical), and submit via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. For NDICI: Follow PRAG templates and submission portals. Always double-check that all attachments are included and compliant.
Expect evaluation — and delays. Most proposals are peer-reviewed or assessed by external experts. The full process — from submission to contract — can take 6–9 months. Be patient, and use the time to prepare for next calls.
What You Can Do Today
Most successful EU grantees don’t wait for calls to open — they prepare well in advance. Whether you’re a nonprofit, research institute, or social enterprise, here are concrete steps you can take now to position yourself for future EU funding.
Register on the right platforms.
PADOR (for NDICI / development): Required for many EuropeAid and Delegation-managed grants.
EU Funding & Tenders Portal (for Horizon Europe, CERV, etc.): Create an account and get a PIC (Participant Identification Code).
APPEL / eSingleForm (for DG ECHO): If you want to become a certified humanitarian partner, start your ECHO partner profile process — this takes time and documentation.
Review country & thematic strategies.
For NDICI: Read your thematic and geographic Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) to understand the EU’s global priorities.
For Horizon: Check your field’s Work Programme, which is published up to a year in advance. This helps you scan future topics and plan partnerships.
Build relationships with EU Delegations. The EU Delegation in your country is a powerful stakeholder. They shape priorities, advise on calls, and influence grant design. Reach out, introduce your work, ask to be included in stakeholder consultations, and sign up for their newsletters.
Get your internal systems in order. Many EU calls require organizational documentation like statutes and registration, financial audits, gender and safeguarding policies, and data protection and procurement protocols. If you don’t have these yet, now’s the time to build them.
Explore past grantees and potential partners. Use platforms like CORDIS, Horizon Dashboard, and Capacity4Dev to see who’s been funded in your field. Reach out to past recipients — they may be looking for new partners.
Pilot, prepare, position. Use the time before a call to pilot test your solution, develop concept notes, scope consortium partners, and align your work with EU priorities like green transitions, gender equity, and digital inclusion.
Additional Resources
Want to dive deeper into EU funding? These trusted portals, policy guides, and training hubs will help you navigate the ecosystem, stay on top of new calls, and strengthen your next proposal.
Core Portals & Registration Systems
EU Funding & Tenders Portal The central platform for most EU programmes, including Horizon, Digital Europe, CERV, and more.
EU Funding Programmes Overview Full directory of all current EU programmes — ideal for scanning opportunities by theme.
International Partnerships Portal Key access point for NDICI – Global Europe, humanitarian funding, and blended finance.
PADOR & e-PRAG Registration Required for most development and external action calls — register your org and review key procedures.
ECHO eSingleForm / APPEL Platform Required registration system for humanitarian partners applying to DG ECHO.
Programming, Priorities & Policy Planning
NDICI Programming & Action Plans Thematic and geographic priorities through 2027, including MIPs.
Horizon Work Plans 2025 Upcoming calls by clusters.
Draft Horizon Work Plans 2026/2207 Expected calls by clusters.
Annual Activity Reports – DG INTPA Yearly summaries of EU development and external aid spending.
PRAG Guide (ePRAG) Official guidance on contracts, procedures, and compliance for external actions.
Learning, Insights & Partner Search
DEVCO Academy Free online courses and toolkits for EU-funded partners.
Capacity4Dev Community hub for development professionals, partner matching, and EU tools.
CORDIS Explore funded Horizon Europe projects and access summaries of research results.
Horizon Dashboard Visualize where funding goes by country, sector, and institution.
ESCARDIO EU Funding Guide Easy-to-navigate guide to key EU programmes in research, health, and innovation.