At a time when society is facing growing polarisation, the spread of disinformation, and declining trust in public institutions, civil society organisations play an irreplaceable role. They provide practical solutions, bring people together, protect democratic values, and demonstrate that even the most complex societal challenges can be addressed through steady, long-term efforts.
These are the kinds of initiatives supported in the second evaluation round of Open Call No. 1 for Small Grants under the EEA Civil Society Fund Slovakia. More than €245,000 has been awarded to 10 projects led by civil society organisations from across Slovakia.
The supported projects address issues that affect us all—from transparency and public finance oversight to human rights protection, critical thinking and media literacy, the integration of vulnerable groups, and environmental education. While each project focuses on a different area, they all share a common goal: contributing to a more open, fair, and resilient society.
Which Projects Received Support?
The supported organisations will work on a wide range of topics:
- Friends of the Earth – SPZ will develop systemic solutions in the field of waste management.
- Centre for Community Organising will strengthen public finance oversight and help prevent corruption risks.
- Merit will support non-profit organisations in measuring and evaluating their social impact more effectively.
- WatchGov will develop an AI-powered platform to improve public oversight of government spending.
- OBERIH Bratislava will support the integration of refugees from Ukraine and improve their access to social and legal counselling.
- Planet Lover will promote media literacy within environmental and climate education.
- Zmudri will continue developing critical thinking and media literacy among young people in schools.
- Mentória will create an AI communication coach for teachers and parents to help facilitate constructive dialogue on challenging societal issues.
- Amnesty International Slovakia will strengthen the protection of human rights through education and collaboration.
- Institute for Public Affairs will conduct research on the state of human rights in Slovakia and their integration into public policy.
Each supported project addresses a different societal challenge. Together, however, they demonstrate the capacity of civil society to deliver practical solutions, strengthen public trust, and create opportunities for collaboration where they are needed most.
The Call Remains Open
Open Call No. 1 for Small Grants remains open. Following the first two evaluation rounds, approximately €346,000 is still available to support projects focused on strengthening the participation of civil society organisations in democratic processes, addressing challenges related to Russia’s war against Ukraine, and enhancing the credibility of information and media literacy.
The next deadline for applications submitted on a rolling basis to be included in the evaluation process is 30 September 2026.
More information is available on the programme website: www.eea-csf.sk.
Detailed results of the second evaluation round, including the full list of supported projects, are available via this link -> Supported Projects 2nd Round Small Grants
The EEA Civil Society Fund Slovakia is part of the EEA and Norway Grants, through which Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway contribute to reducing social and economic disparities across Europe and strengthening democratic values. In Slovakia, the programme is managed by a consortium consisting of the Ekopolis Foundation, the Open Society Foundation Bratislava, and the Carpathian Foundation.
