Applicants must be a local civil society organisation, group or social movement (either formal or informal) working to expand civic and democratic freedoms and promote inclusive democracy in the digital age. The grants are not awarded to individuals.

• Priority is given to unrepresented or marginalised actors, including women, youth, informal civil society, grassroots groups and LGTBIQ+ groups, among others.

• Our definition of local civil society: diverse civil society actors (individuals, organisations, human rights defenders, grassroots groups, among others) established and operating in their own country, led by and primarily accountable to the local constituents they serve or represent.

Applicants must be based in a global south country receiving Official Development Assistance from the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee (click here to check the list of countries).

• Priority is given to countries where civic freedoms are restricted, particularly those with “Obstructed” and “Repressed” civic space ratings, according to the CIVICUS Monitor. Review the CIVICUS Monitor ratings: https://monitor.civicus.org/

Applicants must be facing a verifiable imminent civic space threat or emergency or a need for enhanced digital resiliency to ensure effective civil society action towards inclusive democracy. Evidence of the risk from the last three to six months is required.

• Our definition of imminent threat or need: real danger that is likely to occur or about to happen almost immediately or in a very short period of time. An imminent need is something necessary to do or get almost immediately or in a very short period. Please note that applicants do not have to be in a severely critical situation to be eligible.

Proposals must be for resiliency responses or activities that help avoid, counter, mitigate and/or navigate civic space threats to civil society actors or civil society at large by using digital technology or to enhance their digital resilience. Responses/proposals for advocacy activities, core funding and other purposes are not accepted.

• Our definition of resiliency responses or activities: those that are designed to help civil society actors cope with imminent challenges and crises and continue doing their work.

Applicants must have an organisational bank account with the ability to receive funds from a CIVICUS bank account based in the United States of America. If an appropriate organisational bank account does not exist, the applicant can submit a written request to use a fiscal sponsor or receive funds into an alternative account. CIVICUS also has to run sanctions checks on the applicant’s bank and the country where it is based.

Applicants must be able to plan and track the use of CRF-DDI grant funding. This includes providing receipt-based financial reports to CIVICUS every month. Click here to read the grant reporting requirements.