Emergency Assistance for Fundamental Freedom Defenders

The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor is soliciting applications for the Emergency Assistance for Fundamental Freedom Defenders program under solicitation DFOP0019749. This initiative provides on-demand, short-term emergency funding to individuals and organizations facing imminent threats, such as arbitrary arrest, detention, prosecution, or physical attack, due to their efforts to defend fundamental freedoms of speech, peaceful assembly, and association. The program is designed to enable these defenders to continue their work toward democratic reform and human rights. The total award amount is 983,500 dollars with a performance period ranging from 12 to 18 months. Applicants must submit their proposals electronically via MyGrants or Grants.gov by September 8, 2026. Required documentation includes a one-page executive summary, a proposal narrative not exceeding 15 pages, a detailed line-item budget and narrative, a project monitoring and evaluation plan, key personnel biographies, and a one-page timeline. All submissions must be in English and adhere to specific formatting standards, including 12-point Times New Roman font and one-inch margins. Eligible applicants must possess a Unique Entity Identifier and be registered in sam.gov. Budgetary compliance is governed by 2 CFR 200, with specific guidelines provided for Modified Total Direct Costs and indirect cost rates.