Urgent Hardship Grants for Organizations in the MENA Region

Minority Rights Group is accepting applications for Urgent Hardship Grants from civil society organizations in Lebanon, Palestine, Morocco and Tunisia. These grants aim to support civil society organizations representing minorities and marginalized groups to overcome urgent threats or risks that they may face as a result of their human rights work to promote and protect the human rights of marginalized minority groups.

How to apply: Organizations wishing to apply to these grants should submit an application form in Arabic, English or French to the following email: mena@minorityrights.org.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Eligibility

Non-governmental or civil society organizations based in Lebanon, Palestine, Morocco, Tunisia that represent or work closely with minority communities and other marginalized groups (see below) who have faced a recent threat or elevated risk and require urgent support. The hardship fund is intended for the benefit of civil society organizations. This can also include the individuals working in civil society organizations, impacted as a result of their human rights work, and in order to ensure sustainability for the organizations.

• Applicants must be a non-for-profit organization committed to the protection and/or promotion of human rights.
• Have a track record of working with disadvantaged ethnic, religious or cultural minorities or marginalized groups such migrants, refugees, LGBTI or persons with disabilities. Be committed to involving various minorities and other marginalized communities in their broader activities.
• Must have faced a recent threat or elevated risk of a threat and be able to support that with documentation.
• Operating in one or more of the project countries: Lebanon, Palestine, Morocco, Tunisia.
• Have the ability to receive funding, either through their own organization or an agreed upon alternative arrangement.

Budget available and timeframe

The amount available for each project is between 1,000 – 3000 Euros and duration of the action may last up to a maximum of six months.

 It may cover expenses including travel, accommodation, physical and digital security, legal fees, medical care, relocation, supporting minority rights defenders arbitrarily detained and/or their families.

Selection Criteria

• The urgency of the threat or risk that needs to be prevented or mitigated.
• The applicant organization should be able to show how the grant will be able to contribute to the protection and sustainability of the operations of the organization.
• The applicant must show that the organization will be able to continue work after the intervention is over.
• The request must not have been fully supported by another donor or national or international organization.

Submission Process

Please submit the completed applications in Arabic, English or French.  Please send the applications to mena@minorityrights.org. All applications, whether successful or not will receive a reply.

Please provide in the application form a secure means of communication including but not limited to, encrypted message apps (WhatsApp/signal) or encrypted emails (Tutanota/ Proton-mail) to facilitate communication.

Treatment of Information

 The data will be treated confidentially in line with GDPR policies. Only MRG and its implementing partners will have access to the information provided in order to facilitate the selection process. These include The Civic Forum Institute in Palestine and Attalaki in Tunisia. For any questions on the application process, please write to mena@minorityrights.org.

Download the application form here