Crafting Change Together: Your Campaign, Our Support!
The EU-funded ‘Eastern Partnership Civil Society Facility’ project invites Belarusian civil society organisations (CSOs) operating outside of Belarus{1}, to participate in our 2025 Communication Labs (Comm.Labs) – a dedicated capacity building programme designed to support the development and implementation of impactful communication campaigns.
Comm.Labs programme is tailored to help CSOs enhance their strategic communication skills, refine their messaging, and launch effective campaigns addressing key societal issues. Comm.Labs participants will gain access to mentorship, expert guidance, and resources to amplify their voices and foster positive societal change.
Up to 10 Belarusian civil society organisations operating outside of Belarus and registered in the EU Member States or Eastern Partnership countries will be selected to participate in the Communication Labs with their campaign ideas. At the end of the capacity building programme, up to 3 campaign ideas will be selected and will get EU funding (up to 8,000 EUR) for the implementation and launch.
Important! Applications for the Communication Lab are accepted in English only! Please carefully read the Guidelines for Applicants (available in English and in Belarusian languages) & the Application Form template before applying.
The Application Form has 38 questions some of which will require more significant input. We strongly advise applicants to check the PDF version of the Application Form (available here) before starting the online application process. The Application is likely to take several hours and you may require input from your colleagues. Please make sure you do not leave the submission to the last day before the deadline. Should you experience any issues with the Application Form, please contact us at [email protected]
Join Info Session on March 25, 2025 to learn more about the Communication Labs!
When: Tuesday, March 25,2025 / 1 pm Brussels time
Here’s what you can expect:
- Detailed insights into the Communication Labs programme.
- Step-by-step guidance on the application process.
- Tips for crafting a compelling application.
- Q&A session to address all your queries.
By joining the Communication Labs, participating CSOs will benefit from:
- Capacity Building: Access to practical training sessions, expert mentorship, and tailored guidance to refine your communication campaigns.
- Networking Opportunities: Collaboration with peers, mentors, and experts to share knowledge, exchange experiences, and build lasting partnerships.
- Resource Support: Funding for up to 3 selected campaigns to develop materials, implement activities, and reach target audiences (up to 8,000 EUR).
- Increased Visibility: Showcase your organisation’s work and initiatives to a broader audience, strengthening your role as a civil society actor.
From social justice to environmental conservation, any idea that aims for positive change is welcome. Whether it’s promoting social inclusion, improving healthcare access, or advocating for better policies – we’re here to support you!
The proposed ideas for communication campaigns may include awareness raising or advocacy campaigns delivered through mainstream or social media, community meetings, organised events on specific topics, etc. If appropriate and relevant (including as timing), the proposed communication campaigns may integrate into wider efforts at national and international level related to annual international days such Democracy Day, Labour Day, Human Rights Day, Anti-Corruption Day, the 16 days of Campaign against Gender Based Violence, International Day of Volunteering, Water, Environment and Climate Change Day etc.
Your campaign ideas should address key societal issues and target one or more of the following audiences:
- People in exile or migration from Belarus – fostering community cohesion, resilience, and advocacy for Belarusian voices abroad.
- People in Belarus – raising awareness or addressing key societal needs while ensuring safety and security in communication approaches.
- EU Citizens – building awareness and solidarity, amplifying Belarusian voices and showcasing civil society’s role in fostering positive change.
Please consult the Guidelines for Applicants (available in English and in Belarusian languages) for more details on eligible and ineligible ideas!
This Call for Applications is open to officially registered Belarusian civil society organisations operating outside of Belarus. Applications are accepted from teams of at least 3 activists representing the same or different organisations. Most eligibility requirements are related to the team leader (Lead Applicant) and the CSO s/he represents (the applying CSO). Please carefully read the Guidelines for Applicants (available in English and in Belarusian languages).
To be eligible, the applying CSO must:
- Be officially registered and operating outside of Belarus: in an EU member state or in one of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova or Ukraine).
- Have a clear mandate and proven track record (at least two years) of working on issues related to social change, community engagement, or advocacy with a focus on Belarus, the EU, or EaP countries.
- Commit to actively participating in all phases of the Communication Labs, including capacity building, content development, and campaign implementation.
Only registered organisations can apply as funds will be transferred to the organisation’s official bank account in case of selection for funding. If your organisation is not registered but you have a campaign idea, you are encouraged to coordinate with a registered partner organisation or network to apply on your behalf.
- Selection of CSOs and Participants: Up to 10 Belarusian CSOs operating outside of Belarus will be selected through this Call for Applications. Each organisation will create a team of up to 3 participants who will engage in content development for the campaigns. The Communication Labs will host a total of 30 participants.
- Capacity Building and Networking (Online and In-Person): The programme will kick off in May 2025 with a 2-day in-person session in Poland, where selected participants will pitch their campaign ideas, engage in networking and matchmaking with mentors, and attend capacity-building sessions tailored to communication campaign development.
- Mentorship and Concept Refinement: Following the Kick-Off event, participants will work with experienced mentors* through a mix of online and offline sessions to refine their campaign concepts, define objectives, identify target audiences, develop key messages, and prepare implementation plans.
- Selection of Campaigns for Funding: After mentorship and training, participating teams will submit their refined campaign strategies to the Evaluation Committee. The most promising campaigns (up to 3) will proceed to the next stage.
- Campaign Production, Launch & Evaluation: Selected campaigns will receive up to 8,000 EUR of the EU funding to produce and launch communication materials and activities. The implementation phase will include ongoing support, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure the campaigns’ success and impact.
The mentors for the Communication Labs will be Belarusian experts with extensive experience in communication, advocacy, and campaign development. This ensures that the mentorship provided is contextually relevant, taking into account the unique challenges and opportunities faced by Belarusian civil society operating outside of Belarus.
The detailed steps and criteria for assessment and evaluation of applications are presented in the Guidelines for Applicants (available in English and in Belarusian languages). All applications will be assessed according to the following:
- Administrative Checks: Applications will be reviewed for compliance with submission deadlines, completeness, and eligibility criteria.
- Capacity and Experience Assessment: CSOs and Lead Applicants will be evaluated based on experience, capacity, and commitment.
- Campaign Idea Evaluation: Proposed campaign ideas will be assessed for relevance, societal impact, and feasibility.
- Campaign ideas submitted during the application process are considered initial drafts. Selected ideas will undergo comprehensive development during the Labs.
- English language requirements apply to the application process and communication with our Project. Campaign materials should be developed primarily in the local languages. Communication between participating teams and assigned mentors can be facilitated in Belarusian as well. Important: at least one person from your team (a Lead Applicant) should be able to communicate in English!
- Detailed steps, criteria, and evaluation grid are available in the Guidelines for Applicants (available in English and in Belarusian languages).
To apply, check eligibility, and submit your application in English, before 23:00 (CET) on April 7, 2025.
Questions and requests for clarification can be sent to [email protected]. And don’t forget to join our Info Session on March 25 to learn more about the Comm.Labs and the application process. Register for Info Session here!
The Application Form has 38 questions some of which will require more significant input. We strongly advise applicants to check the PDF version of the Application Form (available here) before starting the online application process. The Application is likely to take several hours and you may require input from your colleagues. Please make sure you do not leave the submission to the last day before the deadline. Should you experience any issues with the Application Form, please contact us at [email protected]
[1] In line with the Council Conclusions of 12 October 2020 and of 19 February 2024, and in light of Belarus’s involvement in the Russian military aggression against Ukraine, recognised in the European Council Conclusions of February 2022, the EU has stopped engaging with representatives of Belarus public bodies and state-owned enterprises. Should there be a change of the context this may be reconsidered. In the meantime, the EU continues to engage with and, where possible, has stepped up support to non-state, local and regional actors, including within the framework of this regional programme.
Feedback from participants of our Communication Labs for CSOs from Armenia and Georgia:
