The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) has launched a competitive call for proposals aimed at strengthening the protection and work of human rights defenders (HRDs) in Official Development Assistance (ODA) eligible countries. This funding opportunity is open to international, regional, and Norwegian civil society organisations with proven experience and commitment to defending human rights under challenging conditions. Context The call comes in response to alarming trends facing human rights defenders globally. In 2024, Colombia was reported as the deadliest country for HRDs, with 157 defenders killed, according to Front Line Defenders. The visual representation accompanying this announcement—street art from Getsemani, Cartagena—symbolizes both the resilience and vulnerability of those on the frontlines of human rights advocacy. Objectives This funding initiative aims to: Ensure the protection and emergency support of human rights defenders under threat. Strengthen systems and institutions that enable safe and sustainable human rights work. Increase mobilisation, visibility, and advocacy efforts in support of HRDs. Norad is particularly interested in organisations that demonstrate strong local presence or partnerships with local actors, especially in countries and regions where human rights defenders face elevated risks. Funding Details Total Indicative Funding: NOK 600 million Funding Period: 2026–2029 Expected Number of Agreements: Up to 20 Project Duration: Up to 4 years per agreement Eligibility Criteria To be considered, applicants must: Be a civil society organisation (international, regional, or Norwegian). Have a minimum of five years’ experience in the thematic and geographic areas covered by the proposal. Implement activities in at least five ODA-eligible countries. Ensure compliance with the OECD/DAC criteria for ODA. Proposals will be subject to a comparative assessment. Norad will prioritize a diverse set of partners and aim for a balanced portfolio across the three outcome areas. Application Process All applications must be submitted through Norad’s Grants Portal. Proposals submitted via other channels will not be considered. Proposal Deadline: November 18, 2025 Applicants are encouraged to review the following resources before submitting their proposals: Full Call for Proposals Frequently Asked Questions Norad’s Human Rights Defenders Portfolio Norad’s Grants Handbook Guiding Principles for Civil Society Support Contact Information For additional queries, applicants may contact:Norad’s Section for Human Rights and Civil SocietyEmail: hr-defenders@norad.no This optimized version keeps the original intent and key facts intact while enhancing clarity, structure, and professionalism for a broader international audience. Let me know if you’d like a version tailored for a specific type of organisation or geographic focus. 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.