Digital Spark Selects 100 Grantees to Strengthen Digital Democracy Across Eastern Europe and Central Asia

The Digital Spark grant scheme has selected 100 civil society organizations, grassroots initiatives, informal groups, and activists from across Eastern Europe and Central Asia to receive financial and non-financial support aimed at strengthening digital democracy, civic participation, and democratic resilience.

The selected grantees represent 13 countries across the Western Balkans, the Black Sea region, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Their initiatives cover a wide range of thematic areas, including digital rights, media literacy, civic technology, youth engagement, government accountability, transparency, community participation, inclusion of marginalized groups, and protection of democratic freedoms online and offline.

The cohort includes recipients of both Institutional Stability Grants and Strategic Growth Small Grants. While Institutional Stability Grants support organizations serving as local Capacity Hubs and ecosystem builders, Strategic Growth Small Grants enable smaller organizations, grassroots initiatives, and emerging civic actors to develop innovative solutions tailored to their communities.

In addition to financial support, all selected grantees will participate in a comprehensive capacity-strengthening program that includes mentoring, tailored learning pathways, networking opportunities, peer exchange, digital skills development, advocacy support, and access to regional collaboration platforms.

The Digital Spark granting scheme attracted more than 400 applications from across the region for 100 available grants, demonstrating the strong demand for flexible support mechanisms and highlighting the vital role civil society actors continue to play in defending democratic values and fostering civic engagement in the digital age.

Throughout the implementation period, the 100 grantees will develop and implement projects that leverage digital technologies to promote participation, strengthen civic engagement, improve access to information, counter disinformation, and create more inclusive democratic spaces.

Digital Spark is part of the Regional Support Mechanism EECA project, which seeks to strengthen civil society resilience, foster cross-border collaboration, and support locally led responses to democratic challenges in the digital age.

The Regional Support Mechanism EECA project, is implemented by Metamorphosis Foundation and TechSoup, in partnership with CIVICUS and under the Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) that covers the Global South.