The International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD) has officially launched a Call for Proposals for its Dissemination Grant to Local Government Associations (2026)—a unique funding opportunity designed to empower organizations working with municipalities to strengthen democratic governance at the local level.
This grant represents a strategic investment in capacity-building, knowledge transfer, and institutional strengthening, particularly across selected African countries. It is tailored for organizations that play a key role in supporting, training, or representing local governments and are committed to enhancing governance practices through practical tools and training initiatives.
Overview of the Dissemination Grant
The ICLD Dissemination Grant provides financial support of up to SEK 150,000 (including VAT) to eligible organizations. The aim is to facilitate the design and implementation of training initiatives targeting local government representatives, using ICLD’s well-established democratic governance tools.
Unlike general funding schemes, this grant is highly focused: it emphasizes practical application, ensuring that local governments not only receive training but also actively integrate governance tools into their policies, processes, and institutional frameworks.
Purpose and Strategic Objectives
At its core, this grant is designed to bridge the gap between knowledge and implementation. Organizations that have participated in ICLD’s Training of Trainers on Democratic Governance Tools are especially encouraged to apply, as the grant enables them to disseminate acquired knowledge within their national or regional contexts.
The key objectives include:
- Strengthening local democratic institutions
- Promoting good governance practices
- Enhancing capacity of municipalities and local officials
- Facilitating practical application of governance tools
- Supporting peer-to-peer learning and institutional development
By funding dissemination activities, ICLD ensures that its training programs have a multiplier effect, reaching a broader network of local governments.
Scope of the Grant
The Dissemination Grant must be used to plan, organize, and implement a structured training initiative for local government representatives.
Eligible activities include:
- Organizing training workshops or seminars
- Developing training materials based on ICLD tools
- Facilitating sessions for elected officials and public servants
- Supporting municipalities in applying governance tools in real contexts
The proposed training must:
- Target local-level elected officials and/or public officials
- Use one or more ICLD democratic governance tools
- Enable municipalities to apply these tools in practice
- Align with ICLD’s Code of Conduct and principles
Importantly, the applying organization is fully responsible for all aspects of implementation, including logistics, financial management, and reporting. Sub-granting or transferring funds to other entities is strictly prohibited.
Eligible Countries
This opportunity is specifically open to organizations operating in the following countries:
- South Africa
- Botswana
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Uganda
- Kenya
- Tanzania
Grant Value and Financial Conditions
Applicants can request funding of up to SEK 150,000 (including VAT).
The disbursement structure is as follows:
- Up to 75% of the grant is paid in advance
- Remaining 25% is released after:
- Completion of activities
- Submission of final narrative and financial reports
- Approval by ICLD
Eligible expenses include:
- Personnel and staff time
- Training and conference costs (venue, printing, meals)
- Travel and accommodation for participants
Organizations must demonstrate strong financial management capacity, maintain documentation (invoices, receipts, contracts), and ensure transparency in all expenditures.
Implementation Timeline
Applicants must adhere to a strict timeline:
- Application Deadline: 10 May 2026
- Notification of Results: 25 May 2026
- Implementation Period: June – August 2026
- Final Reporting Deadline: 31 August 2026
All activities must be completed and reported by the end of August 2026 to receive the full grant amount.
Deliverables and Reporting Requirements
Successful applicants are required to submit:
- Final Narrative Report
- Overview of the training conducted
- Participating municipalities
- Outcomes and results
- Lessons learned
- Financial Report
- Detailed breakdown of all expenses
- Comparison with the approved budget
Failure to meet reporting requirements may result in delayed or reduced funding.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be a legally registered organization
- Work in training, supporting, or representing local governments
- Have experience in capacity development
- Demonstrate financial transparency and accountability
- Be capable of managing and completing the project within the timeline
Priority will be given to:
- Associations of Local Governments
- Organizations that participated in ICLD’s Training of Trainers (March–April 2026)
Note: Individual applications are not accepted, and only one application per organization is allowed.
Evaluation and Selection Process
Applications will be assessed based on:
- Relevance to local governance needs
- Quality and clarity of the training design
- Understanding and application of ICLD tools
- Organizational capacity and experience
- Feasibility within the given timeframe
- Cost-effectiveness of the proposed budget
ICLD aims to balance breadth (number of local governments reached) and depth (quality of learning and implementation).
How to Apply
Applicants must submit a proposal (maximum 5 pages, excluding budget) in Word format. The proposal should include:
- Organizational background and capacity
- Description of proposed activities
- Target group and number of participants
- Selected ICLD tools and application strategy
- Expected outcomes
- Timeline
- Detailed budget (max SEK 150,000)
📧 Submit applications via email to: kc@icld.se
📅 Deadline: 10 May 2026
Why This Opportunity Matters
This grant is more than just funding—it is a platform for impact. It allows organizations to:
- Scale their expertise
- Influence governance at the grassroots level
- Strengthen democratic practices across municipalities
- Build long-term institutional capacity
For organizations working in local governance, this is a high-impact opportunity to translate knowledge into real-world change.
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