How to write a proposal for the German Embassy

Like many embassies worldwide, the German Embassies also give out funding for projects by grassroots NGOs on the local level. In most cases, they give out small grants to support initiatives that cannot get funding from the government or from other sources. This article is based on experiences with a proposal to the German Embassy in Nepal.

What is the German Embassy looking for in a proposal?

The small-scale funding program is meant to support the relationship of the German Embassy with the host country. Therefore, only NGOs registered in the specific country are eligible for funding and can apply. In most cases, the Embassy wants to support grassroots NGOs from within the communities.

To get a better idea of what the Embassy wants to see in a proposal, you should look at the development cooperation activity in your country. The embassy will want to support projects in similar areas as those Germany is already working in. So if the GIZ – the German organization for technical cooperation – is working a lot in the areas of education and health in your country, these are probably the areas where the Embassy funds as well.

Keep in mind that the German Embassy generally supports projects only for one year. In your timeline, you have to clearly state how you want to implement your project within one year. Sometimes you will have to finish within one calendar year, sometimes one year from the acceptance of your proposal. Make sure that you clearly understand which deadline applies to you before you start.

The German Embassy wants to see a very comprehensive budget in a proposal. This is a very good chance for you to show that you know what you are talking about. You know the local circumstances best and with a good and precise budget, you can convince the donor of your idea.

If the German Embassy accepts your proposal, they will want to make a project visit after completion to see what you have achieved. Keep that in mind along the way and plan enough time to factor this in. Also, take care of a good documentation to be able to show the different steps of your project at the end.


About the author

Eva Wieners

Eva is based in Germany and has worked for nearly a decade with NGOs on the grassroots level in Nepal in the field of capacity development and promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. Before that, she worked in South America and Europe with different organizations. She holds a Ph.D. in geography and her field of research was sustainability and inclusion in development projects.

32 thoughts on “How to write a proposal for the German Embassy”

  1. Dear Eva weiners

    Would you kindly go through my concept paper on HES for education and training. of rural children and graduates. This will help rural girls to be educated in Bangladesh and get higher education in future. Every girls shall hope to be another Eva, Bangladesh.

      1. I would like to inquiry to you madam, we are the rural group in need to put up the project proposal through you so that you can forward the document to the rightful office for funding for only a 5,000 USD.
        will appricarte,
        Waiting to hear from you as soon as possible

        Yours sinceary
        jones vumbi

  2. Dear Eva,
    International Centre for Women and Child , NGO , since 1994 working for emanicipation of marginalised women and Children. Can I submit proposal on political empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institution members in Mewat Haryana ? This will help rural women to build leadership among themselves and promote human rights.
    Regards

  3. We would to learn more from you and your experience, we a local Based Organisation based in Katabi Town Council in Wakiso district – Ugandacalled Kitubulu Child Rights Initiative Katabi (KCRIK)

    1. We are not a funding organization and does not provide grants. We are a social enterprise that provides a platform to connect you with expert advice on fundraising and proposal writing to get your amazing projects funded.

      Please check out the many resources available on our site.

      Thank you!

    1. Dear Amon: With thousands of donors in the world today, we are not able to contact donors on your behalf. We suggest you check the funding announcement or the donor website for relevant contact information and contact the donor directly.

  4. Hi,

    This is from an NGO “Aaruthal” has been working with preschool education in Sri Lanka. Could I send a proposal for preschool development in a village?

    1. Dear Vani:

      Unfortunately, We are not a funding organization and do not provide grants. We are a social enterprise that provides a platform to connect you with expert advice on proposal writing to get your amazing projects funded. Please check out the many resources available on our site to will help you on creating a fundraising strategy.

      Thank you!

  5. Dear Dr. Eva,
    thanks for such useful information. I am from Uganda and heading a network organisation. So you mean the Embassy has nothing like an application form? If for example our organization would like to apply for two grants to construction office premises and another to establish a digital information hub for our member organisations, what would be the key things to include in such project proposals. Or can you please send me some sample proposal(s)

    Best regards

    Mulondo Elia
    Programme Coordinator
    NGO Forum Iganga- Uganda

  6. It is fantastic sharing the ideas on the nature of the proposal that you prefer for funding , unfortunately this an areas where there is an immense challenge since the most devastated and extremely poor native person find it exceedingly difficult to write an impressive proposal, although they are very much rich in innovative idea, self expression is quite disoriented and so we request that your venture for the support should have caption on the technical support, it is indeed the most suppressing episode, transforming ideas for lucrative communication

  7. Dear Eva
    Good afternoon
    Hope you are doing great.
    I am thE Coordinator of theproject called, Eastern pre-primaryand day care. Registered with Bipa, social security commission of Namibia. We are offering education and day care for the most vulnerable community in Namibia, Gobabis.
    The community can not pay for their children’s school fees and day care fees, neither providing meals for their children. some of the parents become jobless due to corona pandemic. Can i please submit proposal in this regard for assistance. Kind regards Barnabas Goreseb.

    1. Dear Barnabas:
      Unfortunately, We are not a funding organization and do not provide grants. We are a social enterprise that provides a platform to connect you with expert advice on proposal writing to get your amazing projects funded.

      Please check out the many resources available on our site to will help you on creating a fundraising strategy.

      Thank you!

    1. Dear Mary:
      Unfortunately, We are not a funding organization and do not provide grants. We are a social enterprise that provides a platform to connect you with expert advice on proposal writing to get your amazing projects funded.

      Please check out the many resources available on our site to help you on creating a fundraising strategy.

      Thank you!

  8. Where Can one submit their Proposal to the German Embassy? is their any Email or Website for that purpose?

  9. Hi Eva,
    Am Jesse from Kenya, if you may kindly give me an address, to send an Environment proposal for support. It focuses on collecting sugarcane waste husk generated on the environment by micro-business operators. The idea is to collect the sugarcane waste before it is haphazardly deposited on the Environment.
    If you can direct me to a donor who can support the initiative, l shall appreciate, thanks for the meantime.
    Jesse

  10. How do you support the community schools in ghana?….My NGO is new and the focus is on SDG4..I have never done any work..My first work i will like to undertake is based on a documentary i watched on joy news tv (GHANA SCHOOLS OF SHAME) To provide learning desks for the students in kpandai who sit and lie on the floor to learn.And also provide them with bicycles to cut down the long distance walk from their various homes to school.How do i get funding to begin with this project which will be my ngo’s first project

    1. Dear Richard:
      Unfortunately, We are not a funding organization and do not provide grants. We are a social enterprise that provides a platform to connect you with expert advice on proposal writing to get your amazing projects funded.

      Please check out the many resources available on our site to help you on creating a fundraising strategy.

      Thank you!

  11. Good morning I’m joseph leaving in malawi dowa district in dzaleka refugee camp I’m here to beg for an aid of a project due to less activities and jobless in dzaleka refugee camp people are suffering and troubling with life because the money we receive from unhcr is very very small to manage our basic needs so is where by people started coming at my work place and begging for me to train them this job of carpentry many youth still coming to the same goal of being trained carpentry so is where by we need to make a center where we will be training youth this job of carpentry just to make them to be self sustainable i’m actually influenced to create work opportunities that by training youth in dzaleka refugee camp in carpentry vocation works this is my proposal to you we need your help because dzaleka is place is a place of the vulnerable oppressed thank you.

    1. Dear Joseph:
      Unfortunately, We are not a funding organization and do not provide grants. We are a social enterprise that provides a platform to connect you with expert advice on proposal writing to get your amazing projects funded.

      Please check out the many resources available on our site to help you on creating a fundraising strategy.

      Thank you!

      1. I probably need to start this project here in dzaleka refugee camp and what I miss is only a supporter or a donor for this project because as we could be supported dzaleka couldn’t be a place of such a difficult life because we are not supported nothing can be implemented so I just need to have a supporter who will be helpful for the refugee of malawi In creating works opportunities that by training youth carpentry vocational work have a great night thank you

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