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EuropeAid Funding for Security Sector Reform, Conflict Prevention and Resilience

EU External Action funding for security sector reform, conflict prevention and resilience building. EuropeAid and NDICI grants for fragile states and crisis contexts.

The EU is a major funder of security sector reform, conflict prevention, peacebuilding, stabilisation and resilience-building in fragile and conflict-affected states. Through NDICI-Global Europe, the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP), the Africa Peace Facility and ECHO humanitarian funding, the EU supports disarmament, security governance, conflict analysis, early warning, community resilience and post-conflict reconstruction.

EU funding landscape

  • NDICI Peace, Security and Governance

    Security and resilience funding within the NDICI geographic and thematic pillars.

  • Africa Peace Facility

    EU-African Union joint peace and security funding mechanism for the African continent.

  • ECHO Crisis Modifiers

    Humanitarian-to-development nexus funding bridging emergency and development responses.

  • IPA III Security Components

    Police reform, border management and security sector alignment for Western Balkans countries.

Typical project types

  • Security sector governance and oversight
  • Police and justice reform
  • Conflict prevention and early warning
  • Disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration
  • Peacebuilding and reconciliation
  • Border management and irregular migration
  • Countering violent extremism

Typical applicant types

  • Peacebuilding and conflict prevention NGOs
  • Security sector reform consulting firms
  • Research institutes on conflict and fragility
  • Development organisations in fragile states
  • Former military and police reform specialists

Relevant EuropeAid regions

  • Africa
  • Middle East
  • Eastern Neighbourhood
  • Western Balkans
  • Asia-Pacific

How INTERALTER supports Security & Resilience projects

  • Security Sector Proposals

    We write security and resilience grant proposals with knowledge of EU external action security frameworks, OECD fragility frameworks and UN peacebuilding standards.

  • Nexus Programming

    We support proposals at the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, which is a major priority in EU funding for fragile states.

  • Fragile State Consortium Building

    We identify partners with in-country presence and experience in fragile state contexts, often critical for operational credibility in this sector.

Common questions

Does the EU fund armed forces or police in partner countries?
The EU funds security sector reform, capacity building and institutional strengthening, including for civilian police and border management. The EU does not fund direct military operations or lethal equipment. The Africa Peace Facility has separate provisions for some African Union security activities.
Are there EU grants available for work in conflict zones?
Yes. ECHO funds humanitarian work in conflict zones. NDICI and the IcSP fund development and stabilisation programming in conflict-affected areas. Higher risk requirements apply to projects in active conflict zones.

Related sectors

  • governance-rule-of-law
  • human-rights-civil-society
  • migration-displacement