Blogs

• Leading with our values: Protecting our co-workers during COVID-19 must be a priority

  Secretary General’s Update 

  Dear CIVICUS members and allies,

  The past few weeks have been unlike anything we have known or could have imagined. Across the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has not just changed our daily routines, it has altered entire systems of living and working that we had assumed were indispensable to modern society. And yet, while we strive to come to terms with disruption in practically every aspect of our lives, it is the strength of our values that enables us to act from a place of inspiration, solidarity and shared responsibility despite the overwhelming proportions of this crisis. 

  As many influencers have rightly pointed out, the pandemic requires paradigm-changing interventions that not just shift, but transform how the world is organised. Failures in governance and accountability are all too evident as countries organise their responses to the pandemic, and civil society must play a critical role in calling out inconsistencies on one hand, and forging efforts to put human rights and environmental concerns at the heart of interventions on the other.

  And yet as we strive to frame the big-ticket changes that the world so urgently needs, there is another immediate action closer to home that we alone can shoulder. A responsibility to protect those who front the battles that we are fighting to achieve a better world. As we know from limited studies on employment within civil society, women comprise nearly 70 per cent of the workforce in our sector and are heavily under-represented in its leadership. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, this means that as organisations struggle to stay afloat in a context of limited and shrinking resources, women will be the first to lose their livelihoods, while having a painfully small say in the decisions that their organisations will make in order to tide this crisis.

  The ‘COVID-19 Social Security Protocol for Civil Society’ is first and foremost a call for us to recognise that the people we work with and alongside need to be assured of our support for their well-being if we are to remain resilient and relevant in the context of a dire and desperately uncertain future. Without the solid foundations of trust and authenticity, our organisations are not equipped to withstand the formidable challenges that all agencies – large and small – will need to respond to in the coming months. 

  This week, we invite you to join a growing group of civil society leaderswho have committed to deliberate and adopt context-specific and time-bound actions to protect co-workers from adverse health, social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. To begin with, 67 organisations – representing a remarkable and diverse range of local and global agencies – have agreed that it is important to deliberate the operational challenges that we face in this period and provide clarity on the institutional measures and strategies being put in place. As you will see from this list of signatories, the majority are not large, resource-rich organisations. On the contrary, close to two-thirds of the endorsements received so far are from local organisations of the global south, who have little or limited resources and capacities to tide over the impending crisis.

  The COVID-19 Social Security Protocol must therefore be a catalyst for the urgent project that we need to put in place to expose the inherent weaknesses of the funding and operating models that we currently rely on. It must be followed by the painstaking reforms we need to ensure real resilience and sustainability for the sector. The Protocol provides the brief but important breathing space that we need within and across our organisations to reflect on and address these more difficult but important challenges – and we must each bring our strength and courage to this journey.

  In Solidarity,
  Lysa John
  Secretary-General, CIVICUS
  @lysajohn 

• Lessons from our work across 2017 to 2022 and implications for our current strategic action

  

   

  A message from Lysa John, Secretary-General of CIVICUS   

  Dear CIVICUS members and allies

  At the close of our 2017-2022 Strategic Plan period, we committed to review the most significant outcomes achieved and lessons learnt from its implementation. Our work in this period was organised around three strategic goals, namely Defending civic freedoms and democratic values, Strengthening the power of people to organise, mobilise and take action and Empowering a more accountable, effective and innovative civil society. The review was undertaken through a 2-stage process which included an in-depth, external review of key strategic documents and fifty interviews with selected CIVICUS staff, alliance members and external partners to corroborate the information collected and assess the most impactful stories. 

  Around the world, this period was marked with increasing attacks on democracy, soaring inequalities, economic shocks and social crises at a scale surpassing anything we have seen in recent years – including the tangible effects of the climate crises and the staggering impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. This was also a time of relentless organising for change as evidenced through an inspiring scale of local and global struggles for justice, equality and sustainability around the world. On one hand, many governments stretched emergency measures to suppress basic civic rights and democratic freedoms and on the other, communities joined forces across the world to demonstrate the persistence and agility of people power. Internally, the CIVICUS Secretariat also adapted to a rapid growth in membership, Board and leadership transitions as well as and a range of internal reviews accompanied by follow-up actions to adjust strategic direction and implement key recommendations. 

  Key findings from the CIVICUS’ strategy review 

  While the full review report is available here, I am using this update to reflect on five observations that speak directly to where we have been impactful  and opportunities for further improvement that we can pursue. 

  1. CIVICUS has produced timely and world-class knowledge and analysis, shifting from retrospective research to regular up-to-date data and analysis on global events and the state of civil society and civic freedom around the world. Our flagship research initiatives, such as the CIVICUS Monitor and the State of Civil Society report - have enabled us to position ourselves as a field leader and trusted partner in civic space, referenced by media, academics, activists and decision-makers around the world. 

  2. We have made significant progress in advocating for open civic space and systemic change, securing key wins at the global level with the adoption of General Comment 37 and key campaigns like #StandAsMyWitness to defend human rights defenders around the world. As attacks on civic space increase, activists and civil society groups will need further efforts from CIVICUS to support and sustain their work. There is also room for improvement in terms of involving members in these efforts and tailoring campaigns to local needs. 

  3. We have successfully built solidarity, fostering a sense of community and collaboration even in the face of challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and crises in places like Afghanistan or Ukraine. While there is scope to better leverage the online community platform as a tool for sharing best practices and connecting groups, CIVICUS has been appreciated by partners for its role as a network enabler that creates connection and a sense of belonging to a community for joint action and advocacy for civic space.  

  4. We have been leading the way in sponsoring solidarity mechanismswithin the alliance and re-shaping programming and grant-making initiatives to better reach the people most exposed in the frontline. While CIVICUS has made visible efforts to shift the paradigm in donor/grantee relationships for more equal partnerships, it has a further role to play in channelling resources to civil society actors and grassroots activists who face greater restrictions on civic and democratic freedoms. 

  5. CIVICUS has made a significant impact through its efforts to connect civil society, providing opportunities for networking and learning through online and in-person initiatives that have brought partners closer together, building connections across civil society that transcend issues, geographies and organisation types. We have also been a leader in promoting and disseminating best practices in the sector. We are now placed  as a progressive and innovative Global South leader in co-creation, co-design and the protection of civic space and democratic freedoms.

  Recommendations for our 2022-27 Strategic Plan 

  In addition to a range of specific examples of impact, the review also offered specific suggestions for how the findings that emerged can be integrated into the implementation of our current strategic plan (full learnings document can be found here). Three major recommendations in this regard are listed below. 

  BREAKING SILOS. One of the key shifts in CIVICUS’ 2022-2027 strategic plan is the creation of one overarching goal across the work of the alliance – as opposed to three distinct goals in the previous strategy. This overarching goal, namely ‘to strengthen civil society and civic action for expanded civic and democratic space’, reflects CIVICUS’s desire to focus on actions that are not just defending but also improving civic and democratic freedoms through a combination of influencing, organising and solidarity interventions. Our Strategic Plan accordingly aims to better capture CIVICUS’s contribution to long-term, systemic change, through four outcome statements that connect and consolidate the impact of the work across all levels. Through the launch of our new results framework, we have an opportunity to monitor and evaluate progress against this overarching goal, while also assessing and adjusting the course of our implementation and direction of travel, if needed.  

  DEEPENING PARTNERSHIPS. The last strategic period showed how powerful it was to explicitly target a key constituency group as part of the organisation’s strategic plan. As such, in 2016, youth became a strategic priority for CIVICUS and, by the end of the 2017-2022 strategic period, CIVICUS had secured US$ 3 million for programming targeted at those under 30 years old, and 43 per cent of new individual CIVICUS members in 2021-2022 were under 30. In keeping with our focus on engaging groups most affected by the dual challenges of civic space restrictions and systemic discrimination across 2022-27, it will be important to reflect on the key lessons learned from the meaningful engagement of youth, grassroots and local civil society actors. The alliance also has a continued role to play in influencing the civil society ecosystem towards more equitable and meaningful partnerships. In addition to efforts to influence changes in donor policies and practices, CIVICUS is advised to keep improving its own grant-making processes - building up agile funding mechanisms, avoiding burdensome contractual processes and ensuring sustainability for partners.   

  CELEBRATING NETWORKS. Over the past strategic period, networks and coalitions initiated or hosted by CIVICUS have played a key role in rallying civil society forces by collating the experiences and unifying the positions of the many different types of groups affected by the closing of civic space and persecutions. Coalitions provide economies of scale through sharing resources such as technical expertise, joint strategies, or they can help to coordinate responses, providing a unified voice across multiple groups. The last strategic period (2017-2022), however, revealed some tension and lack of clarification regarding CIVICUS’s overall goal and objectives with some of the networks and coalitions it had launched over the past years. While some networks are getting ready to become independent, others have clearly highlighted the key role CIVICUS is playing in launching these initiatives and it would be important for CIVICUS to nurture these initiatives in the long-term for more coordinated action in the civic space arena. 

  We are grateful to Marie L’Hostis for her work on this review. Please reach us at to share your reflections and make further enquiries about this exercise. 

  In solidarity, 

  Lysa John 

  (Lysa John is Secretary General of CIVICUS. She is based in South Africa and can be reached via her Twitter handle: @LysaJohnSA) 

• Local Action, Global Accountability

  This speech was delivered at the "Local Action, Global Accountability" UNGA-Side Event on September 20, 2024, at the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice in New York City, USA.

  By Sita Supomo, Executive Director of Indonesia untuk Kemanusiaan (Indonesia for Humanity - IKa) on behalf of Femme Forte, Trend Asia, CAPAIDS Uganda, IKa, Africa Philanthropy Network and Innovation for Change East Asia, the Convening Partners of the Local Leadership Labs – CIVICUS 

   

  Good morning everyone.

  Thank you for this opportunity to speak on behalf of six CIVICUS Local Leadership Labs partners in Southeast Africa and Southeast Asia. It is an honour to be part of this crucial conversation.

  Today, I will share insights on the challenges and strategies we are employing to support civil society in Indonesia, working alongside communities as equal partners so they can confidently shape their own futures.

  Before discussing our work in Indonesia, let me briefly introduce the Local Leadership Lab (LLL). This pilot initiative tackles barriers preventing governments, donors, and stakeholders from supporting diverse local civil society groups as key development actors.

  LLL is implemented with support from CIVICUS Alliance and Hilton Foundation. Another "sister" initiative called Localization Labs, is led by NEAR Network.

  LLL centers the political power of communities, especially those excluded from decision-making. It creates inclusive spaces for dialogue and co-creation at various levels, where local civil society groups co-shape policies alongside key actors.

  Five elements characterize LLL's approach:

  • Being locally-driven,
  • Building power,
  • Promoting relational strategies,
  • Encouraging innovation and flexibility,
  • and Fostering a collective learning mindset.

  
  Indonesia is facing a shrinking civic space, with restrictive policies, increased state surveillance, and other forms ofrestrictions.These pressures undermine social movements and public support. Beyond visible restriction,resourcing, such as funding sustainability, threatens the independence of social movements. Without addressing these issues, their capacity for transformative change will falter.

  AtIndonesia for Humanity (IKa), we are strengthening resources for the social justice movement. We raise and channel resources to support them in challenging environments. Our approach is rooted in mutual trust, solidarity, and community-driven change.

  Over the past six months, we've facilitated four FAJAR dialogues with over 60 organizations, conducted three sensing journeys, and identified seven local resourcing models. All of which helps guide partner selection across four provinces. FAJAR (Forum for New Resourcing), a forum initiated by IKa, strengthens connections between local and national dialogues, amplifying community-driven issues within broader alliances.

  So what have we learned in six months with LLL:

  Building trust, practicing patience, intently observing and actively listening are essential for amplifying local voices. We've learned that providing spaces for communities to co-create their visions and articulate their demands effectively is critical to closing gaps and fostering collective action.

  To conclude, I want to offer a reflection and a call on the international donor community to rethink its roles. We know, donors in the Global North are also grappling with your own social, political, and economic shifts. But this moment calls for more than just adaptation. It demands a fundamentalrethinking of how we operate and the roles we play as enablers of change. It's not just about increasing funding; it's about transforming partnerships to create equitable, sustainable futures.

  So, let us LLL partners, urge you to:

  First - Invest in institutional strengthening through flexible, predictable funding.

  Second - Intentionally show up as allies by participating in locally-led dialogues.

  Third - Ensure accountability by prioritizing local needs and being transparent.

  Together, we can shift power to communities, fostering a just, inclusive world where every community shapes its path forward.

  In the words of Arundhati Roy:"Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing."

  Thank you.

• LOCAL LEADERSHIP LABS’ REFLECTIONS & INSIGHTS: THE SOUNDING BOARD

  By Taís Siqueira (Local Leadership Labs Coordinator) and Joanna Makhlouf (Local Leadership Labs Assistant)

  The Sounding Board (SB) played a crucial role in the inception of Local Leadership Labs (LLL) by advising on partner selection, identifying priority countries within the two regions, and sense-making the initial LLL framework. From September to December 2023, the Sounding Board (SB) met bi-weekly and provided feedback on the LLL format and approach.

  Incorporating a Sounding Board composed of diverse CIVICUS constituents during the inception phase proved to be very valuable. The selection of this group was based on recommendations from CIVICUS colleagues and affiliated networks, which is an approach CIVICUS has noticed to be successful in the past (e.g., Youth Action Team). An interesting observation was that this approach helped reduce power dynamics within the group by inviting individuals to contribute on equal terms, as partners. The partnership-based approach embraced by this program (all working together to advance the local leadership agenda) fostered an open and confident exchange of ideas. The SB discussions also offered valuable insights for meaningful co-creation processes, emphasizing the need for flexibility in our agendas. Allocating extra time for unexpected and significant discussions, as well as revisiting core themes through a 'repetition approach,' emerged as key practices to foster deeper reflection and encourage thoughtful feedback contributions.

  The focus of the LLL is rooted in local priorities, hence the commitment to involve in the inception phase of the initiative a Sounding Board composed of representatives from local communities, national/regional networks and other likeminded groups as a way to ensure that the validation of the initial framework of the LLL and that critical decisions are informed by those closer to the communities we serve. For example, when discussing the role of convening partners at different levels (regional, national and sub-national), the sounding board questioned the possible power dynamics of having regional conveners overseeing sub-national and national partners, something that had not occurred to us in the first place.

  The SB elaborated that because regional organisations generally have more access to networks, connections and donors this could create competition between partners. Instead, the SB suggested inviting national and sub-national partners to co-create the role of regional partners counterbalancing the power dynamics and providing more opportunities for meaningful and equal partnership across all partners, which should also increase collaboration and decrease competition. It is a rather simple change to implement, yet we envision it to have significant implications for our commitment to advance local leadership, which would not have been made without the SB’s input.

  The critical feedback provided regularly by SB members demonstrated their crucial role in asking probing questions and challenging assumptions about the LLL. For example, some of the SB initial input highlighted the need to address the LLL practical aspects. Accordingly, we sense-checked together the framework of the initiative, focusing on fostering greater clarity on how the LLL differs from existing initiatives, how it integrates with ongoing local work without establishing new infrastructures, the unique value it brings and its potential. We collaborated on addressing persisting confusions around terminology, fostering opportunities for joint co-creation of definitions of civil society, radical inclusivity, local leadership and development, among others.

  The last round of SB feedback following our final inception meeting demonstrated a deeper understanding of the LLL initiative and greater clarity about its processes, several of which were co- created with the Sounding Board. Some SB members appreciated in their final feedback the intentional design of the program, by saying that "I totally accept that no system is perfect, but the LLL approach comes pretty close. I truly appreciate the intentionality that went into the programme design and the proficient manner in which it's being executed." Others noted that the diverse expertise of the SB members ignited valuable discussions, some of which resonated beyond our LLL space.

  The input of the Sounding Board members was invaluable, not only in strengthening meaningful co- creation processes for the LLL but also shaped how we collaborated in our sessions together. The SB feedback guided the direction of our meeting series, and each meeting agenda was developed based on previous discussions and pre-communicated for modification. Key approaches that emerged from our meetings included setting time aside for unplanned yet significant discussions in addition to revisiting core themes and discussions, which proved to be crucial in fostering deeper reflection and thoughtful feedback. In line with LLL commitments to advancing local leadership and investing in partnership-based collaboration, the Sounding Board will remain integral to this project by periodically validating LLL learnings and reflections and offering candid feedback on its trajectory.

• Local NGOs joining the “Giants”’ Table

  By Lusanda Magwape, from Dream Factory Foundation, South Africa, and CIVICUS delegation’s member at theEC Partnership Forum 2018.

  When I received the email that I would be attending the EC Partnership Forum in Brussels, I was both shocked and super excited. I remember thinking when I applied: “yes, I could be part of the five, why not?” So, when I was selected, I took that “I can do the impossible” mindset with me to the Forum. As a first-time attendee of a European Commission event, this colossal organization became an approachable person who I could relate with. From all the speeches, I sensed a genuine intention to truly strengthen its partnerships with civil society and local authorities; as was the theme of the forum. The fact that two more Framework Partnership Agreements (FPAs) were signed at the end of the Forum, really sealed the deal of their intentions to grow these partnerships.

  Being a CIVICUS representative, I also kept thinking, how does a locally based NGO such as ours position itself in a space of ‘giants’? I think my biggest take-away, in keeping with the principals of the SDGs, was that all of our voices matter if we are going to realize a sustainable and equitable future for all. Since the forum represented civil society leaders from different levels of influence and scope, recommendations such as “the EU needs to have different modalities of funding for an enabling environment” and “the EU needs to push for national SDG implementation plans that are people-centered at all economic levels”, came out very strongly.

• Localisation: A Paradigm Shift Towards Local Leadership in the Global South

  By Deborah Mowesley, Innovation For Change Intern
  
  In recent years, words like “localisation” and “locally-led” have garnered significant attention. There has been increasing discussion and emphasis on these concepts in all sectors. But what does localisation actually mean, how did it come about and why is it so important? 

  Localisation is about more than just aesthetics. At its core, it is about a shift in the balance of power, a shift to being locally led.  It is about changing focus from external actors to local communities, where local actors lead the way in identifying and addressing issues that affect their communities. This means engaging in grassroots efforts to understand the unique needs and desires of the community, and working collaboratively to design initiatives and spaces that reflect those needs and values. 

  In the past, international organisations and aid agencies have often been the drivers of humanitarian and development initiatives in the global south. These organisations would often take a top-down approach, where decisions were made at the international level, and projects were implemented by local partners. This approach led to a lack of ownership and engagement from local communities and resulted in initiatives that were not necessarily aligned with the needs and priorities of those communities. 

  The shift towards localisation is not just about giving local communities more agency. It is also about recognising the value of local knowledge and expertise. Local actors often have a deeper and more nuanced understanding of their communities, their needs, the challenges they face and the socio-political context within which they live and operate. By leveraging this knowledge, the localisation movement enables the development of more relevant, effective, and sustainable solutions.

  The importance of localisation cannot be overstated. When communities feel that their voices are heard and that they have agency in shaping their environment, they are more likely to feel a sense of ownership and pride in their community. This in turn leads to increased civic engagement, social cohesion, and overall wellbeing. Localisation is an important component of effective and sustainable development both in the Global North and Global South. However, it is particularly critical in the Global South, where historical power imbalances and complex challenges require a more collaborative and community-driven approach to development.

  A great example of a successful localisation initiative is the Community Health Strategies (CHS) currently seen in multiple African countries. The CHS is a community-led approach to health care delivery that emphasizes the involvement of local communities in decision-making and the development of local health systems. Each community elects Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) who are responsible for providing basic health education, promoting healthy behaviors, and identifyingcases for further care. Volunteers receive training and support from local health workers and are integrated into the broader health system. The system has been successful in improving access to health care services and reducing health disparities in rural and underserved communities. By prioritizing the involvement of local communities in the development and delivery of health care services, the CHS has created a more collaborative and sustainable approach to health care that is grounded in the needs and priorities of local people.

  Localisation is not a one-size-fits-all solution either, it requires ongoing engagement and collaboration with the community to ensure that efforts are respectful, inclusive, and effective. Despite the growing recognition of the importance of localisation, there are still many instances where localisation efforts fall short. There is a need for more investment in local organisations and actors to strengthen their capacity and ensure they have the resources and support they need to lead development initiatives. Additionally, there is a need for greater collaboration between local and international actors to ensure that initiatives are aligned with broader development goals. In some cases, localisation is treated as a checkbox to be ticked off rather than a genuine effort to engage with the community and build meaningful connections. This is leading to tokenism and superficial engagement, rather than genuine efforts to build trust and collaboration. There are also unintended consequences if not done thoughtfully. When localisation is implemented in this way, it can perpetuate inequalities and reinforce power imbalances between different groups within a community.

  It's essential that localisation efforts are designed and implemented with a focus on equity and fairness, ensuring that all members of the community can benefit from the opportunities created. Great to see this at CIVICUS with the Local Leaderships Lab Initiative whichaims at ensuring that the civil society support ecosystem is informed by the needs and priorities of diverse local civil society actors to enable solidarity and political support for local leadership that recognizes the agency of traditionally excluded civil society actors. 

  In conclusion, localisation is not just a buzzword. It is a powerful approach that prioritizes the voices of local communities and brings sustainable change. There is, undoubtedly, a need to create space for more local actors to actively participate in and lead decision-making processes.  It’s a responsibility that we all share, whether we are civil society, policymakers, donors, urban planners, or simply members of the community, we have a role to play in creating communities that are inclusive, equitable, and reflective of the needs and values of the people in them.

• Looking ahead: Expanding our efforts to protect civic space

  A message from Lysa John, Secretary-General of CIVICUS

  Dear CIVICUS members and allies,

  We were excited to host the CIVICUS Board and representatives from our key networks – Affinity Group of National Associations (AGNA) and the Youth Action Team (YAT) – in Johannesburg this November! It is the first time we have met together in South Africa since the start of the pandemic. On 30 November, we hosted our online Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) and launched a series of events to mark our very first ‘Membership Engagement Month’. Our annual report for 2021/22, which is available in three languages, was also adopted in this period and provides an excellent summary of our achievements and challenges in the past year.

  We expect 2023 to be an exciting year for the CIVICUS alliance! Our flagship reports – the State of Civil Society and People Power Under Attack – will be published in the first half of the year. Together, these will provide a refreshed range of evidence and resources for activists and networks defending civic space and advocating for civil society.

  In keeping with the key shifts outlined in CIVICUS’ Strategic Plan for 2022-27, the Secretariat will make a deliberate effort to ensure that the intersection between civic space restrictions and structural forms of discrimination is the focus of our actions and investments at all levels.  We will continue to invest in strengthening the freedom of peaceful assembly and creating better protection mechanisms for human rights defenders through a combination of advocacy and solidarity efforts, and expect to initiate an exciting range of initiatives program on digital freedoms with a number of global and regional partners.

  2023 will also be a moment to mark three decades of our own existence. We will coordinate a series of campaign actions to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights and the 25^th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. We anticipate working closely with CIVICUS members and allies to amplify issues that need public and political attention in this period, and invite you to discuss opportunities for collaboration with our teams.

  Finally, as many of you know, recent events related to an unfortunate accident have caused considerable shock and distress to staff, partners and allies who have been connected to our colleague, Mandeep Tiwana’s work. A number of processes to respond to the event are underway, this includes coordinating with Mandeep and his family to support his recovery and phased return to work. Our Board and staff have been an immense source of wisdom in this period, and we are working closely together to put in place measures for additional capacity. We wish him much strength and thank all of you, our members and allies, for your compassion and support.

  CIVICUS offices will close on 21 December and re-open on 3 January. We look forward to connecting and co-creating with you again next year.

  In solidarity,

  Lysa John

• Low engagement in virtual events: are we lacking digital confidence?

  As virtual events become more relevant in our lives, we need to analyse what elements are limiting people’s willingness or capacity to engage with others in the virtual space

  By Richa Puri

  This year is like no other. The COVID-19 pandemic has left most of us trapped in the world of video-calling interfaces and virtual interactions. But are we all comfortable enough interacting and expressing ourselves in this new space? After being part of the ICSW team organising seven virtual events this year, I have the feeling that the answer is no.

  We had webinars where participants were very engaged. They commented in the chatbox, posted questions in the Q&A box, and even raised their hands to give an opinion in front of the camera during breakout room sessions. But in some events, engagement was low. And I saw this happening more and more in other online events outside ICSW as well.

  With my anthropological lens, I tried to analyse the hidden reasons leading to this dwindling engagement in webinars and online meetings. Are we experiencing virtual hesitation, shyness, anxiety, social phobia, fatigue or fear? Do we need to build or boost our digital confidence?

  I believe that a mix of those factors can undermine the digital confidence of people attending virtual events and limit their willingness or capacity to engage with others. Maybe some are too shy to speak in front of a camera or to take the microphone. Others could be intimidated by “high profile” speakers, experts or peers in the audience, and that could stop them from sharing their views, opinions or asking questions even in a written way. Nowadays, many events offer simultaneous interpretation (we did in every ICSW/virtual event), but if it is not provided, attendees who do not feel confident communicating in the main language of the event may choose not to engage, not even writing comments or questions.

  To some extent, people may experience social anxiety induced by the idea of being negatively judged by other attendees and organisers during online events.

  Of course, low levels of engagement could be influenced by other elements not linked to digital confidence. Maybe the event is just not engaging. Attendees may be multitasking or have a poor internet connection that limits their interaction. The kind of device used to join an online event also plays a critical role in increasing the attention span and lowering participation.

  For example, while using Zoom on mobile phones, attendees cannot see the live stream and access the chatbox at the same time because screens are too small. In this case, it is understandable that some people prefer to focus on watching the presentation, the speaker or the performance rather than exchanging comments.

  Online communication is here to stay. That means that we need to pay more attention to digital confidence and to any other digital challenges and gaps that reduce the meaningful engagement of participants in online meetings and events.

  The ICSW 2020-21 journey will continue next year and while we may focus more on local, in-person events (if the sanitary situation allows it), virtual events will continue to be a part of our global conversation about people power. We will increase our efforts to make this conversation more interactive, including finding ways to strengthen the digital confidence of those who join this journey.

• More just resourcing, more inclusive workplaces!

  Secretary General’s Update (July 2019)

  July has been an incredibly exciting month and I’m excited to share key headlines from our work in this period!

  Progressing our efforts on civil society resourcing reforms

  Since the start of this year, we have had the privilege to hear from activists, organisers, young leaders and progressive funders from around the world on the resourcing challenges faced by civil society – and to understand how bold ideas and creative solutions can help address these barriers. A remarkably resourceful report summarising these insights is now available online. Aptly titled ‘Shifting Power to Grassroots Movements’, this practical guide on how grassroots groups and activists based in the global south can mobilise support to overcome civic space challenges and achieve positive change is an important step forward in the reforms we need to enable greater civil society resourcing. Your ideas on how we can activate the alternatives proposed in this report are eagerly awaited!

  Launching a new, interactive platform on Diversity & Inclusion

  In an equally exciting move, our newest networking initiative - The Diversity & Inclusion Group for Networking and Action (DIGNA) - was launched on 10 July. The group is a safe space for members to support each other to improve organisational structures and processes for diversity and inclusion and has already connected over 600 thought leaders and change makers in its first few weeks! If you haven’t already, do join the conversation and help us advance the transformative outcomes that DIGNA wants to achieve, which includes ensuring a sustained discourse on diversity in civil society organisations, enabling the exchange of tools and resources to increase workplace inclusion and creating a dynamic channel for the learning and collaboration that can help us all achieve high standards of diversity and inclusion in our organisations.

  Working with CIVICUS members to improve our response to civic space restrictions

  We had at least four important opportunities to engage CIVICUS members in analysing and proposing improved approaches to how we analyse and respond to the threats faced by civil society. In Mexico, we joined members of the VUKA! coalition to co-design methodologies to counteract the demonization of civic space, civil society and human rights defenders. The interaction resulted in a campaign design that we are committed to implement alongside our allies.

  In Nairobi, members and friends of CIVICUS came together to discuss how anti-rights groups are organising and being supported, what tactics they use to attack human rights and how civil society can respond to this growing threat. Participants in the dialogue attested to the real challenges they face from hard line groups closely linked to state structures and politicians. The dialogue underscored that while human rights have always been contested, what is new is that extremist and ultra-conservative groups are now working with and being sheltered by the state. Vulnerable and excluded groups, it was observed, are on the frontline of violence. They are attacked first and most frequently, and often as a prelude to attacks on civil society as a whole. 

  Over 20 research partners of the CIVICUS Monitor met in Accra to review progress and propose how we further improve and enhance this work. The CIVICUS Monitor is a cutting edge research tool that allows access to live updates from civil society around the world, track threats to civil society and learn about the ways in which our right to participate is being realised or challenged. Each of these organisations plays a vital role in keeping information on this platform up-to-date, accurate and grounded in local realities.

  We also worked with partners to make UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) submissions on 4 countries – Armenia, Kenya, Kuwait and Laos - in advance of the 35th UPR session. The submissions examine the state of civil society in each country, including the promotion and protection of the rights to freedom of association, peaceful assembly and expression and the environment for human rights defenders. We also provided an assessment of the States’ domestic implementation of civic space recommendations received during the 2nd UPR cycle over 4 years ago and provide a number of targeted follow-up recommendations.

  Amplifying local struggles at the UN High Level Political Forum

  Our activities at the UN High Level Political Forum (HLPF) this year provided an important opportunity to amplify the work of grassroots activists including Yineth Balanta, the Afro-Colombian environmental defender from Colombia who highlighted the dangers faced her community at two of our events; Corlett Letlojane from HURISA who spoke at South Africa’s Voluntary National Review and highlighted issues related to violence against women and other rights concerns; and 16-year old climate activist, Jerome Foster.

  We also joined of the civil society delegation that met with the UN Secretary General António Guterres to present the ‘Belgrade Call to Action’, developed at the International Civil Society Week earlier this year. The delegation drew attention to the urgent need to address civic space challenges as part of effort to achieve the 2030 Agenda. More broadly, statistics from the CIVICUS Monitor drew attention to the status of civic space in the 47 countries participating in the HLPF through a statement urging stronger linkages between human rights and the sustainable development agenda.

  Opportunities to act with CIVICUS:

  • We are proud to announce the launch of our Spanish twitter channel, which is one of several steps we are taking to respond to the increasing demand for multi-lingual channels and capabilities across the Alliance! Connect with us on @CIVICUSespanol.
  • The review report of the International Civil Society week (ICSW) is now available in three languages - English, Spanish and French, with acknowledgements due to the ICSW-2019 event partners and supporters whose collective efforts made the ‘Power of Togetherness’ possible in Belgrade earlier this year. We want to hear your reactions to the conclusions and recommendations laid out in the report, which will help us shape our strategy for the next iteration of ICSW!
  • We are mid-way through our Strategic Plan period (2017-22) and will be coordinating a review process across the second half of the year! The mid-term review will serve the important purpose of reviewing how we have progressed so far and providing recommendations on the implementation of the final 2 years of our Strategic Plan. Do look out for opportunities to engage, the first being the Annual Constituency Survey which we will be initiated in August!

  Please continue to share your feedback and inspirations. We look forward to hearing from you!

  In solidarity,

  Lysa John

  Twitter: @lysajohn

• My Participation in the Bridge 47 Event and its Impact on our Education Program in Palestine

  By Jamil Derbashi, from Palestinian Centre for Communication and Development Strategies (PCCDS), Palestine, and CIVICUS member

  How the Bridge 47 project relates to our work in Palestine

  My participation in the Bridge 47 Event in Brussels was one of my most important international meeting involvement in 2018. It focused mainly on the seventh objective of the fourth Sustainable Development Goal as defined by the United Nations for 2020-2030 (SDG4.7). The SDG 4.7 focuses on quality education towards a fair and resilient world (goal 4) and educating people as citizens of the world particularly (objective 7).

  SDG4 is the framework of the Palestinian Centre for Communication and Development Strategies (PCCDS)’s work on education in Palestine. We will further be focusing on having a dialogue with the Palestinian Government and building coalitions to reach the objective of integrating “global citizenship” education within our strategic educational plan.

  Indeed, the Sustainable Development Goals were approved and signed by the Palestinian President who has the highest authority, and he has demanded the various ministries to apply them, with the Ministry of Education being one of these ministries. The Ministry of Education responded gradually to address some objectives of goal 4, but hasn't yet implemented SDG 4.7.

  How my participation at the Bridge 47 will further nurture our work

  My attendance to the Bridge 47 event was side by side with 100 of the largest institutions working on global and/or sustainable education from Europe mainly, and from around the world in general, as well as representatives of international alliances. I was one of the members of these alliances: CIVICUS – the World Alliance for Citizen Participation.

• Myanmar elections show the regression of civic space over the last five years

  By Lisa Majumdar, Advocacy Officer, CIVICUS

  Amidst a flurry of high-profile elections this week, it will be Myanmar’s turn to go to the polls on 8 November. Nearly 100 political parties are contesting the country’s general election, with the upper and lower houses of the national, state and regional governments all to play for.

  This will be the second election in Myanmar since the end of military rule in 2011. But the contrast between the two could hardly be starker. While the 2015 elections saw a landslide victory for Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) amid a groundswell of hope for democratic progress and human rights change, the upcoming election will take place in an environment of ongoing serious human rights violations, escalating attacks on democratic freedoms and discriminatory policies.

  Unfree and unfair

  The conditions for free and fair elections depend on an open civic space, where voters have access to information, can enjoy freedom of expression and opinion, and are able to organize and gather. Countries that purport to be democracies have a responsibility to ensure that these conditions are met, so that people can truly have a say in their own governance.

  But in Myanmar, these conditions are in short supply.

  As the CIVICUS Monitor has documented, there has been a sustained attack on civic space in the country over the last few years. Human rights defenders, journalists and critics have been criminalized and attacked for speaking up about human rights violations. A raft of old draconian laws are deployed by the government and military to silence dissent. 

  This already has created an unhealthy environment for elections. However, in the run-up to the election, authorities have compounded this by actively targeting electoral processes. 

  For example, Myanmar’s Union Election Commission (UEC), which has been accused by human rights groups of making critical decisions without transparency, has censored the speeches of political parties that want to broadcast campaign materials on state-run TV and radio networks. The election commission’s stringent guidelines on the content of speeches means that criticism of government policies by opposition parties has essentially been banned from state-run airwaves, denying voters crucial information. 

  Government-imposed internet restrictions in Rakhine and Chin States – which have now lasted for more than a year – has had a serious impact on the ability of voters in the affected areas to access information about candidates, parties, and their positions. 

  The government’s response to COVID-19 had a negative impact on media freedom, affecting the ability of the electorate to be informed. Journalists and media workers have been declared a nonessential business and face travel restrictions due to the government’s strict stay-at-home orders, hindering comprehensive coverage. Four national newspapers – the Standard Times, 7 Day Daily, the Myanmar Times, and the Voice Daily – announced their decision to suspend circulation of their newspapers from 23 September 2020. Notably, the publication of state-owned newspaper will not be affected. 

  Discriminatory policies 

  Most egregiously, though, the Myanmar government is preventing people from voting or from standing for election altogether. 

  It has systematically and deliberately disenfranchised voters from ethnic minorities, using the discriminatory 1982 Citizenship Law and the Election Law to prevent Rohingya candidates from running for office, even though most Rohingya families have lived in Myanmar for generations. 

  They include Abdul Rasheed, a Yangon resident whose father was a civil servant and who was born and has lived his whole life in Myanmar. Kyaw Min, the chairperson of the Democracy and Human Rights party, has also been barred despite having run in the 1990 election and spending years as a political prisoner alongside thousands of NLD activists and others.

  The authorities have barred an estimated 600,000 Rohingya from registering to vote in the election. None of the million Rohingya who fled genocide in Myanmar for neighbouring Bangladesh will be allowed to vote. This adds yet another layer of repression and discrimination on a community that has experienced ethnic cleansing and a systematic denial of their rights in recent years. 

  Voting has been suspended or cancelled in various constituencies in Kachin, Karen, Mon, Rakhine, and Shan States, and the Bago Region, with the election commission citing security concerns. As a result, over 1.5 million people will not be able to vote.

  It is a common feature of would-be autocrats to attempt to suppress the votes of those who disagree with, or are negatively impacted by, their policies. Myanmar is not the only country to attempt to do so; it is not even the only country to have done so this week. But for a country where optimism for change and freedom shone so brightly five years ago, this represents a bleak failure of democratic progress. 

  The two elections, five years apart, have bookended a downward spiral into gross human rights violations, attacks against dissenters, and a curtailment of democratic freedoms. While some countries have spoken up and stood by human rights defenders and victims of violations, other countries, particularly in the Southeast Asian region, have failed miserably to call out Myanmar on its actions.  Whatever the outcome of this elections – marred already by acts of censorship, racist voter suppression and other restrictions – we all must redouble our efforts to support civil society and activists to reverse the democratic regression we have witnessed since the 2015 elections.

• Nous avons besoin de l'aide de la communauté internationale

  Wai Hnin Pwint Thon, Suisse

  Wai Hnin Pwint Thon est responsable principale du plaidoyer à Burma Campaign UK (Campagne du Royaume-Uni pour la Birmanie), basée à Genève, en Suisse. Elle travaille avec les familles de prisonniers politiques depuis plus de dix ans. Son père, Mya Aye, est un ancien et actuel prisonnier politique qui a été à l'avant-garde du mouvement démocratique birman pendant plus de 30 ans. Il a été arrêté à Yangon le premier jour du coup d'État, le 1er février.

  ---

  Voici son histoire:

  « Enfant, la première fois que j'ai vu mon père, c'était à la prison d'Insein et il y avait des barres de fer entre nous, si bien que nous ne pouvions même pas nous embrasser. Lorsque j'ai appris la nouvelle de la dernière arrestation de mon père, je me suis sentie très inquiète pour lui et pour ma famille. Je ne voulais pas croire que nous devions tous revivre cette horrible expérience pour la troisième fois.

  Les trois derniers mois ont été particulièrement éprouvants. Chaque jour, j'entends parler d'arrestations et de meurtres de manifestants pacifiques. Certains de mes amis sont désormais cachés ou emprisonnés pour s'être exprimés. 

  La Birmanie a connu les plus grandes manifestations antimilitaires depuis 30 ans. Des étudiants qui auraient dû poursuivre leurs études et réaliser leurs rêves sont tués ou emprisonnés pour s'être battus pour la démocratie.

  La génération Z, qui n'a pas connu les soulèvements de 1988 et 2007, comprend maintenant ce que serait la vie si les militaires gouvernaient le pays, et elle est déterminée à ne plus vivre sous une autre dictature militaire.

  Nous voulons vivre dans un pays où nous n'avons pas à craindre d'être arrêtés pour avoir parlé. Nous voulons que nos enfants aillent à l'école sereinement sans avoir à craindre que leurs écoles soient bombardées. Nous voulons vivre dans un pays pacifique où règnent les valeurs fédérales, l'égalité et la dignité.

  Pour réaliser nos rêves, nous avons besoin de l'aide de la communauté internationale. Nous sommes reconnaissants de voir que de nombreuses personnes du monde entier s'expriment sur les médias sociaux, collectent des fonds, organisent des événements et demandent aux représentants de leur gouvernement d'aider la population birmane. Cette solidarité nous donne force et espoir.

  

  Avec Burma Campaign UK, j'ai travaillé avec des défenseurs des droits humains et des organisations de base à l'intérieur du pays pour faire en sorte que leurs voix et leurs demandes d'action internationale soient entendues. Nous avons fait campagne pour que la communauté internationale impose des sanctions économiques intelligentes et ciblées contre les entreprises de l'armée, pour mettre en place un embargo mondial sur les armes et pour que l'armée soit tenue responsable de tous les crimes qu'elle a commis.

  Aucun gouvernement ne peut prétendre qu'il ne sait pas ce qui se passe en Birmanie et qu'il ne connaît pas les mesures que la population lui demande de prendre en réponse."

  ---

  Légendes : Wai Hnin Pwint Thon ; Wai Hnin parlant lors d'une récente réunion de l'ASEAN. (Copyright : Wai Hnin Pwint Thon.)

• Opening up to Local Fundraising

  By Mr. Mange Ram Adhana, President of the Association For Promotion Sustainable Development, India, and CIVICUS member.

  

  My colleague and I attended a 5 day Local Fundraising training organized by Change the Game Academy, Wilde Ganzen, and local partner SMILE Foundation, on June 4, 2018. The intention was to test the training as pioneers among the CIVICUS Community, to discuss ways to potentially open up these types of learning opportunities further to more CIVICUS members.

  This full time training included 20 sessions. It was a really enjoyable and new learning opportunity for all of us. The trainers were very good at conducting the sessions and the facilitators helped to keep the participants continuously energized, throughout the sessions.

  The inputs and new skills which we have gained will go a long way in our journey in the field of fundraising.

• Our right to protest will determine the freedoms of future generations

  

  Secretary-General Update: October 2021

  In 2020, the Human Rights Committee published its interpretation of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly in its General Comment No. 37, which set out in detail the responsibilities of States in upholding freedom of peaceful assembly. States have positive obligations - they must actively do something, as well as negative obligations - they must abstain from certain acts. These obligations - which apply before, during and after assemblies – include the specific nature of justifiable restrictions on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly; as well as the  obligation to protect participants while and where an assembly is ongoing, and activities that are important in its exercise – such as online communication. 

  However, through the CIVICUS Monitorwe have documented countless cases of people’s right to peaceful assembly being violated in various ways – through arbitrary restrictions that prevent assemblies from taking place; through violent or otherwise disproportionate policing of protests; and through bureaucratic regulations providing barriers to organising. Our latest brief on protest held around the world since the start of the pandemic records the use of excessive force against protesters in at least 79 countries, which includes the use of lethal force leading to the killing of protesters in at least 28 countries. In over 100 countries, law enforcement officers have detained protesters, often on the grounds of failure to adhere to COVID-19 measures or other laws related to peaceful assemblies. 

  There are at least four key challenges that the international community must urgently and collectively address in order to protect and expand the fundamental right to peaceful assembly. The first is the use of emergency laws to stifle protest. During the COVID-19 pandemic, blanket bans on protest have been imposed in the name of public health. This includes the stifling of assemblies in the run up to elections under guise of public health limitations. States have continued to curb civic freedoms without agreeing to sunset clauses that ensure the end of such emergency powers.

  The use of internet shutdowns & other measures to restrict access to technologies is another challenge to the freedom of peaceful assembly. In the context of the COVID pandemic, more assemblies have moved online. However internet shutdowns or restrictions on internet data flows are being used to prevent the organizing, facilitation and or carrying out of assemblies online. Shutdowns have been especially deployed to target marginalized and at-risk populations, and often implemented hand in hand with other repressive tactics against protesters, facilitate abuses and gross human rights violations committed in the context of peaceful protests.

  A third challenge is the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) & surveillance to threaten protestors. With the growth in number and type of surveillance technologies available to governments, we have witnessed and increase in the use of digitally-enabled tactics to identify, harass and intimidate protestors. The role of tech companies in curtailing or enabling the right to protest also has implications for the oversight that needs to be exercised on businesses and their compliance with human rights. The use of financial restrictions is a fourth critical challenge to the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.Across countries, restrictions on garnering public support, both domestically and internationally, have been imposed on civic actors through laws on financial contributions, closures of bank accounts and other forms of reprisal or sanction. States must, instead, play a role to play in supporting and resourcing grassroots movements as part of their role as an enabler of public participation and civic freedoms.

  What actions can we take to address these challenges? Firstly, we need governments to ensure that all laws and regulations limiting public gatherings based on public health concerns are necessary and proportionate. The public health emergency caused by COVID-19 must not be used as a pretext to suppress human rights. States must also ensure compliance with international frameworks that govern online freedoms by refraining from imposing online restrictions and allowing protesters to access information at all times.

  In addition to this, states must drop charges and release all protesters and human rights defenders prosecuted for exercising their right to the freedom of peaceful assembly and review their cases to prevent further harassment. Recourse to judicial review and effective remedy, including compensation, in cases of unlawful denial of the right to the freedom of peaceful assembly and use of excessive force must be provided.

  Finally, all sections of the international community must work together to foster a more consistent application of human rights standards.  All instances of arbitrary arrests and the use of excessive force in response to protests must be publicly condemned at the highest levels; immediate and impartial investigations into such instances must be conducted with the assistance of international experts and independent civil society organisations. 

  There have been multiple examples of civil society and social movements across the world galvanizing positive change, defending hard-won democratic values and developing innovative practices to address issues of injustice, as also outlined in our annual State of Civil Society reports. People coming together to speak out have won better working conditions, furthered equality, ended forms of oppression. In light of the increasingly complex governance challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore, we need state and non-state actors to be accountable to enabling the freedom of peaceful assembly and protecting those who exercise their right to protest and organise.

  Lysa John is Secretary General of CIVICUS, based in South Africa.
  Twitter: @lysajohn
  This update is based on her remarks at the 48th session of the UN Human Rights Council. 

• Pakistan: “Global Citizenship”, a western perspective?

  By Khurram Riaz, CIVICUS member from Pakistan
  
  With 207.74 million people in the country, having more than 50% youth population and 22.8 million children out of school, Pakistan faces the grave challenges of human rights violation, gender based violence, insecurity and extremism. Heavy influx of refugees and temporary displaced persons, cross-border tension and the latest economic project, Global Citizenship Education is the most important agenda to be taken forward by the government but completely neglected.
  
  In Pakistan, which termed as a postcolonial state where citizenship agency is low, national identity very strong, and foreign influence extremely high, what can the future be for a framework of global citizenship? Although taught in schools in many developed countries e.g. UK, global citizenship is a new terminology in Pakistan and having talked to some of the citizens, students, professionals and friends, the general mindset in Pakistan is more local than global, more politically affiliated and it does not extend beyond nation states. Yes the postcolonial state of mindset is still prevalent, where citizenship is tied to nation state only. Today we, in Pakistan, still consider that the ideology of global citizenship stems from a western perspective.
  
  But, this is not the case. I attended the one daylong conference on Building Global Citizenship and how we can unlock the power of global citizenship education on October 3, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium. This was hosted by Bridge 47 - a network of 16 European and International Organisations which CIVICUS is a steering group member. As many as 100 participants attended, representing an extremely diverse group, from a range of developed and developing countries and with unmatched enthusiasm and acknowledgement of the power of working together.
  
  I was participating as a CIVICUS member, travelling all the way from Pakistan with a great FEAR in MIND: “I do not know anyone”. When I met the first Bridge 47 person: Tania, followed by Marina, Jamil, Claudia from CIVICUS, in a short time I felt myself part of the family. It felt so easy to talk to each one of them as if this was not the first time I was talking or even meeting them. When I started discussing about my country situation, I got the sense that they were bonding so much with me that they felt the issue and they provided expert advice. All of them are part of my family now and that's what Global Citizenship is: bringing the people together and seeing how the connections work.
  
  I am grateful for this collective CIVICUS experience and meeting such fantastic people. I believe that the way we are bonded now, we can work for each other, support each other and even contribute to bringing peace and harmony in areas where we cannot even dream of going. This is Global Citizenship and together we can work for it.

• Partnerships for sustainability

  By Siok Sian Pek-Dorji, from Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy and CIVICUS member delegate to the EC Partnership Forum 2018.

  The energy was palpable as nearly 300 representatives of civil society and local authorities from across the globe gathered in Brussels on 26^th July to discuss global partnerships. The aim was to strengthen partnerships so that we can make the world more sustainable and livable and to address the inequities so that “no one is left behind” in the 21^st century.

  “We’re all supposed to be singing from the same hit list” said one of the panelists – reminding the participants of the urgency of developing meaningful collaborations to make the Sustainable Development Goal’s (SDG) vision of the United Nation’s Agenda 2030.

  The premise is that these partnerships, and indeed, the SDGs, will be a game changer. The 193 signatory countries are supposedly aligning their national goals with the SDGs – at least the developing countries are. And they have another 12 years to achieve them.

  The partnership forum, supported by the European Union, provides a critical platform for countries to come together to discuss the goals we have adopted. The forum reminded us that we’re all relying on one another to create this global movement of change, while we also need to focus on specific needs in our own countries. There were calls for urgent work on gender equity and addressing women’s role in development. Recommendations were made to address the many discriminations that still exist.

  CIVICUS, which publishes an annual state of civil society report warns us that the world is facing a shrinking civic space and a general decline in democratic space, polarising politics, and divided societies. It is not an optimistic picture but the voices at the partnership forum shows that civility remains in civil society space, and ideas and commitment abound. And that gives us hope for the future. All this is very relevant to Bhutan where civil society is emerging, slowly but surely.

• Persevering through the pandemic

  Message from Lysa John, CIVICUS SG

  Dear CIVICUS members and allies,

  What a year it has been! 2020 came with so many new challenges - both personally and professionally.  Many in the alliance reported new and worrying civic space restrictions taking root, shrinking funding, and vital activities forced to a standstill under lockdowns and health concerns. 

  Yet, we have persevered as an Alliance. Both at the Secretariat and across the world, activism shifted online, we found new ways to convene and conduct research, and adjusted programming to address new realities shaped by the pandemic. Listening to the Alliance, work at the secretariat largely focused on resourcing, rights, and resilience. Recent months have been just as busy: 

  • We published 2 thought-provoking research reports  - you can learn more about People Power Under Attack or read inspiring stories of Solidarity in the Time of Covid-19 
  • The first series of ICSW virtual events has been completed - 7 unique conversations,  11 hours of streaming,  41 speakers from 25 countries, with over 650 attendees! 
  • Linked to Human Rights Day and 16 Days of Activism, we continued to encourage people to #StandAsMyWitnessand celebrated the release of 2 featured HRDS since the start of the campaign in July. 
  • We’re expanding our network of member spokespeople across the globe, with a pilot group already taking part in media training. 

  We’ve just wrapped up the virtual CIVICUS Annual General Meeting held 7-11 December 2020, an opportunity to reflect on our collective strength and discuss priorities going forward. Members reviewed the annual report, connected with each other, and participated in events about resourcing, how language shapes narratives, the #StandAsMyWitness campaign, and diversity & inclusion.

  Recently, CIVICUS undertook a scoping exercise with staff, board, and selected members thinking about challenges facing our sector and how we could innovatively respond to these. We used a design thinking approach and held online engagements with 80+ individuals and came out with 10 ideas that we are integrating into our planning and programming in the coming year.

  This coming year we'll be reaching out to the alliance to explore post-pandemic re-building for good and piloting a new member to member communications platform.  We’ll also be celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the publishing of the State of Civil Society Report! Building on virtual events this year, the revisioned 2021 ICSW journey will continue to be a space for civil society to connect; watch for the open call for innovation awards nominations in early 2021 to celebrate the best civil society has to offer. Innovation Awards. 

  In January, CIVICUS is pleased to welcome newly elected board members. I’d like to thank all of the outgoing board members for their work with and commitment to CIVICUS, and look forward to working with the incoming members. 

  CIVICUS offices will be closed from 24 December to 4 January. I look forward to connecting with all of you again next year. It is my great honour to work with such inspiring activists and organisations that make up the CIVICUS Alliance, who are daring to organise and mobilise in new and creative ways, pushing back against threats to democracy, and raising their voices for change. 

  In solidarity,
  Lysa John
  Secretary-General, CIVICUS

   

• Planificación de escenarios para una orientación estratégica ágil

  Por Tamryn Lee Fourie, Jerusha Govender y Khotso Tsotsotso

  Para CIVICUS, y para la sociedad civil en su conjunto, la pandemia del COVID-19 ha cambiado radicalmente nuestra forma de trabajar, y el mundo en el que trabajamos. Teniendo esto en cuenta, a medida que nos acercamos al final del actual plan estratégico 2017-2022 de la Alianza, nos preguntamos: ¿cómo podemos seguir siendo estratégicamente relevantes, dada la falta de claridad sobre lo que está por venir, y dándonos cuenta de que las capacidades del personal y los miembros ya están al límite?

  En estos tiempos de incertidumbre, los enfoques prospectivos como la planificación de escenarios son una herramienta potencial para el desarrollo de estrategias, y son una parte clave del actual proceso de reorientación estratégica de la Alianza CIVICUS.

  En febrero y marzo de 2021, contratamos a Data Innovators para que revisaran los análisis de previsión y los documentos de planificación de escenarios existentes de los miembros y socios, interactuaran con los miembros de CIVICUS y elaboraran escenarios futuros relacionados con el espacio cívico y la acción ciudadana. A continuación, comprobamos estos escenarios con aliados de otros sectores para identificar posibles factores disruptivos y oportunidades estratégicas que podríamos haber pasado por alto.

  Los escenarios

  Surgieron cuatro escenarios para guiar al liderazgo de CIVICUS y apoyar a otras OSC en etapas similares de revisión de estrategias, documentados desde la perspectiva de "Olwethu", un activista cívico y nuestro personaje. Los cuatro escenarios se resumen a continuación:

  

  <Lee más sobre los escenarios aquí>

  Estos escenarios ayudan a que CIVICUS aborde las modificaciones necesarias de nuestra estrategia actual, a que utilice los cuatro futuros potenciales para abrir el debate sobre las áreas en las que se necesita una implementación específica y a que mantenga a nuestros electores (es decir, a "Olwethu") en el centro. Del mismo modo, otras OSC también pueden encontrar estos escenarios útiles a la hora de considerar un ajuste estratégico.

  Cómo puedes utilizar estos escenarios para reorientar tus propias estrategias:

  Este ejercicio pone a prueba las estrategias actuales en diferentes contextos. Es una buena práctica identificar las estrategias "sin sorpresa", es decir, las que son sólidas en cualquier escenario. Sin embargo, los escenarios también pueden ser lo suficientemente diversos como para requerir estrategias únicas para cada contexto.

  Pasos recomendados para probar las estrategias con respecto a estos escenarios:

  Paso 1: Considera un escenario a la vez, y por un momento, asume que ese escenario ocurrirá. Debate y explora los diferentes aspectos, asegurándote de que todos los participantes comprenden los elementos clave.

  Paso 2: Una vez comprendido el escenario, formula las siguientes preguntas y documenta las respuestas:

  • ¿Es el conjunto de objetivos estratégicos adecuado en el escenario?
  • ¿Cuáles son las lagunas evidentes de la estrategia actual para el escenario?
  • ¿Qué estrategias adicionales/alternativas deberían desarrollarse para subsanar estas deficiencias?
  • Teniendo en cuenta las lagunas/alternativas, ¿cómo se debería ajustar la teoría del cambio (TdC)[1]?

  Paso 3: Repite los pasos 1 y 2 para cada escenario hasta cubrir todos los escenarios.

  Si tienes suficiente tiempo, ve al paso 4...

  Paso 4: Toma distancia, y observa las listas de opciones estratégicas para cada escenario. Identifica las que aparecen en todos o en la mayoría de los escenarios. Estas son las opciones estratégicas que parecen buenas en todos los escenarios. Empieza a trabajar en una teoría del cambio consolidada que se basa en las opciones estratégicas comunes, con las lagunas cubiertas/sustituidas por estrategias alternativas. Adopta medidas para hacer frente a posibles prejuicios pidiendo a personas ajenas a tu " entorno " habitual que revisen y validen tu trabajo.

  Paso 5: Comprueba la lógica de la TdC y perfecciónala. Y por último, actualiza la estrategia actual.

  Esperamos que estos consejos te resulten útiles. Por favor, no dudes en comentarnos cómo has utilizado estos escenarios en tus revisiones de estrategia. Estaríamos muy interesados en conocer tus experiencias e ideas.

  [1] https://www.civicus.org/monitoring-toolkits/es/toolkit/theory-of-change/

• Power of Togetherness Never Ends

  Strengthening Civil Society Membership Platform

  By Sin Putheary, Cooperation Committee for Cambodia, AGNA and CIVICUS voting organizational member

  Coming from the largest and longest established membership-based organization in Cambodia, I have a privilege to be part of International Civil Society Week (ICSW) in Belgrade, Serbia while several other colleagues of civil society are not able to physically present themselves at the conference due to visa issues. However, this cannot stop us from moving together.

  Strengthening Membership Platform for CSO Effectiveness, 29 year-experience from Cambodia context, is one of the buzz sessions I shared during the event. At the same time, participants also exchanged their experiences of civil society in Finland, France, U.S.A, Argentina, West Africa and Cuba. The discussion showed that our challenges are similar particularly the claiming for civic space.

  Facing many obstacles on space, CSO realized the importance of working together in the collaborative manner. The power of common voice brought so many great examples of positive change in the region. At the meantime, the critical question on representation of CSO in policy discussion with the government remains unanswered for decades.

  My observation through the discussion is that the risk is not just CSO as an institution, but it threatens to individual CSO staff mainly advocacy and human rights defenders. Since the adoption of Declaration on human rights defenders in 1998, the estimated 1,000 human rights defenders lost their lives in the cause of their work. It is a sad story, but I still believe that CSO has a home grown, and other members, partners, and networks of CSO are not static. Therefore, the dynamic of joining efforts will bring the success near.

  One of the lessons learned from the event I noted is that CSO need reassess our function in society. Additionally, CSO also require a long-term vision, clear strategy, and flexible tactic to ensure their effective role in responding to the need of the people. These cannot happen by working alone, but together.

  Throughout more than ten years working for civil society sector, I found out that dialogue on membership platform is beyond the classical NGOs meetings. It spiritually builds a momentum of hope and solidarity among CSO although they are coming from different colors, ages, social status and political view.

• Protecting civic space against #NGOMuzzle laws in Kenya

  This article captures the background and events of November 2013 in Kenya. A set of thirteen amendments to the Public Benefits Organisations Act 2013 were unexpectedly brought to the National Assembly. If they had passed, they would have fundamentally affected civic space, democracy and development. It offers lessons and reflections on the state of governance and civil society in Kenya and the challenges of protecting and advancing fundamental freedoms within a new constitutional order.