In November, work began on preparing an agreement between the European Economic Area (EEA) and Norway Grants Financial Mechanism Office and the Civic Alliance – Latvia to launch the establishment of the Civil Society Fund in Latvia. The fund is being created with the support of Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
The Civic Alliance – Latvia, together with the Latvian Rural Forum, has been selected as the fund administrators in Latvia. From 4 to 6 November, representatives of both organizations participated in program administrator training in Brussels, which is one of the first steps toward signing the agreement for fund management.
The Civil Society Fund will provide financial support to associations and foundations that implement activities aimed at strengthening democratic values, the rule of law, and human rights. The fund’s goal is to build an active and resilient civil society in Latvia that defends and promotes democracy, the rule of law, and human rights.
The fund will continue the work of the Active Citizens Fund (AIF), which in previous years made a significant contribution to strengthening civil society in Latvia. AIF was funded by the same EEA and Norway Grants Financial Mechanism and was managed in Latvia from 2019 to 2025 by the Civic Alliance – Latvia, the South Latgale NGO Support Centre, the Kurzeme NGO Centre, the Latvian Rural Forum, the Valmiera District Fund, and the Zemgale NGO Centre.
Over the next five years, the Civil Society Fund will allocate €8.4 million to support civil society in Latvia, financing both projects implemented by various organizations and knowledge and experience exchanges with donor countries and other European countries where Civil Society Funds operate.
The Civic Alliance – Latvia and the Latvian Rural Forum plan for the agreement with the EEA and Norway Grants Financial Mechanism Office on fund management to be signed at the beginning of 2026, so that the first funding calls can be announced by summer. Co-financing will not be required for projects.
The project-based funding will be available to civil society organizations to achieve the following outcomes:
Strengthening democratic values and the rule of law, understood as support for activities aimed at:
- Increasing civil society organizations’ participation in democratic processes
- Promoting civic participation (activism) at the individual level
- Promoting informational integrity and media literacy
Strengthening human rights, understood as support for activities aimed at:
- Strengthening human rights, including non-discrimination and social justice
- Promoting gender equality, including sexual and reproductive rights and LGBTIQ+ rights
- Actions in climate, environmental protection, and the just transition to a green economy
Support will also be provided to associations and foundations whose work promotes democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in Latvia.
More information about the EEA and Norway Grants Financial Mechanism Office and Civil Society Funds in Europe can be found here.
Photo: EEA and Norway Grants, publicity