Sustainable Protection Fund

To help human rights organisations, including journalists, grass-roots and social movements, build their digital security capacities over a more extended period.

  • AFRICA-EN: CLOSED
  • AFRICA-FR: INVITATION
  • ASIA: CLOSED
  • EECCA: CLOSED
  • LATIN AMERICA: INVITATION

Cover activities that will contribute to your organisation’s long-term resilience and sustainability.


What does the SPF cover?

  • 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 support information management and digital security.
  • Measures to address the psychological and psychosocial impacts of digital threats.

Regional Target Groups FOR 2024

2024 ANGLOPHONE AFRICA

Digital Defenders Partnership’s target groups

Women, feminist and LGTBQIA+ organisations; land and environmental rights defenders; and journalists and other actors who make information available to the public.

  • CLOSED
2024 FRANCOPHONE AFRICA

Digital Defenders Partnership’s target groups

Women, feminist and LGTBQIA+ organisations; land and environmental rights defenders; and journalists and other actors who make information available to the public.

  • OPEN
2024 ASIA

Organisations expanding civic space

Including independent media, pro-democracy organisations and networks which are expanding civic space.

  • CLOSED
2024 EECCA

Digital Defenders Partnership’s target groups

Plus Roma rights, anti-racism and migrant rights organisations in Central and Eastern Europe; and rule of law, anti-corruption, election observation, conflict transformation and independent media organisations in Central Asia and Caucasus.

  • OPEN
2024 LATIN AMERICA

Community organisations and networks

Women, feminist, LGTBQIA+ and alternative, community or popular media organisations, collectives and networks.

  • INVITATION

Application process

We are able to process applications submitted in English, Spanish, French, Russian and Portuguese. If you would like to submit your application in another language, please contact us with your language request, and we can explore a secure solution.

1. Create an account

Activate the applicants’ account on the application system. You can edit the application if it was submitted as a draft.

2. Submit your proposal

Remember you cannot edit a final application submission.

3. Response and screening

A Project Officer (PO) will be appointed to follow up your submission. First response may take up to 14 days (2 weeks). Project Officers will screen if the application meets DDP’s SPF mandate. Applications that do not fall under DDP’s SPF mandate will be rejected and/or referred to our partners and network.

4. Review and due diligence

Project Officers will review the application on quality and due diligence criteria. The applicant may need to provide extra information and edit the application, in case there are questions about the proposed activities or budget.

5. Determination

In case the application does not meet quality or due diligence criteria, it will be rejected. In case the application meets all criteria and all information has been provided, the application will be discussed within the DDP team, after which a final determination follows.

6. Approval

A successful applicant will get a notification of approval.

Frequent Asked Questions

What does this fund cover?

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; actions to improve physical security, which support information management and digital security; measures to address the psychological and psychosocial impacts of digital threats.

Who can apply?

DDP target groups are women, feminist and LGTBQIA+ organisations; land and environmental rights defenders; and journalists and other actors who make information available to the public. However, each regional team defines the target groups for each call. Check the call for your region.

How long does the evaluation of SPF applications take?

It depends on the ammount of proposals recieved.

Does our organisation need to be legally constituted to apply?

Not necessarily. We conduct our own internal referencing processes for vetting.

Can we get in touch to discuss our proposal?

Yes. If you have any doubts, write us with your questions to team@digitaldefenders.org