Call for proposals 2026: Phase 1, Concept Development

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This call for proposals is for applicants seeking to jointly develop a volunteer or work exchange project with the intention to start the exchange in August/September 2027

The Phase 1 grant is for new partnerships that want to jointly develop a work exchange project idea and prepare for a future Phase 2 application. 

1. Deadline and grant funds

  • Deadline: 1 September 2026 at 23:59 PM Central European Time (CET)
  • Total funds available: 1 million NOK
  • Application processing: Applicants will receive a final decision within 3 months.
    • This decision will be either a rejection or an invitation to further develop the project idea.
    • For applicants who are invited to further develop their project idea, the deadline for submitting a phase 2 project application will be 1 February 2027.
  • Expected work exchange start date: August/September 2027

The grant scheme is competitive; all complete applications are assessed based on the criteria outlined in this call for proposals and in comparison, with other applications. Meeting all formal and practical criteria does not guarantee funding under this grant scheme.

Incomplete applications will be dismissed.

Important note: We will open a new digital application portal at the end of June or start of July. Everyone who applies for Phase 1 must use this portal. More information will come later.

2. Purpose of the grant

Norec supports global partnerships for sustainable development by funding international volunteer and work exchanges. Through its grant scheme, Norec contributes to Norway’s development policy objectives and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Norway’s development policy is designed to promote economic growth, democracy, human rights, good governance, and measures that help people lift themselves out of poverty permanently.

The purpose of the grant is to:

  • Build mutual trust and strong global partnership to enable institutional development and strengthen work for sustainable solutions
  • Provide opportunities for young people to attain international experience and skills in sustainable development.

The above is firmly grounded on Norec’s vision and theory of change and reflects Norec’s two main principles:

  • Reciprocity:The idea of partnership and collaboration is rooted in the principle of reciprocity, acknowledging the expertise and knowledge of all parties involved. The strength and benefits of reciprocal partnership is a model that fosters a platform to share their knowledge, but also one that facilitates the opportunity to receive and integrate new knowledge into operations.
  • Youth participation:Young people make up a large part of the world’s population, yet they often lack opportunities to influence decision-making. Norec supports international work exchanges for young people aged 18-35. The work exchange is a method that enables them to use their skills and knowledge and in turn facilitates their contribution to their communities. Additionally, the exchange gives young people valuable international work experience.

Norec aims to support a broad portfolio of work exchange projects, considering thematic variations across all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across diverse competencies, geographic locations, participant profiles and partnership constellations.

Thematic priorities in 2026: climate, climate adaptation, gender equality, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The application process consists of two connected phases:

Phase 1: Concept Development

The partnership submits a joint description of their project idea to Norec. If approved, the partnership receives funding to meet in person and further develop the idea. Norec will provide guidance on how to plan a successful work exchange project.

Phase 2: Project Implementation

After completing phase 1, partnerships may submit a full project application. If approved, partners receive funding to carry out the work exchange project.

3. Who can apply?

Formal funding requirements

Partnerships consisting of two or more organisations from different countries, between the following types of organisations can jointly apply for Norec grants:

  • Civil society organisations
  • Public institutions
  • Private sector companies
  • Multilateral and global organisations

All organisations in the partnership must be legally registered entities within one of the specified categories. The application must include accurate and complete information about the type of organisation.

Capacity requirements

All organisations must have the administrative and financial capacity needed to carry out the work exchange project. More specifically all partners must:

  • Have a board of Directors or Trustees (not applicable to all public sector institutions).
  • Have a physical office and be able to provide the participants with a relevant workspace to foster learning and exchange of knowledge among colleagues.
  • Have a digital accounting software. Excel as accounting system is not accepted.
  • Be able to receive funding from abroad.
  • Have consolidated annual audited financial statements. The audited period must not be older than 18 months. If you are exempt from being audited, you need to provide a justification and submit an unaudited financial statement. The auditor must be authorised.
  • Have minimum three full-time salaried employees working within programme, management and administration. Exceptions can be made if any of the partners only have two full-time salaried employees and adequately explains how they cover the third full-time position.

Geographic location:

  • Projects must be implemented in countries eligible for Norwegian development assistance (ODA countries).
  • Norec’s partner country list provides guidance on where Norec typically supports exchange projects (Norec’s’ partner list). Norec will prioritise projects implemented in countries where Norway has an established development‑policy cooperation and presence.
  • When assessing applications, Norec will consider whether the partnership is likely to obtain the necessary permits or visas to the country participants will travel to, and the security situation where they will be located.

Misconduct:

None of the organisations can have an ongoing case of investigation or allegation of wrongdoing with Norec.

Outstanding claims from Norec:

The organisations cannot have any outstanding reimbursement claims from Norec not reimbursed within the given deadline.

Duration of work exchange and age of participants:

Exchanges must be planned for a period lasting minimum from 6 months to maximum 12 months. Exceptions may apply and must be discussed with Norec. The young professionals or volunteers must be aged 18 — 35.

Legal compliance and responsible business practices:

Coordinating partner must confirm in the application template that all organisations in the partnership comply with relevant national provisions of labour, health, safety and environmental legislation. If the applicant is a private company, it is expected that the company adheres to responsible business practices.

Ethical principles:

Coordinating partner must confirm that all partners in the partnership meet Norec’s minimum ethical principles and have policies for preventing sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH) and anti-corruption.

Project idea:

The project must:

Commitment to inclusion

Norec follows the principle of “Leave no one behind” and aims to support the inclusion of organisations who may not typically engage in global partnerships for sustainable development. Two types of organisations are especially encouraged to apply:

  • Organisations that are not traditional aid recipients but wish to expand their international engagement and collaboration.
  • Organisations that are made up of, or work with, marginalised or vulnerable groups.

4. How is the project appraised?

Norec reviews whether the organisations and the application meet the formal funding requirements (see section three above). Applications that meet these requirements are then assessed against the criteria outlined below.

The following applications will be dismissed:

  • Applications that do not meet the formal funding requirements
  • Applications submitted after the deadline
  • Incomplete applications

Norec may also ask for additional information and documentation and conduct reference checks if needed.

Assessment criteria

Norec evaluates the application based on:

  1. Administrative and financial capacity: the organisations must have the necessary administrative and financial capacity and routines to implement a work exchange project, including the ability to cover unforeseen expenses in the Norec project.
  2. Partnership strength and reciprocity: The application must show each organisation’s unique strengths, and how each organisation in the application can contribute and benefit from the project. Organisations are expected to have collaborated on the project description and planned results. 
  3. Clear learning goals and results: The project must have well-defined, realistic, and measurable goals, with baselines and indicators for tracking results. The results must be clearly connected to the described needs in the project description and to the planned activities implemented by the young professionals on exchange. The learning goals must reflect mutual learning and organisational-level competence development. A clear target group must be identified.
  4. Innovation and learning: The project should facilitate the exchange of new and innovative knowledge, skills, and mindsets between the organisations. It should also demonstrate potential to inspire new approaches and drive institutional change within the organisations.
  5. Additionality and integration with Organisational Strategies: The project must align with the strategies, vision and goals of the organisations involved. The project must demonstrate how Norec’s support adds value or compliments the organisations’ existing programmes and projects.
  6. Sustainability of results: the project must have a clear strategy for how goals will be anchored with each organisation and how results will be sustained after the project ends.
  7. Support for work exchange participants: The organisations must have clear plans for mentoring and supporting participants before, during, and after the exchange. They must also describe how participants will be integrated into each organisation and outline the activities they will carry out.
  8. Risk Management: The partnership has identified, analysed, and reduced key risks, including any that could negatively affect the four cross-cutting issues in Norwegian development policy; human rights, women’s rights and equality, climate change and the environment, and corruption and financial mismanagement.
  9. Cost-effectiveness: The budget must demonstrate efficient use of funds, with justified cost estimates on each budget line.
  10. Norec’s priorities: Alignment with Norec’s current grant priorities and the composition of its portfolio.

Where relevant, across all the above-mentioned points, attention to cross-cutting issues in Norwegian development policy; human rights, women’s rights and equality, climate change and the environment, and corruption and financial mismanagement.

Returning Applicants

For applicants who have previously received Norec funding, Norec will, in addition to the above mentioned assessment criteria, also review:

  • Past performance on prior grants, including administrative management, project results and results-based management
  • Risk and financial management
  • Support to and mentoring exchange participants
  • Collaboration and communication within the partnership
  • Ability to build on previously achieved results, innovate and develop the project

 

5. What can you apply for

New partnerships can apply for funding to hold a partner meeting to further develop their project idea. You can apply for up to 150,000 NOK or the equivalent amount in USD based on the exchange rate at the time of application. Norec covers per diem, accommodation, necessary visas and vaccines, and travel costs.

All cost estimates must be filled in using Norec’s budget template and budget instructions, in line with the Norec Guidelines.

Partnerships that have completed Phase 1 may apply for a work exchange project as a next step (Phase 2: Project implementation).

6. How to apply

More information on how to submit your application will be available soon. Norec is currently developing a new digital application portal. All phase 1 applications must be submitted through this portal.

 

Edited: April 2026