Selected organisations receive over the period of six to eight months* constructive assistance to create a secure environment for their employees and thereby the CSAs and HRDs they work with.

This programme aims to contribute to sustainable security for human rights organisations in internet-repressive countries. Carefully selected organisations undergo a fully customised organisational digital safety & security transition, guided by experienced digital security experts. Depending on the organisations' needs, the fellowship includes holistic training for staff, the design of security policies, and the migration of software to a secure system.

Goals

To scale-up the digital security capacity and information integrity of organisations that support human rights defenders (HRDs) and civil society activists (CSAs) and who are exercising their rights to freedom of expression online.
To support digital security Fellows (trainers and consultants) to work within these organisations.
To complement the existing ecosystem of person-to-person assistance and trainings, while bringing in technical expertise which is traditionally outside the reach of these organisations.
How does it work?
Selected organisations receive over the period of six to eight months\* constructive assistance to create a secure environment for their employees and thereby the CSAs and HRDs they work with. The first interaction with an organisation will likely be in the form of a visit by a digital security trainer/consultant (Fellow) to complete an initial assessment and discuss the needs and possibilities within the organisation in the area of digital integrity. The Fellow will then follow up with the organisation remotely to provide any support needed. A so-called ‘champion' inside the organisation is assigned to lead the transition process and create an internal support base.

Subsequent interventions will largely depend on the first visit, and the implementation plan that was created in agreement between the Fellow and the organisation, including some of the following:

Digital integrity considerations at a strategic level
Information policy development
Digital integrity and security capacity building measures
Awareness raising and (re-)training processes
Mentoring and support for the identified staff focal points or ‘champion'
The various interventions are all performed by the Fellow, with support from fellows within the programme's pool, including mentor Fellows who will support, advise and co-facilitate activities.

Fellows are likely to be career professionals with a proven track record in information security, and the Fellowship gives them a chance to share their skills and experience with a human rights organisation that has identified a gap or need in their digital security situation.

Creative Commons

As we believe in a free and open Internet, this Fellowship is based on a Creative Commons, whereby any institute or organisation is free to use the format of this fellowship and we encourage others to re-use and publish our information. Already Open Technology Foundation has made use of this Creative Commons format, and you can apply for a Fellowship grant on their website as well.

If you have interest to apply as an organisation for the fellowship, and undergo a security transition, please send email to: \[email protected]. In your email, explain the following:

name of the organisation
foundation year
aim and scope of the activities you/your organisation is doing
number of staff
contact details