Human Rights Fund

Call for Proposals 2026

 

The Dutch Human Rights Fund (HRF) program is open for applications for activities concerning Belarus in 2026.

The application procedure has been simplified to make the selection process faster and reduce the workload for applicants. It now consists of four steps.

Procedure

1. Consultation phase (with the Dutch Embassy in Warsaw via email)
📅 21 October – 10 December 2025; ✉️ war-belarus@minbuza.nl;

2. Concept notes for possible projects to be send to the Embassy  (max. 3 pages)
📅 21 October – 10 December 2025

3. Pre-selected concept notes need to be developed into full project proposals
📅 until 31 December 2025

4. Assessment by the Embassy of full proposals
📅 until 15 January 2026

Human Rights Fund

Image: ©Hugo de Wolf (via toolkitthehague.com)

Human rights are universal – they apply to everyone, everywhere, at all times. They are the foundation of democracy, where every person counts. The Netherlands works to promote and protect human rights worldwide, including in Belarus.

Its main instrument for doing this is the decentralized Human Rights Fund (HRF).

The duration of projects could be up to 48 months. The maximum grant is €150,000 per year. 

The Embassy reserves the right to allocate different grant amounts, enter into long-term commitments outside of this call, or offer other funding schemes.

 

The HRF supports organizations that defend and promote human rights worldwide. The priorities for Belarus in 2026 are as follows:

 
General goal Specific goals
Freedom of expression and Internet freedom
  • Preventing attacks on and obstacles to journalists and media workers (including education and professionalization);
  • Long-term sustainability of Belarusian independent media outlets and their ability to become self-sustainable;
  • Long-term media projects promoting consolidation and preservation of structures for relocation to Belarus;
  • Protection of journalists and media workers in emergency situations;
Human rights defenders and civic space
  • Preventing attacks on and obstacles to human rights defenders;
  • Protection of human rights defenders in emergency situations;

NFRP - MATRA

a twin-bicycle with two persons climbing for the stars.
The NFRP-MATRA program provides grants for strengthening democracy and the rule of law in Europe. 

Project proposals under the NFRP- MATRA program should preferably focus on:

•    Organizational development and capacity-building of civil society in order to strengthen democratic processes.

Programs are demand-driven. The Embassy does not have specific thematic focus.
 
General goal  Specific goals
Building resilient (civil) societies
  • Promotion of public participation;
  • Innovative education aimed at more engaged society; 
  • More engaged society; 
  • Good governance;

Feminist Foreign Policy

Image:  www.wo-men.nl
Principles of the Female Foreign Policy approach will be taken into account during evaluation of the project proposals , monitoring and reporting phases. 

More details on Female Foreign Policy you may find here. 




 

Specific trajectories of supporting projects

Image: The Hague & Partners
In order to better address the needs of the Belarusian partners Embassy made a decision to develop within both support programs two overarching trajectories: 

The first trajectory: 
  •  Focus: smaller short term activities (up to 24 months long)
  •  Demand-driven
  • Examples: innovative solutions (i.e. pilots), immediate support, bridge funding or immediate support (in exceptional cases, question to decide by the Embassy on the case by case basis)
Within the first trajectory framework in general a maximum amount of grant is €50.000,00 for a maximum of 24 months. 

The second trajectory: 
  • Focus: Long-term commitments (up to 48 months) 
  • Goal 1 : To build sustainability and excellence of organizations in their fields of expertise 
  • Goal 2:  To improve capacity for both monetization and profit development and ability to relocate to Belarus
Within the second trajectory framework in general a maximum amount of grant is up to  €150.000,00 per year for a maximum of 48 months.

Disclaimer:
  • The Embassy reserves the right to commit other than indicated amounts of grants
  • The Embassy reserves the right to discuss long-term commitment trajectory with organizations outside of the call for proposals scheme
  • The Embassy  reserves the right to offer other funding schemes outside of the listed trajectories
  • Applications for both the NFRP-MATRA program and the Human Rights Fund will not be taken into consideration

Restrictions and eligibility criteria

Only NGOs and non-profit organizations (including independent media) are eligible to apply. In specific situation Embassy has a right to decide otherwise.

The following projects, activities and budget items are not eligible for funding:

  • Late submissions;
  • Commercial activities;
  • Projects identical to previously funded ones;
  • Construction or reconstruction costs;Purely charitable activities  (e.g. food donations,  medical aid)  that do not contribute structurally to reforms;

New projects can only be supported once previous projects have been completed and officially closed, unless agreed otherwise with the Embassy.

Each organization / consortium may submit only one proposal.

Practical Information

 

The Embassy ensures that funds are allocated where they are most needed and properly used.

Because the programs are demand-driven, applicants are encouraged to consult their project ideas with the Embassy before submission.

Practical Information

The preliminary results of the call for proposals with deadline April 3, 2024 will be available as of May 7, 2024. After this date applicants can inquire at the Embassy about the results.

The final results of the call for proposals with deadline April 3, 2024 will be known as of June 7, 2024.

Communication: 
The Embassy takes great care to ensure that the grants are awarded where they are most needed and that they are properly used. Therefore, applications must be submitted according to the requirements of the NFRP – MATRA or Human Rights Fund. The NFRP – MATRA and Human Rights Fund are demand driven.  This means that the Embassy staff will be happy to discuss and consult ideas and themes before an applicant submits a proposal.

Submission of project proposals and Contact details

Submit your project proposal under: 

WAR-Belarus@minbuza.nl 

Consult your ideas here

 

You may reach us via Signal:

+48 691 600 522