Nordic Council of Ministers - How to Apply for Funding
Enriched Nordic · Found: 2026-03-11 12:36
Guide to applying for NCM funding including NGO Programme in Nordic and Baltic Countries for civil society projects.
Source: https://norden.org/en/information/how-apply-funding-nordic-council-ministers
Funding Details
- Funder
- Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM)
- Funding Goal
- Support projects with Nordic added value aligned with Vision 2030 — making the Nordic Region the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030, through green growth, carbon neutrality, circular economy, and social sustainability.
- Funding Amount
- Not specified on general guide page; varies per call and ministerial council
- How to Apply
- Funding is only available via specific open calls published at norden.org/en/funding-opportunities. Applicants must first agree with the NCM Secretariat to submit a project description, then use the new project management system (from Jan 2025). Projects proceed through two phases with status and final reporting requirements.
- Target Region
- Nordic Region: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Åland; Baltic Sea region included
- Contact
- Tilskudsteamet (Grants Team): tilskud@norden.org | Nordic Council of Ministers, Ved Stranden 18, 1061 Copenhagen K, Denmark
- Last Checked
- 2026-03-11 16:01
Application Checklist
Eligibility
Project Scope
Required Documents
Constraints
Summary
The Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) funds approximately 500 projects annually across a wide range of policy areas. Rather than a single open call, this page describes the general framework and conditions under which NCM project funding is awarded. Most projects are run through commissioned national agencies ("administrative bodies"), but specific open calls for project funding applications are issued periodically across ministerial policy areas including environment, fisheries/aquaculture, energy, and more. All funded projects must demonstrate Nordic added value — meaning they are collaborative efforts involving at least three Nordic countries or territories (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Finland, Faroe Islands, Greenland, or Åland), and their outcomes must benefit the Nordic region. Projects must be anchored in NCM's Vision 2030 and aligned with the relevant ministerial council's strategy. Spontaneous applications are not accepted; funding is exclusively tied to specific calls. A new project management system was introduced on 1 January 2025. Projects are subject to results-based management (RBM) and must comply with three cross-sectoral perspectives: sustainable development, gender equality, and children's rights/youth. Detailed guidance documents and budget/administration guidelines are available for applicants. The NCM is relevant for Baltic Sea and North Sea region stakeholders, particularly through its Environment and Climate ministerial portfolio, the Oceans focal point, and its Fisheries and Aquaculture policy area. NGOs that can form multi-country Nordic consortia and align with NCM's political priorities may find relevant calls through the central funding opportunities portal.
Historical Context
Approximately 500 projects are funded annually within the NCM framework. A new project management system was implemented on 1 January 2025. Budget and Administration Guidelines 2.0 were updated in September 2025. The NCM has operated since 1971 and funds projects across all Nordic policy areas.
Why it was added
NCM funding application guide relevant for NGO access to circular economy programs