Digital Democracy Initiative and CIVICUS Crisis Response Fund Rapid-Response Resiliency Grants

Digital Democracy Initiative and CIVICUS Crisis Response Fund Rapid-Response Resiliency Grants is sponsored by Digital Democracy Initiative and CIVICUS Crisis Response Fund. These grants help civil society organizations respond to urgent digital and civic space threats by implementing resilience activities within six months.

The CIVICUS Crisis Response Fund (CRF) supports civil society organisations and initiatives facing new or escalating restrictions on their work by providing funding for resiliency and advocacy actions. It is designed to protect and strengthen civil society in the face of systemic threats, with a focus on safeguarding the rights to freedoms of assembly, expression, and association (FoAAE).

The CRF offers two types of grants: Advocacy Grants: These grants support responses to unexpected restrictions on civic space or seize opportunities to expand and strengthen the environment in which civil society operates, advancing rights or preventing backlash.

Resiliency/Emergency Grants: These grants support organisations and groups facing immediate and ongoing threats, enabling them to enhance their resilience and implement security measures. Learn More About The CRF below The CRF welcomes from formal or informal civil society organisations, groups or social movements working to expand civic and democratic freedoms.

Applications are received at any time throughout the year and reviewed on a rolling basis. Grants must be for a 3–6 months activity periods and include a maximum budget of roughly US$10,000 for individual organisation or US$20,000 for two or more co-applying organisations.

For advocacy grants Partners must demonstrate that proposed activities respond to an urgent and/or escalating threat to freedoms of assembly, association, or expression and that those involved in the project face a high level of risk when exercising these rights.

Examples of activities include, but are not limited to, the following: Advocacy meetings and workshops to respond to restrictive laws governing FoAAE and influencing policymakers and key actors to amend restrictions or repeal these laws Actions responding to unexpected opportunities to raise concerns over restrictions Opportunities to expand civic space and enabling conditions for civil society, or for specific groups within the sector Conducting counter-narrative campaigns to respond to smear campaigns against civil society Harnessing opportunities in multilateral fora, like the United Nations or regional bodies, to put pressure on governments to uphold FoAAE For resiliency/emergency grants Partners must demonstrate that the proposed activities are designed to strengthen the security, safety, and organisational resilience of the applicant organisation(s) facing imminent risk.

This may include measures aimed at reducing immediate threats, mitigating risks, and enabling organisations to continue their work safely and effectively under restrictive or hostile conditions.

Examples of activities include, but are not limited to, the following: Developing collective and community-based care and healing strategies to build movement sustainability and resilience Providing psychosocial interventions for civil society actors at risk Preemptively creating a strategy to respond to the threat of restrictions on access to foreign funding for civil society Capacity strengthening initiatives including (and not limited to) digital and physical security trainings The CRF seeks to protect the civil society sector from systemic threats to its existence, with a specific focus on protecting the rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression, rather than addressing individual cases.

We fully recognise the serious challenges faced by human rights defenders and deeply appreciate your commitment to this important work under difficult circumstances. However, please note that the types of support outlined below fall outside the CRF’s funding scope. We fully recognise the serious challenges faced by human rights defenders and deeply appreciate your commitment to this important work under difficult circumstances.

However, the CRF is not designed or equipped to respond to the following: Individual assistance, medical treatment and/or emergency stipends Direct service delivery and/or direct financial assistance to individuals Maintaining a clearly defined and limited scope of support is an essential part of our do-no harm approach, ensuring that assistance is provided responsibly without creating additional risks or unmet expectations.

For more information, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions and Application Guide below. If you have further questions, please contact the CRF team at Take an eligibility test to assess whether your application meets the initial criteria. Submit your application through our online form .

Apply Now! Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide CIVICUS is a global alliance that champions the power of civil society to create positive change.

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