The Media Defence Sub-Saharan Africa Litigation Surgery Grant 2025 is a strategic initiative dedicated to bolstering legal capacity and defending freedom of expression and digital rights across Sub-Saharan Africa. Designed specifically for practicing lawyers who have previously participated in Media Defence litigation surgeries, this grant enables experienced legal practitioners to organize and deliver their own litigation surgeries at the local level.
Litigation surgeries are intensive, case-based workshops where lawyers come together to present, critique, and strategize real or potential cases. These sessions aim to deepen understanding of legal frameworks governing digital rights, improve advocacy strategies, and encourage collaborative learning among legal professionals. The program is built on a peer-to-peer learning model that emphasizes hands-on mentorship, strategic litigation planning, and the cultivation of a supportive community of digital rights defenders.
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By decentralizing the delivery of training, Media Defence ensures that impactful knowledge transfer happens in local languages, underrepresented regions, and with tailored content that addresses the specific challenges faced by lawyers in different Sub-Saharan countries. Whether focusing on issues such as online censorship, unlawful surveillance, internet shutdowns, or social media restrictions, each funded litigation surgery becomes a vital tool for change in its respective community.
Selected grantees receive financial support, access to Media Defence resources, and advisory guidance throughout the six-month implementation period. The ultimate goal is to foster long-term networks of digital rights lawyers capable of initiating and sustaining strategic litigation to promote and protect online free speech.
Name of Organizer
Requirements/Eligibility
- Prior Participation: Applicants must have attended a Media Defence litigation surgery focused on freedom of expression or digital rights since 2018.
- Professional Background: Must be a practicing lawyer with experience in digital rights or freedom of expression cases. Legal educators, senior litigators, and lawyers affiliated with NGOs are encouraged to apply.
- Collaborative Proposals: Joint applications are allowed, especially between individual lawyers and organizations, as long as at least one team member meets the participation requirement.
- Geographical Scope: Proposals must focus on Sub-Saharan African countries. Preference will be given to applications from regions or linguistic communities that have not yet benefited from similar training.
- Language Inclusion: Priority is given to litigation surgeries that use languages other than English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese—especially local African languages that enhance accessibility and inclusivity.
- Gender and Diversity: Applications that promote gender equity and youth participation within their team or target audience will be viewed favorably.
- Execution Plan: Applicants must demonstrate the feasibility of the litigation surgery, including an agenda, list of potential participants, and budget breakdown.
- Training Focus: The proposed litigation surgery should address key digital rights issues such as freedom of expression online, data privacy, content moderation, internet shutdowns, digital surveillance, or journalist safety.
- Legal Registration: Applying individuals or organizations must be legally registered and authorized to operate in their host country.
- Reporting and Evaluation: Grantees must commit to detailed documentation, reporting outcomes, and evaluating the impact of the litigation surgery.
Duration/Stipend
The grant is structured to support a project duration of six months, from January 2025 to June 2025. During this period, grantees are expected to:
Organize and conduct at least one litigation surgery with a clearly defined curriculum.
Collaborate with peer lawyers, legal experts, and possibly guest trainers to maximize the learning impact.
Submit mid-term and final reports outlining attendance, case studies presented, outcomes, and future plans.
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The stipend for selected projects will range from £15,000 to £20,000 GBP, depending on the scale and scope of the proposed activities. The funding is expected to cover costs such as venue hire, travel, accommodation, training materials, facilitators’ fees, and follow-up engagement with participants.
Deadline
6th July, 2025
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