Internet governance and digital rights play out differently across regions, shaped by power imbalances, concentrated market actors, uneven infrastructure, and shifting policy environments. Yet many of the most pressing challenges require learning that goes beyond borders and turns shared problems into coordinated advocacy: surveillance pressures, platform accountability, encryption debates, digital inclusion gaps, AI governance and more. 

The Digital Rights Exchange Programme invites three pairs of civil society organisations—bringing together one organisation from the Global North (GN) and one from the Global South (GS)—to collaborate in person for a focused, three-day exchange on a shared digital challenge and policy-advocacy strategy.  

This programme is an initiative of Forus and the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) within the framework of the Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment (CADE), an EU co-funded project. 

Why this is useful for your organisation 

GN–GS collaboration is essential to advance a human‑centric, diverse, inclusive, and meaningful internet governance agenda, and to challenge structural power imbalances that shape how digital policies, standards, and technologies are developed and applied. Yet, persistent barriers like finance and capacity gaps, fragmented engagement, and limited time and bandwidth, often prevent deep joint learning, trust-building, and sustained collaboration. 

 The program offers a unique opportunity for three pairs of GN-GS organisations working on digital rights to:  

Learn more and apply  

The call is open until August 2, 2026. 

To learn more about CADE, the program’s objectives, what it covers, the expected commitments, and how to apply, please refer to the call for applications. 

If you have any questions, please send them to [email protected]