Q1. What should I consider before applying for a grant?
In order for proposals to be considered, they must be submitted by organisations from the global South that are led by or that focus on women human rights defenders (WHRDs) who work on land and environmental rights. The proposed projects should address technology issues related to the organisation’s safety and security to carry on its work. APC is particularly interested in supporting collectives, organisations and networks from marginalised groups and intersected identities, such as LBTQIA+, Indigenous and Black traditional communities, grassroots groups and racial and sexual minorities. Please assess your proposal's alignment with the grant's eligibility criteria (Q2, Q3, Q4), objectives (Q5, Q6) and budget (Q8) as outlined in the call for applications. Ensure you have the necessary resources, expertise and capacity to carry out the proposed project.
Eligibility criteria
Q2. Who are WHRDs in the context of this call?
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. The applicant must be an organisation/collective/network led by women and/or gender-diverse persons or the primary beneficiaries of the grant should be women and/or gender-diverse persons.
Q3. Who are land and environmental rights defenders in the context of this call?
The applicants must be actively working to promote the protection of land and environmental rights. This includes individuals and groups who, in their personal or professional capacity, strive to protect and promote human rights relating to the land and environment, including water, air, land, flora and fauna.
Q4. Which are the global South countries that are eligible for these grants?
Africa: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Asia and the Pacific: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan ,Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam.
Latin America and the Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela.
Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine (West Bank and Gaza), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
Q5. What are the grant objectives?
The proposal must fit into one or more of these objectives:
1. Prevention of risks and unsafe situations for WHRDs through provision of holistic safety resources.
2. Protection of WHRDs at acute risk, during times of crisis and in conflict zones, through provision of adequate and timely resources and support.
3. Enhancement of legitimacy of the work of WHRDs through enactment, strengthening and implementation of relevant laws and policies and creation of formal, gender-sensitive support structures.
Q6. What types of grants does Safety for Voices offer?
The subgrants are available in three categories:
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Knowledge development grants provide support for research that produces original and rigorous knowledge on the nature, scope and impact of threats and attacks against WHRDs who work with land and environmental rights, evaluating the effectiveness of technologies for protecting and promoting the safety of these WHRDs.
Examples that can be supported through these grants include diverse research initiatives ranging from case studies on the specific types of threats and risks that WHRDs face in different contexts to resilience strategies for overcoming these challenges. It is also an opportunity to investigate the role and impact of various stakeholders, such as governments, companies, civil society organisations and the media, in the life and work of WHRDs. Eligible knowledge products that can be funded through these grants include academic papers, research reports, policy briefs, documentary films, interactive websites, and other digital resources.
Please be advised that this list is not exhaustive, and merely serves as an illustrative guide. APC is open to creativity and exploration of diverse possibilities to guarantee the safety of WHRDs.
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Policy and advocacy grants aim to support the development and implementation of policies and practices that protect and promote the security of WHRDs working at the national and local level, inviting the WHRDs to explore the intersection between technology and land and environmental issues in the promotion of rights.
Examples include promoting national and local laws regarding technology and land and environmental rights, lobbying for regulation, counter-attacking defamation campaigns, strategic litigation, and monitoring perpetrators of violence such as state or companies’ actions that threaten the safety or delegitimise the work of WHRDs.
Please be advised that this list is not exhaustive, and merely serves as an illustrative guide. APC is open to creativity and exploration of diverse possibilities to guarantee the safety of WHRDs.
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Capacity and resilience building grants support training and other capacity-building activities that help land and environmental WHRDs to develop the skills and knowledge in technology in order to increase safety and care to carry out their work effectively.
Examples include implementing systems and equipment to enhance WHRDs’ protection, initiatives promoting well-being, such as self and collective care training and workshops and the development of peer support networks, the development of risk analysis and protection plans, and also training on digital security and the use of technology.
Please be advised that this list is not exhaustive, and merely serves as an illustrative guide. APC is open to creativity and exploration of diverse possibilities to guarantee the safety of WHRDs.
Q7. Can I apply if my organisation/collective is not legally registered?
Yes, we welcome applications from organisations, collectives and networks regardless of their legal registration status. We understand that many impactful initiatives operate outside formal legal structures. Please note that if your application is approved, you will need to have a legal sponsor to receive the funds in your name.
Q8. Can I apply as an individual?
While we recognise the potential for individuals to drive change, this grant call will only consider groups and networks engaged in collective struggle and grassroots mobilisation, aiming to empower their communities.
Q9. How do I apply for a grant?
To apply for a grant, please fill in the online application form at this link.
Q10. What should I include in my budget proposal?
Provide a detailed budget that outlines all project expenses, including personnel, supplies, equipment, travel and overhead costs. Justify each expense and ensure it aligns with the project's objectives and activities.
Q11. What is the deadline for submitting a grant application?
The deadline for grant applications is 22 April 2024 at 11:59 UTC. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered.
Q12. How are grant applications evaluated?
Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria: clarity of the project plan, feasibility of project budget, potential impact of the project on the capacity of land and environmental WHRDs to remain safe and to carry out their work effectively, demonstrated experience and engagement in human rights, and creativity of the proposal.
Q13. When will I be notified about the status of my grant application?
Applicants will be notified of the status of their grant application via email within 4-8 weeks after the application deadline. If you do not receive a notification, please consider your application was unsuccessful.
Q14. Who can I contact if I have questions about the grant application process?
For any questions or concerns about the grant application process, please contact Carla Vitoria at defenders.grants@apc.org for assistance up until 72 hours before the grant application deadline.