Egypt’s civil society remains under the tight control of the regime’s security-military establishment. Independent civil society organizations (CSOs) are facing challenges on the level of operations, strategic planning, legal framework, and fundraising. However, most continue conducting their work while opting for one or a combination of institutional and financial arrangements that allow a continuation of activities. In addition, emerging and specialist initiatives have progressively complemented and substituted traditional forms of human rights and pro-democracy organizations that have been especially targeted by the authorities. However, they require flexible funding, tailored training and coaching and platforms for networking and exchanging experiences with more experienced CSOs locally, regionally and internationally.

Switzerland is in a unique position to continue the support to CSOs, having strong in-country presence and building on the tested and proven support in Phase I and its longstanding and rich experience providing direct support to human rights organisations through the HRPD.

Direct beneficiaries on annual basis 28 Egyptian civil society actors who 1) adopt a rights-based approach in their activity, 2) belong to the most threatened civil society actors, and 3) seek to advance a transformative agenda on which human rights and sustainable development can be reached.

It is likely that a percentage of these actors will receive recurring funds for the duration of the project leading to a total number of beneficiaries ranging between 50 and 75 actors for the 4 years.

20% of the interventions will directly aim at supporting women and LGBTQI+ rights and people given the additional risks and vulnerabilities they face in the current context.

Indirect beneficiaries the wider Egyptian population who benefit from the CSOs’s activities.

Outcome 1: Strengthened protection, financial stability and coping capacity of independent Egyptian civil society most at risk.

Outcome 2: Improved operational capacities of independent civil society to advocate for accountability and the rule of law.

Outcome 3: Enlarged base of support for the civil society at the national and international levels (outreach).

Principaux résultats attendus:  

• 32 operational grants and tailored coaching are allocated to the most threatened independent human rights initiatives to prevent and respond to existential threats
• 28 urgent grants and tailored coaching are provided to help individual human defenders to mitigate security threats and/or to maintain and develop their work
• 18 operational grants and tailored coaching are allocated to independent civil society initiatives promoting justice, redress, and accountability
• 24 operational grants and tailored coaching are allocated to independent civil society initiatives advancing the rule of law
• 12 grants and tailored coaching are allocated to research, cultural and/or media initiatives broadening public support for human rights and civil society
• Regular exchanges between CSO, donors and international organizations are undertaken to analyze developments and consider collective strategic orientations for the support of the Egyptian civil society

Principaux résultats antérieurs:   Phase I of the programme was fundamental in enabling 75 independent civil society actors (35 individual defenders and 40 NGOs) to survive, anticipate and overcome increasing risks and for the majority of them to continue their human rights work, benefiting nearly 15,000 civil society actors, vulnerable people and survivors of violations and more than 9 million social media users, in 25 out of the 27 governorates and internationally. The programme provided a significant lifeline to individual activists at risk with 90% of those supported avoiding arbitrary arrest or serving lengthy prison sentences, and continuing their human rights work. 12 new civil society initiatives were supported to be established, 8 of which are partially exiled. As a result of regular referrals and exchanges with donors, nearly half of the Foundation's NGO partners were able to diversify their resources, and spaces for reflexion between various actors were maintained in the absence of such opportunities locally. A few advocacy arguments were successfully moved forward locally to address the right to form unions, gender-based violence and freedom of information in an attempt to harmonize the legislation and practices in Egypt with international obligations.

• Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
• Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DAPP)
• Open Society Foundations (OSF)
• National Endowment for Democracy (NED)
• Sigrid Rausing Trust (SRT)

• SDC MENA gender program with EMHRF (under development)
• SEMO: Supporting Egyptian Media Organizations
• DPDH projects e.g. Egypt Watch v3
• EuroMed Rights
• The EU Human Rights Defenders’ Mechanism
• North Africa Cultural Program by AFAC