CIVICUS DDI Regional Support Mechanisms
GLOBAL DIGITAL DEMOCRACY COLLECTIVE
Locally rooted. Globally connected. Digitally empowered.
Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC)
RSMs in Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC) is led by Wingu, Kubadili, and Civic House, the LAC prototype focuses on strengthening digital civic engagement and collective action.
Middle East & North Africa (MENA)
Delivered by the Innovation for Change MENA Hub, this prototype prioritises digital security, civic space navigation, and advocacy in highly sensitive political contexts.
East Asia
In partnership with the TIFA Foundation, the East Asia prototype supports civil society to counter shrinking civic space and advance institutional accountability.
Eastern Europe & Central Asia (EECA)
Jointly led by Metamorphosis Foundation and TechSoup, the EECA prototype strengthens open information ecosystems, transparency, and digital literacy
South Asia
RSMs in South Asia is implemented by Accountability Lab Pakistan, the South Asia prototype centers on participatory governance, youth engagement, and grassroots-led digital mobilisation.
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
In partnership with OpenUp, Civic Tech Innovation Network (CTIN), and Wits Enterprise, the SSA prototype prioritises ecosystem building to connect civic tech innovators, data activists, movements, and researchers.
Latin America & the Caribbean — DemocráTICa
DemocráTICa is a regional initiative designed to resource civil society organisations across Latin America and the Caribbean that are driving inclusive democracy through digital tools and civic engagement. Led by a consortium governed by Wingu, Kubadili, and Civic House, the programme offers both financial grants and non-financial capacity support; co-designed with the communities it serves.
Financial Support Mechanism - DemocráTICa
The financial mechanism provides direct grants to civil society organisations and grassroots groups working on digital democracy. Grants are structured to be flexible and accessible, with a particular focus on organisations representing women, LGBTQIA+ communities, indigenous peoples, rural populations, and other marginalised groups.
Non-Financial Support Mechanism - DemocráTICa
Alongside grants, DemocraTICA provides a structured package of non-financial support to help organisations build lasting capacity. Support is designed around real needs identified through the co-design process and delivered in partnership with regional experts.
What non-financial support includes:
- Localised co-design workshops using the 4C methodology (Co-Creation, Collaboration, Communication, Community)
- Targeted training and technical assistance tailored to each organisation's needs
- Access to an 'advocates' network — individuals and organisations empowered to champion the mechanisms locally
- Public recognition, networking opportunities, and involvement in grant decision-making for advocates
- Ongoing communication through newsletters, community digital channels, and open community events
- Multisectoral roundtables connecting CSOs with technology leaders, governments, and international bodies
- Advocacy training via the POLIS programme, including a 30-day orientation, Public Affairs Bootcamp, and strategic calibration sessions
Middle East & North Africa — DDI MENA
DDI MENA is delivered by the Innovation for Change MENA Hub and builds on a network of over 2,200 regional members and 120 co-design partners. Operating across some of the world's most restricted civic spaces, the programme takes a security-conscious, community-driven approach to resourcing digital democracy efforts in the region.
Financial Support Mechanism — MENA InnovateFund
The MENA InnovateFund addresses the chronic shortage of accessible, flexible funding for civil society organisations working on digital democracy in the MENA region. It works through three interconnected components.
MENA Digital Democracy Funders Consortium
A regional structure that advocates for accessible funding and acts as a long-term channelling mechanism for organisations across the region. Activities include disseminating a Donor Allyship Toolkit, formalising consortium governance, and building a philanthropic funding pipeline.
Open MENA Digital Democracy Challenge
A rolling open challenge that identifies and funds the most innovative digital democracy solutions in the region. Selected initiatives enter an incubation lab with mentorship and technical support, and top performers receive subgrants.
Online Financial Resourcing Lab
An online platform offering a self-assessment tool and capacity-strengthening workshops to help MENA civil society organisations build long-term financial sustainability and includes capacity-strengthening subgrants of USD 4,500 each.
Non-Financial Support Mechanism — MENA Digital Democracy Empowerment Initiative
This mechanism addresses gaps in digital knowledge, technical capacity, and access to Arabic-language resources across MENA civil society. It operates through three key components.
AI for Digital Democracy
Development of three AI-powered tools tailored to the needs of MENA civil society, informed by a regional survey. Includes testing with early-adopter CSOs and online and in-person training workshops (target: 200+ participants).
MENA Digital Democracy Academy
An online and offline learning platform offering five certified courses in Arabic on digital skills, cybersecurity, AI, and digital acceleration. Includes a regional Bootcamp Training of Trainers and an open resource repository.
Digital Democracy Communities of Practice
Four thematic communities of practice (15–20 members each) for peer-to-peer learning. Supported by periodic webinars and a podcast series featuring technologists and civil society professionals from across the region.
East & Southeast Asia — DDI East Asia
DDI East Asia is delivered by Tifa Foundation and partners, supporting civil society groups across Southeast and East Asia to access flexible funding and technical assistance for digital democracy work. The programme recognises the diversity of civic space conditions across the region and tailors its approach accordingly.
Financial Support Mechanism — Re-D Fund
The Re-D Fund (Redefining Futures for Digital Democracy) offers flexible, rapid, and unrestricted funding to civil society groups working on digital democracy. It challenges traditional rigid donor models by giving organisations autonomy over how funds are used.
Non-Financial Support Mechanism — Young Tech Collective for Change
The Young Tech Collective for Change bridges the gap between technical expertise and civil society needs. A database of skilled volunteers provides direct, tailored digital support to organisations with limited internal technical capacity.
Support includes:
- Holistic security training covering digital, physical, and psycho-social resilience (100 participants per cohort)
- Up to 4 months of intensive accompaniment by volunteer technical experts
- Support for grassroots, high-risk, and marginalised communities including youth, women, and LGBTQI+ groups
Eastern Europe & Central Asia — Digital Spark Initiative
The Digital Spark Initiative is delivered by Metamorphosis Foundation and Fundacja TechSoup, bringing together a network of over 150 certified trainers and 12,700+ users of the Hive Mind e-learning platform. The programme supports civil society across 13 countries in EECA, with approaches tailored to the civic space conditions in each country.
Financial Support Mechanism — Strategic Growth & Institutional Stability Grants
Two complementary grant types address the needs of both established CSOs and emerging grassroots actors ; counteracting the short-term, project-based funding that often prevents organisations from focusing on their core missions.
GRANT TYPES
Institutional Stability Grants | 10 grants of USD 10,000 for legally registered CSOs. An additional USD 3,000 supports their role as local Capacity Hubs (CapHubs), hosting at least one networking event for local CSOs. |
Strategic Growth Grants | 90 grants of USD 4,500 prioritising unregistered activists, emerging initiatives, and grassroots CSOs — those often excluded from traditional funding streams. |
Non-Financial Support Mechanism — LINK EECA
LINK EECA (Learning and Innovation Network for Knowledge) provides tailored capacity-building and peer support informed by a baseline needs assessment. Delivered through TechSoup's Hive Mind platform, it gives civil society actors access to expert training, peer exchange, and local support hubs.
Digital Learning via Hive Mind
Self-paced courses, live clinics, and modular workshops in multiple languages covering digital resilience, disinformation response, civic tech, strategic communications, and fundraising. Content is tailored to needs identified through individual Rapid Capacity Scans for each grantee.
Peer Exchange
A secure online community of practice for sharing best practices, case studies, and facilitating peer-to-peer learning across the region.
Expert Support
Instruction and individual consultations from a roster of 150+ certified trainers, with mentorship and feedback tracked to ensure quality.
Local Capacity Hubs (CapHubs)
Up to 10 decentralised hubs hosted by Institutional Stability Grant recipients. Each hub fosters grassroots connections, hosts knowledge-sharing events, and offers technical assistance to local actors.
Civil Society Exchange Fellowships
Up to five targeted one-month exchange fellowships for civil society representatives. Fellows produce a concrete outcome; a digital tool, security protocol, community engagement strategy, or policy brief, directly addressing needs identified through their Rapid Capacity Scan.
MEGAPHONE Unconference
An annual two-day in-person regional event (100 participants) for networking, knowledge transfer, and showcasing project results. Previous editions have brought together 750+ participants and 100+ experts across Europe and Central Asia.
South Asia — DDI South Asia
DDI South Asia is delivered by Accountability Lab Pakistan across Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, Afghanistan, Bhutan, and the Maldives. The programme responds to the unique governance landscapes of each country while maintaining a unified commitment to inclusive democracy, digital rights, and civic space strengthening.
Financial Support Mechanism — South Asia Diversity Fund (SADF)
The South Asia Diversity Fund provides direct financial support to grassroots organisations and civil society actors, empowering them to promote inclusive democracy and expand civic space across South Asia. Grant recipients also receive tailored mentorship and technical guidance to help them optimise resources and achieve meaningful outcomes.
Non-Financial Support Mechanism — South Asia Democracy Solidarity Block (SADSB)
The South Asia Democracy Solidarity Block complements financial support with technical assistance, mentorship, and capacity-building resources; creating a collaborative and resilient regional network of actors working to strengthen democracy.
What SADSB provides:
- Training programmes on digital tools, civic tech innovations, and strategic communications
- Specialised sessions on risk mitigation for civil society actors in restrictive environments
- Personalised mentorship from regional advisors, with customised capacity-building plans
- Peer learning platforms for civil society leaders and grantees to share best practices
- Cybersecurity training for activists
- Digital risk management training and tailored online toolkits
- A mentorship programme pairing local actors with international digital democracy experts
- A regional repository of case studies and best practices for continuous learning
Sub-Saharan Africa — DDI SA
DDI SA is delivered by OpenUp and the Civic Tech Innovation Network (CTIN), operating across Sub-Saharan Africa. The programme takes a holistic, user-centred approach; combining financial grants, capacity building, innovation support, and community network development to enhance civic engagement and foster inclusive democracy.
Financial Support Mechanism
A tiered grant system designed to meet organisations where they are — from emerging grassroots groups to more established civic innovators. The financial mechanism is complemented by additional mini grants for urgent needs.
MAIN GRANTS
Tier 1 Grants | For smaller and grassroots organisations, with a simplified application process |
Tier 2 Grants | For organisations with greater capacity to deliver impact |
MINI-GRANTS (FOR COHORT MEMBERS)
Emergency Fund | For urgent threats to resilience and security, including legal fee support |
Care Fund | For psycho-social, mental wellbeing, and health support related to digital harms |
Subscription Fund | For technology subscriptions and sustainable digital access |
Non-Financial Support Mechanism
A comprehensive non-financial package is integrated with the grant programme, designed to build lasting capability and connect organisations to broader networks and resources.
Capacity Building
- Customised workshops focused on innovation skills, digital skills, and data skills
- Train-the-trainer approach to extend impact beyond individual participants
- Basic digital literacy support available before advanced training
Innovation & Technical Support
- Innovation advice desk providing development and data technical support for projects
- Organisational development mentoring supported by guest lectures
Community & Networking
- Peer learning networks between grant cohorts
- Dragons Den-style event as a mechanism for advancing project sustainability and visibility
- Revenue generation training for beneficiaries, including business development support
- Connection to regional and international funding networks through the Regional Ambassador Programme
Digital Infrastructure
- All resources designed for data-constrained environments
- Offline resource materials and tools available
- Subscription Fund grants available to cover cybersecurity and technology costs
Link: https://ddisafund.org/
