Sector 06
Democracy, Justice & Social Cohesion
Strengthening democratic institutions, protecting fundamental rights and building resilient societies.
Explore our servicesThe sector
Democracy, human rights, justice and social cohesion are fundamental to Europe’s stability and long-term development. European funding supports initiatives addressing democratic participation, the rule of law, gender equality, violence prevention, child protection, anti-corruption, migration, social inclusion and the strengthening of civil society.
Increasing attention is given to the resilience of democratic institutions, the protection of vulnerable groups, the prevention of discrimination and violence, and the development of effective cooperation between public authorities, civil society organisations and frontline professionals. These projects require an integrated approach that connects policy development, institutional capacity, community participation and practical interventions.
What makes this sector different?
Rights-based and inclusive approaches
Projects must demonstrate alignment with fundamental rights, equality, non-discrimination and the principles of inclusive participation.
Evidence-based interventions
Strong applications require credible needs assessments, clearly defined target groups, measurable outcomes and appropriate monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
Institutional and community cooperation
Effective projects bring together public authorities, NGOs, educational institutions, law-enforcement bodies, social services and international organisations.
Sustainable institutional change
Beyond awareness-raising and individual interventions, funding increasingly supports models, protocols and systems that can be integrated into institutional practices and public policy.
Funding
Key funding opportunities include
Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV)
Equality, fundamental rights, democratic participation, Union values and the Daphne strand addressing violence.
Justice Programme
Judicial cooperation, access to justice and the rule of law.
Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF)
Migration management, integration and asylum-related initiatives.
Internal Security Fund (ISF)
Internal security, crime prevention and cooperation.
Horizon Europe, Cluster 2
Democracy, governance and inclusive societies.
Horizon Europe, Cluster 3
Civil security, cybersecurity and disaster resilience.
NDICI-Global Europe
Human rights, democratic development and international cooperation around the globe.
At Authentic European Consulting
We bring substantial experience in developing and supporting initiatives addressing democratic governance, justice and home affairs, human rights, anti-corruption, gender equality, child protection and social inclusion.
We work with NGOs, public institutions, international organisations and cross-border consortia to translate complex societal challenges into structured, evidence-based projects with sustainable institutional and community impact.
All eight sectors