The Foundation works to bring the voice of civil society into all aspects of governance, supporting civil society engagement in shaping the policies and decisions that affect people’s lives.

Grants are offered up to £60,000 to civil society organisations in the Commonwealth.

The Foundation’s vision is of a Commonwealth of equal, just, and inclusive societies. Our mission is to contribute to that vision by:

• Supporting the active and constructive participation of Commonwealth citizens in all aspects of their governance
• Nurturing the growth of vibrant and free civil societies in all Commonwealth countries
• Advancing the principles and ideals of the Commonwealth

Health justice

Projects could support civil society to engage meaningfully with government on:

• Universal health coverage
• Realising the right to health: better availability, accessibility, quality, participation and accountability in health services and delivery
• Programmes and policies that focus on social determinants of health as part of the inclusive right to health
• Challenging systemic discrimination in health systems and promoting equitable access to health services for marginalised groups and those with special needs
• Promoting the participation of marginalised groups and those with special needs in decision-making processes
• Promoting health and well-being by combating communicable and non-communicable diseases
• Equitable access to essential medicines

Freedom of expression

Projects could support civil society to engage meaningfully with government on:

• Advancing a legal and regulatory environment that protects and upholds freedom of expression for all. 
• Advancing a legal and regulatory environment that promotes the freedom, growth, and vibrancy of civil society. 
• Promoting access to information and transparency in governance, including through a free and independent press, robust freedom of information laws and their practical application. 
• Advancing civil society engagement in national, regional and/or international mechanisms and processes to promote freedom of expression (e.g., national human rights institutions; Universal Periodic Reviews). 
• Promoting art and creativity as means of advocating for and raising awareness of freedom of expression. 

Climate justice

Projects could support civil society to engage meaningfully with government on:

• Ensuring representation, inclusion, and protecting the rights of those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. 
• Addressing the social, political, and economic root causes of climate injustice. 
• Strengthening the voices of those most affected by the climate crisis in multilateral and national spaces.  
• Ensuring that the voice, agency, and leadership of young women and men are at the centre of policy discussions and decision-making at all levels. 
• Advocating for corrective justice for environmental harm, including compensation mechanisms, access to justice and effective remedy, and legal empowerment. 
• Ensuring accountability and effective remedy for human rights harms caused by climate change.  
• Developing, reviewing, improving, and monitoring laws, policies and practices promoting climate justice.  
• Exposing and addressing the factors that contribute to the increased vulnerability of social groups to the consequences of climate change. 
• Exposing and addressing negative social and distributional outcomes of climate change mitigation policies and/or encourage support for the development of pro-poor mitigation approaches. 

Eligibility

Only applications meeting the eligibility criteria will be considered.

1. The applicant must be a not-for-profit civil society organisation (CSO) registered in an eligible Commonwealth Foundation Member State.
2. The applicant organisation must have a minimum of three years' demonstrable experience working on participatory governance and advocacy within the area/theme(s) of the proposed project. Organisations that have been registered and operating for less than three years are not eligible.
3. Applicant organisations that are currently implementing, or that have recently completed, a Commonwealth Foundation Grant but have not received their final payment, are not eligible to apply to this grant call.
4. The project must seek to facilitate change through constructive engagement between civil society and decision-makers, including civil society participation in policy development and decision-making, within one or more of the Foundation's priority themes (see above).
5. Proposals must relate to projects that are expected to begin after the 1 August 2026 and before the end of September 2026.

The Commonwealth Foundation will not fund:

• Attendance at training courses, workshops, and conferences unless as part of a larger project funded by the grant.
• Academic study or research unless as part of a larger project funded by the grant.
• Publication of books and films, unless they are part of a larger project applied for under the grant (note that this provision does not apply to a creative element of any grant, as detailed below).
• Exchanges between developed countries.
• Activities that are solely targeted at building the capacity of government officials and/or the private sector. If the project requires activities such as training of government officials, funding for such components should be separately sourced.
• Projects that focus on service delivery (for example, the Foundation will not fund activities such as the distribution of medicines, construction of facilities, and installation of water pumps).

• Phone: +44 (0)20 7930 3783
• Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 8157
• Email: cfgrants@commonwealth.int