In recent years, concerns have grown over the erosion of civic space in Italy, with civil society organizations highlighting serious setbacks to civil rights, including freedom of expression, the right to protest, and freedom of assembly. In light of these trends, international reports (CIVICUS Monitor, Liberties Rule of Law report) have been signaling serious concern for Italy‘s democratic freedoms.
Activists, journalists, and human rights defenders — particularly those working on environmental and refugee issues — face increasing legal harassment, criminalization, and restrictions under new legislative measures. For instance laws have targeted NGOs engaged in search and rescue operations, while other decrees have tightened penalties for protest activities and expanded surveillance powers. Freedom of peaceful assembly has been severely undermined, with frequent police violence against demonstrators and laws criminalizing acts of dissent. Freedom of expression is also at risk, with new restrictions on media reporting, increased online hate speech, and growing pressure on academic institutions. Political rhetoric, often xenophobic and hostile, has contributed to the normalization of hate speech and discrimination, especially against women’s rights, migrants, minorities, and LGBTQIA+ communities.
Italian civil society has responded strongly to recent attempts to limit space for civic action. Despite the deteriorating environment, broad and diverse collaboration opposes the restrictive legislations showing significant public concern about the direction of government policy. While civil society in Italy faces challenges, it has an essential role in protecting democratic values and defending the rule of law during times of political pressure.
GOAL OF THE CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Civitates announces a call for project proposals open to civil society organizations registered in Italy in order to support efforts to build democratic cultures and support civil society and civic participation in the current context. The specific objectives of the call center on two main goals:
- Defending and protecting civil society and the space for people’s participation in civic life; challenge and resist efforts to restrict space for civil society
- Opening and expanding the space for civic action: strengthen civil society organisations so that they are more resilient, able to adapt challenges, create new alliances, invest in new ways of engaging with people and reach new audiences.
Civitates aims to support up to 8 projects for one year (with potential no-cost extension) in a maximum amount of 30.000 EUR to selected grantees. The grant covers project costs relevant to and reflective of the planned activities.
For more information on eligibility and selection criteria as well as the project, please carefully read the full proposal available here.
Applications can only be submitted through NEF’s Optimy portal accessible here. Any submission by email will not be considered.
The deadline for application is 30th June, 2025, 23.59 PM (CET).
Applicants will be notified of the results of the call in October 2025.
You can access all document for the call:
- Application template
- Budget template 2026
- How to fill in the budget template
- Due Diligence questionnaire
We have compiled an Frequently Asked Question (FAQ), which is available here.
To help future applicants, an info session will be held on 13 June, 2024 between 12.00 and 13.00 (CET). Sign up here.
