The Barcelona City Council has successfully consolidated the advance payment of approximately €21 million annually for the General Grant Call. This process has received over 6,400 applications in the past year from city-based entities and associations. For the last three consecutive years, the Council has paid more than 90% of the grants before the end of August, a significant increase compared to the average of 50% in the previous decade.
This improvement in advance payments eases the burden on beneficiary entities, eliminating the need to front the entire budget with their own funds. Although they must still justify the use of public money, receiving it in advance ensures activities can proceed and resolves potential cash flow issues. This administrative improvement is a direct result of the Barcelona Fácil Plan, a municipal strategy launched in late 2024 to make the relationship between the Council and citizens more agile, understandable, and accessible.
The Barcelona Fácil Plan primarily aims to simplify and speed up public services by eliminating unnecessary procedures and optimizing processes. Paying 90% of grants before August, compared to the previous average of 50%, exemplifies the practical outcomes of this strategy.
“"The Barcelona Fácil Plan demonstrates that administrative simplification is not an abstract issue, but a policy that has direct effects on the lives of entities, and these results are evident. We are transforming how we relate to citizens: we simplify procedures, reduce deadlines, and ensure resources arrive sooner. This provides greater certainty and planning capacity to the associative fabric and facilitates public resources reaching projects that strengthen social cohesion, inclusion, coexistence, and Barcelona's vitality more quickly."
The 2026 General Grant Call received 6,425 applications, a 5% increase from the previous year. Management improvements have prevented delays in review and payment. Since 2020, applications are submitted online, with 85% received in the final week of the period. 61% of applications are city-wide and 39% district-level. 24% of applicants (635 actors) are new. 46% of applicants submitted more than one project. 91% of applications are for less than half of the total project cost.
The integration of this administrative process into the Barcelona Fácil Plan has improved response times and management. The council has revamped the municipal website for this process, enhancing information classification and providing support guides. Informative sessions are also held, and a list of consultation emails is available for each thematic and territorial area.
The approximately €21 million will be used to co-finance activities that enhance social cohesion and inclusion, address the climate emergency, or promote civility and coexistence values. As a new initiative this year, a budget of €150,000 has been allocated for the promotion of Catalan.
