Re-D Fund 2026: Microgrants for Civil Society Organizations Advancing Digital Democracy in East and Southeast Asia

The Tifa Foundation has launched the Re-D Fund, a major regional funding initiative designed to strengthen digital democracy, civic participation, human rights advocacy, and organizational resilience across East and Southeast Asia.

The Re-D Fund, which stands for “Reimagining Futures for Digital Democracy,” provides financial and non-financial support to civil society groups using digital technologies to address shrinking civic space and growing barriers to democratic participation in the digital era.

The initiative seeks to empower marginalized and underrepresented groups by providing microgrants and ecosystem support for projects that strengthen civic freedoms, inclusive governance, advocacy, and democratic innovation.

The programme is expected to support at least 100 local collaborators across the region, with a strong emphasis on women, youth, grassroots organizations, Indigenous Peoples, and gender minorities.

About the Re-D Fund

The Re-D Fund is a strategic grant mechanism developed to:

• Expand civic participation through digital tools
• Advance rights-based reforms
• Strengthen organizational resilience
• Support marginalized communities
• Promote democratic innovation
• Improve access to funding for underrepresented civil society actors

The fund responds directly to challenges such as:

• Shrinking civic space
• Digital repression
• Funding inequities
• Exclusion of grassroots organizations from traditional grant systems
• Increasing restrictions on democratic participation

By providing accessible financial support and ecosystem-building opportunities, the Re-D Fund aims to strengthen civil society’s role in protecting democracy and human rights in the digital age.

Main Objectives of the Re-D Fund

The programme seeks to ensure that local civil society groups in East and Southeast Asia gain equitable access to:

• Financial resources
• Capacity-building opportunities
• Support ecosystems
• Advocacy platforms
• Digital democracy tools

The ultimate goal is to enable organizations to develop and implement strategies that strengthen democratic participation and civic resilience amid digital-era challenges.

Who the Re-D Fund Supports

The Re-D Fund prioritizes support for marginalized and underrepresented groups, including:

• Women-led organizations
• Youth groups
• Informal and grassroots movements
• Indigenous Peoples
• Gender minorities
• Community-based advocacy groups
• Civil society networks

At least 50% of supported subgrantees are expected to come from marginalized communities.

Eligible Organizations and Groups

Eligible applicants include:

• Civil society groups
• Grassroots collectives
• Community organizations
• Informal advocacy groups
• Civic networks
• Rights-based coalitions

Applicants must:

• Operate in East or Southeast Asia
• Work in countries categorized as closed, repressed, or obstructed by the CIVICUS Monitor
• Be eligible for OECD DAC Official Development Assistance
• Have operated for at least 3 years
• Be legally registered or partnered with a fiscal sponsor
• Be capable of receiving grant funds directly or via a host organization

Priority Countries

The Re-D Fund specifically prioritizes projects implemented in:

• Cambodia
• Indonesia
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Myanmar
• Philippines
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Timor-Leste
• Vietnam

Thematic Focus Areas

Projects funded by the Re-D Fund must address civic space and democracy in the digital era through one or more thematic tracks.

1. Advancing Reforms for Civic Freedoms

This thematic area supports:

• Legal reforms
• Civic freedoms advocacy
• Democratic governance innovation
• Policy development
• Human rights protections

Eligible activities include:

• Legal research
• Policy research
• Advocacy campaigns
• Human rights monitoring
• Transparency initiatives
• Policy dialogue forums
• Democratic innovation activities

2. Enhancing Civic Participation of Marginalized Groups

This focus area supports initiatives that:

• Increase participation of excluded communities
• Strengthen digital inclusion
• Promote equitable civic engagement
• Amplify marginalized voices

3. Strengthening Civic Influence

Projects under this category may include:

• Public engagement strategies
• Advocacy campaigns
• Community mobilization
• Civic technology solutions
• Coalition-building efforts

4. Fostering Holistic Resilience

The programme supports organizational resilience through:

• Digital security
• Operational sustainability
• Community resilience models
• Crisis preparedness
• Organizational strengthening

5. Expanding Civil Society Resources

This thematic track focuses on:

• Capacity building
• Resource-sharing systems
• Infrastructure development
• Digital ecosystem support
• Long-term sustainability

Grant Structure

The Re-D Fund will support:

• Two cohorts of subgrantees
• Approximately 50 subgrantees per cohort

Cohort I

Project implementation period:

• March 1 – May 31, 2026

Status:

• Open

Cohort II

Project implementation period:

• July 22 – October 23, 2026

Status:

• Open

Application Deadline

Applications for Cohort II must be submitted before:

June 5, 2026

Applicants are encouraged to apply early and carefully review all eligibility and thematic requirements.

Read about the Download Guidelines and APPLY.

Grant Amounts

The Re-D Fund provides two funding categories.

Single Applications

Applicants may receive up to:

• USD 5,000

Joint Applications (2+ Organizations)

Collaborative applications may receive up to:

• USD 10,000

The joint application category encourages partnerships, coalition-building, and collaborative democratic innovation efforts.

Why the Re-D Fund Matters

Civil society organizations across East and Southeast Asia increasingly face:

• Political restrictions
• Funding barriers
• Digital surveillance
• Shrinking civic space
• Exclusion from decision-making processes

The Re-D Fund addresses these challenges by supporting grassroots organizations that often struggle to access traditional funding systems.

The initiative recognizes that marginalized communities are frequently the most affected by democratic decline and digital inequality, yet remain among the least funded.

Key Benefits of the Re-D Fund

Selected organizations benefit from:

• Direct financial support
• Increased visibility
• Ecosystem networking opportunities
• Support for digital democracy initiatives
• Access to collaborative regional partnerships
• Flexible support for innovative civic solutions

What Makes This Fund Unique?

The Re-D Fund stands out because it:

• Prioritizes marginalized communities
• Supports grassroots and informal groups
• Focuses on digital democracy
• Encourages collaborative applications
• Combines financial and non-financial support
• Emphasizes feminist, inclusive, and rights-based approaches

About Tifa Foundation

The Tifa Foundation is an Indonesian organization that promotes:

• Openness
• Diversity
• Equality
• Justice
• Democratic participation

The organization works through:

• Strategic multi-stakeholder collaboration
• Local and international partnerships
• Constructive engagement approaches
• Resource provision and direct implementation

Tifa Foundation plays a critical role in advancing civic participation and democratic resilience across the region.

Click HERE to learn more about The Tifa Foundation’s Re-D Fund 2026.

Official Resources

Applicants are encouraged to:

• Download the official guidelines
• Review the FAQ section
• Attend the webinar
• Carefully prepare application materials

Discover more global Grant Opportunities on OFY HERE.