1. Background and Purpose
The Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (RLS) is a German political foundation affiliated with the German party “Die Linke” (the Left party). RLS is dedicated to political education and progressive social research. The RLS Regional Office in Beirut, established in May 2017, primarily supports projects in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. Additionally, RLS publishes reports and analyses on developments in Iran.
Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq face complex challenges including social fragmentation, displacement, sectarian or ethnic divisions, economic crises, lack of trust among communities, and massive demographic shifts due to wars and migration. In such volatile contexts, building social cohesion — characterized by trust, mutual support, inclusion, and participatory community life — is vital to promote stability and national resilience.
Through this Call for Proposals, RLS Beirut aims to support local initiatives, grassroots organizations, civil-society actors, or networks working to strengthen social cohesion, encourage social solidarity, and bridge divides within and between communities in Lebanon, Syria, and/or Iraq. With this call, RLS Beirut will support two selected projects
2. Objectives
Proposals should aim to one or more of the following objectives:
- Encourage dialogue, understanding, and mutual trust between different social, ethnic, religious or displaced and host communities.
- Promote inclusion and active participation of marginalized or vulnerable groups — including women, displaced persons, minorities — in community life, decision-making, and social processes.
- Support community-led initiatives that build cooperation, solidarity, and shared social identity across divides (economic, sectarian, ethnic, generational, etc.).
- Strengthen the capacity of local civil-society actors and grassroots organizations to design and implement cohesion-building initiatives.
- Document, analyze or research dynamics of social fragmentation and/or cohesion, and propose practical, context-sensitive strategies and activities for social reconciliation, inclusion, and social justice.
- Encourage cross-community or cross-regional collaboration to build solidarity and share experiences.
3. Expected Outputs / Outcomes
Applicants should clearly specify expected results. Possible deliverables include (but are not limited to):
- Community-based interventions (dialogue panels, joint community actions, community mobilization, participatory social projects).
- Capacity-building of civil-society organizations or grassroots groups (training, organizational strengthening, network-building, inclusive governance, participatory planning).
- Research, studies or documentation of social cohesion, fragmentation, conflict dynamics, or case studies, with actionable recommendations and lessons learned.
- Tools, methodologies or pilot models for community engagement, conflict transformation, social inclusion, participatory governance, or reconciliation.
- Networks or partnerships bridging different social/ethnic/ religious communities, displaced and host populations, or across national borders.
How to apply
4. Eligibility & Requirements
Eligible applicants include: individuals, grassroots initiatives, civil society organizations, community-led groups, networks, or coalitions working in Lebanon, Syria, or Iraq.
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Experience in community work, social cohesion initiatives, civil society, humanitarian/social activism, or similar fields.
- An understanding of the local social, cultural, and political context, including issues of displacement, sectarian/ethnic/religious diversity, marginalization, and social dynamics.
- Commitment to the values upheld by RLS: social justice, equality, non-discrimination, inclusion, solidarity, democratic participation, respect for human rights.
- Capacity to implement concrete activities or to produce research/documentation (depending on the proposal), with clarity on methodology, timeline, and feasibility.
- A realistic and transparent budget, clear project plan, and, if applicable, a diverse, inclusive project team.
5. How to Apply
Interested individuals, organizations, or coalitions should submit:
- A proposal (maximum 5 pages, excluding annexes), containing background/context, objectives, target groups, methodology/approach, activities, expected outcomes, timeline, risk assessment.
- A detailed budget indicating how funds will be used.
- CV(s) including previous experience in similar work, and, if relevant, short bios of key team members.
6. Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be assessed according to:
- Relevance to social-cohesion objectives and contextual needs. (20%)
- Clarity, coherence, and feasibility of project proposal, methodology, and plan. (20%)
- Capacity and experience of applicant(s) or team, including understanding of local context and demonstrated commitment to values. (20%)
- Realistic and justified budget. (20%)
- Potential for sustainability, scalability, and long-term impact. (20 %)
7. Duration, Geography, Grant & Partnerships
- Projects may be designed for one of the three countries (Lebanon, Syria, Iraq) or aim for cross-country/regional collaboration.
- Expected project duration: max 12 months.
- The amount granted for a single proposal is 10,000 USD.
- Proposals that encourage partnerships across communities, between host and displaced populations, or across national/regional boundaries are particularly welcome.
8. Additional Notes & Encouragement
- All proposals must be submitted in English or Arabic to [email protected]
- by January 7, 2026, with the email subject line: “Call for Project Proposal – Social Cohesion.” Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
We strongly encourage women and queer gender identities to apply.