The Ford Foundation has announced the launch of the Global Network for Social Justice and Digital Resilience, a $15 million initiative that aims to increase the technical capacities of civil society organizations across the Global South.

The initiative will support an initial cohort of 10 organizations that provide technical support to civil society organizations predominantly based in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, where the harms and uneven benefits of technology are most pronounced. The network aims to increase domestic and regional tech capacity among social justice organizations in the Global South, boost global strategic collaboration among social justice and technology organizations, bolster funds supporting the strengthening of digital resilience for social justice organizations, foster South-to-South peer learning among organizations working to strengthen digital infrastructure and resilience, and diversify the field of technologists to include more leaders who are women, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people of color, and are from communities of color.

“The Global Network for Social Justice and Digital Resilience is a critical tool to advance social equity and counter the digitally driven democratic backslide across the Global South,” said Ford Foundation Technology and Society program officer Alberto Cerda Silva. “Whether it’s confronting malicious software that targets civil society or building avenues for social justice communities to leverage the benefits of technology, in-region technical support is key. This initiative brings to life the thesis that those closest to the challenge are closest to the solution. We hope this project serves as a model for philanthropy going forward.”

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