The Provincial Council of Zaragoza will allocate €3.4 million to its biennial international cooperation grant program for 2026 and 2027, more than double the amount in the previous period. The funding prioritizes projects related to Palestine, the Sahrawi refugee camps, food sovereignty, and the defense of human rights.
Provincial Council of Zaragoza international cooperation funding rises 156.6%
The new call increases available funding by €2.075 million compared with the 2024-2025 call, which began with €1.325 million. The current budget is 2.56 times the initial resources of the previous process, representing an increase of 156.6%.
The allocation is split between €2 million for 2026 and €1.4 million for 2027. The amount planned for the second year is contingent on the availability of adequate and sufficient appropriations in the relevant budget.
The provincial delegate for International Cooperation and Solidarity, Nerea Marín, linked the increase in funding to a political and budgetary decision to strengthen this area of work and enable organizations to pursue projects with greater reach.
Palestine, the Sahara, and human rights receive the largest grants
An initial 74% of funds has been set aside for projects addressing basic needs, sustainable local development, and the defense of human rights. Another 20% is allocated to Development Education, Global Citizenship, and fair trade, while 6% is earmarked for co-development initiatives promoted by migrant groups and associations in the province. These percentages may be adjusted depending on the applications received and their assessment.
Under the main funding stream, the call prioritizes food sovereignty in the Least Developed Countries, human rights protection, initiatives in the Sahrawi refugee camps, and projects carried out in Palestine or involving Palestinian communities. Each of these categories may receive up to €100,000 per project, compared with the general cap of €40,000.
The call also includes a category for small projects, with a total pool of €100,000 and grants of up to €8,000 per initiative. For co-development, the maximum amount rises to €15,000, up from the €10,000 set in the previous call.
Global Citizenship Education and deadlines for the 2026-2027 call
The Development Education and Global Citizenship stream will fund activities carried out in the province of Zaragoza, excluding the city of Zaragoza. Standard grants will reach up to €30,000 per project, while a project aimed at primary and secondary education may receive up to €40,000.
In addition, grants of up to €60,000 are available to advance the Aragonese Strategy for Global Citizenship Education in the province, along with two projects for young people aged 15 to 30, with a maximum of €30,000 each. Immigrant associations will have access to a specific program, funded with €50,000 in total and capped at €10,000 per project.
The rules were published on September 14 in the Official Gazette of the Province of Zaragoza. Development NGOs, nonprofit entities, and other organizations meeting the requirements may submit applications for 20 business days from September 15, 2026. Projects may be carried out between January 1, 2026 and December 31, 2027, and must be documented by March 31, 2028.
