Commonwealth Foundation 2024-2025 Open Grants call for Application for Developing Countries (Up to £30,000)

We offer grants of up to £30,000 for projects lasting up to two years to civil society organisations in the Commonwealth. We support projects that seek to facilitate constructive engagement between civil society and decision-makers, including civil society participation in policy development and implementation. 

Applications must address one or more of our three priority themes. All applications are required to demonstrate how they will integrate gender considerations into their project design and implementation. 

Applicants must check our eligibility criteria thoroughly and download the guidance documents from this page before applying 

• Table of Content
• About Commonwealth Foundation (CF)
• Commonwealth Foundation Open Grants Call
• Aim and Benefits of Commonwealth Foundation Open Grants Call
• Requirements for Commonwealth Foundation Open Grants Call Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Commonwealth Foundation Open Grants Call
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Commonwealth Foundation (CF)

The Commonwealth Foundation (CF) is an intergovernmental organisation that was established by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1966, a year after its sister organisation, the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Foundation is located at Marlborough House in London, a former royal palace which was assigned for the use of these Commonwealth institutions by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Head of the Commonwealth. As the Commonwealth agency for civil society, the Foundation is funded by 49 member states to support ... continue reading

Commonwealth Foundation Open Grants Call

Application Deadline	24 Oct 2024
Value	£30,000
Type	Fellowship
Sponsor	Commonwealth Foundation (CF)
Gender	Men and Women

Aim and Benefits of Commonwealth Foundation Open Grants Call

Grants offer is of up to £30,000 for projects lasting up to two years to civil society organisations in the Commonwealth.

Requirements for Commonwealth Foundation Open Grants Call Qualification

Only applications meeting the eligibility criteria will be considered.

The applicant must be a not-for-profit civil society organisation (CSO) registered in an eligible Commonwealth Foundation Member State.

The applicant organisation must have a minimum of three years’ demonstrable experience working on participatory governance and advocacy within the area/theme(s) of the proposed project. Organisations that have been registered and operating for less than three years are not eligible.

Applicant organisations that are currently implementing, or that have recently completed, a Commonwealth Foundation Grant but have not received their final payment, are not eligible to apply to this grant call.

The project must seek to facilitate change through constructive engagement between civil society and decision-makers, including civil society participation in policy development and decision-making, within one or more of the Foundation’s priority themes (see above).

Proposals must relate to projects that are expected to begin after the 1 August 2025 and before the end of September 2025.

To check your eligibility, please refer to the eligible countries map and complete the eligibility quiz.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Commonwealth Foundation Open Grants Call

Applications must address one or more of our three priority themes and other funding considerations such as partnerships and exclusions. Suggested areas of focus under each theme and other important funding considerations are set out below:

Funding priorities:

1. Health Justice

2. Freedom of Expression

3. Climate Justice

4. Other important funding considerations:

   • Partnerships 
   • Creativity for change
   • Participation of young people 
   • Small and vulnerable Member States 
   • Capacity Strengthening  

Exclusions

1. Read less

   The Commonwealth Foundation will not fund:

   • Attendance at training courses, workshops, and conferences unless as part of a larger project funded by the grant.
   • Academic study or research unless as part of a larger project funded by the grant.
   • Publication of books and films, unless they are part of a larger project applied for under the grant (note that this provision does not apply to a creative element of any grant, as detailed below).
   • Exchanges between developed countries.
   • Activities that are solely targeted at building the capacity of government officials and/or the private sector. If the project requires activities such as training of government officials, funding for such components should be separately sourced.
   • Projects that focus on service delivery (for example, the Foundation will not fund activities such as the distribution of medicines, construction of facilities, and installation of water pumps).

Application Deadline

October 24, 2024

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Commonwealth Foundation (CF) on grants.commonwealthfoundation.com to apply

This grants call is now open

Deadline

The deadline for this year's call is 24 October 2024 1pm BST

Apply now!!!

For more details visit: Commonwealth Foundation website.