AFD CSO Initiatives Call 2026
By Agence Française de Développement (AFD)
Check your eligibility
Sign up and we'll tell you whether your startup qualifies for this grant.
Quick Answer
AFD grants of €300,000 to €1.5 million (about ₹3.27 to ₹16.35 crore) for 3-year projects led by civil society organisations in ODA-eligible countries. The 2026 call is closed.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Grant
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 9 October 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Agence Française de Développement (AFD). Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
The 2026 AFD call for civil society organisations (CSOs) is closed: project intentions were due on 9 October 2026 at 6:00 pm Paris time. The call is described as annual, but the official page announces no dates for the next one, so none is confirmed. For Indian NGOs, this page explains the scheme so you can plan.
The CSO Initiatives mechanism (I-OSC in French) of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), France's development agency, co-finances projects that civil society organisations define themselves in fields linked to the Sustainable Development Goals and international solidarity. Its main purpose is to strengthen the CSOs involved while delivering concrete results for the people they serve. In 2026, for the first time, a single call covered both French CSOs and locally governed CSOs in countries eligible for official development assistance (ODA). It aimed to shortlist projects for financing in 2027.
What the program offers
The AFD grant is €300,000 to €1,500,000 (about ₹3.27 crore to ₹16.35 crore) per project, for a fixed duration of three years, with a minimum total project budget of €500,000. AFD may cover up to 90% of the budget for a locally governed CSO and up to 80% for a French CSO, so the rest must come from other sources; the call encourages balanced, diversified co-funding. Indirect costs are capped at 14% of direct costs. A new, optional budget line of up to 20% of direct costs can fund organisational adaptation or transformation, but it is not automatic and the applicant must justify it.
The call also sets out two financing streams. Stream 1 (at least 60% of the allocation) is for field projects in least developed countries and countries especially vulnerable to crises and climate change. Stream 2 covers other ODA-eligible countries, plus education for global citizenship and association-strengthening projects. Priority themes were education and employment, health (particularly the One Health approach), sustainable agriculture, gender equality and human rights.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants are French CSOs and non-profit associations or NGOs registered in countries on the OECD DAC list of ODA recipients. A locally governed CSO must also have received funding at least once for a completed project, directly or through a lead CSO, from an AFD Group entity (AFD's CSO Initiatives or Operations Directorate, Expertise France, Proparco, FFEM or FID, or an FSOF intermediary mechanism) or from a French embassy with annual financing above €100,000.
Other requirements for a CSO include being founded at least three years earlier, being non-profit, apolitical and independent, having financial statements audited by a statutory auditor or local equivalent, and having an annual budget over the last three years of at least €238,000. Public bodies, local authorities or for-profit companies must not control the board. Development aid or international solidarity must be part of its core purpose. This is a scheme for NGOs and other civil society groups, not for startups or companies. An Indian NGO that has never been funded by AFD Group or a French embassy would not qualify as a lead applicant.
How to apply
Applications are made only on AFD's OSCar online platform; intentions sent any other way are not considered. An organisation without an account had to request one by 15 September 2026, with an authorisation form for OSCar use. The steps were:
- Request an OSCar account and read the OSCar user guide.
- Complete the project intention sheet and gather the administrative documents.
- Submit both on OSCar before the closing time.
- If shortlisted, submit the full CSO Initiative Note and an administrative file.
Only one project intention is allowed per CSO, including as lead of a group of partner CSOs. The official call text and intention sheet are in French, and the user guide is in English, so budget time for translation.
How applications are judged and what happens next
Selection has two steps. First, a shortlist is drawn up from the project intention sheet and administrative file. Then shortlisted projects submit the full note, which starts the appraisal. In 2026, shortlisted CSOs were to be told by mid-December 2026. AFD looks at the credibility of expected results, the balance of the partnership between CSOs, the share of funds passed to local partners, links to local public policy and a balanced co-financing model. Projects on civic space, human rights, gender equality, youth, climate and biodiversity, or crisis prevention are favoured.
About AFD
AFD is France's development agency, headquartered in Paris. It offers loans, grants, guarantees and funds to states, local authorities, CSOs, companies and financial institutions, and its group includes Expertise France and Proparco.
Things to check before you apply
- From the 2027 call onward, a "one-year-in-two" rule means a CSO that received funding in one year cannot submit a note the following year.
- Foreign grants to Indian NGOs raise questions under FCRA, so check treatment with an adviser before applying.
- The requested amount can be adjusted only downward after shortlisting.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
AFD co-finances €300,000 to €1,500,000 (about ₹3.27 crore to ₹16.35 crore) per project, over a fixed three-year duration, for projects with a total budget of at least €500,000. AFD's share can be up to 90% of the budget for a locally registered CSO and up to 80% for a French CSO. Indirect costs of up to 14% of direct costs are allowed, and, where justified, up to a further 20% of direct costs can go to adapting or transforming the organisation.
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
AFD first shortlists project intentions against the streams, priority themes and eligibility rules. Shortlisted CSOs then submit a full note and go through appraisal. AFD weighs the credibility of results, the partnership between CSOs, funds passed to local partners and balanced co-financing.
Application Process
- 1
OSCar account
Request an account on AFD's OSCar platform.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Program templates & documents
Files the program publishes for applicants — download these and apply in the prescribed format.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an Indian NGO apply for the AFD CSO Initiatives call?
A non-profit association or NGO registered in an ODA-eligible country can apply if it meets the funding-history rule: it must have completed a project funded by an AFD Group entity or by a French embassy with annual financing above €100,000. The official page points to the OECD DAC list for eligible countries, so check India's status there.
How much does AFD fund?
Between €300,000 and €1,500,000 (about ₹3.27 crore to ₹16.35 crore) per project, up to 90% of the budget for a locally governed CSO. The total project budget must be at least €500,000 over three years.
When is the call open?
The call is annual. The 2026 call ran from 29 July to 9 October 2026 (6:00 pm Paris time), with OSCar account requests due by 15 September 2026. No next call is announced on the page.
Can a startup or company apply?
No. The scheme is for civil society organisations that are non-profit, apolitical and independent. For-profit companies cannot control the board.
Can a foundation apply?
The page gives eligibility mainly for associations and NGOs. French foundations recognised as being in the public interest can apply as French CSOs. A locally governed foundation should check the call text, as the saved summary says foundations are eligible only if they have the features of a local-law association.
How many projects can we submit?
Only one project intention per CSO, whether on its own or as lead of a group of partner CSOs.
How do I apply?
Only through the OSCar platform, where you create an account and upload the project intention sheet and administrative documents. Intentions not sent through OSCar are not considered.
Is it a grant or a loan?
The scheme is co-financing of your project through a grant. AFD covers a share of the budget, and you must fund the rest from other sources.
Do we have to travel?
The page does not state any travel requirement. The project itself is carried out in the partner country by the CSO.
When are results announced?
In the 2026 call, shortlisted CSOs were to be told by mid-December 2026 and then submit a full CSO Initiative Note. Financing decisions are for 2027.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
