Call for Expressions of Interest: Small Grants for Youth-Led CSOs

Are you a youth-led Civil Society Organization (CSO) passionate about driving positive change in your community? We invite eligible youth-led CSOs to apply for small grants under the European Union (EU)-funded project: Promoting Meaningful Youth Participation in Zambia, aimed at strengthening youth participation, advocacy, and leadership in civic, democratic and socio-economic processes.

Purpose of the Small Grant

These grants aim to support youth-led initiatives that promote active citizenship, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, gender equality, and peacebuilding. The funding will enable young leaders to implement innovative, community-based solutions that address local challenges and amplify youth voices in decision-making spaces.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

A)   Eligibility of Applicants:

To be considered, applicants must:

·      Be a registered, youth-led CSO (where at least 50% of leadership is under the age of 35).

·      Be established in one of the 10 Provinces of Zambia.

·      Must be rooted in the community of operation and geographical area of implementation should be within the designated region.

·      Must be a non-political organization and a purely community-driven organization.

·      Commit to transparency, accountability, and regular reporting.

B)   Eligibility of Actions:

·      Demonstrate a clear and achievable project plan aligned with at least one of the thematic focus areas of active citizenship, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, gender equality, and peacebuilding.

·      Show evidence of community engagement and sustainability of impact of the action.

·      Demonstrate innovations to achieve the objective of the action.

Applicants must be able to provide a recommendation and/or reference letter from any of the following: Reputable NGO operating with the locality, Traditional Leader at the level of Chief or Chieftainess, senior officials in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare, or any other relevant Ministry, respected and duly recognised religious leaders.

Preference will be given to organizations that promote inclusivity and represent marginalized or underrepresented youth populations.

We strongly encourage applications from grassroots, rural-based, and minority youth-led organizations.

Grant Size and Duration

Successful applicants will receive grants ranging from a minimum of ZMW50,000 to a maximum of ZMW 230,000 (€2,000 to €8,600 respectively) to implement the projects over a period of 12 months minimum.

Please note that only one grant will be attributed per application.

Deadline for Submission

All applications must be submitted by Friday 26^th December 2025, 23:59 (CAT).

Late submissions will not be considered.

How to Apply

Interested organisations can access the full application guidelines and application template at: https://zambia.actionaid.org/jobs/2025/european-union-grants-expression-interest-youth-led-csos

All applications using the template available should be submitted to Grants.Zambia@actionaid.org by the stated deadline. 

Physical Application forms can be collected and delivered at the following addresses:

1.     Northwestern Province

ActionAid Hub Office

Catholic Diocese of Solwezi

P.O Box 110033

Kyankwankwa Drive

Solwezi

2.     Southern Province

ActionAid Hub Office

Plot 1199/25

Mwanachingwala Street

Town Center

Choma

3.     Western Province

ActionAid Hub Office

Sesheke Constituency Office

National Assembly

Sesheke

4.     Eastern Province

ActionAid Hub Office

1^st Floor, Room No. 101

NAPSA Building

Umodzi Highway

Chipata

5.     Central Province

Restless Development Head Office

6 Gwembe Street, Highridge

Kabwe

6.     Northern Province

Mpulungu Youth Vision Center

New Walamo Radio Station Building

Mpulungu

7.     Muchinga Province

DACA’s Office

Civic Center

Isoka

8.     Luapula Province

Restless Development Office

Ministry of Health

District Health Office

Kawambwa

9.     Copperbelt Province

Future-prenuers Zambia

Plot No. 2396, Accra Rd

Mufulira

10. Lusaka Province

ActionAid Global Platform

Plot 5777/cl/2

Kalundu, Great East Rd

Lusaka

For more information, contact: Grants.Zambia@actionaid.org

This is a unique opportunity to turn your ideas into action and contribute to sustainable development led by youth, for youth.

Empower youth.

Inspire change.

Apply today!