Civil Society Fund programme concept will be launched on november 10th

On 10 November, from 14:00 to 16:30, the operational concept of the new EEA and Norway Grants programme “Civil Society Fund” (CSF) in Latvia will be unveiled at the AsiaRes Reading Room of the National Library of Latvia. The programme has a total budget of €9.8 million in Latvia, and the first calls for proposals for civil society organisations will be launched by the end of this year.

Until 2031, the Civil Society Fund will strengthen organisations and initiatives that defend democracy, the rule of law and human rights, and help turn these values into practical change in Latvian society. The CSF’s work in Latvia will directly build on the work of the Active Citizens Fund, which was financed during the previous grants period.

Civil society organisations, activists and other interested individuals are invited to attend the launch event. The in-person event will also be attended by Martin Sørby, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Norway to Latvia.

The event will open with a discussion on values, during which experts, experienced activists and participants will explore the importance of democracy, civil liberties and human rights in our everyday lives, as well as the role of organisations in protecting these values.

The second part of the event will present the objectives and expected results of the CSF in Latvia, outlining the principles and areas in which Latvian civil society will be strengthened, the open calls for proposals available through the Fund and their expected timelines.

“The launch event marks the symbolic beginning of the programme’s implementation in Latvia at a time when geopolitical and socioeconomic challenges make the role of civil society particularly important. The new programme builds on the long-standing experience of the Civic Alliance of Latvia and the Latvian Rural Forum in strengthening civil society. Knowledge, opportunities for cooperation and, undoubtedly, funding enable active organisations to do even more and do it even better. We all share a common goal – to strengthen democracy, human rights and the rule of law while also building the capacity and resilience of organisations themselves,” emphasises Inese Puriņa, Head of Civic Competence and Capacity at the Civic Alliance of Latvia.

The Civil Society Fund is financed by Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Similar programmes are being implemented in 15 European countries, with their management entrusted to civil society itself. In Latvia, the programme will be managed by the Civic Alliance of Latvia in cooperation with the Latvian Rural Forum from 2026 to 2031.

The CSF is one of the EEA and Norway Grants programmes. More information about the EEA and Norway Grants in Latvia is available here.

More information about the Civil Society Fund is currently available at:

• https://eeagrants.org/en/fmo/areas-work/civil-society-fund

Dalies: