The purpose of the African Environmental Defenders Fund
The purpose of the emergency fund is to provide urgent assistance to African Environmental Defenders working on land and environmental issues who find themselves in life threatening or emergency situations due to the nature of their work.
What is the process for a defender applying for emergency funding?
Step 1: Application is made
Step 2: Verification of application information
Step 3: Verified application sent to committee
Step 4: Decision made and communicated
Step 5: If successful, payment is made
Step 6: Updates and receipts requested
What is the African Environmental Defenders Fund Committee?
The African Environmental Defenders Fund Committee is made up of independent people representing organizations such as International Land Coalition, ICCA Consortium, CRAAD-OI, Natural Justice as well as legal practitioners in private litigation- with expertise in human rights, emergency response mechanisms, crisis coordination and protection of environmental defenders.
The Fund Committee provides oversight, accountability and collective decision-making in the management of the emergency fund, and is primarily tasked with the responsibility of reviewing all documentation submitted and determine, through a final decision, whether or not to support the application.
The Fund Committee is required to make a decision within 48 hours from the time the documentation is presented to the committee; however, this might take longer depending on the complexity of the case.
A case will only be presented to the committee once all due diligence processes are completed and the administrators of the fund are of the opinion that the application meets the eligibility criteria and has enough merit to be brought before the fund committee.
All decisions are made by majority vote. If additional information is required by a committee member in order for them to make a final decision, this is conveyed to the fund administrator who then requests or seeks additional information.
Would you like to support the Environmental Defenders Fund?
Since the establishment of the Fund in 2019, we have supported over 500 defenders, securing their lives and dignity. We receive new applications every week.
We have found that direct cash deposits to people finding themselves in emergency situations is the best way to secure their lives, work and dignity.
If you believe in the purpose of the Fund and would like to further support Environmental Defenders from across Africa, we are always looking for partnerships to continue to provide direct funding to those facing assault, harassment, arrest or threats to their life.