Call for proposals on the community engagement and empowerment programme (CEEP)

Objective:

This call builds on the legacy of the Civil Society Empowerment Programme (CSEP) and the work of the Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN), while contributing to the ongoing activities of the EU Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalisation. It reaffirms the Commission’s commitment to supporting civil society through sustainable, evidence-based actions that help protect individuals and communities from online radicalisation.

The call aims to support actions that contribute to preventing and countering radicalisation leading to violent extremism and terrorism across the European Union. In particular, it responds to the growing challenge of online radicalisation, including the manipulation of youth and vulnerable groups through violent extremist, terrorist, and other harmful content distributed via digital platforms.

The general objective is to prevent and counter the spread of violent extremist content online by strengthening the capacity of civil-society actors in the EU and relevant priority third countries to respond strategically, creatively, and sustainably to evolving online threats.

In line with the EU’s approach to prevention, the call focuses on empowering youth, civil-society organisations (CSOs), educators, and community leaders to become resilient actors against extremist manipulation across digital environments. Particular attention should be paid to emotional wellbeing, social trust, and the ability of communities to respond constructively to polarising events both online and offline.

Projects funded under this call should combine online and offline action and involve young people and communities directly in the design and delivery of activities. Prevention efforts must be evidence-based, participatory, and guided by robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks that measure real change in awareness, attitudes, or behaviour.