Are you a changemaker passionate about defending the right to peaceful assembly? Do you believe in the transformative power of protest to drive justice, equity, and social change? If so, CIVICUS invites you to apply for the inaugural cohort of the Protest Lab, a bold new initiative designed to inspire innovation, collaboration, and resilience among global activists.

As part of the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly (FoPA) Workstream, the Protest Lab seeks to shape the future of protest through strategic experimentation, cross-sectoral dialogue, and the development of creative tools to challenge repression and misinformation. This is your chance to help transform protest from resistance to resilience—where bold ideas fuel meaningful change.

About the Protest Lab

The Protest Lab will serve as an innovation hub for civil society actors invested in expanding civic space and advancing human rights. Selected participants will engage in both digital and in-person collaboration, explore creative solutions to today’s protest challenges, and contribute to a global body of knowledge on protest strategies and civic engagement.

Through a dynamic programme spanning from July 2025 to March 2026, the Lab will offer opportunities to:

• Exchange experiences with activists, human rights defenders, journalists, artists, trade unionists, and youth leaders from across the world.

• Build skills and capacity to improve movement-building and protest strategy design.

• Test, develop, and implement innovative protest tools and methodologies.

• Attend International Civil Society Week (ICSW) 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand, and share your work on a global platform.

All costs associated with participation—including travel, research, consultant support, conferencing, and experimentation—will be covered by CIVICUS.

Who Should Apply?

CIVICUS is seeking applicants from diverse backgrounds and sectors who are engaged in or committed to peaceful protest and collective action. This opportunity is open to:

• • Human Rights Defenders (HRDs): Those who organize or lead protest movements, campaigns, or grassroots mobilisations.

  • Student Leaders: Youth leaders advocating for justice and systemic change through campus or youth-led activism.

    Career development workshops for young professionals

  • Trade Union Representatives: Advocates working to protect labour rights and challenge exploitation.

  • Journalists: Reporters and media professionals documenting protest movements and rights violations.

  • Academics: Undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD students conducting research on protests, civic space, and social justice.

  • Artivists: Artists and cultural workers using creative expression for resistance, awareness, or civic engagement.

  • Digital Activists: Individuals using digital platforms and technologies to mobilise communities and challenge misinformation.

Why Join the Protest Lab?

By becoming a member of the Protest Lab’s first cohort, you will:

• Collaborate with a diverse network of peers and mentors from the Global South.

• Gain access to training, mentoring, and tools that enhance your ability to respond to repression.

• Co-create strategies and tools that empower communities to advocate more effectively.

• Showcase your work and ideas on an international stage at ICSW 2025 in Bangkok.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be assessed on the basis of:

1. Frontline Experience: Evidence of previous participation or leadership in peaceful protest or civic mobilisation.

2. Creativity and Innovation: Clear ideas on how protest can be reimagined using tools such as technology, art, social organising, or research.

3. Inclusivity & Collaboration: How can you bring together different perspectives, ensuring that marginalised groups are actively involved? We are looking for ideas that demonstrate a strong ability to create spaces across diverse communities.

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants must be members of CIVICUS.

• Must be based in a Global Majority / Global South country.

• Strong preference will be given to young individuals with hands-on experience in protest and social movements.

Timeline

• Application Deadline: 23 May 2025

• Review and Feedback: By 30 June 2025

• Protest Lab Duration: July 2025 – March 2026

How to Apply

Applicants must submit the following by 23 May 2025:

1. Proposal Narrative (maximum 3 pages) – [Download template here]

2. Curriculum Vitae / Resume

Email your complete application to:
[email protected]
Subject Line: Protest Lab – Call for Applications

Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.

Be Part of a Movement

The CIVICUS Protest Lab is more than a programme—it’s a call to reimagine how protest can be more inclusive, impactful, and strategic in confronting injustice. If you’re ready to shape the future of civic action, this is your moment.

For more information, please visit the OFFICIAL LINK & APPLY