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Building resilience and legitimisation of women and gender-diverse human rights defenders
The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is pleased to announce an open call for subgrants to support women human rights defenders (WHRDs)* in their work to promote safety and prevention and protect human rights advocates. These grants are designed to support WHRDs in developing and implementing holistic safety strategies, including training, research, advocacy and lobbying.
This rolling call round is open until 24 November 2023. The amount of funding requested per proposal can range from USD 5,000 to USD 15,000, depending on the scope and scale of the proposed intervention. The activities should be implemented and reported by 31 June 2024.
The subgrants are available to individual WHRDs and WHRD-led organisations from the global South. APC is particularly interested in supporting individuals, collectives and networks from marginalised groups and intersected identities, such as LGBTQIA+, Indigenous, Afro-descendant, land and environment activists, grassroots groups and racial and sexual minorities.
The subgrants are available in three categories:
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Knowledge development grants support research that produces original and rigorous knowledge on the nature, scope and impact of threats and attacks against WHRDs in different contexts, and the effectiveness of strategies for protecting and promoting the safety of WHRDs.
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Policy and advocacy grants support the development and implementation of policies and practices that protect and promote the security of WHRDs at the national and local level.
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Capacity and resilience building grants support training and other capacity-building activities that help WHRDs to develop the skills and knowledge to increase safety and care in order to carry out their work effectively.
Who can apply
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Women and gender-diverse human rights defenders from global South countries
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Women and gender-diverse researchers working with human rights from global South countries
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WHRD-led organisations and WHRD-focused local organisations from global South countries.
Selection criteria
Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:
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The clarity of the project plan
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The feasibility of the project budget
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The potential impact of the project on the capacity of WHRDs to stay safe and to carry out their work effectively
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The applicant’s demonstrated experience and engagement in human rights.
About Sustaining Defenders through Feminist Holistic Security (SDFHS)
APC's Sustaining Defenders through Feminist Holistic Security (SDFHS) programme is a global South-based programme supported by the Dutch government's Safety for Voices Initiative. The SDFHS programme aims to contribute to the safety and security of WHRDs through agenda setting, accountability and monitoring.
To apply for a subgrant, please read details below and click here to complete the online application form.
If you require more information, you can contact Carla Vitoria at: defenders.grants@apc.org
Types of grants
Knowledge development grants
The knowledge development grants are designed to support individuals and WHRD-led organisations to develop localised and national knowledge about the scope and impact of threats and attacks against WHRDs and the best pratices to promote their safety. These grants are intended to facilitate a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by defenders and to develop more effective strategies to enhance their protection.
Grants are available for research projects that produce original and rigorous knowledge on the following topics:
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The nature and scope of threats to the safety of WHRDs in different contexts
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The impact of violence and threats on the work and lives of WHRDs
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The effectiveness of different strategies for protecting and promoting the safety of WHRDs.
What types of research projects are eligible?
A wide range of research projects are eligible for funding under the knowledge development grants. Some examples include:
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Studies on the specific types of threats and risks that WHRDs face in different contexts, including legal, physical, digital and psycho-social threats.
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Research on the impact of violence and threats on the work and lives of WHRDs.
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Evaluations of the effectiveness of different strategies for protecting and promoting the safety of WHRDs.
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Case studies of WHRDs who have overcome challenges and developed successful safety strategies.
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Research on the role of different stakeholders, such as governments, civil society organisations and the media, in protecting the safety of WHRDs.
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Policy research and papers focused on national developments related to the safety of WHRDs.
Knowledge products that are eligible for funding under these grants include:
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Academic papers
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Research reports
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Books and book chapters
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Policy briefs
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Documentary films
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Interactive websites and other digital resources.
Grantees will be encouraged to disseminate their research findings to a wide range of stakeholders, including WHRDs, policy makers and the general public, by using a variety of dissemination methods, such as publishing their work in academic journals and popular media outlets, presenting their findings at conferences and workshops, and creating accessible resources for WHRDs.
Policy and advocacy grants
The policy and advocacy grants are designed to support individuals and WHRD-led organisations to promote policies and practices for the protection and safety of WHRDs at the local and national level, in order to create a safer environment for WHRDs to work in. The initiatives can also focus on contributions to and engagement with UN human rights instruments, in particular the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process.
What types of projects are eligible?
A wide range of projects are eligible for funding under the policy and advocacy grants. Some examples include:
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Projects focused on monitoring state actions that threaten the safety or delegitimise the work of WHRDs.
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Advocacy or public awareness campaigns for new or improved national laws and policies that protect and promote WHRD safety.
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Developing shadow and stakeholder reports for the UPR process or inputs to UN Special Rapporteurs.
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Grants to engage with, participate in and contribute towards global or regional policy spaces, such as the Commission on the Status of Women , the UN General Assembly , the UN Human Rights Council and the Internet Governance Forum.
Capacity and resilience building grants
The capacity and resilience building grants are specifically designed to support training and other capacity-building activities that enable WHRDs to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to enhance their safety, effectiveness and resilience. These grants are centred on empowering WHRDs with capacities related to holistic safety and care while also focusing on skill development that strengthens their work, whether through enhanced technology use or effective advocacy and campaigning.
What kind of projects are eligible?
A wide range of projects are eligible for funding under the capacity building grants. Some examples include:
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Training on safety planning, digital security, and care.
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Training on effective advocacy and campaigning skills.
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Training on the use of technology to support safety and security.
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Development of training materials and resources for WHRDs on safety and security
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Support for initiatives promoting individual and collective psychosocial well-being, such as self and organisational care training and workshops, the development of peer support networks, etc.
* In the context of this call, WHRDs include all women, girls and gender-diverse people who work, individually or collectively, on behalf of others to promote and defend recognised human rights. This may include any human rights issue, such as digital rights, environmental rights, digital rights, women’s rights, LBTQIA+ rights, Indigenous and Black traditional communities’ rights, and children's rights, among others.
