European Youth Foundation: Pilot Activity
Overview
Pilot activity grants refer to projects that
- address young people’s needs or challenges at a local level.
- contribute to the priorities of the youth sector of the Council of Europe
- are based on innovation, either in terms of methodology for the target group and/or the organisation and the context, or on replication of good practice
- have a clear youth dimension and contribute to youth participation
- have a clear local impact
- follow the basic principles of youth work, non-formal education and intercultural dialogue
- contribute to social cohesion, by combating exclusion and the prevention of phenomena specifically affecting young people
- help young people, particularly disadvantaged young people, to find ways of meeting both the challenges facing them and their own aspirations.
Pilot activities are flexible in their format and may utilise a range of approaches, such as youth meetings, capacity building sessions, awareness raising actions, meetings with experts, local workshops, local actions, visits, campaigns, workshops in schools, festivals etc.
The maximum duration of a pilot activity project can be up to one year. The project must start at least 3 months after the deadline.
Focus themes 2025
The following focus themes for pilot activity grants were approved by Joint Council on Youth within the youth sector priorities:
- Human rights education with and by young people
This includes the possibility to apply to the EYF for a pilot activity grants for:
- initiatives that support the Council of Europe Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education and the role of youth NGOs in its implementation
- initiatives that support young people’s democratic engagement in the revitalisation of democracy (cfr. Reykjavík Declaration)
- initiatives that support climate action and awareness on the right to a healthy environment, following the CM Recommendation (2024)6 on young people and climate action adopted on 23 October 2024.
- Peacebuilding, conflict transformation and intercultural dialogue
This includes the possibility to apply to the EYF for a pilot activity grants for:
- initiatives that associate young people and their organisations with peacebuilding and intercultural dialogue
- initiatives that emerge from flagship activities of the Council of Europe’s youth sector, such as the Youth Peace Camp
- initiatives strengthening young people’s agency and capacities to prevent violence, transform conflict and to build a culture of peace and human rights.
Grant amount
The maximum grant for a Pilot Activity is €15 000. The EYF can cover the all real costs of the activity up to this amount. The EYF will initiate the payment of the first instalment – 80% of the grant awarded – approximately 4 weeks before the start of your activity. However, it can take up to 4 weeks until the money arrives into your bank account. The remaining 20% will be paid upon receipt and approval of the final report (check the Reporting page).
What costs are covered by the grant? Budget and financial management
Check the page on budget and financial management for specific information on this.
Budget rules for Pilot Activities
- Maximum grant: 15 000 euros that cover the direct costs for the project
- When applying, you must indicate the full project duration. Please note that the full project duration means the period within which the project costs incur and project activities, including preparations or evaluation, happen.
- No co-financing required
- Payment of the grant by the EYF: first instalment, 80% roughly 10 weeks before the project starts and the conditions in the contract (if any) are met, and 20% paid upon the receipt and approval of the final report of the project.
- For more information about Pilot Activity grants, check the specific page on their website.
- For projects approved up to the deadline of 1 June 2023 included, the budget can also include administrative costs, which may refer to salaries, office rent, insurance, electricity, water and heating bills, up to 7% of the grant awarded
- For projects from the deadline of 1 September 2023 onwards, the budget can include up to 7% of the grant awarded for administrative costs, ie heating, water, electricity costs, office rent, and insurance, and up to 10% of the grant awarded for staff costs for project coordination.
Who can apply?
Local actions may be carried out by international NGOs/networks as part of their work plan and in co-operation with local NGOs. However, only the NGOs mentioned above may submit a Pilot Activity application.
Common characteristics of all EYF-supported projects and examples of supported projects
Learn more about the characteristics of EYF-funded projects and check examples of projects supported at the dedicated page.