Digital Human Rights Fellowship

Digital Human Rights Fellowship is sponsored by Bluenumber Foundation Inc. A fellowship focusing on digital human rights, data privacy, and equitable digital inclusion.

Education, Human Rights & Inclusion 39 calls: $30M+ for AI literacy globally, constitutional reform in Morocco, BIPOC leadership in Canada, civic space defense in SIDS/LDCs, and election-cycle resilience in Armenia. The February 2026 cycle for Education and Human Rights marks a transition from “access-focused” aid toward Digital Equity, Judicial Diplomacy, and Power Redistribution.

We are observing a decisive move away from general advocacy toward legally grounded institutional reform and AI-literacy as a human right. Donors are prioritizing “decision-grade evidence”, funding research that doesn’t just describe a problem but offers a causal path to policy change. This month, the intelligence signal is clear: the “digital divide” has evolved into the “AI divide.

” Through high-stakes challenges from HP, MIT Solve, and AI Singapore, the focus has shifted to equipping marginalized youth with the cognitive and ethical tools to navigate an automated workforce. Simultaneously, we see a surge in trust-based, multi-year operational funding (Vancouver Foundation, Laidlaw) that treats organizational resilience as the primary lever for racial and Indigenous justice.

Snapshot of New Opportunities This month’s portfolio prioritizes marginalized voices and institutional accountability across the following sectors: Total Estimated Funding Pool: $30 Million+ USD The grants are organized into three categories: Open Calls : Current grant and opportunities with a deadline. Grants are listed by closing date. 27 open opportunities- 17 new!

Rolling Applications : current grant and opportunities with rolling applications (but it’s still best to submit as early as possible). 9 rolling opportunities Long term planning: Grants that have closed their current rounds, but are expected to open new windows. 3 long term opportunities!

To keep this accessible to everyone who needs it, we’re happy to offer discounted rates / free membership for nonprofits and individuals from LMICs (Low- and Middle-Income Countries). Message us below for more information. Message Eliana Summer-Galai Raising Public Awareness and Implementing Global Education Activities in Estonia (2026) , Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) .

*Closing soon! * Through this call, ESTDEV seeks to strengthen how global issues are understood, communicated, and taught within Estonian society, while reinforcing the long-term capacity of the development cooperation and humanitarian sector.

The programme is framed around a dual objective: increasing public understanding of global challenges and Estonia’s international role, and deepening the quality and reach of global education across both formal and non-formal learning environments. Priority is given to initiatives that connect global justice, climate justice, and interdependence to everyday realities in Estonia, particularly for audiences with limited prior exposure.

The funder emphasizes strategic communication, educational quality, and sector learning, positioning awareness-raising not as outreach alone but as a structural investment in informed citizenship and resilient civil society. Capacity-building actions are explicitly designed to help organizations mature, collaborate internationally, and sustain impact beyond the funding period.

Who can apply: Estonian legal entities, including NGOs, educational institutions, and sector organizations; consortiums required for selected activity strands. Funding amount: Total indicative budget EUR €375,000; strand-specific caps apply. Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Global Citizenship Education; Focus areas: global education, development awareness, sector capacity building.

Deadline: February 5, 2026 . Learn more and apply here . This call positions public awareness and global education as strategic infrastructure for Estonia’s development cooperation, humanitarian engagement, and values-based international role.

HP Digital Equity Accelerator , HP Inc. . *New! * The HP Digital Equity Accelerator is a joint initiative of HP and the HP Foundation designed to help growth-stage nonprofits and social enterprises scale proven solutions that close the digital divide .

The program targets organizations advancing inclusive access to technology, digital skills development, and participation in the future of work, with a clear emphasis on readiness to scale rather than early experimentation. This structure reflects HP’s strategy of pairing catalytic capital with corporate expertise to strengthen organizational infrastructure and expand impact.

Digital inclusion is treated not as a standalone intervention, but as foundational infrastructure for education, livelihoods, and civic participation in underserved communities.

Who can apply: Growth-stage nonprofits and social enterprises with scalable digital equity solutions Funding amount: Selected organizations receive USD $100,000 in direct funding, alongside HP technology and solutions valued at approximately USD $100,000, and take part in a six-month, virtual accelerator offering tailored capacity-building, mentorship, and ecosystem connections.

Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Digital Inclusion; Focus areas: digital access, digital skills, inclusive technology ecosystems Deadline: February 6, 2026 Learn more and apply here . The accelerator’s design signals HP’s investment logic: combining capital, technology, and expertise to scale organizations that embed equity directly into how digital access and skills are delivered.

StepForward: Essential Innovation Challenge (2026) , MIT Solve . *Closing soon! * The StepForward: Essential Innovation Challenge seeks to advance equitable access to the knowledge, skills, and pathways young people need to thrive in an increasingly AI-powered world.

Partnering with the S&P Global Foundation, MIT Solve is focusing this challenge on solutions that not only expand AI literacy but also build human-centric skills such as critical thinking, confidence, and career navigation for youth aged 18–24.

The funder logic reflects a commitment to reducing structural barriers — especially for learners who have historically lacked access to quality education and economic opportunity — by identifying and supporting interventions that are both practical and scalable.

Beyond funding, the Challenge offers finalists visibility, peer learning, and pathways to broader networks, positioning winning solutions for sustained impact in education, workforce development, and community-based settings. Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations, innovation teams, and mission-aligned innovators with solutions tied to the challenge’s focus.

Funding amount: Total prize pool of USD $1,200,000, with six awardees receiving USD $200,000 each. Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Innovation & Skills; Focus areas: AI literacy, human-centric skill building, youth empowerment, digital inclusion. Deadline: February 6, 2026 (11:59 PM EST).

Learn more and apply here . This challenge reflects a broader strategy to leverage open innovation and cross-sector partnerships to equip young people with the capabilities needed to participate actively and equitably in the future workforce. Sustainable, Impactful and Inclusive Civil Society – PIN Armenia, People in Need .

*New! * Geographies: Armenia (regional communities outside Yerevan). Who can apply: Armenian civil society organizations registered 6 months to 5 years, operating mainly outside Yerevan.

Funding amount: AMD 8,500,000–15,000,000 (Scheme 1). Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Civil Society Strengthening; Focus areas: governance, organizational sustainability, community engagement, inclusion. Deadline: February 8, 2026.

Learn more and apply here . This call reflects PIN’s strategy of reinforcing independent, regionally grounded civil society actors by combining sub-grant financing with tailored organizational capacity development and peer learning to strengthen democratic participation and community engagement. Expansion of Vanuatu Electoral Office’s Civic Education (Low Value Grant), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific .

*New! * UNDP Pacific, through the Vanuatu Electoral Environment Project (VEEP), is inviting eligible civil society, non-governmental, and faith-based organizations to apply for its Low-Value Grant Programme to expand civic and voter education nationwide.

The call builds on UNDP’s work with the Vanuatu Electoral Office (VEO) and Electoral Commission to strengthen democratic processes by empowering citizens, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups, with a deeper understanding of elections, how government functions, and the importance of active participation.

Grantees will use the official VEO Civic Education Curriculum and tailor outreach across communities, particularly in remote islands, while fostering collaboration with key democratic institutions like the Electoral Commission, Parliament, and Office of the Ombudsman. Capacity building support is included, and awardees will manage community outreach that increases democratic awareness and inclusive participation.

Who can apply: CSOs, NGOs, and FBOs with decentralized presence and civic education experience. Funding amount: Up to USD $40,000 per project. Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Governance & Public Policy; Focus areas: civic education, voter awareness, democratic participation.

Deadline: February 9, 2026 (11:59:59 pm Vanuatu time). Learn more and apply here . This grant opportunity reflects UNDP Pacific’s strategic commitment to deepening democratic engagement and strengthening the electoral environment by equipping communities with the knowledge and tools to participate meaningfully in Vanuatu’s governance processes.

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Eliana Summer-Galai. Or purchase a paid subscription. Start your Substack Get the app Substack is the home for great culture