The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) invites proposals from civil society organizations (CSOs) in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to defend and expand civic space. Grants of up to $20,000 are available. Applications are due by 28 February 2026. Background Civil society in SIDS and LDCs plays a critical role in addressing challenges such as climate change, governance, and development constraints. To operate effectively, CSOs need an enabling environment where they can freely establish organizations, access resources, express views, mobilize communities, ensure accountability, and participate in decision-making. ICNL’s support focuses on advocacy, resilience-building, and multilateral engagement to promote civic freedoms and strengthen the legal and regulatory environment for civil society. Project Activities Proposals may focus on one or more of the following: Advocacy for reforms – Adoption of laws, policies, or measures that remove restrictions on civic freedoms (association, assembly, expression, public participation). Civil society resilience – Building capacity through trainings, resources, and networks to help CSOs navigate challenges and exercise civic freedoms. Multilateral engagement – Participation in regional or international mechanisms to promote open civic space. Proposals can focus on a single country or multiple countries and may combine more than one of the above elements. All project activities must be completed by 1 October 2026. Eligibility This call is open to CSOs in the following countries: Africa: Angola, Cabo Verde, DRC, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mozambique, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia Asia/Pacific: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Timor-Leste, Vanuatu LAC: Dominican Republic, Jamaica Projects must focus on at least one of the eligible countries. CSOs may be legally registered or informal associations with structured activities. Application Instructions Submit the following via email to global@icnl.org, subject line: “Empowering Civil Society Partners in SIDS and LDCs to Defend and Expand Civic Space”: Proposal (≤5 pages) including: Need for the project and context Objectives and anticipated impact Detailed activities and contribution to objectives Partners and stakeholders Target actors and beneficiaries Expected outputs (trainings, reports, toolkits, media campaigns, policy proposals) Timeline Line-item budget (up to $20,000 USD) Resumes/CVs of project personnel Include the following in your cover email: organization name, country, project location, point of contact (name, email, phone). Selection Criteria Proposals will be evaluated based on: Compliance with eligibility and application requirements Likelihood of impact on civic space challenges Quality, feasibility, and clarity of proposed activities Proposed budget and value for money Experience and expertise of the applicant Capacity for responsible stewardship of funds Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. About ICNL The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) works with civil society, governments, and international partners in over 100 countries to strengthen civic space. Since 1992, ICNL has promoted legal environments that enable citizens to organize, speak out, and take action for positive change. VIEW THE TERMS OF REFERENCE HERE For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the funding organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.