New funding for Roma Civil Society in the EU

New funding for Roma Civil Society in the EU

Are you a Roma or pro-Roma organisation in an EU Member State working to fight antigypsyism, promote equality, and uphold EU values? The ROVA project is here to support your mission.

ROVA – Roma Civil Society Organisations Promoting EU Values – is a new initiative led by ERGO Network and partners to empower grassroots Roma civil society across the European Union.

Mission of ROVA

We aim to empower Roma-led and pro-Roma CSOs to drive positive change, safeguard fundamental rights, promote equality, and strengthen civic participation across the EU.

What we do

ROVA will support:

• 120 local Roma and pro-Roma civil society organisations
• 15 national Roma coalitions

…in Spain, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Czechia, Slovakia, and other EU Member States.

Organisations will receive both financial support and a tailored capacity-building programme to help them:

1. Advance access to fundamental rights
2. Promote equality and anti-discrimination
3. Encourage civic engagement and democratic participation
4. Raise awareness of the human rights situation of Roma
5. Improve monitoring of national Roma strategies
6. Foster dialogue between Roma communities and authorities

Why this matters

The ROVA project is grounded in the core values of the European Union, as enshrined in Article 2 of the Lisbon Treaty and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights:

Human dignity – inviolable and must be respected and protected
Democracy – based on political rights and representation for all
Freedom – of thought, movement, expression, religion and assembly
Equality – equal rights before the law
Human rights – including the right to privacy and freedom from discrimination

By supporting grassroots efforts rooted in these principles, ROVA strengthens Roma civil society as a pillar of European democracy.

Available funding

Three types of project grants are now open:

1. Up to €30,000 for Roma/pro-Roma NGOs in Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Spain, Czechia, or Slovakia (2nd round: €25,000)
2. Up to €20,000 for Roma/pro-Roma NGOs in other EU Member States
3. Up to €15,000 for national Roma coalitions (one round only)
   

Deadline: 5 August 2025

📝 NGOs: submit a concept note
📜 Coalitions: submit a full proposal
📬 Applications must be submitted online – email submissions will not be accepted

👉All materials for the application are available on www.rovaproject.org
📩 Need support? Contact: rova_ergo@ergonetwork.org

————————————————————–

Funded by the European Union, with co-funding provided by the EVZ Foundation. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, the European Commission, or the EVZ Foundation. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority nor the EVZ Foundation can be held responsible for them. 

This call for applications is published within the framework of the ROVA project. The ROVA project is implemented by ERGO Network and five of its member organisations (Autonomia Foundation – Hungary, FAGIC – Spain, Integro Association – Bulgaria, Nevo Parudimos – Romania, Romanonet – Czechia) between January 2025 and December 2027.