The Global Gateway is the European Union’s framework for external action aimed at reducing the global infrastructure investment gap, by promoting alignment between partner countries’ priorities and the EU’s strategic interests.
In this context, the European private sector plays a key role. To strengthen its involvement, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), within the Team Europe approach, has launched the Global Gateway Early-Stage Investment Mechanism call for proposals, designed to support the early stages of strategic infrastructure projects.
The call provides grants for pre-investment activities and pilot initiatives aimed at improving the quality and bankability of projects in the transport, artificial intelligence, energy, urban development, and railway infrastructure sectors in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region.
Proposals will be assessed based on their alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the priorities of the Global Gateway and the EU, coherence with partner countries’ national strategies, local engagement, and their potential impact on sustainable development.
The total indicative financial allocation of the call amounts to EUR 40,583,770. The deadline for the submission of funding proposals is 16 March 2026 at 12:00 (Brussels time). A virtual information session will be held on 20 January 2026 from 11:00 to 13:00 (Brussels time); registration will be open until 16 January 2026. Further information is available on the dedicated portal.