Promoting Human Rights, Civic Freedoms and Media Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

Civil Rights Defenders is part of a SIDA Consortium to strengthen the respect for human rights in Sub-Saharan Africa. Together with five other civil society organisations, we aim to provide increased support to civil society, human rights defenders, independent media, and journalists in the region.

The project is designed and implemented by CIVICUS, Civil Rights Defenders, Defend Defenders, Fojo Media Institute, Hub Afrique, and Wits Journalism.

About the SIDA Consortium

The Consortium to Promote Human Rights, Civic Freedoms and Media Development in Sub-Saharan Africa project aims to protect and expand the civic space for civil society organisations and human rights defenders, as well as nurture and enhance the effectiveness of independent media and journalism in the region. To do so, it will facilitate collective action both within and across countries, bolster existing coalitions and campaigns, and where necessary, support the creation of new ones.

Against a backdrop of increasing restrictions to the exercise of fundamental freedoms (association, assembly, and expression), the project is working with a range of stakeholders across the spectrum of Sub-Saharan African civil society and media actors. This includes a special emphasis on frontline actors working on issues related to gender, labour, LGBTI, and environmental and indigenous rights, as these groups are most likely to bear the brunt of closing civic space.

The project is designed and implemented by a consortium of six regional partners: CIVICUS, Civil Rights Defenders, Defend Defenders, Fojo Media Institute, Hub Afrique, and Wits Journalism. Partners are working closely with multiple broader networks and leveraging on regional and international human rights mechanisms to engage target stakeholders and collaboratively develop solutions to these complex challenges. It is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), with a pilot phase set to run from October 2019 to June 2022, but with the intention of the consortium continuing the project after this period. Coordination support for the project is provided by CIVICUS.