Euro-Mediterranean Foundation of Support to Human Rights Defenders (EMHRF)

What Euro-Mediterranean Foundation of Support to Human Rights Defenders (EMHRF) does

The Euro-Mediterranean Foundation of Support to Human Rights Defenders (EMHRF) is a private, independent foundation headquartered in Denmark (CVR 28 47 85 26) with a registered entity in France (SIRET 802 117 341 00015), founded on November 26, 2004 following a feasibility study commissioned by EuroMed Rights. The foundation provides flexible financial assistance and personalized support to regional, national, and local human rights NGOs, institutes, and individual defenders who promote, protect, and monitor human rights in the South-Mediterranean region, covering Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Israel/Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Organizations or defenders located outside these countries may be supported only if their action has positive repercussions in one or more of these countries.

EMHRF operates two core grant products: Urgent Grants (decisions within 10 days, up to 5,000 EUR) for emergency protection needs, and Standard Grants (typically 10,000-30,000 EUR with a maximum of 40,000 EUR over 12-18 months) for organizational support and programmatic activities. The foundation has allocated over 1,900 urgent and operational supports since its establishment. Its business model is non-commercial: it does not charge for services but rather receives institutional funding from donors including SIDA, Swiss Development Cooperation (DDC), the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DAPP), the European Commission (EIDHR and DG MENA), Open Society Foundations, the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and the Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF). Governance is provided by a 12-member Board of Directors serving six-year renewable terms in a voluntary capacity, with a Council of Representatives providing consultative oversight.

EMHRF is a member of three strategic networks: the Human Rights Funders Network (HRFN) since 2010, the European Human Rights Funders Network (Ariadne) since 2011, and the EU Human Rights Defenders Mechanism (ProtectDefenders.eu) since October 2015, where it is the only consortium partner specifically dedicated to the South-Mediterranean region including Syria. The foundation distinguishes itself through rapid-response capacity, strict confidentiality protecting beneficiary identities, and operational presence in hostile environments where larger international donors cannot work.

Name

Euro-Mediterranean Foundation of Support to Human Rights Defenders (EMHRF)

Legal name

Euro-Mediterranean Foundation of Support to Human Rights Defenders (EMHRF)

Website

https://emhrf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EMHRF is a Danish-headquartered private foundation, founded in 2004, that provides rapid-response and standard grants to human rights defenders and NGOs across the South-Mediterranean region, including Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon. It is the sole EU HRDs Mechanism partner dedicated to that region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Rights Philanthropic Foundation Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAH

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAGAAAJ

Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) and Emergency Livelihood Support

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Humanitarian Aid & Disaster Relief

Keywords

• Human rights grant-making
• Civil society funding
• Human rights defenders support
• Philanthropic foundation services
• Emergency protection grants

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Grants and Programmatic Disbursements, Personnel, Operations, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

EMHRF is an independent regional foundation that provides flexible financial assistance and personalized support to human rights NGOs, institutes, and individual defenders in the South-Mediterranean region. It operates two main grant mechanisms: Urgent Grants (up to 5,000 EUR, decisions within 10 days) for emergency protection needs and Standard Grants (typically 10,000-30,000 EUR over 12-18 months) for organizational and programmatic support. The foundation also provides capacity building, accompaniment, and network connections to civil society actors at risk in countries including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Israel/Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

Product overview

EMHRF is a regional foundation that provides two main grant mechanisms: Urgent Grants for emergency situations requiring rapid response (up to 5,000 EUR, decisions within 10 days) and Standard Grants for longer-term support to human rights NGOs and defenders (typically 10,000-30,000 EUR over 12-18 months). The foundation operates as a financial assistance mechanism, not a technology product, focusing on flexible funding, capacity building support, and strategic accompaniment for civil society actors in the South-Mediterranean region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Urgent Grants (Appuis urgents)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,900 urgent and operational supports allocated since foundation establishment in 2004
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• EU Human Rights Defenders Mechanism (ProtectDefenders.eu)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2015EMHRF is a member of the EU Human Rights Defenders Mechanism (ProtectDefenders.eu), established in October 2015. The mechanism is led by a consortium of 12 NGOs and regional/international foundations with recognized track records in protecting and advocating for human rights defenders. EMHRF is the only consortium partner specifically dedicated to the South-Mediterranean region including Syria. The mechanism's board includes Front Line Defenders, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), OMCT, and FIDH.
• Ariadne (European Human Rights Funders Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011EMHRF has been a member of Ariadne since 2011. The network was established by European foundations in 2010 to facilitate coordination among decision-makers, funders, and foundations with interest in human rights and social justice. The network currently has over 150 members, primarily in the UK and Netherlands.
• Human Rights Funders Network (HRFN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010EMHRF has been a member of HRFN since 2010. HRFN is an international network of over 650 members representing approximately 275 organizations providing human rights grants worldwide. EMHRF participates in the HRFN Working Group on Human Rights Defenders, co-founded with other members in July 2011, which focuses on facilitating coordination, developing guidelines for funders, and increasing attention to defender issues among non-human rights donors.

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Open Society Foundations: One of the largest private foundations globally with substantial human rights and civil society grantmaking portfolios, including in the Middle East and North Africa. Overlaps with EMHRF on several donor relationships and beneficiary themes, but operates at vastly greater scale and breadth.
• National Endowment for Democracy (NED): U.S.-funded grantmaking organization supporting democracy, human rights, and civil society worldwide, including South-Mediterranean programming. Comparable grantmaking model and donor-style relationship with EMHRF, but with broader democracy/governance mandate and much larger budget.
• The Sigrid Rausing Trust: UK-based foundation providing significant core and project grants to international human rights organizations, including many working in the Middle East and North Africa. Comparable philanthropic grantmaking model and overlapping grantee population, though broader thematic scope.

Others

• EuroMed Rights: Network of 80+ HR organizations and defenders in the Euro-Mediterranean region that commissioned the original feasibility study leading to EMHRF's founding. Sister/parent ecosystem actor with overlapping beneficiary base but distinct convening and advocacy (rather than grantmaking) function.
• Human Rights Funders Network (HRFN): International network of over 275 organizations providing HR grants globally; EMHRF has been a member since 2010 and co-founded the HRFN Working Group on Human Rights Defenders. Peer convener and coordination counterpart rather than direct grantmaking competitor.

Direct peers

• ProtectDefenders.eu (EU HR Defenders Mechanism): EU-funded consortium of 12 NGOs and foundations (including EMHRF) providing protection and advocacy for HR defenders worldwide. Direct operational peer and consortium partner; comparable grantmaking and capacity-building activities.
• Front Line Defenders: Ireland-based international foundation that provides rapid-response grants, security grants, and protection support to at-risk human rights defenders worldwide. Most direct operational peer to EMHRF; co-partner in the ProtectDefenders.eu consortium and serving overlapping beneficiary populations.
• Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights: Provides rapid-response grants (typically decided within 72 hours to one week) to women human rights defenders and LGBTQI+ activists under threat. Highly comparable to EMHRF's urgent-grant product on mechanism, speed, and target beneficiary profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights1 record

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-euro-mediterranean-foundation-of-support-to-human-rights-defenders-emhrf

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Euro-Mediterranean Foundation of Support to Human Rights Defenders (EMHRF)