IRF FY25 Nigeria Strengthening Capacity of the Legal Community
Funding is available for projects that help Nigeria's legal community defend religious freedom and related rights, and work with state actors on cases involving religious freedom violations.
Funder: Office of International Religious Freedom
Due Dates: July 9, 2026: Full application submission deadline (applications due by 11:59 PM ET)
Funding Amounts: $3,500,000 total; one award anticipated; project duration 24–48 months
Summary: Supports projects strengthening Nigeria’s legal community to defend religious freedom and engage state actors on related rights violations.
Description
This opportunity from the Office of International Religious Freedom (IRF), U.S. Department of State, seeks to fund a single project that bolsters the capacity of Nigeria’s legal community to defend religious freedom and constructively engage state actors on cases involving religious freedom violations. The program aims to support legal professionals, including law students, faculty, lawyers, and advocates, in addressing violations not only of religious freedom but also of mutually reinforcing rights such as freedom of association, assembly, expression, and movement.
The overarching goal is to improve access to justice for religious minorities in Nigeria, promote fair adjudication of religious freedom cases, and encourage collaboration between civil society, the legal sector, and government actors. Projects should have sustainable impact beyond the life of the grant and demonstrate experience navigating technical assistance in hybrid legal systems (e.g., those blending sharia, customary, and common law) in Sub-Saharan Africa.
