A newly launched philanthropy-backed initiative is aiming to help civil society groups in the global south deal with a surge of online attacks and surveillance that has coincided with rising authoritarianism and growing mistrust of institutions worldwide.
The Global Network for Social Justice and Digital Resilience, which launched Tuesday during the United Nations Internet Governance Forum in Kyoto, Japan, will distribute grants to at least 10 organizations that provide technical support to civil society groups in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa “where the harms and uneven benefits of technology are most pronounced,” according to a press release.
The Ford Foundation is providing $15 million in seed funding to help launch the network. The New Venture Fund is the fiscal sponsor, which means it manages donor funds. An independent board also has been set up to oversee activities.
About the author
Stephanie Beasley@Steph_Beasley
Stephanie Beasley is a Senior Reporter at Devex, where she covers global philanthropy with a focus on regulations and policy. She is an alumna of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and Oberlin College and has a background in Latin American studies. She previously covered transportation security at POLITICO.
