NOFO: Emergency Assistance for Human Rights Defenders (US)

The Emergency Assistance for Fundamental Freedom Defenders program provides rapid, flexible financial and technical assistance to individuals and organizations facing imminent threats because of their work defending freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. Support is available globally, except in Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), with awards of up to $983,500 available under a single cooperative agreement.

About the Emergency Assistance for Human Rights Defenders Grant

The Emergency Assistance for Fundamental Freedom Defenders program is designed to protect individuals and organizations facing serious and immediate risks because of their work promoting fundamental freedoms and human rights.

The initiative provides short-term, on-demand emergency assistance that can help human rights defenders survive repression, address urgent security threats, and continue their work in their home countries.

Support can be provided to both individual defenders and organizations working to protect fundamental freedoms.

Objectives of the Program

The main objective is to ensure that people defending fundamental freedoms can access resources when they face imminent threats, repression, retaliation, or other forms of harm.

The program supports efforts to:

• Protect human rights defenders facing immediate danger.
• Defend freedom of expression.
• Protect freedom of peaceful assembly.
• Protect freedom of association.
• Help threatened defenders remain safe.
• Enable civil society organizations to continue their work.
• Respond rapidly to emergency situations.
• Strengthen the safety and security of local and regional organizations.

The program is particularly relevant to defenders who cannot wait for traditional, long-term grantmaking processes because of the urgent nature of the threats they face.

What Support Does the Grant Provide?

Assistance is designed to be flexible and tailored to the emergency situation.

Potential forms of support include:

• Emergency cash transfers.
• In-kind emergency assistance.
• Legal assistance.
• Safehouse or relocation support.
• Trauma counseling.
• Replacement of essential equipment.
• Security-related resources.
• Assistance for unjustly detained political prisoners.
• Technical support.
• Emergency assistance delivered through local or regional organizations.

Larger grants may also be provided to organizations that can connect people at risk with emergency assistance or strengthen their own institutional safety and security systems.

Who Can Benefit From the Program?

The program is intended for individuals and organizations facing imminent threats because of their nonviolent work defending fundamental freedoms.

Potential beneficiaries may include:

• Human rights defenders.
• Civil society activists.
• Journalists.
• Whistleblowers.
• Judges facing reprisals because of their professional work.
• Artists targeted because of their advocacy or expression.
• Other non-traditional human rights defenders.
• Civil society organizations.
• Local and regional organizations supporting at-risk defenders.

Individuals generally need to demonstrate at least six months of relevant experience in nonviolent work defending fundamental freedoms.

Geographic Eligibility

The program provides global assistance, subject to specific exclusions.

Support is available in countries around the world except Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea).

The assistance is intended primarily for defenders and organizations working in their home countries and facing threats connected to their fundamental-freedom activities.

Grant Amount and Duration

The opportunity provides substantial funding through a cooperative agreement.

• Maximum award: Up to $983,500
• Number of cooperative agreements: One
• Expected performance period: 12–18 months
• Funding approach: Flexible, short-term and emergency assistance
• Availability: Rolling and based on demonstrated need

The overall cooperative agreement can support emergency assistance mechanisms rather than functioning solely as a conventional project grant.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Eligible applicants include a range of organizations and individuals with relevant experience.

Non-Profit Organizations

Both U.S.-based and foreign non-profit organizations may be eligible to apply if they have the appropriate capacity and experience.

Higher Education Institutions

Institutions of higher education may also be eligible where they can appropriately support the program’s objectives.

For-Profit Organizations

For-profit organizations may be eligible where they participate without profit in delivering the relevant assistance.

Individuals

Individuals with a demonstrated history of nonviolent work defending fundamental freedoms may qualify.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate relevant experience and explain the threats or reprisals connected to their work.

What Types of Defenders May Qualify?

The program recognizes that threats to fundamental freedoms do not affect only traditional human rights organizations.

Eligible or potentially eligible defenders may include:

• Journalists facing retaliation for reporting.
• Whistleblowers facing reprisals.
• Judges threatened because of their professional responsibilities.
• Artists targeted for defending freedom of expression.
• Activists and civil society advocates.
• Other individuals engaged in peaceful efforts to defend fundamental freedoms.

The key consideration is the connection between the applicant’s nonviolent work and the threats or reprisals they face.

How the Emergency Assistance Program Works

Unlike conventional grants with fixed annual application cycles, this initiative is designed around urgent and emerging needs.

Step 1: Identify the Emergency

The applicant or referring organization should establish that an individual or organization is facing an imminent threat related to fundamental-freedom activities.

Step 2: Document the Risk

Relevant information should explain:

• The nature of the threat.
• Who is at risk.
• How the threat relates to their human rights or fundamental-freedom work.
• Why assistance is urgently required.
• What type of support is needed.

Step 3: Identify the Required Assistance

The proposed response should correspond directly to the emergency.

For example, the assistance could involve:

• Legal support.
• Emergency relocation.
• Safe accommodation.
• Security equipment.
• Replacement of confiscated or damaged equipment.
• Counseling.
• Emergency financial assistance.

Step 4: Submit Through the Appropriate Process

Applications or referrals are considered on a rolling, as-needed basis, rather than according to a single annual deadline.

At least half of beneficiaries are expected to be referred by the U.S. Department of State.

Step 5: Emergency Assistance Is Delivered

If approved, support is provided according to the nature and urgency of the situation. The flexible structure allows assistance to respond to changing security circumstances.

Why This Grant Matters

Human rights defenders can face serious consequences simply because they document abuses, defend democratic freedoms, expose wrongdoing, or advocate for peaceful civic participation.

Traditional funding mechanisms may be too slow when someone is facing immediate arrest, violence, displacement, legal persecution, or other forms of retaliation.

The Emergency Assistance for Fundamental Freedom Defenders program addresses this gap by providing rapid and flexible emergency assistance.

Its support can help defenders:

• Protect themselves from immediate threats.
• Obtain legal representation.
• Relocate to a safer environment.
• Replace critical equipment.
• Access trauma support.
• Continue peaceful human rights work.
• Strengthen organizational security.

Important Considerations for Applicants

Applicants should ensure that their proposed assistance is clearly connected to the protection of fundamental freedoms.

A strong request should:

• Clearly explain the emergency.
• Demonstrate the connection between the threat and the defender’s work.
• Describe the specific assistance required.
• Explain why the support is urgent.
• Provide credible information about the applicant or beneficiary.
• Demonstrate a commitment to nonviolent activity.
• Explain how the assistance will help the defender remain safe and continue their work.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants and referring organizations should avoid submitting requests that do not establish a clear connection between the emergency and fundamental-freedom activities.

Common problems include:

• Providing insufficient information about the threat.
• Failing to explain why assistance is urgent.
• Requesting support unrelated to the stated emergency.
• Not demonstrating relevant human rights or fundamental-freedom work.
• Providing unclear information about the intended beneficiary.
• Failing to demonstrate nonviolent activity where required.
• Treating the program as a conventional long-term development grant rather than an emergency assistance mechanism.

Key Details at a Glance

• Program: Emergency Assistance for Fundamental Freedom Defenders
• Purpose: Emergency protection and assistance for threatened human rights defenders
• Maximum award: $983,500
• Agreement type: Cooperative agreement
• Expected duration: 12–18 months
• Application basis: Rolling, as-needed
• Geographic scope: Global, excluding Iran and North Korea
• Eligible applicants: U.S. and foreign non-profits, higher education institutions, qualifying for-profit organizations, and eligible individuals
• Core areas: Freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, human rights and democratic freedoms
• Support: Financial, technical, legal, security, relocation, counseling and other emergency assistance

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Emergency Assistance for Human Rights Defenders Grant?

It is an emergency assistance program providing rapid financial and technical support to individuals and organizations facing imminent threats because of their work defending fundamental freedoms.

How much funding is available?

Up to $983,500 is available for a single cooperative agreement.

Who can receive assistance?

Individuals and organizations facing threats because of nonviolent work defending fundamental freedoms may receive assistance. This can include human rights defenders, journalists, whistleblowers, judges, artists, and civil society organizations.

Are international organizations eligible?

Yes. The opportunity can support foreign non-profit organizations as well as U.S.-based non-profits, subject to the program’s eligibility requirements.

Is the program available worldwide?

The program has global coverage but excludes Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea).

What types of emergency assistance are available?

Support may include cash transfers, in-kind assistance, legal support, safehouses, trauma counseling, equipment replacement, and resources for unjustly detained political prisoners.

Is there a fixed application deadline?

The program operates on a rolling, as-needed basis, allowing emergency situations to be addressed when assistance is required rather than through a conventional fixed annual deadline.

Conclusion

The Emergency Assistance for Fundamental Freedom Defenders program provides a critical mechanism for responding to urgent threats against people and organizations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. With flexible assistance covering areas such as legal protection, emergency relocation, security, counseling, and equipment replacement, the program is designed to help threatened defenders remain safe and continue their peaceful work. Organizations and individuals seeking support should clearly demonstrate the immediate nature of the threat, its connection to fundamental-freedom activities, and the specific emergency assistance required.