Civil society has demonstrated profound interest and urgency in taking on the work to advocate for and strengthen governance, human rights protections and rule of law around digital public infrastructure projects. Here, we use digital public infrastructure (DPI) to refer broadly to the technological systems and networks that underlay digital services and interactions within a state, which in practice has come to mean initially digital ID, payments and data exchange. Governance and rights-based work around DPI is critical: as core infrastructure for people’s everyday lives, both the risks and potential of DPI are high.
Civil society has been playing a central role in pursuing advocacy, research, strategic litigation and other actions that have pushed policymakers to develop more principles-based approaches to digital public infrastructure and to recognize the need for consultation. Despite the fact that civil society is recognized as a critical player in developing multi-stakeholder approaches to DPI, very little funding has reached local civil society. Often funding initiatives lack sufficient flexibility and scope to reach a diverse network of locally-embedded civil society organizations. Further, funding has tended to prioritize support and guidance for government uptake of DPI. By limiting the spectrum of engagement, funders of DPI risk accentuating community mistrust as well as excluding critical voices that could help to ensure DPI is accompanied by plural and democratic institutions.
The Fund for Civil Society Engaging on DPI, convened by the Initiative for Digital Public Interest (IDPI) addresses this critical gap in the DPI funding landscape. It will support civil society actors in engaging governance, human rights protection and/or rule of law around DPI. It aims to facilitate civil society efforts at two levels: (1) multilateral engagement including support to civil society organizing and convening; and (2) national and local interventions in key geographies where DPI is being implemented, especially in the Global Majority. The primary aim is to build a vibrant and multi-stakeholder community that supports and enables inclusive and safe digital public infrastructure globally.
To this end, the fund is designed to
1) Provide targeted funding support to meet needs and priorities of civil society around the implementation and impacts of DPI
2) Operate through a light-touch and agile application and selection processes
3) Maximize flexibility in what we fund and who we fund to promote and support a diverse network of trusted, locally-led civil society actors
The Fund will provide funding for civil society activities in relation to either multilateral processes around DPI, or national or local-level interventions. We are open to diverse types of activities: for example, the documentation of existing evidence, publication of research, travel to participate in a particular forum, or organising a convening. We encourage civil society to get in touch to explore with us potential opportunities to apply for support.
Proposals should aim to advance knowledge, collaboration, exchange and/or advocacy related to one of the three core areas of interest around DPI: governance, human rights protection or rule of law. We welcome proposals to extend or deepen existing work, as well as innovative proposals that test and explore new ideas and approaches. This could involve:
The Fund will not support the following types of activities:
Staff and administrative costs linked to the project activity are eligible.
Funding is open to a wide range of civil society actors including formal and informal organisations, individuals, networks and partnerships with a demonstrated commitment to the governance, human rights protection or rule of law for DPI. We encourage potential applicants to get in touch with IDPI directly to discuss a particular need or priority related the Fund objectives, and we can explore possibilities to apply for support together.
We anticipate funding up to 20 grants ranging from US$5,000 - US$25,000 in the first round. The Fund will support a diversity of types of activities across the three areas of governance, human rights protection and rule of law. We will not fund core funding, fellowships or salary buy-outs.
All applications fulfilling eligibility criteria will be reviewed by a minimum of 3 members of the IDPI Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee will make decisions on award based on the following criteria:
We encourage submissions in your preferred language. We may use translation software to assist in the review of submissions. If you would prefer to translate yourself into English, we welcome the use of translation support to complete your application. If you do use translation software, please indicate in your application. This will support reviewers in reading the application according to how it was prepared. Applications are reviewed for conceptual strength and not quality of language.
Initial expressions of interest for support should be submitted using the form below by 15 January 2025. Applicants will be invited to submit a slightly longer application by 15 March 2025 with funding anticipated to be awarded in May.
Upon approval of the award by the IPDI Advisory Committee, a contract will be written up by IDPI and the project lead. Unless otherwise discussed, grant payments will be made upfront. Where appropriate and feasible, IDPI will consider opportunities for tailored ad hoc support to grantees, subject to discussions between the grantee and IDPI.
Step 1: Submit a short paragraph outlining your idea by 15 January 2025:
We encourage people to apply even if you are uncertain about due diligence requirements. Potential applicants are also welcome to get in touch in advance to discuss any concerns via: inquiries@digitalpublicinterest.org
Step 2: Invited applicants submit more detail in February/March 2025
Step 3: Successful applicants notified in early-May 2025
Since its inception in 2022, IDPI has moved to sharpen, amplify and complement the work of key advocates and thinkers on the benefits and harms of digital public infrastructure, to build and consolidate an evidence base, and to support investigatory work that translates into action and accountability. It started as a collaboration of experts at the Open Society Foundations and spun out in 2022 as an independent initiative and funding entity. IDPI is directed by an Advisory Committee. Its day-to-day operations are managed and carried out by a small secretariat, project consultants and close partnerships with members of the field.