Emergency Response Support Grants from EFCSN

Emergency Response Support Grants are initiated by the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN) to empower fact-checkers to respond rapidly and effectively to disinformation during crisis events. The program is implemented as part of the large-scale European FACTEUR project and targets organizations operating within the European Union, as well as countries participating in the Digital Europe Programme, which includes Ukraine. The primary goal is to provide the media landscape with the necessary resources to maintain information security and react promptly to massive information attacks.

Funding within the call is distributed into two key streams. The first stream focuses on emergency fact-checking grants, which allow organizations to hire additional experts, conduct in-depth investigative reporting, debunk myths, and integrate advanced technologies (including artificial intelligence tools) to monitor harmful narratives. The second stream is dedicated to capacity building: these grants are designed to enhance organizational and digital security, develop clear crisis protocols, and provide teams with necessary training and mentorship support before an acute crisis phase occurs.

The total budget of the competition is €450,000, which will allow for the support of approximately 30 projects. The program operates on a rolling basis, enabling applicants to submit their proposals at any time until the end of 2027 or until available funds are fully depleted. This flexible approach ensures that independent media and fact-checking initiatives can secure timely financial assistance exactly when it is most critical for their operations and the defense of the information space.

• Both individual organizations and consortia of organizations can participate in the competition.
• The applicant must be an officially registered legal entity (for example, a media organization, non-governmental organization, or civil society organization).
• The registration and actual activities of the organization must take place on the territory of the European Union or countries participating in the Digital Europe Programme (including Ukraine).
• The organization must professionally engage in fact-checking and have relevant experience in this field.
• The applicant must be an officially certified participant of the EFCSN or be able to prove that its activities comply with the European Code of Standards for Fact-Checking.
• The Capacity-Building grant is provided to a single organization only once during the entire program period.
• The Fact-Checking grant can be received twice during the competition period (in exceptional cases related to large-scale cross-border crises, receiving a third grant is permitted).

• The total budget for the emergency response competition is €450,000, which is evenly distributed: €225,000 for fact-checking grants and €225,000 for capacity-building grants.
• The program plans to award approximately 30 grants, with 15 allocated for each of the two support streams.
• The maximum possible total budget for a single project is €30,000.
• The program provides a 50% funding rate, meaning the maximum grant amount that can be received from EFCSN is €15,000.
• The remaining 50% of the project cost must be covered through co-financing from other sources or the organization's own contribution.
• Grants are provided in the form of lump sums, and the precise budget must be calculated using a special template.
• Fund disbursement is carried out in two installments: 50% of the amount is transferred after formal approval of the request, and the remaining 50% is disbursed after approval of the final project report.
• If the application is approved, costs are considered retroactively eligible starting from the moment of its submission on the platform.
• Eligible direct costs include personnel salaries and respective compensations.
• Costs for engaging volunteers are covered, which must be calculated in accordance with established daily rates.
• Payment for services rendered by involved consultants and mentors is permitted.
• The acquisition of necessary equipment is possible, as well as payment for online services and IT tools.
• Travel and accommodation expenses within the scope of project activities are funded.
• Written or oral translation costs and necessary legal services are permissible.
• Production costs are covered, specifically for graphic design, multimedia content creation, and other directly related tasks.
• Indirect (administrative) costs for covering organizational overhead related to grant management (e.g., personnel time spent on coordination) are permitted, but they cannot exceed 10% of the total direct costs.

• Conducting rapid crisis fact-checking, debunking false information, and in-depth journalistic investigations.
• Engaging additional journalists, researchers, or experts to strengthen team capacity during intense information attacks.
• Procuring, implementing, or upgrading technological solutions, including AI-based tools and verification services for monitoring the spread of disinformation.
• Creating specialized multimedia content and establishing cooperation with other media resources to expand audience reach and improve crisis communication.
• Developing and integrating internal organizational protocols for rapid response to crisis situations.
• Organizing specialized training sessions and engaging mentors to enhance the team's overall preparedness for future crises.
• Strengthening the organizational, digital, and physical security of fact-checkers, as well as implementing mechanisms for the organization's legal protection.

• Creation of an account and completion of the application form on the EFCSN Grants Platform, attaching the budget template where all expenses correspond to market prices.
• The EFCSN team conducts an initial technical review of the application for completeness, compliance with basic requirements, and verifies the applicant's eligibility.
• The application proceeds to the expert evaluation stage, which lasts up to 3 working days for unpredictable (sudden) crises and up to 30 working days for predictable crises.
• All project proposals that achieve a passing score (at least 30 points) are reviewed and approved by the WP4 Decision Body consortium.
• Upon final approval, the organization receives the first tranche amounting to 50% of the grant.
• The project implementation phase begins, the duration of which cannot exceed 8 months.
• The organization submits a final report regarding the execution of planned tasks and achievement of objectives.
• Following the successful approval of the final report, the remaining 50% of the grant funds are disbursed.

• Create a personal account on the specialized EFCSN Grants Platform.
• Fill out the official electronic Application Form in English directly in your profile on the portal.
• Download the official budget template (budget template table), calculate all expense items in detail according to current market prices, and attach the completed file to the application.
• Prepare and upload documents confirming the official legal registration of the organization on the territory of Ukraine (or another relevant country).
• Provide documentary proof that the organization is a certified participant of the EFCSN or fully complies with the European Code of Standards for Fact-Checking.
• Check the correctness of filling out all fields and submit the application through the platform for review by the evaluation committee.

• Providing clear evidence of a crisis event occurring or expected to occur during the project, and justifying organizational needs caused by an unpredictable crisis (scored up to 10 points).
• Justifying the urgency of circumstances and demonstrating that the lack of financial support will significantly impair the response outcomes (scored up to 10 points).
• Describing regional vulnerability, political, or economic obstacles, or threats to press freedom in the working environment that heighten risks for the organization during a crisis (scored up to 10 points).
• Demonstrating organizational capacity to timely receive funds, manage them effectively, and submit reporting on time (scored up to 10 points).

1. Official Application Form: Completed directly electronically on the EFCSN Grants Platform.
2. Project Budget (Budget Template): A special calculation file completed according to the template provided by the organizers.
3. Registration Documents: Official documents confirming the status of a legal entity and the registration of the organization in Ukraine (or another relevant country).
4. Proof of Professional Status: A document, certificate, or link proving the organization's membership in the EFCSN or confirming compliance with the European Code of Standards for Fact-Checking.

• To receive the second installment of funds (50% of the grant), it is necessary to prepare and submit a final narrative and financial report upon project completion.
• All expenses must be documented (retention of invoices, receipts, contracts, acts of acceptance), and documentation must be preserved for potential audits.
• Grant funds must be used strictly for their intended purpose in accordance with the approved budget template.
• It is necessary to adhere to the stated implementation timelines of the initiative, which cannot exceed 8 months.
• The organization is obliged to comply with visibility requirements, indicating support from EFCSN and project donors (unless this creates additional security risks for the team).

• Applicants must hold the official status of a legal entity, regardless of whether they are for-profit or non-profit organizations.
• Participation is permitted for both individual organizations and consortia. In the case of an application from a consortium, each of its members must meet all eligibility criteria.
• Organizations are required to be certified members of the EFCSN or provide evidence of practical compliance with the European Code of Standards for Independent Fact-Checking Organisations. This includes transparency of funding sources, governance structures, and staff.
• Financing of legal processes or expenses related to commercial disputes, general labor issues, or other matters unrelated directly to the activities of fact-checkers is prohibited.
• It is permissible to budget indirect (administrative) costs, but they are strictly capped and cannot exceed 10% of the total direct costs.
• Any member of the committee or governing body who has a conflict of interest (e.g., evaluating an application from their own organization or a direct competitor) must recuse themselves from discussion and decision-making.
• Organizations whose applications have been rejected have the official right to submit an appeal within 5 working days of receiving the decision.
• Grant recipients are required to submit a final outcome report (both narrative and financial) no later than 30 days after the completion of the project.
• The grant program provides for publicity: information about the funding provided (name of the recipient organization, amount, and duration of the grant) will be published on the EFCSN website, as well as on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
• If the recipient organization operates in a high-risk environment or processes sensitive data, it has the right to request the preservation of its identity's confidentiality during the project implementation phase. In such a case, the information will be disclosed only after the funding cycle is completed.