Digital Democracy Initiative Programme – Global South

Deadline: 17-Jun-2024

Applications are now open for the Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI), a global flagship programme aimed at safeguarding inclusive democracy and human rights in the digital age.

The DDI focuses on support to civil society in the Global South, particularly in countries undergoing democratic regression and where civic space is under pressure. The programme supports local civil society organisations in leveraging digital technologies to promote and protect inclusive democracy, with a focus on organisations representing women, youth, and marginalised groups as well as informal actors and social movements with limited access to funding and other resources.

Under the programme, four pre-selected organisations (CIVICUS, Global Focus, Digital Defenders Partnership, Access Now) implement dedicated projects supporting i.a.1) sub-granting to local civil society actors; 2) rapid response mechanism to provide digital assistance to human rights defenders in acute need; 3) advocacy campaigning toward governments, private sector and tech companies; and 4) building a global digital knowledge hub that provides tools and knowledge products in localised and accessible formats.

The programme is designed to facilitate scalability, both in terms of attracting additional donors and increasing the number of implementing partners during the implementation period 2023 to 2026. Through a restricted Call for Proposals (CfP), the DDI will expand its support to Human Right Defenders (HRDs) and civil society activists in the Global South under three thematic lots.

Objectives and Priorities

• Through this CfP, the DDI is open to receive submissions contributing to one or both of the overall programme outcomes as specified in the Programme Document and Results Framework.
• The overall Theory of Change (ToC) of the programme is that if local pro-democratic civil society is enabled to utilise digital technology to amplify their agendas, and if civil society utilising digital technology are protected and defended from digital threats, then civil society efforts to promote and protect inclusive democratic space online and offline will be strengthened.
• The programme works towards its objective through two mutually reinforcing outcome areas, with defined intervention areas guiding immediate outcomes.
  • Outcome 1. Enable and Amplify: Inclusive democracy and civic space are expanded and protected through the improved use of digital technology for civic engagement by local civil society actors operating in restrictive contexts in the Global South.
    • Building a localised and Southern-facing sub-granting and support infrastructure capable of providing funding and capacity to local civil society actors
    • Sub-granting to support activities of local civil society actors focused on the use of digital technology to promote inclusive democracy online and offline
    • Supporting local civil society capacity to utilise digital technology to strengthen their engagement in the promotion of inclusive democracy online and offline
    • Facilitating Southern-led cross-border learning and knowledge generation pertaining to challenges, opportunities, best practices and solutions for local engagement in digital democracy
  • Outcome 2. Defend and Protect: Strengthened digital resilience and security of pro-democracy civil society actors, and more rights-respecting policies and standards, safeguarding the use of digital technologies and online spaces.
    • Providing emergency response to civil society actors, including human rights defenders, under threat from digital repression and repercussions
    • Supporting civil society capacity for self-protection and strengthening capacity of local intermediate actors in providing digital protection to local civil society
    • Supporting global and national policy monitoring and advocacy efforts promoting rights-based regulation of online spaces and the use of digital technology
    • Promoting global and national multi-stakeholder dialogue and civil society learning to strengthen knowledge and networks relevant for digital protection and promotion of rights-based use of digital technology

Thematic Focus

• Projects submitted under the CfP are expected to contribute to the overall objective of the DDI: Promote and protect local inclusive democratic space, also constituting the development objectives of this call. Project proposals should further reflect outcomes and priorities as outlined in the DDI project document and summarised in section 2 of this Information Note. Within this framework, projects are expected to be designed in alignment with the priorities under one of the three specific lots:
  • Lot 1: Combatting Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence
    • This lot will have a specific focus on WDMs, girls and WHRDs. Proposals which additionally include LGBTQ+ persons and other vulnerable groups are also relevant and welcome.
    • Applicants under this lot are expected to respond to two interrelated focus areas.
      • Digital skills to empower women decision-makers and WHRDs 
        • The first focus area under this lot aims at enabling WDMs and WHRDs to engage safely in online democratic spaces and debates, increase their protection and capacity to respond to threats of TFGBV, and support resilience, safety and mental and psychosocial support to those who are already impacted by TFGBV. The priorities of this focus area are to:
          • Enhance the digital skills, resilience and protection of WDMs and WHRDs at risk of, or already impacted by, TFGBV;
          • Increase safety and provide legal support, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) to WDMs and WHRDs impacted by TFGBV;
          • Increase capacity of WDMs and WHRDs who are impacted by TFGBV to develop counter-strategies and respond to TFGBV.
        • The following activities are examples, and applicants are neither bound nor limited by these:
          • Build and/or strengthen capacity of existing regional, national or local civil society organisations to support WDMs and WHRDs who are at risk of, or already impacted by, TFGBV.
          • Provide learning opportunities and/or tools to strengthen the digital skills and protection of WDMs and WHRDs.
          • Establish and/or support structures that provide MHPSS for WDMs and WHRDs who are impacted by TFGBV.
          • Support WDMs and WHRDs who are impacted by TFGBV to develop counterstrategies or other responses to TFGBV, including, reporting, actions to remove digital content, actions to hold digital platforms accountable, or legal action against perpetrators of TFGBV.
          • Build and/or strengthen digital communities and support networks to foster solidarity and knowledge-sharing among WDMs and WHRDs.
      • Advocacy and Policy Action against TFGBV 
        • The second focus area aims at strengthening public awareness of, and advocacy and policy work against TFGBV. It is important to foster a better understanding of TFGBV’s impact on the democratic participation of WDMs and WHRDs, of the broader legislative and policy frameworks related to TFGBV, and of how they can be strengthened. The priorities of this focus area are to:
          • Increase knowledge, understanding and public awareness of TFGBV and its impact on the democratic participation of WDMs and WHRDs;
          • Contribute to strengthening legislation, policy and regulation to prevent and protect individuals from TFGBV;
          • Help foster a more enabling environment for WDMs and WHRDs to register and report cases of TFGBV, or take other action in response to TFGBV.
        • The following activities are examples, and applicants are neither bound nor limited by these:
          • Conduct research on the scope and impact of TFGBV on the democratic participation of WDMs and WHRDs, especially those in public-facing positions, and identify current gaps or barriers in combatting TFGBV.
          • Conduct campaigns or advocacy to raise awareness of TFGBV among women and girls, the general public, and decision-makers.
          • Conduct advocacy aimed at strengthening accountability and response mechanisms of digital platforms in relation to TFGBV.
          • Support the development of legal and policy solutions e.g. through the convening of actors such as civil society and international organisations, national human rights institutions, academia, and UN Special Rapporteurs.
          • Advocate for stronger legal and policy frameworks to prevent TFGBV and through advocacy and oversight ensure that duty bearers carry out their responsibilities.
  • Lot 2: Leveraging Digital Technologies for Climate Activism
    • Applicants under this lot are expected to respond to two interrelated focus areas.
      • Digital Technology to Assist Indigenous Climate Activists 
        • The first focus area under this lot aims to leverage digital technologies to support the work of indigenous climate activists, by increasing their access to digital technology to monitor and document environmental damage and violations. Digital skills and capacity will also be reinforced, and digital protection of indigenous climate and environmental activists will be strengthened. The priorities of this focus area are to:
          • Strengthen development and application of digital tools and technologies in support of indigenous activists fighting climate change and protecting the environment;
          • Increase the digital capacity of indigenous climate and environmental activists to utilise digital technology and engage in digital advocacy;
          • Strengthen the digital resilience and protection of indigenous climate and environmental activists against digital threats.
        • The following activities are examples, and applicants are neither bound nor limited by these:
          • Provide digital tools in the form of both software and hardware to indigenous climate and environmental activists, to support their documentation of environmental violations, such as illegal deforestation – e.g. access to satellite monitoring, encrypted apps, or drones.
          • Support capacity development and learning opportunities to enhance the digital skills of indigenous climate and environmental activists.
          • Provide training and support coordination of indigenous climate and environmental activists to promote digital advocacy.
          • Provide learning opportunities, security training and/or tools to strengthen the long-term digital protection of indigenous climate and environmental activists.
      • Fighting Disinformation on Climate Change and the Environment 
        • The second focus area aims at addressing mis- and disinformation on climate change and the environment, with a focus on strengthening the capacity of civil society to counter disinformation and increasing public awareness and resilience to mis- and disinformation on this topic. The priorities of this focus area are to:
          • Strengthen the capacity of CSOs to respond to climate and environmental disinformation;
          • Raise public awareness of disinformation about climate change and the environment;
          • Strengthen societal resilience to disinformation on climate change and the environment.
        • The following activities are examples, and applicants are neither bound nor limited by these:
          • Develop research on the extent of mis- and disinformation on climate change and the environment and the impact on climate CSOs.
          • Provide capacity building of CSOs engaged in addressing climate change to increase their digital protection and their capacity to counter disinformation.
          • Conduct research to identify legal, policy or other challenges or barriers to combat climate and environmental disinformation.
          • Carry out campaigns and advocacy to raise public awareness of disinformation on climate change and the environment.
          • Conduct media literacy activities on disinformation about climate change and the environment.
  • Lot 3: Strengthening Youth Engagement in the Digital Democratic Space
    • Applicants under this lot are expected to respond to two interrelated focus areas.
      • Digital Technology and Capacity of Youth Activists 
        • The first focus area under this lot aims to strengthen the digital access and capacity of young HRDs and activists, with a specific focus on youth, in urban areas in the Global South presenting high levels of both demographic density and political mobilisation. This focus area is both directed at new users of digital technology requiring greater digital access and skills, and at young HRDs and democratic activists who could benefit from strengthened digital skills and protection.
        • The priorities of this focus area are to:
          • Strengthen the digital access and skills of young HRDs and democratic activists;
          • Increase the skills and capacity of young HRDs and democratic activists for digital advocacy;
          • Reinforce the digital protection and resilience of young HRDs and activists.
        • The following activities are examples, and applicants are neither bound nor limited by these:
          • Develop community youth hubs providing access to digital technology and internet access, in support of youth democratic engagement.
          • Address the digital divide by outreach and inclusion of marginalized and disadvantaged groups within urban areas.
          • Provide learning opportunities and/or software and equipment to strengthen the long-term digital protection of young people.
          • Increase the digital advocacy skills and strategies of young HRDs and activists, with a focus on public engagement, outreach, and creating meaningful inclusion and participation in democratic governance and decision-making processes.
          • Reinforce cross-border exchanges and learning related to digital activism among young HRDs and activists.
      • Increasing the Resilience of Youth to Online Harassment and Mis- and Disinformation 
        • The second focus area under this lot aims to support young HRDs and activists who already use digital technology in navigating the digital landscape and increasing their resilience to online harassment and mis- and disinformation. And while Artificial Intelligence (AI) undoubtedly will become a powerful tool for civil society in the coming years, there is a risk, that it can be used to further exacerbate the challenges with mis- and disinformation. Young people are contributing to a rapid transformation of information ecosystems by using new digital platforms and creating new forms of content. This presents an opportunity to support a new generation of ethical and socially conscious content producers, who can meet increased demands for quality, fact-based, local-language content.
        • The priorities of this focus area are to:
          • Strengthen the capacity of young HRDs and activists to address challenges and tap into opportunities for an inclusive digital democratic space;
          • Provide opportunities for youth to use new platforms and content formats to foster ethical, fact-based, socially conscious content;
          • Strengthen young people’s understanding of online harassment and mis- and disinformation, and how bots and AI exacerbates these threats.
        • The following activities are examples, and applicants are neither bound nor limited by these:
          • Activities or trainings to increase the capacity of young HRDs and activists to address mis- and disinformation as well as online harassment.
          • Activities aimed at empowering young HRDs and activists to use new digital platforms, tools, and content formats, to foster ethical and socially conscious content online.
          • Facilitate hackathons for democratic tech solutions, blogathons for collective campaigning, or other support to collective youth action, addressing opportunities or barriers to inclusive digital democratic space and digital participation of young HRDs and activists.
          • Support identification and dissemination of best practice on digital advocacy and democratic participation of youth HRDs and activists.

Funding Information

• The available budget for this call is a maximum of 147 million Danish Kroner (approximately 20 million Euro).
• Each applicant/consortium should submit a proposal for funding of minimum 30 mill. DKK.
• The allocated budget for the lots are:
  • Lot 1: 49 million Danish Kroner
  • Lot 2: 49 million Danish Kroner
  • Lot 3: 49 million Danish Kroner

Eligibility Criteria

• This call for proposals can be accessed by two different types of applicants. The applicant can be:
  • A single Civil Society Organisation (CSO) or Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)
  • A consortium where one of the members takes on the role as lead applicant. The lead applicant must be a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) or Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)
• Co-applicants could be National Human Rights Institutions, Universities, Research Facilities or other independent state institutions or non-governmental and not-for-profit actors. The responsibilities of the lead applicant will include overseeing, supporting and guiding project implementation and participating in the governance structure of the programme, e.g. in meetings with the PMT, becoming a member of the Project Coordination Group together with the other DDI partners and ensuring collaboration and knowledge sharing with the other partners. The lead applicant will be the recipient of the grant and will sub-grant to the consortium members. Applicants (single or as member of a consortium) can only submit one application per lot. An organisation can only be lead on one application.
• Applicants are encouraged to present and reflect on implementation partnerships both in the concept note and in the full proposal. The DDI emphasises local leadership and projects are expected to prioritise local partnerships, including with local implementing partners, sub-granting, or other mechanism for funding to local partners. Where feasible, set-up can also accommodate social movements and informal groups.
• The current partners of the DDI can apply as co-applicants in a consortium, with another applicant taking on the role as lead applicant. Lead applicants under one lot can only apply as co-applicants under another lot.
• The eligibility of the concept note will be assessed on the basis of the following mandatory criteria. Failure to comply with the criteria or any diversion in templates will result in an administrative rejection of the application.
  • General Eligibility 
    • Governance: The lead applicant is an organisation operating on a non-for-profit basis within development cooperation, which has approved articles of association, and an independent governing board. (Co-applicants could be National Human Rights Institutions, Universities, Research Facilities or other independent state institutions or nongovernmental and not for profit actors.)
    • Programme Management Expertise: The applicant/consortium as a whole have managed a minimum of three projects above 10 million DKK each in DAC countries that were ongoing within the last two years.
    • Lot Specific Alignment and Capacity 
      • The lot-specific priorities are reflected as specific priority areas in the lead applicants existing strategy.
      • The applicant/consortium as a whole, has a minimum of 3 full-time staff employed working on the lot-specific priorities.
      • The applicant/consortium as a whole, has existing or prior project engagement of minimum 20 million DKK aligned with the lot-specific priorities and target group.
    • Geographical Experience: The applicant/consortium as a whole, has an established office, ongoing project presence, or experience from working (project activities above 10 million DKK) in the chosen focus countries or region.
    • Financial Management Experience:
      • The applicant/consortium as a whole has audited annual financial statements without substantial qualifications for the preceding two fiscal years (e.g. 2021, 2022, 2023)
      • The applicant/consortium as a whole, has had an annual turnover of minimum 80 million DKK over the last two fiscal years.
      • The applicant/consortium as a whole, has a track record of delivering results effectively and efficiently in cooperation with Denmark and/or the EU in the past.
    • Integrity and Solvency:
      • The applicant/consortium as a whole, has not been in any of the following situations within the previous five years: i) bankruptcy or insolvency, ii) breach of obligations, iii) final judgement of grave professional misconduct, vi) final judgement of fraud, corruption, terrorist financing, child labour, or any form of trafficking of human beings.
      • The applicant(s) has an approved and functional organisational anti-corruption policy.
      • The applicant(s) has an approved and functional organisational SHEA policy.

For more information, visit DDI.