Sustaining Defenders through Feminist Holistic Security Subgrants

These grants are designed to support WHRDs in developing and implementing holistic safety strategies, including training, research, advocacy and lobbying.

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.

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:
    • The nature and scope of threats to the safety of WHRDs in different contexts
    • The impact of violence and threats on the work and lives of WHRDs
    • The effectiveness of different strategies for protecting and promoting the safety of 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.
• 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.

Funding Information

• 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.

Eligible Projects

• Knowledge Development Grants
  • A wide range of research projects are eligible for funding under the knowledge development grants. Some examples include:
    • Studies on the specific types of threats and risks that WHRDs face in different contexts, including legal, physical, digital and psycho-social threats.
    • Research on the impact of violence and threats on the work and lives of WHRDs.
    • Evaluations of the effectiveness of different strategies for protecting and promoting the safety of WHRDs.
    • Case studies of WHRDs who have overcome challenges and developed successful safety strategies.
    • Research on the role of different stakeholders, such as governments, civil society organisations and the media, in protecting the safety of WHRDs.
    • Policy research and papers focused on national developments related to the safety of WHRDs.
• Policy and Advocacy Grants
  • A wide range of projects are eligible for funding under the policy and advocacy grants. Some examples include:
    • Projects focused on monitoring state actions that threaten the safety or delegitimise the work of WHRDs.
    • Advocacy or public awareness campaigns for new or improved national laws and policies that protect and promote WHRD safety.
    • Developing shadow and stakeholder reports for the UPR process or inputs to UN Special Rapporteurs.
    • 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
  • A wide range of projects are eligible for funding under the capacity building grants. Some examples include:
    • Training on safety planning, digital security, and care.
    • Training on effective advocacy and campaigning skills.
    • Training on the use of technology to support safety and security.
    • Development of training materials and resources for WHRDs on safety and security.
    • 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.

Who can apply?

• Women and gender-diverse human rights defenders from global South countries.
• Women and gender-diverse researchers working with human rights from global South countries.
• WHRD-led organisations and WHRD-focused local organisations from global South countries.

For more information, visit APC.