Claim Your Space - Rapid Response Fund

Claim Your Space (CYS) is a rapid response mechanism available through Global Focus. The purpose of CYS is to provide rapid financial support to civil society actors and human rights defenders at risk. The mechanism is a response to the global shrinking civic space; freedoms of assembly, association, and expression. CYS is available to individuals, organizations, movements, and groups in selected countries in the Global South, who are partners of Danish civil society organizations. 

​Track 1: Emergency assistance to individuals and groups under threat
Funding is granted to individuals and groups under threat to enable them to survive and/or continue operating. Grants cover expenses aimed at mitigating immediate threats to civil society actors and human rights defenders. Activities may include rehabilitation, evacuation, legal support, psycho-social support, bail, etc.

Track 2: Grants to local CSO alliances to collectively counter civic space restrictions​
Funding is granted to alliances of local civil society groups working together to address a situation of closing civic space that is occurring or is about to occur in their country. Project activities must be planned and implemented collectively by an alliance of local partner organizations with the aim of creating sustainable responses to civic space restrictions. Grants cover expenses aimed at countering civic space restrictions, such as alliance building, advocacy campaigns, and capacity building for local civil society actors.