Call for Concept Notes to Support Civic Engagement around Community Cohesion and Inclusive Development in Erigavo
About CEF
The Civic Engagement Facility (CEF), supported by Denmark, aims to expand civic space and strengthen collaboration between government, civil society, and the private sector around Somali people's priority issues. It provides catalytic funding to strengthen civil society networks, support innovative channels for civic engagement , and foster more inclusive citizen-government dialogue to drive collective action towards a people-centered governance agenda.
What We Want to Support
Initiatives that:
Revitalize Erigavo’s long-standing culture of civic initiative and collective action, enabling communities to lead on defining and implementing their inclusive development priorities and strengthening community cohesion.
Support local systems of cooperation, where civic actors, traditional institutions, private sector stakeholders, and local authorities work together through inclusive dialogue and joint problem-solving to address shared challenges and opportunities.
Reinforce Erigavo’s tradition of collective responsibility, building on practices that have historically worked, local dialogue, social solidarity, and community cooperation, while adapting these approaches to today’s social, economic, and environmental realities.
Strengthen trust and community cohesion, enabling collective actions that enhance community resilience amid changing social, economic, and environmental conditions.
Recognize and uplift the role of CBOs, CSOs, and informal civic networks as key actors in sustaining civic participation, cooperation, and local leadership.
Encourage locally defined priorities and innovative approaches that reflect Erigavo’s evolving dynamics while promoting inclusive governance, social cohesion, and adaptive local development.
The overall objectives of work under this opportunity are to:
Enable inclusive, collaborative dialogue among civic groups, elders, women, youth, customary institutions, private sector actors, informal networks, and local authorities to build trust, improve coordination, and support joint action on shared priorities.
Increase meaningful community participation in responsive governance, community cohesion, and inclusive development by involving communities in identifying priorities, planning activities, and contributing through in-kind or cash support.
Improve coordination and transparency between local authorities, civic actors, private sector partners, and communities to strengthen service delivery and development planning.
Ensure women, youth, and marginalized groups are included in local decision-making and development so diverse community voices shape outcomes.
Support collaborative responses to shared local challenges such as conflict prevention, natural resource management, and service gaps using practical and context-sensitive approaches.
Apply conflict-sensitive programming, ensuring dialogue and joint actions are neutral, inclusive, and impartial to build trust, reduce misunderstandings, and avoid reinforcing divisions.
Promote shared learning and knowledge exchange among local actors to strengthen collective problem-solving, adaptive governance, and resilience.
The Process
The selected applicant or consortium will be invited to develop their full proposals followed by a co-design process. During this phase, they will work closely with the CEF team to refine and align their proposal. The co-design process will help finalize methodologies, timelines, budgets, deliverables, and performance indicators, ensuring that interventions are locally grounded, inclusive, and results-oriented, with communities actively contributing through in-kind and financial support.
Who Can Apply
Open to registered International and Somali Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operating in Erigavo District (Sanaag Region). CEF encourages conflict-sensitive and innovative partnerships with locally rooted organizations to ensure effective implementation and local ownership. Applicants must show proven experience in inclusive community dialogue, responsive governance, community cohesion, inclusive development, and natural resource management in Erigavo.
Applicants should be able to work collaboratively with civic actors, private sector representatives, customary institutions, and local authorities to advance shared community priorities. Partnerships between multiple organizations or networks are encouraged where they strengthen coordination, inclusion, and collective action.
While only registered organizations can receive direct funding, informal civic networks and community groups are encouraged to participate through partnerships with eligible entities.
CEF welcomes proposals that build on Erigavo’s strong culture of civic action, demonstrating collective initiative, inclusive and context-driven approaches, and contributing to dialogue, cooperation, and responsive local development.
While CEF encourages broad participation, this call is limited to Erigavo (Sanaag Region). Proposals focusing on other districts or regions will not be considered.
Minimum Requirements
Register as a legal entity.
Authorized to operate in Erigavo (Sanaag Region).
Tax compliant.
Applicant and partners not listed on UN/EU sanctions lists.
How to Apply
Submit a Concept Note (max 8 PowerPoint slides -see template below)
Key Dates
Virtual pre-bid session: 9 December, 2025 at 10:00 EAT
Join the call now
Submit clarification questions by: 10 December, 2025
Clarification questions should be submitted only through the form on the CEF Website. No phone or in-person inquiries will be accepted. Responses to clarification questions will be posted here on 11th December, 2025.
Concept Note submission deadline: 22 December, 2025 at 14:00 EAT
Once you click the below link to submit register to our grants application systems, please look for Call for Concept Notes to Support Civic Engagement around Community Cohesion and Inclusive Development in Erigavo