Direct Subsidies to 5 NGOs in Ceuta: What It Covers and Who It Affects in 2026

Key data

Five organizations that were already working on the ground in Ceuta since the beginning of the migration crisis now receive direct normative and financial support from the State. The Royal Decree 856/2026, published on October 22, 2026, regulates the direct granting of subsidies to these entities to act on violence against women in the city of Ceuta, without the need for competitive bidding.

The justification for the direct route—exceptional in the public subsidy system—rests on two pillars: the humanitarian urgency derived from the declaration of a situation of interest for national security, and the proven prior experience of these organizations in the territory.

What does this regulation establish?

Royal Decree 856/2026 regulates the direct granting of subsidies to five third-sector entities to develop specific actions for the protection and assistance of victims of violence against women in Ceuta. Below is the complete detail of the beneficiary entities and the actions covered:

Beneficiary entities

Actions covered by subsidies

• Early detection of gender violence, human trafficking and sexual exploitation
• Specialized psychosocial care for migrant women and girls who are victims
• Intercultural mediation to facilitate access to resources and services
• Legal advice to victims
• Multidisciplinary coordination between entities and administrations involved

Reference regulatory framework

• LO 1/2004: Comprehensive Protection Measures against Gender Violence
• LO 10/2022: Comprehensive Guarantee of Sexual Freedom
• LO 8/2021: Comprehensive Protection of Children and Adolescents against Violence

The operational coordination of the multidisciplinary unit falls to the Unit on Violence Against Women of the Government Delegation in Ceuta, which acts as the coordinating axis between all beneficiary entities and the administrations involved.

Economic and operational impact

Royal Decree does not publish the individual amounts assigned to each entity in the available regulatory summary. What it does establish with clarity are the operational conditions that determine the scope of the subsidies:

• Direct granting: Entities do not compete for funds. The award is made through the exceptional route of the article regulating direct subsidies, which speeds up the availability of resources.
• Immediate activation: Entry into force coincides with the publication date (22/10/2026), with no adaptation period.
• Mandatory coordination: The five entities must be integrated into the multidisciplinary unit directed by the Government Delegation in Ceuta, which implies additional coordination and reporting costs.
• Suitability justification: Prior presence in Ceuta since the beginning of the crisis is the determining criterion for selection, which closes the door to other organizations that were not already operating in the territory.

From the perspective of the third sector, this regulation represents an opportunity for stable public financing for the five selected entities, with the counterpart of assuming coordination and reporting obligations to the Government Delegation.

Who does it affect?

• The 5 beneficiary NGOs (Women in Conflict Zones, Spanish Red Cross, White Cross Foundation, Doctors of the World and CEAR): must formalize the subsidy, integrate into the multidisciplinary unit and comply with justification obligations.
• Migrant women and girls in Ceuta who are victims or at risk of gender violence, trafficking or sexual exploitation: are the final beneficiaries of the actions.
• Government Delegation in Ceuta: assumes the direction of the multidisciplinary unit and supervision of actions.
• Ministry of Equality: is the granting body and responsible for monitoring spending.
• Other NGOs in the sector not included in the decree: are excluded from this financing as they were not present in Ceuta since the beginning of the crisis.

Practical example

An organization like CEAR, which already had teams deployed in Ceuta since the beginning of the migration crisis, can now formalize its actions with direct financial support from the State without needing to compete in an open call. This allows it to:

• Maintain and strengthen its legal advice team for migrant women in vulnerable situations.
• Participate in the multidisciplinary unit coordinated by the Government Delegation, accessing information and resources shared with the other four entities.
• Justify spending to the Ministry of Equality in accordance with the criteria established in Royal Decree, without competing with other organizations for the assigned funds.

On the other hand, an NGO with experience in gender violence but without prior presence in Ceuta during the crisis cannot benefit from this direct subsidy, as it does not meet the requirement of proven territorial suitability.

What should entities do now?

1. Formalize the acceptance of the subsidy in accordance with the deadlines and procedures established by the Ministry of Equality as the granting body.
2. Review coordination obligations with the Unit on Violence Against Women of the Government Delegation in Ceuta, which directs the multidisciplinary unit.
3. Define the action plan in the covered areas: early detection, psychosocial care, intercultural mediation, legal advice and coordination.
4. Establish spending justification systems adapted to the requirements of Royal Decree and general public subsidy regulations.
5. Coordinate with the other four beneficiary entities to avoid duplication and maximize coverage on the ground in Ceuta.
6. NGOs not included that operate in the field of gender violence should be alert to future ordinary calls from the Ministry of Equality, as this direct route is closed to those who do not meet the criterion of prior presence.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-21956