SAFE Democracy provides financial support to Transparency International national chapters to implement initiatives that strengthen democratic resilience and citizen engagement across the European Union.
The mechanism is implemented under the SAFE Democracy Operating Grant, funded by the EU’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme. It enables targeted national actions that contribute to strengthening political integrity, accountability, and participation in public decision-making.
Key features
- Supports locally tailored initiatives responding to national risks and priorities
- Combines financial support with technical assistance and capacity building
- Enables coordinated action across countries, contributing to shared EU-level objectives
Who can apply
The sub-granting mechanism is open to Transparency International national chapters in participating EU Member States, as well as Transparency International EU.
What is supported
Sub-grants support national initiatives that address key risks to democratic systems, including:
- Development and strengthening of civic monitoring tools, such as Integrity Watch platforms
- Use of data on political finance, lobbying, and conflicts of interest for advocacy and public scrutiny
- Citizen engagement activities, including national dialogues, trainings, and awareness-raising initiatives
- Research and policy work to address gaps in political integrity frameworks
- Actions to strengthen civic space and respond to democratic backsliding
How it works
Sub-grants are awarded through a competitive selection process. Applications are assessed based on their relevance to the project’s objectives, feasibility, and expected impact.
A limited number of grants are awarded in each call cycle, ensuring focused and high-impact interventions across participating countries.
Selected initiatives are implemented with support from the Transparency International Secretariat, including coordination, technical guidance, and capacity building.
First call for proposals (2026)
In January 2026, the Transparency International Secretariat launched the first call for proposals under the SAFE Democracy sub-granting mechanism, inviting national chapters across 20 EU Member States and Transparency International EU to apply.
The call invited proposals across four priority areas:
- Countering undue influence and strengthening participation
- Strengthening political integrity frameworks
- Protecting and expanding civic space
- Supporting EU-level coordination and advocacy
A total of 16 proposals were received. Following a structured evaluation process involving technical, programmatic, and financial assessment, 8 sub-grants were awarded to support national initiatives across the network.
The total funding envelope for this call was €190,000, with individual grants ranging from €16,000 to €56,000 depending on the scope of activities.
Results of the first call for proposals (2026)
The following eight projects were selected for funding under the SAFE Democracy sub-granting mechanism in 2026. A total of €190,257 was awarded to support activities to be implemented between 2026 and 2027 over a period of approximately 7–8 months:
Work Area 1: Countering undue influence and strengthening participation
- Transparency International Italy (€25,265)
Strengthening transparency and accountability through Integrity Watch Italy, with a focus on conflicts of interest, private interests and integrity in public decision-making.
- Transparency International Spain (€25,122)
Strengthening parliamentary integrity and transparency through Integrity Watch Spain, with a focus on openness, accountability and safeguards against undue influence in public decision-making.
- Transparency International Germany (€20,000)
Strengthening transparency and public oversight in decision-making processes through Integrity Watch, with a focus on lobbying activities and public procurement.
Work Area 2: Strengthening political integrity frameworks
- Transparency International France (€15,870)
Advancing political integrity through research, advocacy and public engagement, with a focus on transparent campaign financing and ethical election practices.
- Transparency International Netherlands (€16,000)
Strengthening political integrity through advocacy and research on lobbying transparency, asset declarations and accountability standards for public officials.
Work Area 3: Protecting and expanding civic space
- Transparency International Czech Republic (€16,000)
Strengthening civic space through monitoring, coalition-building and advocacy aimed at safeguarding democratic participation, anti-corruption reforms and rule of law standards.
- Transparency International Slovakia (€16,000)
Strengthening civic space by fostering cooperation among civil society actors and empowering citizens and local communities to advance transparency, accountability and democratic participation.
Work Area 4: Supporting EU-level coordination and advocacy
- Transparency International EU (€56,000)
Supporting coordination and knowledge-sharing on democratic resilience, civic space, political integrity and rule of law priorities across the Transparency International network.
