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Calls for projects

As part of the projects it implements as the French development cooperation agency, Expertise France awards grants through public funding. To do this, it issues calls for projects to support initiatives by civil society organisations (CSOs), public bodies and private companies. These initiatives must meet project objectives and be adapted to local needs.
In 2024, Expertise France awarded €90 million in grants to CSOs to implement 201 projects (153 to in-country CSOs and 48 to international CSOs).
How a call for projects works
Our agency plays a key role in project implementation and in capacity-building among local stakeholders. We do this through partnerships with public bodies and organisations involved in the development of their region or sector. We help to build trust among different stakeholders, support the development of regulatory frameworks, and directly support diverse local initiatives via these calls for projects.
We can also leverage multi-donor co-funding to increase the reach and long-term success of the projects we support. Thanks to a harmonised, adaptable contractual framework, we offer flexible support mechanisms that adapt to the needs and to the organisational and financial capacities of applicants. Before awarding each grant, we evaluate the applicant’s organisational and financial capacity to ensure effective and secure use of funding.
We have also expanded how we publish calls for projects to ensure broad involvement of international and local stakeholders around strategic objectives. This flexibility helps us to adapt to the needs of applicants and maximise the effectiveness of their initiatives.
Who can apply?
Expertise France’s calls for projects are aimed at various types of applicants, depending on our priorities and available funding. Selection depends on several factors:
- Eligible organisations: NGOs, social enterprises, local authorities, public institutions
- Geographic area: Is the region covered by current funding?
- Focus area: Is it in the field of health, climate, education, entrepreneurship, etc.?
- Financial and administrative requirements: what is the management capacity and potential for co-funding?
Eligibility criteria vary with each call for projects and are defined on a case-by-case basis.
How to apply?
Applications can be submitted directly on POPS. Applicants must create an account to respond to a call for projects. Before completing the form, you must review the eligibility criteria and prepare the required documents.
To access the application form, click on the button “Apply” in the call for projects page. Applicants may only apply once to an open call for projects, and applications may be modified until the submission deadline, by following these steps:
- View the call for projects on POPS
- Download the documentation
- Check eligibility and prepare your application
- Submit online
- Edit submission as needed until the deadline.
An application is automatically considered final once the deadline for applications expires. After expiry, applications may be viewed but not edited.
Applicant evaluation and selection
Applications are reviewed by an evaluation committee based on pre-established criteria which are stated prior to application. Evaluation is carried out by the members of the evaluation committee according to a pre-defined timeline. The process helps reject incomplete applications (or those that do not meet the criteria defined in the call for projects description) and also includes the following steps:
- Administrative check: incomplete or non-compliant applications are excluded
- Technical and financial evaluation: relevance and viability are checked
- Final selection: the best applications are selected by an independent committee
Resources for download
FAQ - Learn more about our calls for projects
If you have questions about how to apply for a call for projects published by Expertise France, find out more below.
Our calls for projects allow project initiators (NGOs, local authorities, local communities, etc.) to receive financial support for high-impact initiatives. These calls for projects are published on the POPS platform and adhere with the strategic priorities of our donors (AFD, EU, etc.).
Expertise France acts as a coordinator, providing contractual, financial and technical support while promoting cooperation between local stakeholders, public bodies and international partners.
Calls for projects are a valuable international cooperation tool, since they support local or regional initiatives from non-state or public stakeholders. Expertise France plays a key role, ensuring transparency, proper grant management and capacity building. Flexible grant agreements match the organisational and financial capacity of project initiators.
Each call for projects published by Expertise France outlines the necessary documentation. Generally, applicants must ensure eligibility and gather all required documents before applying via the POPS platform.
After the deadline expires and we have evaluated the applications, the results are announced per the timeline in the call for projects. Expertise France notifies selected applicants directly.
You can track your application status on the POPS platform. Once you submit your application, you can amend it until the deadline. After the deadline expires, you may check your application but no longer edit it.
Some of our funded projects

OCWAR-C – Organised Crime: West African response to Cybersecurity and fight against Cybercrime
Closed
2019 - 2024
Funders : European Union

