International Development Grant

Support to Lifeline: Embattled CSO Assistance Fund

Project Number: CA-3-P006515001

Status: Closed

Country/Region: Unknown

Regional Focus:

Africa 16.67%
America 16.67%
Asia 16.67%
Oceania 16.66%
Europe 16.67%
Developing countries unspecified 16.66%

Maximum Contribution: $250,000.00

Start Date: December 18, 2018

End Date: September 30, 2019

Duration: 1.0 years

Project Description

The project supports the Lifeline: Embattled CSO Assistance Fund which aims to provide emergency financial assistance to civil society organizations (CSOs) and human rights defenders under threat or attack and rapid response advocacy and resiliency grants to support CSOs in responding to broader threats against civic space . Human rights defenders and CSOs in many fragile states face legal restrictions obstructions of international funding intimidation and in most cases arrests and detentions.

Expected Results

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) assisted CSOs to continue to work despite threats; (2) assisted CSOs to ensure that they have an improved ability to avoid lessen and/or overcome emergencies on their own or with local resources; (3) CSOs adopt more widely improved advocacy strategies and implement more effective advocacy initiatives; and (4) CSOs network and cooperate more effectively to counter a closing civil society operating space.

Progress & Results Achieved

Results achieved at the end of the project (September 2019) include: (1) 94% of assisted Civil society organizations (CSOs) reported that emergency assistance allowed them to return to their human rights work in a limited capacity while 67% reported being able to resume their work with few or no limitations; (2) assisted CSOs reported having improved their abilities to avoid lessen or overcome emergencies on their own or with local resources; (3) CSOs adopted more widely improved advocacy strategies and implemented more effective advocacy initiatives; and (4) CSOs strengthened their network and cooperated more effectively to counter a closing civil society operating space.

Key Information

Executing Agency:
United States Department of State

Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada

Program:
YFMInternaAssistPartnershp&Programing Br

Last Modified:
September 19, 2025

Development Classifications

DAC Sector:

Democratic participation and civil society 100%

Aid Type: Project-type interventions

Collaboration: Bilateral

Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation

Selection Mechanism:
Foreign Affairs and Trade Gs&Cs

Policy Markers
Level 1 Gender equality
Budget Breakdown
2018-04-01 to 2019-03-31 $250,000 CAD
Geographic Information
000""
Project Number: CA-3-P006515001