The Civic Innovation Fund (CIF) is a unique European pooled fund of THE CIVICS Innovation Hub. It pioneers new ideas in civil society, enhances their visibility, and integrates them into NECE. The fund supports start-up ideas in civic education that apply interdisciplinary and inclusive approaches to promote resilience, diversity, and collaboration in democracy. The CIF targets primary young civic educators (under 35) and young NGOs (under three years of existence). The awarded startups also qualify as informal NECE Impact Spots and are involved in all NECE activities.

Civic Innovation Fund logo

Call for civic innovation projects

Each successful project proposal will receive between 10,000€ and 12,000€ for piloting, incubation and upscaling of their idea for 12 months. Do not miss the chance to turn your civic projects into reality.

Feel free to follow us on social media to be updated on our upcoming calls.

Eligibility criteria

  • What
    Civil society projects (workshops, cultural interventions, eyewitness talks, exhibitions, scientific studies, scenario methods, apps, augmented reality storyboards)

  • Aims & topics
    Aimed at strengthening democratic competencies that promote participation, cohesion, and resilience and align with NECE topics or a specific topic of the call

  • By whom
    The main implementing organisation from a European country with a partner from Europe, including wider Europe

  • Key principles

    Diversity, interdisciplinarity, and inclusivity

FAQ

We apply a definition of civic education following the wording and recommendation of the Council of Europe.

Civic education equips citizens with the competencies that enable them to actively participate in the society. These civic competencies are:

  • knowledge (i.e., concepts of democracy, institutions, identity, politics)
  • skills (i.e., communication, discussion culture, thinking critically, problem solving, (self-) reflection, awareness of bias and blind spots)
  • democratic values (i.e., valuing human dignity and human rights, equality, transparency, cultural diversity)
  • attitudes (i.e., openness to otherness, trust, respect, tolerance, responsibility, self-efficacy).

These should be direct costs related to the implementation of the project. Office costs can constitute max. 10 %.

Yes, well-established NGOs are eligible to send their applications as well. However, during the assessment process, priority will be given to younger NGOs and projects.

Yes, we welcome projects proposed by the university teams and SMEs too. However, it is important to note that the projects submitted by these teams must be directly related to the field of civic education.

If you have difficulties with finding partners, check our virtual map of civic educators which offers you a great variety of partners in civic education to network and cooperate with.

We are looking forward to receiving your project ideas and making them a reality together!

The Civic Innovation Fund is supported by the Robert Bosch Stiftung, Porticus Amsterdam C.V., ERSTE Foundation, and King Baudouin Foundation.

 

In case of questions, feel free to reach out to cif@thecivics.eu

“Education is a fundamental enabler of an active and informed citizenship and thus, for democratic participation”

Report A9-0060/2022 of the European Parliament