Consultant, Development of Policy Paper

Changing Civic Space in the Eastern Partnership and the Future of EU Support

1. Background

Civic space across the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region has undergone significant changes in recent years. Civil society organisations (CSOs) in the region are operating in an increasingly complex and, in some contexts, in restrictive environments shaped by war and occupation, political polarisation, democratic backsliding, restrictive legislation, disinformation, declining access to domestic and international funding, and growing pressure on independent civic actors.

At the same time, the role of civil society remains critical to democratic resilience, accountable governance, human rights protection, social cohesion and the European aspirations of the citizens in the Eastern Partnership countries. The European Union (EU) and other international donors have traditionally provided important political, financial and capacity-building support to civil society in the region. However, the changing nature of civic space raises questions about whether existing approaches, instruments and funding modalities remain fit for purpose.

In 2025, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) conducted a survey examining the situation of civil society organisations in the Eastern Partnership region and the challenges they face. The findings point to significant pressures on CSOs, including changes in the operating environment, financial constraints, institutional vulnerabilities and concerns regarding the sustainability of civic engagement. The survey provides an important evidence base and starting point for understanding the current situation.

The proposed policy paper should build on these findings while going beyond the survey to provide a more comprehensive, comparative and forward-looking analysis of changing civic space in the Eastern Partnership and its implications for EU support.

The paper should take into account the significant differences between the six Eastern Partnership countries and avoid treating the region as a homogeneous space. It should consider, where relevant, the specific circumstances affecting civil society in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, including differences in political context, EU relations, conflict and security conditions, legal frameworks, funding environments and levels of civic participation.

2. Objective

The paper should:

• assess the main trends affecting civic space and civil society organisations across the Eastern Partnership;
• identify gaps, unintended consequences or limitations in current approaches to supporting civil society;
• explore how support for civil society could become more flexible, sustainable, responsive and adapted to different civic space contexts;
• formulate concrete and actionable recommendations for EU institutions, Member States and other relevant stakeholders.

3. Methodology

The research should draw on:

• EU policy and strategy documents;
• EU programme documentation and evaluations;
• relevant research and academic literature;
• reports by international organisations and civil society networks;
• international datasets and civic space indicators, where appropriate;
• relevant country-level legal and policy documents;
• existing research conducted by the EaP CSF and other civil society actors;
• interviews with regional experts and other relevant stakeholders;
• consultations with delegates and members of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum.

The 2025 EaP CSF survey should serve as an important guiding source and baseline for the research. As part of the assignment, the consultant may be expected to conduct a targeted follow-up survey or structured consultation with civil society organisations. Such research should build on the 2025 survey while seeking to generate additional evidence relevant to the policy questions addressed in this paper. The precise scope and format of any follow-up survey will be agreed with the EaP CSF Secretariat.

The consultant should ensure that the research captures diverse perspectives and, where possible, includes organisations working at different levels and in different thematic areas.

4. Deliverables

The consultant will deliver:

• a policy paper of approximately 15–20 pages, excluding references;
• a concise set of action-oriented policy recommendations directed at relevant EU institutions, Member States and other stakeholders;
• relevant visual elements, such as charts, infographics or maps, where these add value to the analysis;
• where a follow-up survey or structured consultation is undertaken, a concise presentation of the methodology and key findings to support the analysis.

The paper should be analytical rather than primarily descriptive. It should clearly distinguish between evidence, analysis and recommendations and should translate research findings into concrete policy implications.

5. Timeline

• Draft paper submitted to the EaP CSF Secretariat by 30 November 2026.
• Up to two rounds of comments and revisions.
• Final paper submitted by 30 December 2026.

6. Selection Process

Expressions of interest should be submitted in English to [email protected] by 20 September 2026 (23:59 CEST).

Applications should include:

• a CV (maximum four pages);
• a short motivation letter outlining relevant expertise;
• a two-page concept note.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview by the end of September 2026.

Selection will be based on the applicant’s expertise, the quality of the concept note and demonstrated experience in EU policy analysis and the Eastern Partnership region.

7. Budget and Contract

The selected consultant will be engaged on a deliverables-based contract. The total fee is €1,500 (including VAT).

Expressions of interest should be submitted in English to [email protected] by 20 September 2026 (23:59 CEST).

Applications should include:

• a CV (maximum four pages);
• a short motivation letter outlining relevant expertise;
• a two-page concept note.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview by the end of September 2026.

Selection will be based on the applicant’s expertise, the quality of the concept note and demonstrated experience in EU policy analysis and the Eastern Partnership region.