Descrição

HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-07

Expected Outcomes

Projects funded under this topic are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes:

• Stronger reconstruction strategies: EU national and local policymakers design and implement effective strategies for sustainable peace and democratic reconstruction in post-conflict settings. These strategies should promote stability, inclusivity, equity, security, human rights, integrity, and anti-corruption safeguards, ensuring transparent and accountable use of reconstruction aid.
• Evidence-based policymaking: EU and national authorities integrate research-based recommendations into decision-making processes concerning international cooperation, EU democracy support, and civil society engagement in post-conflict reconstruction. This should result in more inclusive, effective, and sustainable rebuilding efforts.
• Empowered local civil society: Civil society organisations and community groups, particularly those supporting persons and groups in vulnerable situations, provide guidance to educators, media professionals, public administrators, and other stakeholders on reconciliation, accountability, and long-term peacebuilding.
• Reintegration and specialised support services: NGOs, community organisations, and specialised service providers deliver socio-economic and psychological support programmes to veterans and vulnerable populations affected by conflict. These services should facilitate democratic participation and successful reintegration into civilian life.

Scope of the Call

The aftermath of conflict presents profound challenges for rebuilding democratic institutions, restoring social trust, and establishing sustainable peace. Destruction of infrastructure, weakened governance structures, fractured social relations, and deepened inequalities can result in prolonged instability and democratic decline.

This research topic seeks to examine the complex interconnections between post-conflict reconstruction, democratic governance, inequality, and international cooperation. Projects should generate evidence to inform prevention, resolution, and reconciliation strategies by:

• Analysing root causes and long-term consequences of conflicts.
• Examining the influence of historical narratives, cultural sensitivities, and collective memory on post-conflict transitions.
• Investigating factors such as ethnic violence, structural inequalities, and conflict legacies.
• Assessing risks of fractured or incomplete transitions, incorporating intergenerational and transgenerational perspectives to support sustainable democratic recovery.

Research Approach

Proposals should adopt a strong interdisciplinary framework, integrating insights from Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines such as contemporary historiography, sociology, psychology, law, political science, and cultural studies. Research should explore the economic, institutional, social, and psychological dimensions that shape reconstruction outcomes.

A collaborative structure is essential. Consortia are encouraged to involve:

• Research institutions
• Specialised service providers
• Local and regional authorities
• Civil society organisations and grassroots actors
• Media and information providers
• Schools and educational institutions
• Cultural and heritage organisations

Particular attention may be given to the role of women as peacebuilders and agents of reconciliation.

Projects may incorporate participatory methodologies to enhance inclusiveness and stakeholder ownership. Innovative approaches, such as participatory governance, inclusive economic recovery, and community-led reconstruction, should be explored to identify transferable models applicable across diverse post-conflict environments.