Official Gazette No. 474 of 5 June 2026 published Order No. 638 of 21 May 2026 issued by the Ministry of Labor, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity, establishing the Methodology for the Selection and Financing of Projects in the Field of Disability Protection for the current year.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The new funding framework is based on a solid legislative package, including Law No. 448/2006 on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, its implementing rules approved by Government Decision No. 268/2007, and Law No. 350/2005 governing non-reimbursable public funding for non-profit activities.
The methodology is also directly aligned with the objectives of the National Strategy “A Fair Romania” 2022–2027 and national programs focused on the deinstitutionalization of adults with disabilities.
The primary objective of these state-funded allocations is to directly improve the quality of life of beneficiaries while respecting Romania’s commitments under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified through Law No. 221/2010.
According to the official document, non-governmental organizations active in the field of disability protection may access these public funds and implement projects either individually or in partnership with other similar entities. A strict rule established by the authorities states that each applicant or partner may submit only one project under this call for proposals.
Funding priorities focus on two main objectives: increasing access to educational, cultural, and sports activities that support independent living, and promoting accessibility of the physical, communication, and information environment.
The administrative procedure will be carried out exclusively through a public project selection process organized by the National Authority for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (ANPD) following approval of the allocated budget. The funding authority is required to publish the application documentation and applicant’s guide on its official website. Project proposals must be submitted exclusively in scanned PDF format, electronically signed and sent to the authority’s official email address.
The submission deadline must be at least 30 calendar days from the publication of the call for proposals, with the possibility of a justified reduction to no less than 15 days in special circumstances. To ensure a competitive framework, the methodology provides that the procedure must be repeated if only one applicant participates; a contract may be awarded to a single applicant only following a second selection round.
From a financial and operational perspective, applicant organizations must provide a minimum co-financing contribution of 2% of the requested eligible amount.
All financial proposals must be expressed in Romanian lei, and the approved budget remains fixed throughout the contractual period. Technical and financial evaluations will be carried out by a dedicated committee within 15 working days after the call closes. Appeals may be submitted within seven calendar days from the publication of the preliminary results.
To ensure transparency, signed contracts must be published in Part VI of the Official Gazette of Romania within 30 days of execution. Authorities also emphasize that payments will be made only after validation of the final report and supporting documentation. Any suspicion or finding regarding the improper use of funds will result in suspension of financing, contract termination, and the partial or full recovery of amounts received.
Public Selection Mechanism and Eligible Activities
The award of non-reimbursable funding contracts is conducted under strict transparency and legality requirements through a public selection procedure.
The funding authority, through the applicant’s guide approved by the institution’s management, establishes clear rules governing the entire process, from publication of the annual program and participation announcement to the electronic submission of applications.
A key procedural aspect concerns equal access to information: any interested organization has the legal right to request clarifications regarding the documentation. The authority must respond at least four days before the submission deadline, provided that questions are received at least six days before that deadline. Any amendment initiated by the authority will be publicly communicated through a corrigendum.
Regarding eligible activities, funding is directed toward projects capable of generating measurable and verifiable improvements in beneficiaries’ quality of life, assessed through specific indicators and mandatory impact assessment questionnaires.
Public funds may support professional training activities and the development of digital, social, and independent living skills. Cultural, sports, and educational projects are also eligible, including the acquisition of adaptive equipment and the implementation of accessibility measures.
Eligible activities include:
a) vocational training and the development of digital, social, and independent living skills;
b) cultural, sports, and educational activities, including the purchase of equipment, adapted equipment, specific materials, and accessibility measures for activity spaces;
c) adapted educational workshops (IT, personal development, financial education, health education, Romanian Sign Language, communication systems for deafblind persons, etc.);
d) accessible cultural events (theatre performances, films, etc.) in accordance with Law No. 448/2006;
e) activities promoting and improving accessibility of the information environment (websites, online platforms, mobile applications, etc.);
f) information, dissemination, and best-practice promotion activities regarding barrier removal and improved access to services, activities, and information;
g) awareness-raising activities on the importance of physical accessibility for persons with disabilities, including workshops, meetings, conferences, and debates involving members of the target group.
A major component of the methodology focuses on improving accessibility of both the digital and physical environment through the development of websites, mobile applications, and online platforms for persons with disabilities.
The framework also finances educational workshops focused on Romanian Sign Language and communication systems for persons with deafblindness, accessible cultural events organized in accordance with Law No. 448/2006, as well as information campaigns, workshops, and public debates aimed at removing social and physical barriers within communities.