In early 2024, 13 abolitionist organizations, including regional networks, grassroots organizations and international NGOs have come together to form the Global Consortium for Death Penalty Abolition. Co-funded by the European Union under a Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA) and led by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, this civil society-led initiative aims to amplify the voice and influence of the abolitionist movement on a global scale.
As part of this second phase of the FFPA beginning in April 2026, the Consortium has committed to supporting civil society in target countries and providing financial support to third parties to move towards the universal abolition of the death penalty.
Scope
Between April 2026 and March 2028, financial support will be provided in 30 target countries across 4 regions, for activities to be implemented regionally and nationally. The countries and types of activities will be chosen strategically and be consistent with the strategic plans of the Consortium members and the intervention logic of the action. The strategic financial support will range from 200 € to 45,000€ and cover several thematic and geographical areas that can enhance and bring changes for abolition of the death penalty.
Priority countries for Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP):
French speaking Africa, Caribbean region, SWANA region, Bangladesh, DRC, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Niger, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, USA.
In addition, Financial Support is envisaged for regional activities, and for thematic activities with specific priorities.
(i) Objectives
Overall objective: To move towards the universal abolition of the death penalty.
Specific objectives:
1: In retentionist countries: contributing to reducing the use of capital punishment and encouraging more transparency regarding its application. This includes contributing to reducing the number of crimes punishable by death, abolition of the mandatory death penalty, banning death sentences and executions of juveniles, increasing respect of international human rights, achieving greater transparency, reducing cruel methods of executions, raising public awareness of the discriminatory nature of the death penalty, improving fair trial rights, and the independence of the judiciary, penal reform, increased use of pardons, clemency, and commutations of death sentences to reduce the number of people on death row and the number of people executed.
2: In abolitionist in practice countries, contributing to abolishing the death penalty in law while avoiding setbacks in countries which constitute levers for the international community to develop “new frontiers of abolition”. As specific objectives for these swing countries, it will also encourage positive votes for the UNGA moratorium resolution, legislative evolutions (drafting of abolitionist law proposals, reduction of the scope of application and/or reform of the penal code) and keeping a minimum of people on death row.
3: For abolitionist in law countries: contributing to ratifications of abolitionist treaties and preventing the reintroduction of the death penalty.
Outputs:
- Increased influence of the abolitionist movement in relevant decision-making processes/decision-making spaces
- Expanded and more diverse abolitionist ecosystem at global, regional and national level.
(ii) Activities
Different types of activities are eligible for financial support:
- advocacy at the national level in favor of abolition including advocacy with abolitionist in practice countries and abolitionist in law countries to increase visibility of support for the anti-death penalty movement;
- building the capacities and awareness of parliamentarians, government officials and capital-defense lawyers;
- supporting civil society engagement with international human rights mechanisms;
- improving the conditions of detention of people on death row;
- supporting families of persons charged with capital offences and or of people on death row;
- strengthening the capacities of judicial and administrative authorities;
- research and data collection;
- documentation and litigation support;
- building the capacity of civil society, including governance practices and project management;
- supporting exoneree-led activities and amplifying exoneree voices;
- movement growth, innovation and coalition building;
- supporting advocacy, monitoring and capacity building of target groups;
- awareness, media and campaigns;
- crisis response to quickly react to in-country developments and mobilise relevant actors;
- mobilization of non-conventional stakeholders in the movement (eg. young people, private sector, cultural or sports sector) through actions including educational, technological, cultural activities;
- advocacy to hold abolitionist countries to account for any adverse shifts in law, policy or practice. ;
- activities aimed at making visible and combating the intersectional discrimination faced by women and/or LGBTQIA+ people in the judicial process leading to the death penalty.
(iii) Eligibility Criteria
One organization/entity may apply for several grants. To do so, please fill in several grant applications (one for each grant).
One organization/entity may be awarded several grants. The maximum amount of financial support that may be granted per organization or third party is EUR 60,000.
Types of entities/actors or categories of persons/entities/actors which may receive financial support:
- civil society organizations (CSOs – for the purpose of this call for proposals, CSOs include all non-State, not-for-profit structures, non-partisan and non-violent, through which people organize to pursue shared objectives and ideals, whether political, cultural, social or economic); or
- informal networks of people opposed to the death penalty
They should also:
- be non-profit-making or social enterprises; and
- have as part of their mandate the protection and promotion of human rights.
(iv) Evaluation Criteria
The applications will be reviewed by the Consortium Board, in consultation with the Independent Advisory Panel, according to the following criteria:
- Activities are well explained and realistic
- Activities are in line with the selected objective(s). The design of the proposal is coherent, the proposal indicates the expected results to be achieved and the rationale to achieve these results through the activities
- Activities are relevant for the target audience and objectives, targets are clearly defined and strategically chosen. Their needs and constraints have been clearly defined and the proposal addresses them appropriately. Additional value for projects that target duty-bearers.
- Planning is realistic
- Budget is realistic
- Budget is in line with the activitie(s)
- Budget is cost efficient
- Projects that are gender and intersectional sensitive and meaningfully include exonerees and youth voices and humanize people on death row will be valued
- Projects that collaborate with new allies and/or create cross-generational, cross-regional, cross-industry alliances will be valued
- Projects that are in synergy with other activities within the Consortium and beyond the Consortium will also be valued
- Projects with an activity for World Day against the Death Penalty to reach out to new allies will be valued
- Projects that are innovative will be valued
- Projects that foster information exchange/debunk myths or misinformation/fill in information gaps will be valued
- Projects that have potential for replication and sustainability will be valued
True to the spirit of the Consortium, the selection process will be collective and transparent. Consortium members will use the same evaluation grid to assess all applications. Shortlisted applications will undergo a review process with the Independent Advisory Panel. The final selection decisions will be made by the Consortium Board. After the selection, model contracts and consistent reporting mechanisms will be used by all selected FSTP grantees to ensure transparency and equitable processes.
(v) Indicative Budget and maximum amount
For this call, the strategic financial support ranges from 200€ to 45,000€ and cover several thematic and geographical areas that can enhance and bring changes for abolition of the death penalty:
AFRICA (priority will be given to DRC, Malawi and Niger)
Grant Africa 1 :
2 grants of 8 000 € on average for the Africa region
To be managed by the World Coalition
Grant Africa 2 -restricted call :
Grants restricted to the ACAT African Network in in sub-Saharan Africa.
2 FSTP grants of maximum €30,000 to carry out abolitionist activities (Only for ACATs active in retentionist or abolitionist in practice countries).
5 FSPT grants of maximum €500 to support local actions related to World Day. (open to all ACATs in Africa).
1 FSTP grant of maximum €200 to support local actions related to World Day. (open to all ACATs in Africa).
To be managed by FIACAT
ASIA PACIFIC
Grant Asia 1:
Malaysia
1 grant of maximum 45,000 EUR to implement range of activities, which would contribute to the specific objective to strengthen effective defense in death penalty cases, including strategic litigation training for junior lawyers, advocacy around regional KL Guidelines with Malaysian Bar, advocacy campaigns on improving access to justice for individuals sentenced to death.
To be managed by TRP
Grant Asia 2:
Bangladesh
1 grant of maximum 26,000 EUR to allow for the consolidation of civil society engagement:
To be managed by DPP
Grant Asia 5:
Malaysia
1 grant of maximum 35,750 EUR to allow for the support of legal developments and the death penalty in Malaysia, to strengthen effective defense and increase transparency on access to justice issues.
To be managed by TRP
SOUTH WEST ASIA
Grant SWANA 1 – restricted call
Saudi Arabia
This call is only open on invitation. Do not submit if you’re not invited to.
1 grant of maximum 12,000 EUR to support global advocacy efforts to promote the end or the reduction of the use of the Death Penalty.
To be managed by the World Coalition
Grant SWANA 2 – restricted call
West Bank Palestine – Israel
This call is only open on invitation. Do not submit if you’re not invited to.
1 grant of maximum 12,000 EUR to support global advocacy efforts to promote the end or the reduction of the use of the Death Penalty.
To be managed by the World Coalition
GREATER CARIBBEAN AND THE USA
USA – restricted call
This call is only open on invitation. Do not submit if you’re not invited to.
1 grant of maximum 16,000 EUR to support advocacy activities with US decision makers, to leverage their influence over Saudi and Bahraini decision makers.
How to apply?
Your project proposal should be sent in English or French and composed of:
- the application form (in Word format);
- the budget for the application in Excel format;
- your organization’s By-laws/constitution/written document of creation of an informal entity as a civil society organization or informal network of people opposed to the death penalty (bearing in mind that you have to be non-profit-making or social enterprise; and have as part of your mandate the protection and promotion of human rights.);
- your organization’s most recent activity and financial report or any other documentation to showcase your past experience.
Before sending the application by email in word format, please make sure to have in subject line: [name of the grant] and the organization’s name.
Please submit your application by email to :
For the grants managed by the World Coalition : fstp[@]worldcoalition.org (if you need a secure email box, please send a message on Signal to +33 6 01 78 53 15).
For the grants managed by The Rights Practice (TRP): admin[@]rights-practice.org
For the grants managed by The Death Penalty Project (DPP ): info[@]deathpenaltyproject.org
For the grants managed by FIACAT: admin[@]rights-practice.org
For the grant managed by Reprieve: bea.sell[@]reprieve.org.uk
Should you have questions, please write to the email address associated with the grant for which you are applying.
Submission Deadline: Proposals must be submitted by May 3rd 2026, 23h59 in your country. Submissions will be reviewed from May 4th.
Indicative Timetable:
- 1 April: Launch of the Open Call and direct invitation
- April 15th, 11 am (Paris time): Information sessions for people willing to apply
- 3 May: Deadline for submission of proposals
4-15 May: Internal pre-assessment - 18-29 May: Independent Advisory Panel assessment
- Date TDB (maximum Mid-June): Final decision by the Consortium Board on the selection of Third Parties
- End of June 2026: Signature of the grant agreements and transfer of funds
- March 2028: The maximum deadline for the end of all activities and final reports.