• Local authorities in development
• Water management
• All the thematic and geographic programmes

The European Union is the world's biggest aid donor. EuropeAid manages the EU external aid programmes and ensures that development assistance is delivered worldwide.

EU development assistance is delivered through multi-annual programmes, coordinated by the Directorate General for Development and the Directorate General External Relations. EU grants are provided through calls for proposals that can be expressed either by the European Commission (EC) or directly by its delegations through their website.

All the EC calls for proposals can be found in the Call for proposals and Procurement notices page in the EuropeAid website. There are three ways when searching a call for proposals:

• search by latest publications ;
• search by reference of the call for proposals ;
• search by advanced characteristics - search by programme or geographical zone or publication date.

Local authorities are potentially eligible to apply for European Development Grants (particular conditions are attached to each call for proposals). The most recent grants available to local authorities are listed below:

Local authorities in development

EU Non State Actors and Local Authorities for development thematic programme

This EU programme is directly targeted toward non-state actors and local authorities in the EU and in developing countries. It encourages them to get more involved in development mainly through capacity building projects.

• type of grants: encouraging non-state actors and local authorities to get involved in development issues through three types of actions addressed by three objectives:

1. Objective 1 - actions in partner countries (multi-countries),
2. Objective 2 - public awareness of development issues and development education in Europe,
3. Objective 3 - coordination and networking activities in Europe.

• financing terms: depending on each call for proposals. The global amount allocated to the programme is €903 million for 2007-2010
• application / eligibility: All non-profit making non-state actors and local authorities from the EU and targeted partner countries are eligible. At least two partner countries are required for the objective 1.

Further information in the European Commission website.

Water management

ACP-EU Water Facility

As part of the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) two new facilities have been launched in 2009-2010: ACP-EU Energy Facility and ACP-EU WaterFacility. They provide grants eligible to local authorities to undertake activities in the Africa Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

The Water Facility call for proposals "Partnerships for capacity development" is still going on (deadline for applications 6 Octobre 2010); more information can be found here.

All the thematic and geographic programmes

Europeaid provides external aid through a wide range of thematic programmes in several areas such as environment, migration, infrastructure, youth, twinning, human resources.

The EU provides grants through geographic programmes in the following zones: Africa, Caribbean and Pacific ; Asia ; Latin America ; Middle East ; Neighbourhood and Russia.