Investing in grassroots action: meet the End FGM EU 2026 regranting grantees

Four survivor-led and grassroots organisations across Europe have received grants to continue vital community work to end FGM.

In December 2025, END FGM EU launched its new Regranting Scheme, “Building Resilient Survivor-Led, Grassroots, and Community-Based Initiatives to End FGM in Europe.” With the generous support of a new donor, four organisations have each been awarded €30,000 for the 2026 cycle. This marks the first year of a three-year programme with an annual budget of €120,000. Throughout the programme, between 12 and 15 organisations will receive grants ranging from €24,000 to €30,000.

This new regranting scheme responds directly to the findings of our 2025 Mid-Term Strategic Plan Review, which confirmed that while our EU-level advocacy is robust, our greatest impact comes from strengthening and supporting the work of our members at national and local levels. The review emphasised a vital need to invest in sustainable funding and organisational resilience for grassroots and survivor-led groups, many of which operate in chronically underfunded environments.

This initiative also implements Objective 3 of our Strategic Plan: to enhance the Network's resilience and sustainability through diverse funding sources and improved structures. It extends beyond project-based funding by providing semi-flexible support, allowing grantees to set their own priorities within our shared strategic framework, whether that's supporting local advocacy, fostering community leadership, or increasing their organisational capacity.


The opportunity to support grassroots civil society working on the frontlines is vital for the achievement of FGM elimination and gender equality. End FGM EU has and continues to advocate for sustainable core funding that can enable CSOs existence and activity. Despite this positive development for our Network, we are facing increasing attacks related to our work both at EU and national level and a general reduction of funding for civil society and fundamental rights promotion, that are deprioritised in political agendas. While we hope that thiis regranting scheme will allow our members to strengthen their capacity and get more support, we keep working to demand structural fundings to be maintained and adequately adapted to the real needs of the shifting socio-economic landscape.

The 2026 Grantees

1. GAMS Belgique

Brussels, Belgium: January - September 2026

Project: Youth speak out to end FGM

Founded in 1996, GAMS Belgium brings nearly thirty years of expertise in survivor-centred prevention and advocacy. This project involves young people from affected communities as co-creators and leaders, rather than just beneficiaries of prevention efforts. They design and deliver a six-episode podcast series exploring identity, gender norms, and intergenerational dynamics; a collaboratively created theatre production with public performances; and a Pre-Holiday Campaign targeting periods of increased travel-related risk.

2. AHCAMA - Associació Humanitària Contra l’Ablació de les Dones Africanes

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain: January–September 2026

Project: SOUDOU - Community-led FGM prevention and survivor support

Founded in 2006, AHCAMA leads efforts to prevent FGM in Catalonia. Its SOUDOU model, active since 2012, delivers culturally grounded sessions in Bambara, Wolof, Fulani, and Mandinka, combining community dialogue with individual survivor support, guided referrals, and training of community mediators and referents. The project further strengthens collaboration with local hospitals and service providers to reinforce formal referral pathways.

3. Kone Netzwerk zur Förderung Kommunikativen Handelns e.V.

Frankfurt am Main, Germany: January - September 2026

Project: KONE CONNECT - Community-based FGM prevention and survivor support

Operating in Frankfurt’s socioeconomically diverse Bahnhofsviertel neighborhood, KONE CONNECT offers accessible, multilingual group sessions that incorporate FGM/C prevention into broader discussions on wellbeing, rights, and empowerment. The 2026 project trains and mentors community leaders, formalises collaborations with health, legal, and child protection services, and provides structured guidance and referrals for women at risk or in need of support.

4. Women of Grace UK

Essex, Hertfordshire & Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom: January - September 2026

Project: Community-Led FGM prevention and survivor support across the East of England

Founded in 2021 by survivor Rev. Valerie Lolomari MBE, Women of Grace UK supports communities in regions that are heavily affected but have limited dedicated services. The project combines outreach and safe disclosure sessions, training community advocates in prevention and safeguarding, and structured engagement with partners, culminating in a regional cross-sector conference that will produce documented recommendations to strengthen shared practice.

What does this mean for the Network?

The 2026 Regranting Scheme signifies a key milestone in End FGM EU’s growth. As confirmed by our Mid-Term Strategic Plan Review, our role beyond advocacy at the European level also includes actively sharing power and resources with organisations that deliver direct, survivor-led impact. This initial cycle acts as a pilot in feminist financing, rooted in trust, flexibility, and shared accountability. We will learn alongside our grantees as the programme develops.

Beyond financial support, all four organisations receive structured non-financial assistance from the Secretariat, including bi-monthly check-ins and peer-learning opportunities. Across Belgium, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom, this cycle enhances referral pathways, safeguards systems, supports youth leadership, and strengthens survivor support. The lessons gathered will directly inform and improve the next two years of the scheme, helping us better resource and support frontline organisations driving sustainable social change.

Thank you, and looking ahead

This initiative wouldn't exist without the ongoing commitment of our new donor to survivor-led organisations and grassroots feminist movements. Their support enables the strategy to be transformed into action.

At the same time, making this effort truly sustainable will need wider investment. We invite other public and private donors to join us in strengthening and broadening this regranting scheme, with long-term, adaptable support for our members' work at the national level.

Together, we can ensure that frontline and all expertise are not only recognised but also adequately resourced for the long-term and sustainable social impact.