An Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership (KA220) is a funded project where at least three organisations from three different countries work together to improve the quality of their work, build networks, and develop or share new practices. It is an organisation-level action, not an individual grant, and in 2026 it is funded as a single lump sum of €120,000, €250,000, or €400,000. This guide explains what KA220 is, who can apply, how long it runs, how the money works, and what it means for you as a participant. Last updated: 2026.


Cooperation Partnerships at a glance:

  • Action code KA220, under Key Action 2 (cooperation among organisations).
  • At least three organisations from three different programme or associated countries.
  • Project duration of 12 to 36 months.
  • Funded as a lump sum: €120,000, €250,000, or €400,000.
  • Applied for through your National Agency (with a central EACEA exception for European NGOs and Sport).

According to Youth Works Hub, KA220 is where organisations build the bigger projects that youth mobility and activities later grow out of.

What Is a Cooperation Partnership (KA220)?

A Cooperation Partnership, action code KA220, is a transnational project under Key Action 2 of Erasmus+. Its purpose is cooperation: several organisations from different countries join forces to raise the quality and relevance of their activities, build lasting networks, and develop, test, or transfer innovative practices. It is a step up from a one-off mobility, aimed at organisations that want to create something new together over a longer period.


Objectives: What KA220 Is For

The action is designed to help organisations:

  • Increase the quality and relevance of their work.
  • Build and strengthen partnerships across countries.
  • Develop, share, and put into practice new or improved approaches.
  • Reach more people and work in a more European, cross-border way.

Which Fields It Covers

Cooperation Partnerships run across the Erasmus+ fields: school education, vocational education and training, adult education, higher education, youth, and sport, as well as cross-sectoral projects that bridge them. So a youth organisation and a school and a training provider from three countries could, for example, build a partnership together.


Who Can Apply

The core eligibility is about partners and countries:

  • At least three organisations from three different programme (EU or associated) countries.
  • There is no maximum number of partners.
  • The coordinating organisation applies on behalf of the partnership.

If your organisation is new to this, our guides on Erasmus accreditation and the OID organisation ID explain the registration groundwork, and who can apply covers eligibility more broadly.

The Two-Year Rule and Eligibility

The coordinating organisation must have been legally established for at least two years before the application deadline. This is a safeguard to ensure the lead organisation has a track record before managing a large partnership grant, so brand-new organisations usually join as partners first rather than leading.


Duration: 12 to 36 Months

A Cooperation Partnership runs for between 12 and 36 months. The length is chosen at application to fit the project's goals, so a focused project might run for a year while an ambitious one runs for three. This longer timeframe is what distinguishes KA220 from short one-off activities.

How the Money Works: the Lump-Sum Model

Since 2022, Cooperation Partnerships are funded as a lump sum rather than a detailed budget of receipts. You choose the lump-sum amount that matches the scale of your project, and funding is tied to completing the planned work rather than itemising every cost. Within the project, management costs are capped (project management is limited to a maximum of around 20% of the design), so most of the grant goes into the actual activities.


The Three Amounts

There are three fixed lump-sum options:

  • €120,000 for a smaller partnership.
  • €250,000 for a medium partnership.
  • €400,000 for a large partnership.

You pick the one that fits the ambition and workload of your project at application.

National Agency vs EACEA

Most Cooperation Partnerships are applied for through your National Agency (the decentralised route). There is an exception: partnerships led by European-level NGOs, and those in the field of Sport, are handled centrally by the EACEA in Brussels. So check which route applies before you apply, and see how to apply for the general steps.


What It Means for Participants

KA220 is an organisation grant, not a personal stipend, so as an individual you do not receive the lump sum. What it means for you is indirect but real: these partnerships create the training courses, tools, events, and later mobility opportunities that you can eventually take part in. When you see a rich programme of youth activities from an organisation, a Cooperation Partnership is often what funded the groundwork.

KA220 vs Small-Scale Partnerships

Cooperation Partnerships are the larger, more demanding option. For smaller organisations or newcomers, Erasmus+ also offers Small-scale Partnerships, which have lower grant amounts, simpler requirements, and only need two organisations. If KA220 feels too big a first step, a small-scale partnership is usually the better entry point.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is a KA220 Cooperation Partnership? A transnational Erasmus+ project where at least three organisations from three different countries cooperate to improve quality, build networks, and develop new practices, funded as a lump sum.

Can an individual apply for KA220? No. It is an organisation-level action. Individuals benefit indirectly through the activities partnerships create, not by receiving the grant.

How much funding is available? A single lump sum of €120,000, €250,000, or €400,000, chosen to match the project's scale.

How long does a Cooperation Partnership last? Between 12 and 36 months, decided at application.

Do I apply through my National Agency or the EACEA? Usually your National Agency. The exception is European-level NGOs and the Sport field, which apply centrally through the EACEA.

In Short

An Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership (KA220) brings at least three organisations from three countries together for a 12 to 36 month project, funded as a lump sum of €120,000, €250,000, or €400,000, applied for mainly through your National Agency. It is an organisation grant, so individuals gain from the activities it produces rather than the money itself, and smaller organisations can start with a Small-scale Partnership instead. According to Youth Works Hub, KA220 is the engine behind many of the opportunities young people later enjoy.


Ready to explore Erasmus+ opportunities?

Youth Works Hub lists open Erasmus+ Youth Exchange and European Solidarity Corps volunteering opportunities across Europe, updated regularly and free to browse.

Browse Opportunities: https://youthworkshub.org/links