ANTIGUA DIGEST

The Erasmus+ Youth Participation Activities under Key Action 1 (KA1) support organisations and youth groups in designing and implementing innovative activities that foster active participation, leadership, and engagement among young people aged 13–30. Activities are rooted in non-formal learning and aim to increase young people’s ability to influence decisions and contribute to their communities.

These activities can be national or transnational and may include dialogues with decision-makers, awareness campaigns, civic action events, and collaboration with local or regional partners. The grant assists with organisational costs, mobility support for participants, and activities that engage youth in democratic and civic processes.

Projects should align with broader European values and youth priorities, including inclusion, diversity, digital engagement, and environmental sustainability. Erasmus+ encourages projects that increase understanding between cultures, enhance social and civic competences, and provide young people with meaningful opportunities to influence topic-specific dialogue and policy discussions.

Erasmus+ funding also contributes to capacity building for participating organisations, helping them develop stronger project design, partnership management, and monitoring skills. Successful projects can create sustainable structures for youth engagement and strengthen institutional networks across participation hubs, youth councils, NGOs, and community groups. Projects may embed evaluation and dissemination frameworks to maximise long-term impact and learning among participating organisations.

Who Can Apply & Eligible Activities

Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include:

• Non-profit organisations and associations involved in youth work.

• Public bodies at local, regional, or national level active in youth engagement.

• Informal groups of young people (with at least one member aged 18+ submitting on behalf of the group).

Projects may involve partners from EU Member States or third countries not associated to the Programme (including Latin America and Caribbean) where participation is properly justified and linked to project objectives and outcomes, representing up to 20 % of the total project budget.

Eligible Activities
The action supports a range of engaging activities that include:

• Non-formal workshops and seminars on civic participation and leadership.

• Consultations and dialogues between young people and local decision-makers.

• Awareness-raising campaigns on democratic participation and youth issues.

• Youth participation events, both with and without mobility components.

• Project management and dissemination actions supporting cohort learning and sustainability.

Funding can contribute to travel and mobility, project coordination, inclusive support for young people with fewer opportunities, and event-specific costs.

Funding and Terms

• Grant ceiling: up to €60,000 per approved Youth Participation project.

• Duration: Projects may last from 3 to 24 months.

• Budget categories: include project management, mobility support, inclusion costs, and specific youth participation event support.

• Reporting: Recipients are expected to adhere to EU reporting and monitoring requirements outlined by their National Agency.

Applications are submitted through the National Agency of the country where the applicant organisation is established.

Key Steps for Applicants

1. Review eligibility and priorities: Confirm that your organisation and project concept align with Youth Participation criteria.
2. Form partnerships (if applicable): For transnational projects, include partners from other countries to strengthen scope.
3. Develop project plan: Define objectives, activities, participant engagement strategies, and expected outcomes.
4. Prepare application materials: Complete forms and budgets per the Erasmus+ guidelines and National Agency requirements.
5. Submit by deadline: Ensure submission by 12 February 2026, 12:00 pm (Brussels time) for projects starting in mid-2026 or later.

Eligible Countries (Latin America & Caribbean Focus)

While Erasmus+ Youth Participation primarily focuses on EU and associated countries, up to 20 % of the budget may be used to involve organisations and participants from third countries not associated to the Programme, including those in:
Latin America: 

• Argentina 

• Bolivia

•  Brazil

•  Chile

•  Colombia

•  Costa Rica

•  Ecuador

•  El Salvador

•  Guatemala

•  Honduras

•  Mexico

•  Nicaragua

•  Panama

•  Paraguay

•  Peru

•  Uruguay

•  Venezuela.

Caribbean: 

• Antigua & Barbuda

•  Bahamas

•  Barbados

•  Belize

•  Cuba

•  Dominica

•  Dominican Republic

•  Grenada

•  Guyana

•  Haiti

•  Jamaica

•  St Kitts & Nevis

•  St Lucia

•  St Vincent & the Grenadines

•  Suriname

•  Trinidad & Tobago

Participation must be justified in the project design and linked to achieving Erasmus+ Youth Participation objectives.

Additional Notes for Applicants

• Inclusive design: Address barriers faced by participants with fewer opportunities in preparation and budgets.

• Impact demonstration: Proposals with clear pathways to measurable civic and skills outcomes are competitive.

• National Agency consultation: Contact your National Agency early for guidance on eligibility and submission specifics.

• Documentation: Prepare governance, safeguarding, and financial compliance materials in advance.

• Transnational value: Projects engaging cross-regional partners with well-defined roles tend to be stronger candidates.

Learn More 

• Official Erasmus+ Youth Participation Activities Guide
  Full programme description, eligibility rules, priorities, and funding details:
  https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-b/key-action-1/youth-participation

• Erasmus+ Programme Guide (Complete 2021–2027 Framework)
  Essential for understanding terminology, funding mechanisms, quality criteria, and obligations:
  https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide

• EU Funding & Tenders Portal (Application Platform)
  Where organisations register, access calls, and submit applications:
  https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal

• Organisation Registration System (ORS)
  Mandatory registration for all applicant organisations to obtain a PIC (Participant Identification Code):
  https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-esc/organisation-registration/

• National Agencies Directory
  Contact details for Erasmus+ National Agencies (useful for guidance and eligibility confirmation):
  https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/contacts/national-agencies

• Erasmus+ Inclusion and Diversity Strategy
  Guidance for projects supporting participants with fewer opportunities (often strengthens applications):
  https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-a/inclusion-and-diversity

Antigua Digest Note

The Erasmus+ Youth Participation Activities (Key Action 1) call represents a significant opportunity for youth organisations across the Caribbean and Latin America to engage in internationally recognised civic and learning projects that promote leadership, participation, and competence development among young people. 

With a 12 February 2026 deadline and support for mobility, events, and inclusive engagement, organisations should prioritise early planning and collaboration to leverage this EU-backed funding opportunity.

Need Help Applying?

Antigua Digest offers support services for individuals, entrepreneurs, non- profit organizations and MSMEs seeking grant funding.

We can assist you with:

• Project concept development and alignment with grant criteria

• Proposal writing (narrative, budget, logical framework)

• Review of eligibility and compliance with terms

• Submission monitoring and follow-up

Contact us at admin@antiguadigest.com for tailored assistance with your submission.