LithuaniaEtar
EUR 120,000 contest opens for gender-equality NGO projects
Order No. A1-551 of 9 September 2026 opens a EUR 120,000 competition for NGO projects advancing gender equality in 2027, at EUR 50,000–60,000 per project.
By Taxxa AI OyPublished 9 September 2026
The Minister for Social Security and Labour has approved the rules for the 2027 selection competitionE TAR for NGO projects implementing measures that promote equal opportunities for women and men
E TAR. Order No. A1-551, adopted on 9 September 2026
E TAR in Vilnius by Minister Inga Ruginienė, acts under Article 4(1)(3) of the Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men and implements point 7.1.1 of Annex 1 to the 2026–2028 equal-opportunities action plan (order No. A1-96 of 12 February 2026).
The competition's aim is to raise understanding among public officials, political organisations' representatives and the public of the gender-equality principle and special temporary measures, including quotas, so that women's representation in politics and decision-making grows. Funded projects must deliver information, analytical, educational and/or advocacy activities serving that aimE TAR. The competition is organised by the ministry
E TAR; selection and administration run through the Department for the Supervision of Social Services
E TAR, and the funding decision is taken by the ministry's chancellor
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The state-budget envelope is EUR 120,000E TAR: at most EUR 60,000 and at least EUR 50,000 per project
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E TAR, so two projects can be funded
E TAR. Projects run from 1 January 2027 to the contract date
E TAR, but no later than 31 December 2027
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E TAR, across Lithuania
E TAR. The applicant must be an NGO
E TAR holding the NGO mark in the Register of Legal Entities
E TAR; projects may run with non-profit public-entity partners
E TAR.
Applicants, project implementers and activity implementers need at least one year of gender-equality work experience at applicationE TAR; priority bonus points go to applicants with at least two years' experience
E TAR and to projects run with at least one partner
E TAR. Experts score applications out of 65 points with a 40-point minimum
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E TAR; mandatory content conditions and the Aprašas/Methodology criteria are pass/fail gates
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Each project must hit binding essential indicators by 31 December 2027E TAR: at least seven in-person trainings or seminars for officials and party representatives (groups of 10–12)
E TAR in different municipalities
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E TAR, at least three of them in municipalities with fewer than 40,000 residents
E TAR per 2025 State Data Agency figures
E TAR; at least one advocacy output of recommendations to political organisations
E TAR; and at least one advocacy output by 1 June 2027
E TAR with recommendations and alternatives suited to the Lithuanian legal and political context
E TAR for improving the action plan, the equal-opportunities law and related legislation and Lithuania's European Institute for Gender Equality index "Power" domain score
E TAR, filed with the ministry and interested institutions
E TAR. Missing essential indicators triggers repayment of 25–100% of disbursed funds
E TAR, on a scale that depends on whether the partnership priority applied
E TAR. Administration costs are capped at 20% of the grant
E TAR and total wage costs at 40%
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Applications are filed in Lithuanian through the information systemE TAR at https://sopas1.sppd.lt/login, signed with a qualified electronic signature
E TAR; applications filed outside the system are not assessed
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Legal basis: Lietuvos Respublikos socialinės apsaugos ir darbo ministro įsakymas No. A1-551 of 9 September 2026 (Nevyriausybinių organizacijų projektų, skirtų moterų ir vyrų lygias galimybes skatinančioms priemonėms įgyvendinti 2027 metais, atrankos konkurso organizavimo nuostatai), under Moterų ir vyrų lygių galimybių įstatymas Article 4(1)(3).
Eligible NGOs should line up a partner, document their gender-equality track record and draft activities against the scoring grid and the 1 June and 31 December 2027 indicator deadlines.