The Swiss Cooperation Programme (PDF, 37 Pages, 3.3 MB, English) focuses on large, long-term programs, which are implemented with professional partners. In order to support other partners and innovative initiatives, the Embassy of Switzerland in Kosovo can finance projects by local organizations through two different type of grants:
Small action grants aim to support dynamic civil society actors in Kosovo committed to advancing the democratic transition of the country, including in particular (but not only) women and members of non-majority communities. The scope of projects granted is wide, including inter alia democracy, good governance, rule of law, environment, social inclusion, human rights, community rights as well as dealing with the past. In principle, beneficiary organizations cannot be granted several times for a same project.
Applications for Small action grants cannot exceed 6’000 EUR in principle.
Applications can be submitted at any time during the whole year. Applicants will be notified within a month from submitting their request about the status of their application.
Please note: In addition to our small action grants, an Open call for additional, targeted small action grants directly linked to the domains and objectives of the Swiss Cooperation Programme 2022–2025 (PDF, 37 Pages, 3.3 MB, English) will be issued once or twice a year. In due course, you will find further information on the thematic tenders on this website and on the Embassy’s Facebook page.
To be eligible, small actions should:
Directly benefit at least one vulnerable group – including, but not limited to, minority communities, women, youth, children, war victims, LGBTQI or people with disabilities – and address their (re)integration, empowerment or the fulfilment of their human rights;
Take place mainly in Kosovo (regional initiatives can only be considered as long as at least half of the activities take place in Kosovo);
Be submitted by an organisation with adequate structures and capacities, which is registered in Kosovo;
Present a budget where administrative costs do not exceed 15 percent of total cost;
Respect the law and follow sound managerial and financial practices; and
Projects of nation-wide scope and those covering minority areas should work in both of Kosovo's national languages, i.e. Albanian and Serbian.
The small actions grants are not used to finance:
Individuals or individual beneficiaries;
Running costs of a public institution, governmental body or other organisation;
Organisations that are affiliated to political parties, religious institutions or the military;
Discriminatory or anti-democratic activities;
Purely commercial activities;
Projects that solely consist of purchasing materials;
Infrastructure or construction costs;
Scholarships, study tours abroad, stipends or tuition fees;
Missions of foreign experts;
Planning and evaluation activities;
Contributions to large-scale projects or programmes;
Charity events/ Humanitarian projects.
The cultural project grants aim to contribute to empowerment and promotion of cultural initiatives and organisations, which offer innovative and diversified cultural services and products. The scope of projects granted is wide and includes exhibitions, theatre productions, film screenings, music festivals and all other types of cultural activities.
In principle, beneficiary organizations cannot be granted several times for a same project.
Applications for Cultural projects cannot exceed 60’000 EUR. The implementing organisation contributes with its own resources, in cash or in kind, to at least 20 percent of the total project budget.
Applications can be submitted at any time during the whole year. Applicants will be notified within three months from submitting their request about the status of their application.
Priorities for Cultural projects
Building the professional capacity of artists or cultural organisations and institutions,
Especially young or emerging practitioners;
Strengthening cultural organisations or institutions;
Enhancing access to culture;
Triggering employment;
Encouraging regional cooperation;
Fostering debate within society;
Supporting innovative cultural creation;
Advancing equal opportunities and human rights by supporting cultural diversity;
To be eligible, cultural projects should:
Directly advance at least one priority area;
Target a defined public audience;
Present a budget where administrative costs do not exceed 15 percent of total cost;
Respect financial, management and legal norms.
The small cultural projects are not used to finance:
Resubmissions of rejected applications;
Incomplete files;
Proposals from organisations that are affiliated to political parties, religious institutions or the military;
Running costs of a public institution or governmental body;
Formal education or scholarships;
Projects that solely consist of purchasing materials;
Infrastructure, construction costs;
Folkloric activities;
Discriminatory or anti-democratic activities;
Purely commercial activities;
Grant recipients need to submit an operational and a financial report within 60 days after the end of the project activities. The operational report should evaluate activities, outputs and outcomes in light of what had been planned according to the application form. The financial report should list all the submitted original supporting documents (bills, receipts, contracts etc.) against the respective positions in the budget that was submitted as part of the application.
Applicants for both small action and cultural grants are invited to send electronic copies of the duly completed application form and attached budget form (see templates below) together with their project proposal (maximum 5 pages) to the following email address: pia.smallactions@eda.admin.ch
Please send your application with the following subject line:
For small action projects: "Small action : [Name of the project]"
For cultural projects: "Cultural project: [Name of the project]"
The templates below are for both small action and cultural grants.
Small Actions Application Form Template (PDF, 4 Pages, 51.2 kB)
