RFAs: Structured Dialogue with People with Lived Experience of Poverty Grant

Deadline: 29-Oct-2026

The European Commission is inviting consortia of organisations with experience in engaging people with lived experience of poverty to apply for funding to facilitate their participation in structured policy dialogues at the European Union level. The initiative supports meaningful participation in policymaking by ensuring that people experiencing poverty and social exclusion have opportunities to share their experiences directly with policymakers. Projects will help participants build confidence and capacity while strengthening trust between marginalised communities and EU institutions. The estimated grant is €900,000 per project, with funding covering 95% of eligible costs. Projects should normally run for 30 to 36 months.

About the EU Anti-Poverty Policy Participation Grant

The initiative forms part of the European Commission’s broader efforts to address poverty and social exclusion and support implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. The European Commission’s Anti-Poverty Strategy recognises that people with lived experience of poverty should have a direct and meaningful role in shaping policies that affect their lives. The grant therefore supports organisations that can create effective mechanisms for people experiencing poverty to participate in structured policy discussions at EU level. The initiative aims to ensure that policy development reflects the real-life experiences of people facing poverty, exclusion and overlapping forms of disadvantage. What Is the Purpose of the Grant? The main purpose of the grant is to strengthen the participation of people with lived experience of poverty in EU-level policymaking.

Funded projects should help participants:

- Gain confidence to participate in policy discussions. - Develop practical skills and knowledge for engaging with policymakers. - Access platforms where their experiences can influence policy. - Overcome barriers to participation. - Build stronger relationships with EU institutions and policymakers. - Contribute directly to discussions concerning poverty and social exclusion. - Ensure that different experiences of poverty are reflected in policy development. The programme places particular importance on participation that is meaningful rather than simply consultative. Focus on Intersectionality Intersectionality is an important element of the initiative. People experiencing poverty do not all face the same challenges. Poverty can overlap with other forms of disadvantage, discrimination or social exclusion. The project should therefore ensure that participation opportunities reach people from diverse and particularly marginalised backgrounds. This approach aims to amplify voices that may otherwise be underrepresented in policy discussions and help ensure that EU policies respond to the different and overlapping realities experienced by people living in poverty. What Activities Can the Grant Support? Funded projects can undertake a range of activities designed to facilitate meaningful participation in policy dialogues.

Eligible activities include:

- Disseminating calls for expressions of interest. - Developing accessible communication and information materials. - Providing direct assistance to people participating in policy processes. - Delivering capacity-building activities for participants. - Organising travel and accommodation for participants. - Covering eligible participation-related travel and accommodation costs. - Establishing national and regional participation hubs. - Developing toolkits on meaningful participation. - Implementing communication campaigns addressing stigma surrounding poverty. - Countering hostile or negative narratives about people experiencing poverty. - Supporting participation across all EU Member States. - Ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities. These activities should help remove practical, institutional and communication barriers that can prevent people with lived experience of poverty from participating effectively. Support for People with Lived Experience of Poverty A central feature of the grant is providing participants with the practical support they need to engage confidently in policy discussions. This may include assistance and capacity-building that enables participants to understand policy processes, communicate their experiences and contribute constructively to structured dialogues. The project should also create an environment where participants feel respected and able to engage with policymakers on an equal and meaningful basis. National and Regional Participation Hubs Projects may establish national and regional participation hubs to help connect people with lived experience of poverty to EU-level policy discussions. These hubs can help identify potential participants, facilitate communication, provide support and strengthen connections between local or national experiences and European policymaking. The initiative expects participation mechanisms to reach people across all 27 EU Member States. Accessibility and Inclusion Accessibility is an important requirement of the project. Funded activities must support the participation of people from different backgrounds and ensure that persons with disabilities can participate effectively. Accessible communication materials and appropriate assistance should help reduce barriers to engagement. The broader objective is to make EU-level policy participation more inclusive and representative of the communities affected by poverty and social exclusion. Communication and Tackling Stigma The grant also supports communication activities designed to address stigma and hostile narratives concerning poverty. Communication campaigns can help challenge negative perceptions of people experiencing poverty and promote a more informed understanding of the causes and realities of poverty and social exclusion. By addressing stigma, projects can contribute to an environment in which people with lived experience fe