Call for Applications by ERIM (Equal Rights and Independent Media) NGO: Voter education, local public awareness and community engagement grants for CSOs and media in Armenia

BACKGROUND

 

ERIM (Equal Rights and Independent Media) is an international NGO based in Lyon, France. We work to strengthen and empower civil society and independent media, to promote human rights and to increase critical thinking.

“ProElect - Promote accountability in Electoral processes in EaP through increased participation and capacity of civic actors” is a regional project run by the Transatlantic Foundation in partnership with ERIM and funded by the European Union. The project aims to ensure that civil society actors in the Eastern Neighbourhood are engaged, capable and knowledgeable in monitoring elections and promoting democratic accountability mechanisms.

The purpose of the call is to support public awareness, voter education and community engagement activities. The call will enhance the capacity of civic actors in Armenia to promote free and fair elections ahead of the 2026 Parliamentary Elections.

You can find more information about ERIM’s mission and vision here and about the project here.

 

 

 

WHO CAN APPLY

 

The call is open to independent media actors and civil society organisations, active in the field of civic engagement, community level support and civic education, that are working to ensure free and credible elections, promote political participation, and fight against hate speech and disinformation within the upcoming elections in Armenia.

Preference will be given to organisations located outside the capital, or implementing activities in the regions due to economic and social disparities between the capital and remote areas, and those working to support the most vulnerable groups and areas such as LGBTIQ rights, women’s rights, etc.

Priority will be given to applications from organisations that have not already received our support under other projects. Applications from political or religious organisations will not be considered.

 

 

 

WHAT CAN YOU APPLY FOR? 

 

Voter education, local public awareness and community engagement grants. Organisations are invited to propose initiatives that may focus on one (or several) of the following areas:   

• Educate citizens about free and fair elections, the importance of electoral observation and how to avoid electoral manipulation and malpractices.
• Empower politically marginalised communities (displaced people, youth, women, LGBTIQ, people living in rural communities, people with disabilities and others) to advocate for their interests and enable meaningful and independent political participation.
• Develop and deliver civic education programs on political ideologies, governance, and the role of elections in a democratic society, aimed at increasing voter participation.
• Provide information on registration process and deadlines, voting procedures, election dates, polling stations, citizens’ rights and responsibilities.

Provide nonpartisan information about candidates, their platforms, and their positions on key issues.

These voter education, local public awareness and community engagement grants can support activities including (but not limited to): Public awareness campaigns at local level; Civic education; Workshops; Social media campaigns (including in collaboration with influencers); Podcasts; Traditional media campaigns; Community organising; Artistic and Cultural projects; Trainings; Development of apps or educational tools; Chatbots; etc.

Activities that particularly target young people, women, LGBTIQ communities, displaced people from Nagorno-Karabakh  and other marginalised communities are strongly encouraged.

Capacity Development. Organisations are welcomed to include specific capacity development components, complementary and distinct, so as to be in a stronger position to promote free and fair elections. In this perspective, additional budget (up to 7,000 EUR) may be requested for specific capacity development activities. Such activities may include: consultancy and mentorship; training courses; development or subscription to specialised software or digital tools, etc.

Important: Applicants with a capacity development component included in their proposal are required to submit a brief self-assessment as part of the application package. Please note that the action plan of the project could be flexible and potentially revised with you after selection, taking into account the rapid changes in the electoral environment.

 

 

BUDGET AND DURATION

 

Project grants for voter education and community engagement may go up to EUR 9,000. Additional budget (up to EUR 7,000) will be available for capacity development.

The minimum duration of a project is 6 months, and the maximum duration is 8 months. Projects are expected to start in December 2025 at the earliest.

 

 

ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION CRITERIA

 

Minimum Eligibility Criteria:

• Applicants must be registered in accordance with Armenian law; citizens, youth or other forms of informal groups looking to grow as an independent organisation are eligible to apply through an established organisation with whom they have a relevant history of cooperation.
• Applicants must have been active for a minimum of the last 2 years.
• The applicant’s statute and mission must be in line with democratic and human rights principles.
• The application must be complete (narrative proposal, budget and, if applicable, capacity self-assessment). 

Selection criteria:

• Relevance: The applicant intends to implement actions dedicated to voter education, community engagement, or public awareness campaign related to elections.
• Capacity: The organisation has the capacity to implement the project.
• Impact: The expected impact of the project is clearly defined, quantified and in accordance with the needs of selected target groups.
• Activities and Outputs: Project activities contribute to free and fair elections. Innovative approaches and partnerships are encouraged (such as the collaboration with influencers).
• Target groups: The project demonstrates a clear outreach towards politically marginalised communities.
• Budget: The proposed budget is cost-efficient and coherent with the planned activities.
• For capacity development: the activities will enhance the organisation’s capacity to promote free and fair elections ahead of the election.

The following are excluded from funding consideration:

• International events/programs/conferences. 
• Equipment, unless a strong justification is provided.

 

 

 

HOW TO APPLY

 

The application forms can be can be requested by e-mail at [email protected] or can be downloaded here:

Applications should be submitted in word, in Armenian or English. They must be sent by email to [email protected] by September 21, 2025, 18:00 local time. Please state in the subject line “ProElect - Voter education in Armenia”.  

An info session is scheduled for September 4 at 15:00 local time. To register, please fill in the form here: 

All questions regarding this call shall be addressed at [email protected]. Questions, comments, and requests for clarification will not be accepted after September 1, 2025. ERIM is not obliged to provide clarifications to questions received after this date.

 

Applications not receiving a response within 45 days of the deadline should be considered unsuccessful.