eLankidetza-Agencia Vasca de Cooperación y Solidaridad - Specialization Grants for Development Cooperation

Benefit

You get a monthly stipend of 1,666 EUR to train as a professional in development cooperation. A stipend is a fixed living allowance. It is paid for 12 months (1,666 EUR for the first 11 months and 1,674 EUR in the final month), adding up to 20,000 EUR. On top of that, you get 2,000 EUR for courses, conferences and seminars, so 22,000 EUR in total over the year. During the year you work alongside eLankidetza, the Basque Agency for Development Cooperation and Solidarity, mainly at its office in Vitoria-Gasteiz. You follow funded projects, organise events, take part in conferences and build contacts with other organisations. In 2025 there are 4 grants, each in one area: development cooperation in Africa, humanitarian action, education and communication for social change, or protection of human rights defenders.

Eligibility

• Where you must live: You are registered as a resident of the Basque Country (Comunidad Autónoma de Euskadi) before 1 January 2025.
• Degree: You hold an official university degree in any subject.
• Age: On 1 January 2025, you will be no older than 28.
• Experience: You have at least 1 year of experience in development cooperation or education for social change.
• No earlier grant: You have not yet received this grant or a similar one funded by the Basque Country.
• Nationality: Applicants of any nationality may apply, provided they meet the residence requirements for the Basque Country.

How to apply

You can apply online via the eLankidetza portal or the euskadi.eus website by 8 October 2025. A selection panel will review all applications and recommend who should be awarded the individual places.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding scheme has strict eligibility criteria: you must live in the Basque Country, be aged 28 or under, and already have at least one year’s experience in development cooperation. As a result, the pool of eligible candidates remains small, even though only 4 grants are awarded each year. If you clearly meet these criteria and can provide evidence of your experience, your chances are good. A targeted application, tailored to one of the four areas, will help you stand out from other applicants.