Through the “Rights First” project, a total of 30 civil society organizations and informal groups from Serbia will be supported over a period of three years. Within this call, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights will financially support 10 projects that are focused on improving respect for human rights and strengthening the rule of law. In this cycle, 3 projects will be supported that are aimed at advocacy initiatives for adopting/amending or improved implementation of public policies of the Republic of Serbia, and 7 projects aimed at civic activism in the field of human rights and the rule of law.
Thematic areas of the call
The political and social context in the Republic of Serbia since the end of 2024 has been characterized by increased civic participation initiated by student blockades and the struggle for respect of the rule of law and fundamental human rights. We are witnessing the determination and persistence of citizens to influence decision-makers to respect public policy documents, and to improve those that need improvement by proposing fact-based changes.
With this call intended for civil society organizations and informal groups, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights seeks to support efforts of citizens throughout Serbia to carry out activities that will improve respect for fundamental human rights and influence the enhancement of the rule of law. In the process of accession to the European Union, the Republic of Serbia is obliged to meet the conditions of Cluster 1, which represents the foundation of the accession process. The European Commission’s 2024 Progress Report on Serbia highlights the need for consistent and efficient implementation of the existing legal and institutional framework relating to the respect of rights. It particularly emphasizes the importance of strengthening institutions that ensure the protection of human rights. Focus is placed on creating action plans for combating violence against women, anti-discrimination including the rights of LGBTIQ persons, deinstitutionalization, minimizing hate speech and hate crimes, and improving the rights of national minorities. Regarding freedom of expression, no progress has been recorded compared to previously given recommendations, highlighting the need to work on creating new media laws, forming REM (Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media), protecting journalists, and improving media financing.
This call aims to support:
- Lot 1 – Civil society organizations engaged in public advocacy in the field of human rights and the rule of law. Project activities should target the amendment/adoption or improved implementation of strategies, action plans, laws and other public policy documents related to enhancing respect for human rights and ensuring the rule of law in the Republic of Serbia. The primary thematic focus of the call are first-generation human rights, including the right to life, prohibition of torture and inhuman treatment, the right to liberty and security, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly etc. Also, in focus is ensuring the rights of minority and vulnerable social groups: women, migrants, national minorities, LGBTIQ persons, persons with disabilities and/or intellectual difficulties, and others.
- Lot 2 – Informal groups and civil society organizations that engage citizens and draw public attention to the endangerment of certain human rights or social groups through public activities and online campaigns. As with Lot 1, the thematic focus is on ensuring human rights and enhancing the rule of law in the Republic of Serbia. Lot 2 focuses on creative civic initiatives through various activities such as debates, conferences, performances, exhibitions, etc.
It is important that all project applicants focus on current social and political problems and that their projects highlight the problem and provide solutions by involving citizens in all phases of the project.
Who can apply?
- Lot 1 – Advocacy initiatives
Eligible applicants: civil society organizations, foundations, endowments and networks of civil society organizations registered in the Serbian Business Registers Agency (APR) before January 1, 2023. The organization must have already implemented advocacy initiatives and seek to address a significant human rights and rule of law issue in a systemic way, with support and citizen involvement.
Up to 3 grants will be awarded under this lot, with a maximum value of 10,000 EUR. Project duration: 10–12 months.
- Lot 2 – Civic activism initiatives
Eligible applicants: informal groups and civil society organizations with experience in initiatives valued up to 1,000–15,000 EUR. An informal group is defined as at least three individuals who have previously collaborated on a project or community activity.
Up to 7 grants will be awarded under this lot, with a maximum value of 5,000 EUR. Project duration: 6–8 months.
Support includes:
- Financial support to civil society organizations and informal groups for project implementation up to 10,000 EUR for Lot 1 and 5,000 EUR for Lot 2 for 10–12 months (Lot 1) and 6–8 months (Lot 2).
- Training and networking with other organizations and informal groups involved in the project.
- Expert mentoring support providing continuous knowledge in public advocacy, human rights, rule of law, project management, financial management, etc., to ensure successful project implementation.
- Promotion of initiatives through video materials and success stories to be promoted through traditional and online media. A final event will inform the public about the achievements and challenges faced by citizens engaged in social change.
Conditions to apply for the support program
- Lot 1 – Advocacy initiatives
Applicants must:
- civil society organizations, foundations or endowments registered before January 1, 2023;
- civil society organization with an average annual income below six million dinars for the past three years (2024, 2023, 2022). Organizations that were established in 2022, should calculate the average for the past two years (2024 and 2023);
- have headquarters in the territory of local self-government unit, for which proposal is submitted, unless advocating at regional/national level;
- submit only one project proposal.
- Lot 2 – Civic activism initiatives
Applicants must:
- be an informal group of at least three members that already implemented project or activity together or a CSO with no project average experience in the range of 1,000–10,000 EUR since the establishment;
- informal groups must sign a Memorandum of Cooperation with a CSO registered in Serbian Business Register Agency (APR);
- have headquarters in the territory of local self-government unit, for which proposal is submitted, unless advocating at regional/national level;
- submit only one project proposal.
Note: The call is not open to state institutions, local governments, other governmental bodies, political or religious organizations, or profit-sector entities.
How to apply to open call?
Interested organizations must download and complete the application form for the appropriate Lot and attach the budget template. Both contain all instructions for filling in. During the duration of the call, info sessions will be held (online and in-person).
Link for download of Project Proposal Form for Lot 1 – Advocacy initiatives
Link for download of Project proposal Form for Lot 2 – Civic Advocacy
Link for download of Budget Form
Completed project forms for designated Lot and budget must be saved as PDF and sent to [email protected] with the subject line: “Prvo Prava – NAME OF ORGANIZATION”
Deadline for submission of project proposals is February 2, 2026, 23:59.
Project selection procedure
The project selection procedure will take place in three stages, which include evaluation based on administrative and basic program criteria, evaluation by an independent commission and final selection of projects for support.
First phase of selection
In the first phase of project selection, members of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights team will evaluate all received applications based on the following criteria:
- Administrative criteria
- Form is completed, based on instructions (including MSExcel budget);
- Form is submitted within the deadline – before February 2, 2026, 23:59;
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- Proposal for Lot 1 is submitted by legal person – civil society organization, foundation or endowment registered in Serbian Business Register Agency (APR) before January 1, 2023; Proposal for Lot 2 is an informal group of at least three members that already implemented project or activity together or a CSO with no project average experience in the range of 1,000–10,000 EUR since the establishment;
- Proposal for Lot 1 – civil society organization, foundation or endowment – doesn’t have average annual income over six million dinars for the past three years (2024, 2023, 2022). Organizations that were established in 2022, should calculate the average for the past two years (2024 and 2023).
Basic program criteria
- Lot 1 – the project is focused on advocacy, including researching local and/or national public policies and proposing solutions for improvement with the active participation of citizens
- the proposed project activities fit into the thematic areas of the call and focus on improving respect for human rights and strengthening the rule of law
Second phase of selection
An independent group of evaluators, composed of professional external associates, will perform the evaluation of applications that pass the first phase of selection according to qualitative criteria for project evaluation. Independent evaluators are experts in the topics covered by the open call and advocacy experts. Based on the quality criteria of the applications, a group of evaluators will create a ranking list of project proposals that will be shortlisted.
Criteria for evaluating the quality of project proposals:
- The problem is relevant to the community: the project proposal is aimed at solving the issues of interest to citizens on the territory of the city or municipality, region and/or national level within which the CSO works;
- The proposal clearly and thoroughly explains the problem that the project deals with;
- The approach to solving the problem is realistic, and the proposed system solution is achievable at local, regional and/or national level: the specific goal of the project must be realistic and achievable within the implementation period specified for each of the Lots;
- For Lot 1 – The project proposal includes the implementation of research that will contribute to the definition of proposals for the improvement of existing public policies, the passing of new ones or the monitoring of implementation in the areas defined by the open call;
- There is a clear connection between the goals, activities and expected results of the project;
- A realistic estimate of costs for the budget is in accordance with the proposed activities;
- The project applicant has the capacity to implement the proposed project (a sufficient number of people who will implement the project, expected experts who will help with the research, preferably volunteers who will help with specific activities, etc.);
- The project applicant has previous experience in the field of advocacy or implementation of civic activism projects or specific joint activities when it comes to informal groups (provide examples of relevant previous projects).
Third phase of selection
In the final stage of project selection, the donor reserves the right to determine the final list of projects and to refute the decision of the independent commission if they assess that the organization’s work is in conflict with the values, attitudes and interests within which they operate.
After all phases of project selection have been completed, the final list of 10 supported projects will be published on the website of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights and the Rights First project.
For additional information and questions about the open call, you can contact the Youth Initiative for Human Rights team via the email address [email protected] until Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 12:00.
Guidelines for completing the project budget
You can download the budget form that you need to fill in for the purposes of this competition from the following link.
When filling out the budget, you must take care that the maximum amount of funds that you are applying for in the Youth Initiative for Human Rights contribution column of the does not exceed the maximum amount for each of the lots. For Lot 1 – 10,000 EUR, for Lot 2 – 5,000 EUR. The contribution of other donors or organizations is not a requirement for submitting a successful project proposal. A contribution is considered to be a monetary contribution only, and not a contribution in goods and/or services.
In the MS Excel table, operational costs include costs related to renting space, communication costs, bank fees, costs of purchasing office supplies, bookkeeping services, and program costs are those that are directly related to project activities, including fees for persons engaged in the implementation of those project activities.
- The amount of operating costs can be a maximum of 15% of the value of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights contribution.
- Fees of project employees are part of the program costs.
- The total gross amount of fees of persons engaged in the project must not be higher than 40% of contribution of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights.
- In the program costs, it is necessary to include the costs of communications and visibility of the project.
- All expenses you specify in the budget must not include VAT, as the recipients of the funds will be exempt from paying VAT.
The following expenses are ineligible in all budget categories:
- Costs incurred before the official starting date of the project, including those related to the preparation of the project proposal;
- Costs of activities financed from European Union funds through another project
- Costs for hiring civil servants (those participating in the project as employees);
- Expenses that finance activities that cause discrimination against any group based on age, gender, job change, disability, race, national origin, gender and sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief;
- Payments for goods or services related to works or activities already financed from other sources;
- Activities that violate the legislation of the Republic of Serbia;
- Administrative fines, misdemeanor fines, other fines and related legal costs;
- Unfair dismissal payments and related legal costs;
- Uncollected claims from third parties;
- Financing of terrorism or other misuse of funds, compensation of funds lost due to fraud, corruption, bribery or theft;
- Payment of bonuses to employees;
- Purchase of land or buildings;
- Contingencies and insurance premiums;
- Gifts;
- Inflation and exchange rate differences.
