The call for applications for the Decentralisation Programme will open on 2 February 2026. The deadline for submission of applications is Thursday 2 April 2026.
The aim of the programme is to ensure good living conditions for people already living in rural areas in decentralised areas and thereby contribute to maintaining the population in these areas.
The programme will support the construction of external water and sanitation systems and access roads for households. In cases where the household is not connected to the electricity grid, support will also be provided for activities related to autonomous electricity systems.
The activities included in the project budget must ensure that the applicant's household has access to adequate drinking water, a system to ensure proper sanitation of wastewater generated in the dwelling, a year-round accessible access road or an autonomous electricity system that meets the needs of the household.
Natural persons who meet the following requirements can apply for support:
- The applicant's normal place of residence shall be a household in a region of low population density as from 1 January of the year of application;
- The applicant's place of residence, as recorded in the Population Register, shall be the household for which the project is requested, continuously since 1 January of the year of application;
- The applicant must not be in arrears with any national taxes, unless these are overdue.
The project may also have co-applicant(s). The co-applicant is subject to the same conditions as the applicant. The co-applicant is the other household with which the grant is sought.
Support from the programme may be granted provided that, by the date of submission of the application, the local authority has validated the report on the use of the support for a previous project relating to the same holding.
The project must be completed by 31 October of the year following the call for proposals.
The maximum grant per household under the scheme is €6,500. The amount of support received from the programme in the previous five calendar years is also counted as the support granted under the programme. The grant may not exceed 67% of the eligible costs of the project. The applicant's and co-applicant's own contribution and co-financing must be at least 33% of the eligible costs. For each of the sectors (drinking water, sanitation, access roads and electricity), a household may receive a grant under the programme once per six calendar years.
Support is provided for activities on farms owned by the applicant, a close relative or a relative of the applicant. If the applicant is the owner of the holding, he/she is entitled to the grant provided that the holding is used on the basis of a written contract valid for at least three years from the date of application.
Only costs incurred during the period of the project are eligible, with the exception of the costs of studies and design, owner supervision, public fees, notary fees, construction drawings and water analyses, which in certain cases are eligible before the grant agreement is signed.
We recommend that you start quoting early so that you have enough time to review the information in the quotation and, if necessary, ask for it to be amended or supplemented. You should also include in the quotation the cost of any working drawings/measurements that will need to be submitted later with the occupancy certificate/permit.
The construction of water and sewerage systems requires the submission of either a building permit or a building permit and an occupancy certificate to the building register after the financing decision. If you are not prepared to submit these to the building register yourself, it is reasonable to ask for a quotation together with the necessary documentation (preparation of permit/notification applications, design, etc.).
Information about the programme and application forms are available on the website of Valga municipality: Decentralisation programme
In most cases, the application for water supply systems must be accompanied by a water quality analysis. Information is available on the Valga municipality website.
The application, together with the required annexes, must be submitted electronically and digitally signed by the applicant or on paper and manually signed by the applicant.
An electronically signed application must be sent to by 2 April 2026 at the latest Valga Municipality by e-mail to .
A paper application signed by hand must be:
- hand-delivered to Valga Municipality no later than 2 April 2026, working day (8.00-16.30); or
- send by registered post (postmark date no later than 2 April 2026) to Valga Municipality, Puiestee 8, Valga 68203.
Further information:
Marika Muru, Community and Cooperation Projects Specialist
telephone: +372 5304 9805
e-mail: