Deadline: 25-Aug-2025
Minority Rights Group (MRG) is seeking applications from dedicated lawyers, legal centres and human rights organizations to provide legal assistance programs for members of religious, ethnic and gender minority communities (LGBTQAI+) as well as indigenous peoples in Egypt who are facing discrimination or persecution, as well as minority rights activists/CSOs that are facing legal harassments as a result of their work to promote minority rights inside the country.
The focus is to increase the capacity of civil society organizations to deliver high-quality, accessible legal support to minority and marginalized communities, ultimately contributing to stronger protection of rights, legal empowerment, and improved access to justice. This includes legal assistance for religious, ethnic and gender minorities, indigenous peoples, and minority rights activists/CSOs; initiatives operating in geographically remote or underserved regions with high concentrations of legally underserved minority communities; adherence to organizational codes of conduct with safeguarding measures; anti-fraud and corruption policies; internal protocols for secure data handling in compliance with GDPR and Egyptian legal context; and plans to ensure accessibility and inclusivity in legal aid and stakeholder engagement.
MRG is an international non-governmental organization working to secure rights for ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities worldwide, and to promote co-operation and co-existence between communities. The legal assistance program is part of the Strengthening Minority Voices initiative running from 2023 to 2026 in Egypt, aiming to protect and promote the rights of minorities through enhanced advocacy, protection of activists, and increased collaboration among CSOs.
Eligible applicants include lawyers, legal centres, human rights organizations, community-based organizations, and networks with experience in providing legal assistance to religious and ethnic communities. Selected applicants must commit to providing legal aid to at least fifteen victims and legal advice to at least twenty individuals from minority or marginalized communities. Proposals should clearly reference key performance indicators, such as beneficiaries’ improved security and satisfaction with legal processes, increased CSO capacity, and measurable service expansion.
The grant amount is €7,500 per centre or lawyer, with a maximum duration of twelve months. Eligible costs cover legal consultation, representation, documentation, court fees, travel for evidence collection, and other necessary legal expenses. Proposals with potential for strategic litigation at national, regional, or international levels are strongly encouraged, particularly when developed in consultation with affected communities.
Applications will be evaluated on the relevance and strength of cases, the number of victims, available alternative support, potential social impact, diversity of minority communities served, applicant expertise, cost-effectiveness, and references.
For more information, visit Minority Rights Group.
