The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published a new call for proposals, part of the Focus funding framework on November 19th, 2026. Following FemFocus the current framework Focus on Freedom is focussing  on capacity strengthening of, service provision by, and dialogue conducted by civil society organizations in or for low- and middle-income countries, on protecting and promoting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of religious minorities and LGBTIQ+ persons.

A ceiling of €84,745,000 is available for the following themes:

1. €34,895,000 for applications relating to the theme of protecting and promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms of religious minorities; and
2. €49,850,000 for applications relating to the theme of protecting and promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms of LGBTIQ+ persons.

Important dates: 

• November 19th: call published
• December 15th: open for submission
• March 9th: call closes at 23:59 CEST

Across the world, the human rights and safety of LGBTIQ+ persons are under growing pressure, with this group facing increased discrimination, violence and restricted access to essential services in many countries. This grant sub-instrument supports improved access to equal rights, helps strengthen the position of LGBTIQ+ persons by supporting local CSOs and other actors working on their behalf, improves access to protection mechanisms and services that enhance physical safety, and promotes substantive dialogue with local and national authorities as well as religious and other actors.

The sub-instrument Equal Rights for LGBTIQ+ Persons (hereinafter: LGBTIQ+) aligns with the broader Dutch policy objectives set out in the MDIR policy document and in the Global Multilateralism Policy Framework.

The main objectives of this sub-instrument are:

1. Strengthening local CSOs and community based organisations that work to promote the rights, protection and inclusion of LGBTIQ+ persons

2. Improving access to legal and psychosocial support, a safe environment and protection for LGBTIQ+ persons .

3. Promoting economic and social participation by LGBTIQ+ persons;

4. Fostering inclusive dialogue with relevant actors to improve legislation and reduce social stigma;

5. Supporting advocacy efforts to combat discrimination and advance equal rights for LGBTIQ+ persons.

In doing so, the sub-instrument contributes to the sustainable strengthening of local initiatives that improve the position of LGBTIQ+ persons in both the short and long term. The objectives of this sub-instrument align with the goals of Dutch foreign human rights policy on LGBTIQ+, namely: 1) the decriminalisation of homosexuality and/or diverse gender identities and expressions; 2) the prevention of violence and discrimination against LGBTIQ+ persons; and 3) the promotion of social acceptance of LGBTIQ+ persons. These are also areas in which the Netherlands has built extensive expertise and networks over several decades, and in which Dutch bilateral and multilateral missions have dedicated diplomatic capacity.

ELIGIBILITY AND CONSORTIUM REQUIREMENTS

• Only one applicant – no consortia.
• The applicant is a civil society organization submitting a grant application independently. No geographic limitations mentioned.
• In the 2022-2024 period, an average of at least 25% of the applicant’s total annual income came from sources other than the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This criterion does not apply to specialist organisations and small southern organisations.
• The applicant has at least 10 years of demonstrable experience in providing financial- and capacity strengthening support to local CSOs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This experience must have been acquired within the past 15 years, reference date 1 October 2025.
• The applicant must have at least 5 years of demonstrable experience in:
  • all policy objectives and themes of the sub instrument to which the grant application relate;
  • for applications under the LGBTIQ+ sub-instrument: the region(s) targeted by the application; or
  • for applications under the FoRB sub-instrument: the geographic cluster(s) targeted by the applicatio

• The applicant has a policy and system in place (applied in the five years preceding 1 October 2025) for selecting and monitoring the in-country partners it supports.
• The gross remuneration of each individual member of the applicant’s management and governing bodies does not exceed States a maximum of EUR 226,000 per calendar year for Applicants legally established in the Netherlands or other EU Member States.
• Individual applicants may be awarded a maximum of one grant under this framework

CALL DOCUMENTS

COMPETITIVENESS

The call is expected to be highly competitive. The main reasons are:

• Only 2 or 3 applications will win.
• There are no geographic limitations to where the support partner is based.
• Only one organization can be applicant. No consortia allowed.

HOW HVFC CAN SUPPORT YOU

HVFC can help you to develop a high-quality proposal. Our support can include:

1. Go/ No-Go: If you are doubting to apply or not, our Go / No-Go advisory will be useful to consider.
2. Proposal design and writing in case additional capacity is required.
3. The most cost-effective way to boost the quality of your proposal is by reviewing your proposal with our review grid, developed specifically for this call. By having the perspective of the donor, we can identify possible improvements early. This will help you to have the maximum result at the end.

Please contact us for more information on one of these services.