Development aid and democratic governance

¿De qué trata esta convocatoria?

The topic funds research on how development aid affects democratic governance, equality and security in partner countries, and how EU support can be made more effective. The actions should strive to include development aid civil society organisations, and international cooperation is strongly encouraged.

¿Qué financia esta convocatoria?

Scope

Research, including by social sciences and humanities, should clarify the relationships between development aid, democratic governance, equality, security and global challenges. It should examine the effects of aid on democratic institutions and processes, identify funding gaps for democratic governance, and explore new approaches to supporting democracy and reducing inequality.

Research areas

• The impact of development aid on democratic institutions and on reducing socio-economic and gender inequalities.
• The role of non-EU donors, including public, private and philanthropic actors and the EU's economic and geopolitical competitors, and the dependencies they create.
• The consequences of declining democratic trends for global development strategies and the sustainable development goals.
• Opportunities to strengthen EU soft power across the humanitarian, development and peace nexus, for example through climate, water or science diplomacy.

Approach

Actions should strive to include development aid civil society organisations, use a gender-sensitive and intersectional approach, and may use participatory research. The geographical scope covers EU Enlargement countries, the EU Neighbourhood and low- and lower middle-income countries, with a focus on their relationship with the EU.

Expected outcomes

EU and national policymakers and development agencies are better equipped to manage relations with low- and middle-income countries, development cooperation organisations have more capacity to support democratic institutions, and multilateral partnerships between the EU and these countries are strengthened.

¿Cuándo termina el plazo?

23 de septiembre de 2027 (322 días)

23 September 2027 (single-stage). The planned opening date is 13 May 2027.