NOFO: Emergency Assistance for Human Rights Defenders (US)

Deadline: 08-Sep-2026

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. 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 n