ACTIVITY TITLE
Digital Rights Movement Building in South and Southeast Asia 2024-2027
Digital Rights Movement Building in South and Southeast Asia 2024-2027
Reported by
Sweden SE-0 Government
ACTIVITY SCOPE COLLABORATION TYPE AID TYPE FINANCE TYPE FLOW TYPE TIED STATUS HIERARCHY
ODA 10 1
Planned start date 2024-07-01
Planned end date 2027-12-31
Actual start date 2024-07-01
activity status: Implementation
The activity is currently being implemented
WHO'S INVOLVED ( 2 )
PARTICIPATING ORG REFERENCE ROLE TYPE
Sweden
REF SE-0
Funding Government
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
REF SE-6
Extending Government
General
EngageMedia is a non-profit organisation which promotes digital rights, open and secure technology, and social issue documentary. Combining video, technology, knowledge, and networks, EngageMedia supports Asia-Pacific and global changemakers advocating for human rights, democracy, and the environment. In collaboration with diverse networks and communities, EngageMedia defends and advances digital rights. The proposed budget is total US$ 2,166,100, approximately SEK 23,000,000 for 3 year programmes - Year 1 US$660,642, Year 2 US$745,666, and Year 3 US$759,791. EngageMedia's analysis shows that the human rights community in the Asia-Pacific is working amidst a backdrop of large-scale disinformation, rising authoritarianism, intensified surveillance, increased censorship, and surging violent extremism, all exacerbated by advancing unregulated machine learning, increasing weaponization of cyber laws, and weakening democratic institutions. These issues were emphasized across EngageMedia's range of initiatives. To counter digital authoritarianism and the closure of civic spaces, EngageMedia seeks support to contribute to: 1) Greater freedoms for change-seekers, change-makers and filmmakers for climate justice and digital rights; 2) Greater understanding for civil society organizations (CSOs) to engage in public policy development, particularly in countering disinformation, platform accountability, and AI governance; 3) Greater solidarity among digital rights CSOs; and 4) Greater security for human rights defenders through the adoption and development of open and secure technologies. EngageMedia also requests support to develop and implement an updated strategy for 2026-2028 that would position EngageMedia to be more effective and optimal in addressing significant challenges and issues in South and Southeast Asia.
EngageMedia är en ideell organisation som främjar digitala rättigheter, öppen och säker teknik, och dokumentärer om sociala frågor. EngageMedia stödjer förändringsaktörer i Asien och Oceanien och globalt genom att kombinerar video, teknik, kunskap och nätverk för att driva önskvärd förändring inom demokrati, mänskliga rättigheter, och miljö. I samarbete med olika nätverk och rörelser bidrar EngageMedia till att försvara och främja digitala rättigheter. Den föreslagna budgeten är totalt 2 166 100 USD, vilket motsvarar cirka 23 000 000 SEK för 3 år (år 1: 1 660 642 USD, år 2: 745 666 USD och år 3: 759 791 USD). EngageMedias analys visar att rörelser som främjar mänskliga rättigheter i Asien och Oceanien arbetar mot en bakgrund av storskalig desinformation, ökand auktoritärism, intensifierad övervakning, ökad censur och våldsbejakande extremism. Dessa faktorer förvärras ytterligare av oreglerad maskininlärning, användandet av cybersäkerhetslagar som vapen, och svagare demokratiska institutioner. Dessa frågor addresseras i EngageMedias projektförslag. För att motverka digital auktoritärism och ett krympande civilt utrymme så söker EngageMedia stöd för att bidra till: 1) Ökade grundläggande friheter för förändringsaktörer och filmskapare som driver klimaträttvisa och digitala rättigheter; 2) Större förståelse hos civilsamhällesorganisationer (CSOs) för att engagera sig i policyutveckling och särskilt motverka desinformation, bidra till ett ökat plattformsansvar och AI-styrning (det vill säga de regler, principer och standarder som säkerställer att AI-teknik utvecklas och används på ett ansvarsfullt sätt); 3) Stärkt solidaritet mellan de CSOs som arbetar för digitala rättigheter; samt 4) Ökad säkerhet för människorättsförsvarare genom antagande och utveckling av öppen och säker teknik. EngageMedia efterfrågar också stöd för att utveckla och implementera en uppdaterad strategi för 2026-2028, vilken skulle positionera EngageMedia i att effektivt addresera de betydande utmaningar som ses i i Syd- och Sydostasien.
Objectives
Objectives of the programme 2024-2027 The overall objective of the programme is in alignment with EngageMedia's vision and mission as outlined in the current strategic plan. EngageMedia envisions human rights, democracy and the environment are respected by businesses and Asia-Pacific governments. CSO meaningfully participates in meeting social and environmental challenges. 2022-2025 Objective 1: Strengthen networks and platforms for digital rights, open and secure technology and video for change practitioners, fostering collaboration, engagement, campaigning, and mobilization. 2022-2025 Objective 2: Strengthen changemakers' knowledge, skills, and resources in effective communications and advocacy, digital rights, open and secure technologies, and video for change 2022-2025 Objective 3: Increase EngageMedias organizational effectiveness by developing its systems for communications, technology, sustainability, leadership, management, governance, learning, and team developments Under these strategic objectives, EngageMedia seeks support to contribute to: 1) Greater freedoms for changeseekers, changemakers and filmmakers for climate justice and digital rights 2) Greater understanding for civil society organizations (CSOs) to engage in public policy development, particularly in countering disinformation, platform accountability, and AI governance 3) Greater solidarity among digital rights CSOs and 4) Greater security for human rights defenders through the adoption and development of open and secure technologies.
recipient country ( 9 )
IndonesiaID
10
Philippines (the)PH
10
BangladeshBD
5
MyanmarMM
3
NepalNP
3
Sri LankaLK
3
CambodiaKH
2
MaldivesMV
2
Viet NamVN
2
recipient region ( 3 )
OECD DAC ( 3 )
Supra-national regions according to OECD DAC CRS recipient codes http://reference.iatistandard.org/codelists/Region/
Asia, regional798
30
Asia, regional798
20
South Asia, regional679
10
sector ( 2 )
OECD DAC CRS 5 digit1( 1 )
The sector reported corresponds to an OECD DAC CRS 5-digit purpose code http://reference.iatistandard.org/codelists/Sector/
Media and free flow of information15153
100
GLOSSARY
Media and free flow of informationActivities that support free and uncensored flow of information on public issues; activities that increase the editorial and technical skills and the integrity of the print and broadcast media, e.g. training of journalists. (Use codes 22010-22040 for provision of equipment and capital assistance to media.)
OECD DAC CRS 3 digit2( 1 )
The sector reported corresponds to an OECD DAC CRS 3-digit purpose code http://reference.iatistandard.org/codelists/SectorCategory/
Government & Civil Society-general151
100
GLOSSARY
Government & Civil Society-generalN.B. Use code 51010 for general budget support.
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
+46 8 698 50 00
Box 2025, 174 02 Sundbyberg, Sweden