Background

The European Microfinance Network is committed to strengthening the microfinance sector across Europe and to continuously improving the value and relevance of its services to members. In line with EMN’s mission and the Terms of Reference approved by the General Assembly on 15 October 2025, EMN will reinvest part of its annual surpluses into services that directly benefit its members and the wider sector. This call represents a new participatory mechanism that enables members to contribute to shaping EMN’s service offering while ensuring the network’s long-term sustainability.

Objectives of the Call

Through this call for proposals, EMN aims to:

• Support initiatives that provide added value to EMN members or to the European microfinance ecosystem as a whole.
• Encourage active member participation in defining EMN’s service priorities and
• Ensure financial sustainability by allocating resources prudently and

Note: This call does not provide direct funding for members’ institutional projects. It is intended to identify new services, activities, or projects that EMN can develop for and with its members.

Available Budget

Up to 50% of EMN’s annual surplus will be allocated to finance the selected proposal(s), provided that EMN’s own funds cover at least 50% of operating expenses for the following financial year.

The total maximum budget envelope for this call is €37,465. Projects with lower budgets are equally welcome.

Eligible Applicants

All EMN member organisations in good standing (membership fees fully paid and compliance with EMN statutes) are eligible to submit proposals.

Members may submit proposals individually, or collaborate with other EMN members or external partners (in which case the EMN member must act as the lead proposer).

Eligible Activities

Proposals should focus on services, tools, or activities that:

• Address common needs or challenges faced by EMN members or the microfinance
• Strengthen knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, advocacy, or visibility of the
• Can be feasibly implemented by or in cooperation with the EMN

Examples include (non-exhaustive):

• Development of member services (training, peer learning, research, digital tools).
• Initiatives to enhance sector visibility or
• Actions fostering innovation, impact measurement, or sustainability in

Selection Criteria

• Proposals will be assessed by an Evaluation Committee composed of representatives from the EMN Secretariat and the Board of Directors. However, Board members representing applicant members will not be part of the selection committee.

The evaluation will consider the following criteria:

• Relevance: Alignment with EMN’s strategic objectives and members’ needs;
• Interest & Added Value: Potential benefit to members and contribution to the European microfinance ecosystem;
• Feasibility: Practicality of implementation, clarity of approach, and use of EMN resources;
• Sustainability: Long-term impact and potential for continuation beyond initial support;
• Budget efficiency: Realistic cost estimates and proportionality to expected

Timeline

Launch of the Call for Proposals: 27 October 2025

Deadline for submission of proposals: 16 November 2025

Evaluation and selection by EMN Evaluation Committee: December 2025 Announcement of selected proposal(s): December 2025

Launch of selected activities: 1 January 2026

Submission Guidelines

Each submission must include:

1. Description of the proposed service, project, or
2. Objectives and expected
3. Target audience and estimated number of
4. Implementation plan and
5. Estimated budget and resource needs (if applicable).
6. Contact information of the lead member

Proposals should be sent by email to: projects@european-microfinance.org Subject line: “CFP – Member Services Proposal – [Organisation Name]”

Further Information

For questions or clarifications, please contact the EMN Secretariat at projects@european- microfinance.org.