Supporting development in your country of origin through your diaspora organisation answers to frequently asked questions.

We fund diaspora organizations

• in which at least 50% of the members or 50% of the board members have a migration background in countries of the Global South;
• that are registered as legal entities in Germany (e.g. in the German register of associations)
• that can prove their status as a non-profit organization (certificate of tax exemption, articles of association)
• that are not currently receiving project support from CIM.

Albania, Cameroon, Colombia, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Georgia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Palestinian territories, Peru, Senegal, Serbia, Tunesia, Ukraine, Vietnam.

The term ‘migration background’ refers to ‘all persons who immigrated to the territory of today’s Federal Republic of Germany after 1949, and all foreign nationals born in Germany, and all persons born as Germans in Germany who have at least one parent who immigrated to Germany or was born in Germany as a foreign national.’ (Source: German Federal Statistical Office – Specialised publications 1, series 2.2. Bevölkerung und Erwerbstätigkeit, Bevölkerung mit Migrationshintergrund (Population and gainful employment, population with a migrant background, (German only), Wiesbaden 2010)

• The project must be developed and implemented by an applying diaspora organisation in Germany in cooperation with a local partner organization.
• The local partner organization must be non-profit and registered as legal entity in its country.

• The maximum level of subsidy is specified and announced in each call for proposals.
• The maximum term is specified and announced in each call for proposals.

Each call for proposals has a particular theme, and this determines which projects can be supported.

As a general rule, the following types of project cannot be supported:

• projects that focus exclusively on the provision of humanitarian aid;
• projects that focus exclusively on infrastructure and construction measures;
• projects where neither the lead partner nor other partners are able to provide funds for any follow-on expenditure that may be required;
• projects that mainly involve transporting material donations to the country;
• projects that mainly involve paying off loans;
• projects that relate to the military or the police;
• projects that serve mainly to expand the representation and networks of German agencies.

We issue a general call for proposals once a year. The calls are published on this website. Additionally, a notification is sent by email to all diaspora organisations on our mailing list. Please write an e-mail to to be added to the mailing list.migration@cimonline.de.

Project ideas are assessed and selected based on the following criteria:

• relevance to the theme specified in the call for proposals;
• comprehensibility of the project idea
• relevance to the country of origin, development focus and ownership
• sustainability

We aim to support projects within the context of national development strategies. You should therefore find out about existing national and regional development plans in the country or location where the project is being carried out. These are usually published by national and/or regional government institutions. The website of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) also provides an overview of the priority sectors of German development cooperation.

• CIM provides a maximum funding sum of 40.000 Euro.
• Additionally, CIM can cover administrative expenses up to 10% of the total funding sum as a lump sum. This includes costs for office supplies, rents, postage, telephone and internet.
• The diaspora organization itself must cover at least 10% of the total funding sum (including administrative costs). A third party (funding by BMZ excluded) can also cover this sum.
• It is necessary to keep receipts for all expenses. In case of a financial check, the diaspora organization must provide those receipts.

Yes. However, funding can only be provided for one project per organisation.

Yes, although it is important that the required documents are provided by the time the funding agreement is concluded. In such cases, please specify in the project outline (checklist on last page) why the documents are not available and when you expect to be able to provide them.

Funding is intended for non-profit entities. Non-profit enterprises (in the form of, for example, a ‘gUG’ or a ‘gGmbH’) can therefore apply for funding. In this case, the board members/trustees should have a migration background.

Yes. However, the current project must have ended before the new project starts.

No. The funding programme aims to strengthen the development activities of diaspora organisations in Germany (and their cooperation with partners in the Global South). For this reason, only organisations in German can apply.

No. The programme is intended to build up knowledge (capacity development) in the target country. For this reason, the funds cannot be used to train diaspora living in Germany. The 10% of funding provided by the association itself must also be used directly for project implementation in the target country. 

The project may include a stay in Germany only if the stay involves measures that cannot be carried out in the target country and is crucial to the success of the measure.

No. Funding cannot be used for intercultural projects or cultural exchanges. Projects must aim to have a direct positive impact on living conditions in the country of origin and on the livelihoods of local people. (See also Sustainable Development Goals.)

The funding programme is designed to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and capacity development. This should be at the heart of the project for which funding is being sought. Projects that focus exclusively on the purchase of furniture and equipment or infrastructure measures are not eligible for funding. 

If multipliers are to be trained as part of the project, purchases of materials and/or demonstration aids (intended for continued use afterwards) are admissible.

Yes, here is a brief overview of other donors: