Sustainable Protection Fund: Open Call for Central Asia, Caucasus, and Central and Eastern Europe

The Sustainable Protection Fund aims to help human rights organisations or collectives build their long-term digital security capacities. It provides grants of up to 30,000 USD and covers activities for a maximum of one year.

Read more: Sustainable Protection Fund: Open Call for Central Asia, Caucasus, and Central and Eastern Europe

The applications are accepted from March 1st until April 30th, 2023. These are reviewed on a rolling basis, meaning the applications submitted earlier will have higher chances.

Central Asia and the Caucasus

  • Countries: Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
  •  Preference will be given to organisations working in the following spheres: rule of law, anti-corruption, election observation, independent media, digital rights and freedom of expression, feminism and women’s rights, LGTBQIA+ rights, and conflict transformation.

Central and Eastern Europe

  • Countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia.
  •  Preference will be given to organisations working in the following spheres: Roma rights, anti-racism and migrant rights, feminism and women’s rights, LGTBQIA+ rights, independent media, and digital rights and freedom of expression. 

What does de SPF cover?

The Sustainable Protection Fund can cover several costs, which contribute to strengthening an organisation or collective’s capacity to respond to digital threats based on the holistic security approach. These can include, for example, but are not limited to:

  • New computers, servers, or hosting for data or websites;
  •  Technical support in implementing new systems;
  •  Training or accompaniment processes on digital security or other aspects of security and protection;
  •  Measures to improve physical security, which supports information management and digital security;
  •  Measures to address the psychological and psycho-social impacts of digital threats.

To be considered, the proposed project should be based on an analysis of the risk situation and the overall context and correspond to it. It is also important that the project proposed will contribute to the long-term resilience and sustainability of the organisation.

The applications can be submitted through our online application form. Please feel  free to reach out to us at team@digitaldefenders.org or DigitalDefendersPartnership@protonmail.com for questions and concerns.