If you have ever read an Erasmus+ call and drowned in acronyms — KA1, KA2, KA210, lump sums, consortia — you are not alone. A KA2 partnership is, at its core, a simple idea: organisations from different countries pool ideas and money to solve a shared problem and share what they learn.
This explainer demystifies Key Action 2 (KA2) — what it funds, who can apply, how a consortium works, the project lifecycle, and what separates a funded application from a rejected one.
01Where KA2 sits in Erasmus+
Erasmus+ is the EU programme for education, training, youth and sport. It is organised into three Key Actions. KA1 funds mobility — sending people abroad to learn or teach. KA2 funds cooperation — organisations building things together. KA3 supports policy reform. KA2 is where most innovation projects live.
KA2 is the cooperation pillar. Within it, the two most common formats are Cooperation Partnerships and Small-scale Partnerships.
02Two flavours: KA220 vs KA210
Cooperation Partnerships (KA220) are larger, ambitious projects that develop and share substantial results — curricula, toolkits, platforms. Small-scale Partnerships (KA210) are lighter, designed for newcomers and grassroots organisations, with simpler administration and smaller budgets. Choosing the right one is the first strategic decision.
Indicative figures — always check the current Programme Guide, as ceilings and rules are updated each call year.
03Who applies — and the consortium
KA2 is built on a consortium: a group of partner organisations from different Programme Countries. One organisation acts as the coordinator (the legal applicant who manages the grant), and the others are partners. KA220 typically needs a minimum of three organisations from three countries; KA210 needs at least two from two countries.
Strong consortia mix complementary skills — research, training delivery, dissemination — not just extra countries.
04The project lifecycle
A KA2 project moves through predictable phases: idea & partner-finding, application (against an annual deadline), evaluation by national agencies, then — if funded — implementation, dissemination of results, and reporting. Most of the visible work — the toolkits, trainings and multiplier events — happens in implementation.
Dissemination is not an afterthought — sharing results openly is a scored requirement and a core EU value.
05How the money works
Erasmus+ has largely shifted to lump-sum funding: instead of itemising every receipt, you propose a budget tied to work packages, and you are paid on delivery of agreed results. This dramatically simplifies administration — but it means your work plan must be realistic and clearly costed from the start.
06What makes a winning application
Score where the points are
- Relevance — tie your project to real, evidenced needs and EU priorities.
- Quality of design — clear objectives, realistic work packages, sound management.
- Partnership quality — complementary partners with defined roles.
- Impact & dissemination — who benefits, how you measure it, how results live on.
Key takeaways
What to remember
- KA2 is the cooperation pillar of Erasmus+ — organisations building together.
- Pick KA210 (small-scale) or KA220 (cooperation) to match your capacity.
- Every project runs on a consortium led by one coordinator.
- Funding is now mostly lump-sum, tied to delivered work packages.
- Applications win on relevance, design, partnership and lasting impact.
We translate advanced technology and EU policy into practical training. This explainer is part of our open Insights series for educators, youth workers and SMEs.