Blogs

• As much as it is a time of struggle and shrinking space, it is also a time for hope and revolution

  30 members of the Affinity Group of National Associations (AGNA) gathered in Johannesburg, South Africa for a peer learning exchange. With the facilitation of Common Purpose, the members looked at their ability to lead beyond authority and which tools they may need to achieve this in civic space. Civil society’s (CS) ability to act rests on the realisation of three essential rights: the right to association, the right to peaceful assembly and the right to freedom of expression. Together, these define the boundaries of civic space within which civil society can function.

• Asia home to largest number of indigenous peoples: Activists building a movement in face of attacks

  By Josef Benedict, Civic Space Research Officer

  The 9^th of August, marks International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. The day is commemorated in recognition of the first meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations in Geneva in 1982.

  Asia is home to the largest number of indigenous peoples with an estimated 260 million from the 370 million original inhabitants worldwide. Despite this significant number, equaling half of the combined population of Europe, Asian indigenous peoples face an array of challenges such as the denial of the right to self-determination, the loss of control over their land and natural resources, discrimination and marginalisation, forced assimilation and violent repression by state security forces. 

  While most of the countries in Asia had voted for the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in September 2007, many refuse to respect and implement these rights. This has been made more difficult with the shrinking democratic space in many Asian countries and the rise of autocratic leaders. 

  In 2018, the CIVICUS Monitor continued to document human rights violations and state repression against indigenous peoples in the region. In the Philippines, there has been an increase of vilification against indigenous activists under the Duterte government. In March 2018, the Philippines labelled a number of local indigenous rights activists as “terrorists” for alleged links to the Communist Party. This included Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, a Filipino national. 

• Beyond the checklist: what made ICSW/virtual events special?

  By Bistra Kumbaroska

  Let me start this blog post with a personal confession: I love organising events, any kind of events - workshops, conferences, hackathons, week-long summits, team building activities, celebrations and anniversaries. From experience, I can say that part of the success when organising in-person events is to pay as much attention to delivering great content as to curating the venue and ambiance: having a great welcome desk, a nice coffee corner, providing spaces for people to make connections, keeping the goodie bag exciting, the garbage bins regularly empty and making sure the “behind-the-scenes” team is visible and approachable at any time.

  Reflecting on our experience organising the ICSW 2020 virtual series, I realised that in virtual events, the screen is the only thing we have to deliver a full event experience, to try and keep the audience's attention and to meet their scrutiny and expectations. And that screen is home to hundreds of other apps, messages, and inboxes that you cannot control. Plus, behind that screen the pets might be having loud fun, the kids might be dancing or the neighbours might be ringing the bell right at the time of the event. So, without coffee breaks, networking spaces and happy unexpected hugs from colleagues - what can one do to offer a good event experience through the screen? I want to share three things that I think made ICSW virtual events especially valuable for our participants, which go beyond all the customary preparations and steps on our checklists.

  1. We made sure our speakers felt as if they were stars (or at least, we tried)

  We were very used to preparing speakers for previous ICSW physical events, but preparing speakers for online events is a very different task. Even the best and most experienced speakers can feel uncomfortable online. It takes more time and preparation to help speakers and hosts feel comfortable “on-air”. We found out that regular check-ins and preparations calls before, sometimes quite ahead of the event, help a lot. During these calls we figured out if the speakers needed another microphone, a room with better light, if they could share their screen and if their presentation would be engaging enough for an online audience. Bringing a wide diversity of voices, backgrounds and opinions into our conversations also required many context-based preparations and individual calls. This time dedicated to the speakers was key to helping them show the best version of themselves during the live event and to connect with the participants in authentic ways! From our first fishbowl discussion to our last engaging panel with 10 speakers - we tried to serve our speakers the best way I hope that they felt like stars, at least for a few minutes.

  2. The backstage team was the heartbeat of every event

  Always and forever: teams and people matter! But in online events, they matter a tiny little bit more. Each of our ICSW/virtual events was hosted with different CIVICUS clusters, teams, partners and members, and the happier and more organised our team was, the easier it was to have a positive energy shining through the screen. Virtual events take lots of online coordination, checklists, emails, documents, chats and meetings - it took us an average of 50 emails, 16 calls and 19 people to organise each event! During all those sometimes messy steps, our team came up with the most brilliant ideas and solutions. Why? Because we consciously created the conditions and designated the time needed to discuss every detail of every event and we made sure everyone’s voice was heard and followed through. Providing and protecting a space for honesty and creativity for the coordination team was a key element, the heartbeat of each event. Whenever a speaker, moderator, interpreter or any other person joined us, they felt that backstage heartbeat and energy and strengthened it.

  

                                                                                               The lead team behind ICSW 2020 virtual events

   3. We are building a community, not an audience

  ICSW 2020-21 was designed as a one-year journey including virtual events, in-person local and regional events, and a global event. To us, all the people following this journey are more than an audience, they are our community, and we tried to engage with them in that way event after event. We tried checking what resonated with them and what didn’t to adjust our global conversation. We cherished all chat comments and received every individual email from our attendees with great pride and care, responding in the most honest and open way possible every time. We tried to allow spaces for people to connect with each other beyond the livestream and tracked five connections that led to meaningful partnerships thanks to ICSW virtual events! During our fourth ICSW event one participant wrote, “this event made me feel more connected to people than I have during the pandemic.” Knowing that we helped create that sense of connection and community is one of the most valuable results of our virtual journey together.

   

• Building a diverse global team of activist for social transformation: Welcoming the CIVICUS Youth Action Team 2021-22

  We at CIVICUS Youth are very thankful to the Youth Action Team (YAT) 2019-2020, a group of accomplished and inspiring young leaders from all over the world who work together for a year and a half to instill a more youth-friendly vision within CIVICUS and act as an inspiration for other organisations across the world to have youth at the center and make decisions that do not leave behind the power of 1.8 billion, the largest youth generation that the world has ever seen.

  The YAT was actively engaged in the process of design, selection and identification of the next generation of this team. Each one became an ambassador in their own region to disseminate the call for applications with local activists, thus helping us to have a presence in communities that otherwise we would have missed. Then, they provided useful ideas to better assess  applications, like having less but more provocative questions that got to the core of the activism of the applicants. Finally, they help to assess the profiles of the incoming YAT and choose the most promising profiles to create a team that is complementary and can harness diversity as a key asset to foster innovation and a global community ready to tackle local challenges.

  The key criteria used included: their experience as an activist and part of a larger youth-led organisation, their passion, commitment and resourcefulness; having a good understanding of CIVICUS Youth; skills and resources that can nurture and be nurtured by a global community of activists and; have an endorsement of an organisation/movement/collective that can confidently assess their leadership skills, proactiveness and capacity for mobilisation for social causes. Through these elements, it was easier to identify holistic profiles that would highly benefit from being part of a larger network with global reach and influence.

  After this careful selection process, the new YAT comprises a gender-balanced group with 7 females and 6 males, representing the Americas and the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Europe and Middle East and North Africa. It has activists as young as 18 years old and up to 30 years old, with experience ranging from global organisations like UNICEF, One Young World, and Amnesty International, to regional networks like the Afrika Youth Movement and local groups such as Ayudando a Honduras or One Future Collective. A mix of storytellers, grassroots activists, international advocates, social entrepreneurs, organisers, mobilisers and researchers, the team has an ample skill set to approach local challenges with a global perspective. The YAT 2021-22 includes an LGBTI rights activist and a champion for the inclusion of young people living with disabilities. While individually, each one has their own niche area of focus, collectively they can instill social change. However, it is not only about young people. Kejal Slava from India, the convener of the Blue Ribbon Movement – a group aiming to redefine leadership structure and use nonviolent practices – says that a world with meaningful youth engagement would be painted with colours of inter-generational wisdom, that creates space for everyone to learn and creatively act together. Yi Kang Choo, a law student of human rights from Malaysia adds that it is a world where national leaders and young people lead together, working as partners with equal relevance and value.

  It has been a short while of getting to know each other so far and they have set the courageous vision of creating a powerful ecosystem of transformation, where the youth is at the center and challenges the status quo through togetherness and diversity.This might be the start of a shift that expands throughout the CIVICUS alliance and beyond.

• Building Collective Action: Lessons from our Membership Engagement Month

  A message from Lysa John, Secretary-General of CIVICUS   

  Dear CIVICUS members and allies,   

  Across 10 November to 10 December last year, we coordinated a series of events to mark our very first ‘Membership Engagement Month’. This four-week, annually recurring initiative is part of the commitment we have made to create more opportunities for Board, staff, members and allies to review and discuss lessons and outcomes relevant to our strategic plan for 2022-27.  

  The aim of CIVICUS Membership Month is to facilitate collective learning across the alliance with the aim of catalysing innovation and action to expand civic and democratic freedoms. In 2022, specific objectives for the engagement were to facilitate proactive engagement between the CIVICUS Board and across members, provide space to query our strategy and increase visibility of and engagement with alliance-wide objectives and initiatives. As part of this effort, we aimed to test virtual and hybrid convening formats to foster connections; socialize collaborative and institutional initiatives across the alliance and create spaces for collective learning around models for activism and change. Events and exchanges were coordinated through CIVICUS’ online community, which was launched in 2021 and enables secure, real-time, peer-to-peer interactions across a verified group of members. 

  

  A ‘Digital Fair for Collective Action’ was the highlight of our online activities during the Membership Engagement Month. 700 CIVICUS members registered for this event, which was designed to enable visit to and focused conversations around 11 virtual booths hosted by a range of networks, including Innovation for Change, Connect Humanity, End Water Poverty, Fair Share for Women Leaders, KujaLink and Peace Direct. Fourteen CIVICUS members also showcased initiatives linked to ‘16 Days of Activism to end Gender based Violence’ during this period.  

  The virtual fair format was appreciated for providing a creative way to connect with human rights defenders worldwide and facilitate insightful conversations. On the downside, participants expressed challenges with internet connectivity and the learning curve required to navigate the tech-based platform. Overall, we are excited and encouraged by our first experience with the CIVICUS Digital Fair and look forward to expanding this initiative during its second iteration across 10 Nov to 10 Dec 2023. The launch of a series of online learning experiences was another highlight of the Membership Engagement Month. Over 1400 members registered for the two programs announced in this period, which were ‘Building Blocks for Organising’ and ‘Community Accountability Accelerator’ trainings. A third training program on digital security will be launched in early 2023.  

  

  Last but not the least, over 200 CIVICUS members also took part in the ‘AGM’ (Annual General Body Meeting) which was coordinated through two sessions held across 30 November 2022. The AGM provides a platform for members to engage directly with the Board and Secretariat on progress made against CIVICUS’ strategic plan. In the meetings held on 30 November, representatives of the Board and Senior Leadership Team presented key aspects of CIVICUS’ annual report and financial statements for 2021/22, following which voting members were invited to confirm the adoption of the annual report. We encourage all our members to look out for this engagement opportunity in November 2023. Your active engagement with this key governance moment will help strengthen our strategic progress and relevance! 

  If you haven’t already, please take a look at our annual report for 2021/22 here, and stay tuned to announcements from our Online Community to get involved with upcoming engagements aimed at strengthening governance accountability, strategic coherence and collective action!  

  In solidarity, 

  Lysa John 

• C'est à vous et à moi d'être le pilier de ceux qui luttent actuellement au Myanmar

   Par Tha Hniang, Texas, les états-unis d'Amérique

  Par Tha Hniang est une jeune membre de la Bethel Baptist Church of Texas à Lewisville. Elle est originaire de la communauté Chin, un groupe ethnique persécuté de l'ouest du Myanmar, et y a vécu jusqu'à l'âge de sept ans. Beaucoup de membres de sa famille sont rentrés au pays. Lewisville compte environ 4 000 réfugiés Chin, ce qui en fait l'un des groupes ethniques les plus importants de la ville. Par Hniang fait partie de la Chin Youth Organization of Dallas (CYO Dallas) et de la Chin Youth Organization of North America (CYONA).

  ---

  Voici son histoire :

  « Lorsque je vois mes frères et mes sœurs au Myanmar pleurer en toute impuissance, je ne peux m'empêcher d'avoir le cœur brisé. Je suis constamment émue aux larmes lorsque j'entends et vois ce qui se passe au Myanmar. La colère face aux intentions malveillantes des militaires est également inévitable. Dieu nous dit d'aimer nos ennemis et de prier pour ceux qui nous persécutent, mais il est évidemment difficile de contenir ses émotions, surtout lorsque le sang coule constamment.

  En tant que membre de la jeunesse de l'église baptiste Bethel du Texas, nous avons vendu notre nourriture traditionnelle Chin, le sabuti, afin de collecter des fonds. Il y avait tellement de gens qui nous soutenaient que chaque fois, tout était vendu en une heure ou deux. Bien que nous en ayons fait davantage à chaque fois, nous avons continué à vendre tous les plats à chaque fois et beaucoup de nos proches ont également fait des dons supplémentaires.

  Dans le cadre de la Chin Youth Organization Dallas, nous avons organisé un concert pour collecter des fonds et nous avons participé à des manifestations organisées en divers endroits par les groupes ethniques du Myanmar. En tant que jeune des Chin Baptist Churches of America (CBCUSA), nous avons chacun donné 100 dollars ou plus au Mouvement de désobéissance civile.

  

  J'aime à croire que je suis active dans ma communauté et que je cherche toujours à faire progresser mon pays d'origine. Les événements au Myanmar sont légèrement différents, car nous savons ce que nos frères et sœurs traversent de par notre propre expérience. Le fait que nos amis et les membres de notre famille souffrent nous remplit de colère. Nous ne voulons plus rien avoir à faire avec l'armée birmane, nous avons le sentiment que c'est maintenant ou jamais. Nous sommes fatigués de subir le même esclavage, encore et encore. Il est temps que de nouveaux leaders se lèvent et construisent une armée qui protège ses citoyens plutôt qu'une armée parasite.

  J'ai remarqué que les hashtags concernant le Myanmar existent à peine par rapport à d'autres causes. Nous devons le dire à nos amis dans nos écoles, contacter nos médias locaux, les autorités, nos représentants et leur montrer qu'il y a des électeurs qui se soucient de cette cause. 

  Aucun pays ne devrait soutenir ce coup d'État. Même si tout ce que vous pouvez faire est de poster une photo sur les médias sociaux, c'est 100 fois mieux que de ne rien faire. Il nous appartient, à vous et à moi, d'être le soutien de ceux qui luttent en ce moment au Myanmar.»

  ---

  Légendes : Par Tha Hniang ; Par Tha Hniang manifestant pour le Myanmar à Dallas, Texas. (Copyright : Par Tha Hniang.)

• Cambodia: A No Go Zone for Human Rights Activists

  On 28th January 2014, I attended the 18th Session of the United Nations Universal Period Review (UPR) on Cambodia. I also had the privilege of attending two side meetings held before the UPR and organized by World Association for the School as an Instrument of Peace and International PEN and its Partners. Several disturbing revelations on restrictions on the operation of human rights activists came up during the side meetings and the UPR on Cambodia.

• Case Study on the Power of Radical Collaboration: People Before Projects

  Conversation between Enhle Khumalo, CIVICUS Youth and Abigail Freeman, Alliance for Gender Justice Liberia in August 2020. 

  Transforming information into impactful formats 

  1. Who is Abigail?

  I am a 22-year-old social justice activist and founder of the Alliance for Gender Justice and Human Rights- a movement formed on the basis of advocating for women’s rights, promoting gender equality, and amplifying the voices of women and youth in  Liberia. I am also a Youth Action Lab participant.

  2. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the communities you work with?

  We had just launched our movement prior to the pandemic. However, due to the preventing measures to spread the COVID-19 pandemic we could not go on with our planned activities which included the construction of a physical space for young women and victims of sexual violence to participate safely in the campaign for sexual violence prevention and gender justice. So in the spirit of people before projects, we decided to adapt our plans to fit in with the needs of people during the COVID-19 state of emergency in Liberia that started in March.

  3. How were you able to adapt your plans to accommodate the changing environment? 

  My team and I wanted to adapt our plans to address people's needs and not our assumptions of what they needed. So, my team and I decided to see how we can work with communities and  to learn how to better address this issue and direct our efforts to protect women and children.

  4. What was a major take-away from the work you were able to produce using this approach?

  Gender issues are extremely sensitive in Ganta, Liberia. For instance, during our time working there with fellow grassroots activists, we discovered a case where four rapists had familial ties to the judge that ordered their medical release due to COVID-19. First, I was able to reach out to people working on those issues in the town. Working together, we built a campaign to raise awareness about this and the community demonstrated an overwhelming amount of support by joining us in protests demonstrations and press conferences calling for the immediate arrest of the rapists and along the way we gained traction and got legal support from the Liberia Justice Association. This strategic alliance assisted our advocacy efforts by introducing a legal entity, which we are not qualified as. Now more people know our movement and we are recognized and referred to as a group that stands up for gender justice in a context where this is a sensitive topic. Thanks to this we are reaching more people than if we had stayed with the original project plan.

  5. What would you say to organisations/donors who are looking to support youth activists like yourself in these challenging times and post-Covid?

  Many women and children living in rural communities are vulnerable to violence. Creating a space that will allow women, girls and children to acquire education and skills training will be a radical approach in the fight against GBV. At the SheLeads Academy, women, children and teenage mothers will be given an opportunity to build their capacity through skills training programs, counseling and mentorship,health care and leadership development. This will serve as a means for reducing poverty and domestic violence. 

  Funding and logistical assistance is also important. It will help advocacy organisations to expand their networks and support the work we are doing in our communities.

  6. Any advice for other youth activists facing similar challenges?

  Young people have the power to change the world and as such, it is time we build a united front by bringing young people from diverse backgrounds to elevate our advocacy.

  Gender Justice, safety for women and children, women empowerment and girls education is everyone’s responsibility. 

  Collaboration is key. We managed to cut across many sectors and have had many people support the work we are doing.  Value the power of collaboration., Young people can cut through the noise and advocate for a fair and just society when they organise with and through their community.

• Celebrating our #1 position on the FAIR SHARE of Women Leaders Monitor

  

  Dear members and allies, 

  CIVICUS has just been recognised as the top-ranking organisation in the annual FAIR SHARE for Women Leaders Monitor. Here's a look at the inspirations that propelled us towards this important outcome! 

  1. Women make up nearly 2/3rds of the civil society workforce, but hold less than 1/3rd of its leadership positions 

  Launched in 2018, the  ‘FAIR SHARE of Women Leaders’ campaign advocates for a greater share of women leaders in the senior management and Boards of civil society organisations. This call is based on the analysis that while women make up nearly 70% of the civil society workforce, they hold less than 30% of the top leadership positions. The Fair Share campaign rightly reasons that the lack of diverse voices in decision making roles undermines the impact that civil society has on critical issues of equity and justice, while also undermining our ability to safeguard our workforce and beneficiaries from abuse. 

  2. A growing number of organisations are sharing evidence of their progress towards the FAIR SHARE commitment 

  The FAIR SHARE commitment requires organisations to take steps to ensure that by 2030 or earlier, the percentage of women leaders (senior executives and Board members) is on par with the proportion of women staff. Participating organisations report each year, indicating the status of women staff across the organisation and how this compares with the percentage of women in leadership positions. This data is reflected in the FAIR SHARE Monitor updated annually to measure women’s representation, hold organisations accountable and generate shared strategies for the achievement of the Fair Share goal. 

  3. A FAIR SHARE journey begins with an honest assessment of failures in women’s representation in leadership

  CIVICUS signed up to the Fair Share commitment in March 2019. I was less than two months into my role as Secretary General when we signed up. Two factors contributed to fast-tracking our decision to endorse the commitment: the  full support of our then Board Chair, Anabel Cruz, and an internal survey analysis on women’s leadership undertaken in 2017. According to this report, a mere 16 percent of management and leadership roles in the organisation were held by women. Not surprisingly there was initial skepticism about our ability to rise to the challenge posed by the campaign. Eventually, this was replaced by enthusiasm for the proposed plegde and a push to meet and expand the required commitments required before 2030. 

  4. We made progress in small but consistent increments... and braved a fair share of attacks! 

  Our progress on staff-related roles was made possible through a series of internal measures undertaken since 2019. This included updating our policies for recruitment and remuneration to be more transparent and equitable, undertaking an in-depth Racial Justice review exercise across 2020 and 2021, which resulted in a time-bound action plan to address gender and racial equity as joint priorities; and moving to a learning-based performance appraisal system aimed at unlocking leadership at all levels. The greater challenge for us in this period was reflecting the FAIR SHARE commitment in our governance roles. The CIVICUS Board is almost entirely elected by our members. Despite a high number of women candidates applying and being short-listed in subsequent election cycles, this aspect of our commitment shifted more gradually. In at least one cycle, significant opposition to the FAIR SHARE commitment was raised by members who felt that their ability to compete for Board roles was being disadvantaged by the pledge. 

  5. We remain committed to expanding the FAIR SHARE commitment and diversifying women’s leadership  

  We continue to learn how to do better at creating workplace conditions that support women in their leadership journey. The integration of remote and flexible working practices during the pandemic has, for instance, been a key driver in attracting and retaining more women from racially and culturally diverse backgrounds. The recruitment of an Equity and Engagement Officer and creation of a refreshed mandate for an internal Diversity and Inclusion Group are other initiatives taken to ensure we focus attention on the intersections between gender, race and other forms of structural discrimination. Ultimately, the greater inclusion of under-represented groups in our workplaces is as crucial to our effectiveness as the strategies we create to address imbalances of power in the wider world. 

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

• Celebrating our 10,000 strong alliance!

  Secretary General’s Update: August 2020

  

• CIVICUS Accountability’s journey – some updates! 

  Have you been wondering what’s up withCIVICUS’ accountability actions? Are you looking for examples and opportunities to strengthen your own organisation’s accountability or connect with others to take more concrete accountability steps? Then, this blog is for you!

• CIVICUS Annual General Meeting

  From the 30th October to the 8th November 2019 members gathered in Johannesburg, South Africa from all over the world for the CIVICUS Annual General meeting. This, as always, is an opportunity to come together and set the agenda and priorities of CIVICUS Alliance. It included approval of the Annual Report and financial statements, reflecting on key outcomes of the annual constituency survey, a look at the first year of CIVICUS Solidarity Fund, a new membership Code of Conduct, and analysis of a mid-point review of CIVICUS’  Strategic Plan 2017-2022.

  Board Meeting

  During this year’s Board Meeting, we explored a range of topics and questions that will shape CIVICUS Alliance’s activities in the months -- and years -- to come. These included:

  • Political polarisation and what this means for inequality and exclusion
  • People power movements including mass protests. CIVICUS Alliance is eager to respond and connect!
  • Our impressive and rapid membership growth. We have a keen eye out for what this means for the CIVICUS Alliance’s future activities.
  • A benchmarking review of where we stand to date, and where we need to keep moving, especially in terms of the Alliance’s Southern presence, identity, and focus.

  Code of Conduct

  This year, CIVICUS Alliance touched base with you about a new, more detailed Membership Code of Conduct, so we can best support and look after each other in ever-growing solidarity. Stay tuned for updates!

  Annual Constituency Survey

  On the 31st of October, we held a Zoom meeting to follow up with you from our Annual Constituency Survey -- hearing from you personally on your experiences over the last year, your hopes and ideas for the future, and how we can continue to support and connect with you in the year to come.

  This discussion centred around a major overarching question, “How can we bolster member engagement?” In responding, our members reported that:

  • Much of CIVICUS Alliance’s activity is already making very positive headway, especially in terms of capacity building support and opportunities
  • An area for ongoing growth in CIVICUS Alliance is in terms of member-to-member engagement and networking, especially along the lines of regional or thematic contexts where our members can share knowledge and experience more closely with each other

  Mid-point strategic priority review

  In 2016, CIVICUS developed its 2017-2022 Strategic Plan. This was to set the strategic direction for the Secretariat and Alliance by articulating who we are, what we strive to achieve, how we work and how we define our success. As November 2019 marked the mid-point of this plan, it was only right to take a moment to analyse our achievements and shortcomings so far. 

  On 6 November, the CIVICUS Secretariat along with Board members and invited voting members gathered at the University of Johannesburg for our Strategy and Action Workshop. 

  The morning session was dedicated to a review of Goals 1 through 4 and recommendations for improvement. Some of the big questions asked included: How should we measure and communicate the effectiveness of civil society? What kind of data do we need to collect from our members and how can we best put that data to use?

  The afternoon session was organised around reimagining the CIVICUS of the future. The following trends informed the discussion:

  • Civil society is changing. Mobile, adaptive and progressive people power movements are taking centre stage.
  • Digital security: There is no longer a sharp distinction between offline and online organising. All in-person activism now has an online component and civil society must defend itself accordingly.
  • Civil society is under attack but the threats have changed. Far-right authoritarian movements are challenging the notion that the defence of human rights is an enshrined priority.

  Participants in the Strategy and Action Workshop submitted overwhelmingly positive feedback about their experience of the workshop (Mohammad Hasan, Jean-Gilles Gbewouenondo Houmenou). It was an engaging day and provided many opportunities for the Secretariat, the Board and for voting members to meet and exchange ideas. The final review report will be published in early January 2020. 

  CIVICUS Solidarity Fund (CSF)

  On Monday 4 November, the Membership Advisory Group (MAG) met at the CIVICUS head office in Johannesburg to review the submissions for the CIVICUS Solidarity Fund. The MAG received 265 applications which they began reviewing in October. The group’s tireless efforts have resulted in the selection of 14 grantees, whose projects will be announced to the membership soon!

  On Tuesday 5 November, the MAG hosted four separate webinars on the CSF in three different languages! Our dynamic hosts Maggie Musonda, Nandini Tanya Lallmon and Victoria Wisniewski Otero responded to questions from CIVICUS members and shared some exciting video content from our previous CSF grantees. Links to the webinar are here(English), (French), (Spanish). 

  The MAG also took the opportunity of being all together in one room to discuss some significant changes to the fund for the future. The MAG is working with the CIVICUS Secretariat to implement the improvements and we look forward to sharing these updates with you soon. The next application window for the CIVICUS Solidarity Fund will open in February 2020.

• CIVICUS at Festival de Datos: Advancing action on inclusive, timely, and accountable data processes

  

  Julieta Zurbrigg, Civic Space Research Advisor

  Faith Pienaar, Impact and Accountability Officer

  In the dynamic realm of data innovation, global challenges call for timely and impactful solutions. With this in mind, CIVICUS recently participated in theFestival deDatos - a global convening organized by the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD). We joined over 400 individuals from 50+ countries to celebrate data ideas and actions that advance the well-being of people and the planet. 

  The urgency for rapid technological innovations in data collection, access, and utilization has never been more critical, particularly as we strive to meet the ambitions of the Sustainable Development Goals. At the same time, the data revolution brings forth fundamental tensions around power, privacy, and participation. In response to these challenges, Festival de Datos strengthens data communities and enhances collective ability to unlock the value of data for all. 

  An Early Warning System to combat the deterioration of civic spaces and catalyse positive change

  At the festival, CIVICUS facilitated an ‘Ideas Lab’ for the sessionFrom Reaction to Prevention: A Data-driven Approach to Civic Space Conditions.The purpose of our ‘Lab’ was twofold: first, to generate broader awareness about restrictions to civic space and theCIVICUS Monitor methodology, and second, to solicit feedback on an upcoming Early Warning System (EWS) initiative to enable proactive responses to emergent civic space threats and initiate preventive advocacy strategies. The upcoming EWS is framed under a European Union project where CIVICUS will lead the development of the tool’s methodology. 

  The festival’s diverse participation from fellow data experts working across civil society, the private sector, and governments provided an excellent platform for us to test our assumptions and thinking on how an EWS might work in practice. Overall, the session was well-received and affirmed the value of CIVICUS's contributions in providing essential research and analysis to influence the discourse on civic space challenges and inform local and international advocacy efforts.

  Our session surfaced the following feedback and considerations in developing an EWS:

  • How can we amplify existing informal warning systems driven by local civil society?As we’ve learned through our work with research partners contributing to the CIVICUS Monitor, the success of an EWS is largely dependent upon the strength of national and subnational networks to highlight threats to civil society. 
  • As those working to protect and advance civic space become increasingly under threat,how can we ensure effective protection and care for potential EWS contributors and their constituents?
  • And,how can we leverage open-sourced technology solutions (machine learning and sequential data) to gather information for further validation by local and regional organizations?

  We thank the participants for engaging with the initial thinking on an EWSforandby civil society. As we prepare to implement this initiative, we look forward to engaging with our members and broader partners to continue refining and iterating this tool. A powerful idea at the core of our engagement is to complement and build upon existing efforts, generating more nuanced knowledge. By strategically focusing our resources and efforts, CIVICUS aims to fill critical data gaps where they are most needed. 

  As we reflect on our participation in this remarkable convening, we express our gratitude and enthusiasm to the GPSDD for the opportunity to engage with a broader community dedicated to leveraging data for positive change. 

  We hold close this perspective shared by Bronwen Robertson, Co-Founder of Data4Change echoed in the ambition and directive of our strategy: 

  “Data isn’t just numbers- it's narratives that are deeply connected to real people and communities who are often excluded from data processes that impact them. We want to shift the balance of data power back to the hands of those most affected by extractive practices.”

• CIVICUS At UNGA77: Key Highlights & Takeaways

  A message from Lysa John, Secretary-General of CIVICUS 

  Dear CIVICUS members and allies, 

  For the first time in three years, this September, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session and associated meetings were organised in person. Together with a broad array of civil society actors, CIVICUS staff participated in several side-events and meetings on a range of issues aimed at assessing progress on UN related commitments and bridging the gap between decision-makers and those affected by the outcomes of intergovernmental policy-making. 

  We participated in the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data Board meeting and the Data Values Campaign launch which focused on the importance of strengthening data systems for better decision-making, especially in the Global South. The #UnstoppableAfrica summit, hosted by Global Africa Business Initiative, offered us the opportunity to speak on the role of the continent’s leadership in the framing of the #SDGs and the importance of investing in civil society. The UN SDG Action Zone hosted a diverse panel of civil society actors and provided a space to discuss ways to safeguard against threats and protect civil society. 

  UNGA77 served as an ideal platform for funders and civil society representatives to engage in much-needed discussions around civil society resourcing and the barriers grassroots activists face in efforts to secure sustainable funding. We participated in two high-level conversations hosted by the International Peace Institute and the UN Foundation aimed at bettering the processes of resourcing for civil society and youth activists. 

  The importance of civil society participation and open civic space was one of the key messages at the 2022 Global People’s Forum and at an event to mark 30 years of the UN Declaration on Minority Rights. Following concerns raised at the Civil Society Pillar meeting of the Community of Democracies about civil society’s lack of access to the UN premises during the high-level segment of the UN General Assembly, the Secretary General of the Community of Democracies issued a positively worded statement calling on the UN to reverse the suspension of annual and temporary NGO passes enter the UN headquarters.  

  The World Benchmarking Alliance’s (WBA) Alliance Action Forum highlighted how civil society mobilisations and solidarity have helped ensure corporate accountability.  While WBA’s High-Level session event which was held on 22 September focused on the role of corporate accountability in an effective global governance system. 

  As civic space conditions continue to deteriorate throughout the world, human rights defenders continue to face severe consequences for speaking truth to power. During UNGA77 it was critical for CIVICUS to participate in spaces and activities that allowed us to spotlight the need to defend civic freedoms and call for the release of all imprisoned human rights defenders. The Global Citizen Festival and the drafting of the 2022 Global People’s Assembly Declaration which was released during an engaging press conference with various civil society actors, provided good opportunities to raise these issues. We also engaged Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund governments and civil society partners in overcoming the challenges faced by CSOs operating in closed political spaces and countering authoritarianism and supporting civil society defending environmental and Indigenous peoples’ rights. 

  Finally, I would like to extend my gratitude to all those who attended CIVICUS’ Meet & Greet at our New York office on 19 September. There is truly nothing more powerful than civil society activists, funders and allies working together with the common goal of creating a better world for all.  

  In solidarity, 

  Lysa John 

  Secretary-General, CIVICUS 

  @LysaJohnSA 

• CIVICUS en RightsCon2019!

  Por Marianna Belalba Barreto y Belén Giaquinta

  Todxs aquellos interesados en la interfaz entre derechos humanos y la tecnología sabrán que el mes pasado se celebró RightsCon 2019 en Túnez. Por primera vez la conferencia que reúne una mezcla extraordinaria de más de 3000 activistas, personas defensoras de derechos humanos, organizaciones de sociedad civil, sector privado (incluyendo compañías como Google y Facebook), donantes, emprendimientos sociales, expertxs en tecnología y humanistas, tuvo lugar en el Medio Oriente.

  La celebración de una conferencia sobre derechos humanos de esta magnitud en un país parte del Oriente Medio y África del Norte es bastante significativo, ya que de acuerdo al CIVICUS Monitor,el espacio cívico se halla gravemente restringido en la región.

  Este año CIVICUS participó activamente en varias de las 450 sesiones organizadas durante los 3 días de conferencia, y tanto el equipo del CIVICUS Monitor como la iniciativa Resilient Roots estuvieron presentes. Quieren saber cuales son nuestras reflexiones?

  Por un lado, el CIVICUSMonitor participó en una sesión en alianza con RNW Media y activistas de Burundi, República Democrática del Congo y Libia. El objetivo fue intercambiar testimonios y experiencias de jóvenes activistas provenientes de países donde el ejercicio de las libertades fundamentales de asociación, protesta y expresión se encuentran seriamente restringidas. Con miras a promover y construir nuevas narrativas y espacios alternativos de activismo en contexto restringidos y sumamente polarizados, la sesión incluyó una breve descripción del espacio cívico a nivel global, seguido por testimonios y estrategias por parte de los y las activistas de los países mencionados.

  En tiempos donde el activismo y el ejercicio de los derechos humanos se encuentra sumamente restringido en la mayoría de los países del mundo, según data reciente del CIVICUS Monitor, hace falta resaltar la resistencia y persistencia de activistas para ejercer estas libertades fundamentales, quienes a pesar del contexto hostil, de manera creativa buscan espacios alternativos para continuar su labor.

  Resilient Roots, por el otro, organizó un taller interactivo sobre cómo crear lazos más fuertes con los grupos y personas para/con las que las organizaciones trabajan, a través de la rendición de cuentas. Uno de los (muy) pocos talleres en todo el programa, la sesión incluyó un breve mapeo de los grupos meta (stakeholders), seguido de una lluvia de ideas sobre cómo mecanismos de rendición de cuentas pueden ayudar a fortalecer estos lazos y generar más confianza en las OSC. También discutimos cómo una mejor rendición de cuentas contribuye al bienestar organizacional en un contexto donde las OSC están operando en entornos cada vez más hostiles.

  La sesión formó parte del #Wellness track, o la rama de eventos centrados en el bienestar, tanto individual como organizacional, y la resiliencia del tercer sector. Incluso dentro de nuestra rama temática, quedó claro que Resilient Roots (y nuestro enfoque) realiza contribuciones importantes y muy necesarias al debate que existe en nuestro sector sobre la #RendiciónDeCuentas y la #Resiliencia.

  A diferencia de aquellas sesiones enfocadas en la rendición de cuentas social (o de los gobiernos) o sobre la necesidad de tener una mejor rendición de cuentas en el sector privado - especialmente en relación al uso (o abuso?) de datos personales - Resilient Roots resaltó la importancia de la autocrítica para la auto práctica. Es decir, como los mecanismos internos de rendición de cuentas de las OCS también tienen que mejorar si queremos construir la legitimidad de nuestro sector, principalmente hacia las personas y grupos que se ven más afectadxs por nuestro trabajo (lo que se conoce como primary constituent accountability (PCA) por sus siglas en inglés).

  Similarmente con la resiliencia, donde la mayoría de las sesiones capitalizaron en la resiliencia financiera de las OCS o la resiliencia (salud) individual del personal, faltó argumentar a favor de la resiliencia como práctica estratégica y organizacional para hacer frente a las amenazas de espacio cívico.

  Principalmente, RightsCon nos sirvió para recordarnos, una vez más, de la importancia de seguir adaptando nuestra narrativa y ampliando nuestros diccionarios. Si nuestros objetivos incluyen crear espacios alternativos para el ejercicio de nuestras libertades fundamentales, entonces los lentes que usamos para entender los retos que hoy enfrenta la sociedad civil deben, y como resultado las estrategias que ideamos deben ser igual de flexibles.

• CIVICUS GLE Testimonial: Building communities for inclusive action

  French | Spanish

  by Vandita Morarka, One Future Collective, India

  I was a participant at the Global Learning Exchange and the ensuing AGM held by CIVICUS in Montevideo, Uruguay, 16th December, 2018, onwards, representing One Future Collective.

  As a participant I engaged in various discussions and actionable agenda items towards building the first step towards frameworks for inclusion and diversity. The representatives at the GLE in themselves were a stellar example of the beauty and massive knowledge exchange and learning that actual practise of diversity and inclusion can bring in.

• CIVICUS strategy review workshop: a step into social cohesion and sustainable development

  By Mohammad Hasan, Yes Theatre Palestine

  CIVICUS’ process to mid-term review its strategic plan (2017-2022) is almost finished. The plan reflects the vision, ideas, and priorities of over 8,000 members of civil society organisations distributed everywhere in our world. It also builds on CIVICUS’ Action plan for 2020-2022, which is focused on defending civic & democratic freedoms, strengthening the power of people to organise, mobilise and take action, and empowering a more accountable, effective and informative civil society.

  I still remember the words of Mrs. Anabel Cruz (former Chair of the CIVICUS Board) just before the launching of CIVICUS’ strategic plan (2017-2022): “As we launch our new strategic plan, we are fortunate to find ourselves in a position of strength at CIVICUS. With a stable financial base, a committed and diverse board, a broad and growing membership and a talented secretariat team, we are poised to be bold and brave”.

  The CIVICUS strategy review workshop on 6^th November 2019 was a translation of Anabel’s words. The workshop was a space for participants to stress the importance of CIVICUS as a leader and model for diversity and inclusion, ensuring that civil society is empowered and active at all levels.

  Participants in the review sessions emphasized the importance of defining CIVCUS and its role as an international organisation that working side by side with multipliers of effect. People articulated the critical need for CIVICUS to partner with different actors to find creative ways to respond to the big global challenges for civil society and the world. Participants have agreed that the main job of CIVICUS is to connect, amplify and scale professional responses that lead to strengthening the citizens' contributions in realizing a more just, inclusive and sustainable world. 

  Yes Theatre for Communication among Youth (YT) in Palestine is one of the CIVICUS voting members. YT has designed solutions grounded in a belief that theatre and drama are effective tools to empower right-holders to know about, and claim their rights. This goal goes directly with CIVICUS mission: “to strengthen citizen action and civil society throughout the world”. The review process was very relevant to the projects that Yes Theatre is running such as: the Completely Connected and Youth-Quack. These projects aim at encouraging the marginalised population to take an active role in fulfilling their needs and claiming their rights constructively and creatively, which will lead to the betterment of their livelihood as well as social cohesion and sustainable development. 

  CIVICUS, Yes Theatre and other members must learn and evolve. The CIVICUS strategy review workshop is just a step to transform our world into a different situation in which each human being lives in dignity and enjoy freedom. 

• CIVICUS' New Strategic Period: A Time to Actively Engage Members and Allies

  

  A message from Lysa John, Secretary-General of CIVICUS

  Dear CIVICUS members and allies,

  On July 1^st, we marked the beginning of a new strategy period for the CIVICUS alliance. In this update, I’m excited to share headlines from the efforts that we have been making to align our work and interrogate the outcomes we need in relation to our strategic priorities for 2022 to 2027.

  The 11th edition of our State of Civil Society report was published on 27 June and has received an encouraging response. In addition to a consistent social media push, we have been able to use the analyses to generate op-eds on key issues, and offer presentations to a wide range of activist, academic, and donor networks. Since its release, we have received much appreciation for the report’s assessment of meta-trends in civic space and democracy and for showcasing examples of where and how civil society has been successful in influencing change. Media coverage of the findings from the report include an op-ed by our editor-in-chief, Andrew Firmin and an overview by Mandeep Tiwana. The CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist was also updated during this period and includes Chad, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mexico and Sri Lanka.

  On Mandela Day (18 July) this year, we marked two years of the ‘Stand As My Witness’ campaign. The initiative aims to mobilise the public and policymakers to act for the release of prisoners of conscience. The campaign has profiled over 20 detained activists and has allowed us to contribute to global efforts resulting in the release of nine defenders. A dialogue with activists and networks linked to the campaign was organised on the second anniversary of the campaign and provided important insights on how our collective efforts could better assist the struggles of human rights defenders. Our teams have also been actively engaged in the 50^th session of the Human Rights Council in this period. In addition to contributing to and presenting key statements, we were actively involved in amplifying demands from civil society on the process to elect the next UN Human Rights Commissioner, calling for the UN to renew its expert mandate on sexual orientation and gender identity and contributing to processes that have led to the adoption of a new resolution on the right to peaceful protest.

  Yet another initiative, namely the ‘Grassroots Solidarity Revolution’ campaign, has received considerable support and attention in this period. Updates from local dialogues and jam sessions held in five countries were shared online by a range of participants, including young leaders, grassroots networks and donors. Reflections on the lessons learned from the initiative by participants and co-travelers such as Dumiso Gatsha, Otto Saki and Yessenia Soto have provided an important opportunity to reflect on the questions and challenges being brought to light by this initiative, and its potential to catalyse the deeper and more difficult introspection on individual and institutional values that is essential to the discourse on localisation and decolonisation. In this context, we are pleased to report that a formal response to the joint letter to USAID Administrator Samantha Power from 1289 southern organisations has been received. The response, signed by the Administrator Power, acknowledges the priorities raised in the joint letter and outlined initiatives being taken to strengthen USAID’s direct engagement with and support to local civil society actors. These shifts were also reiterated as a priority in the dialogue on democracy organised between the USAID Administrator and civil society leaders organised on 16 June.

  Network-led developments include the launch of CIVICUS’ Youth Action Team’s report on youth trends in activism and civic space and the VUKA! Coalition’s consultation with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) to contribute to their next thematic report on HRDs working on issues related to migration, refugees, and asylum. A joint gathering of regional networks working together on the freedom of peaceful assembly (FoPA) was also held in July 2022. The meeting included a review of collaborative efforts that have been organised since 2021 as part of a co-creation process with six regional platforms to identify context-specific needs and priorities and to produce resources that would support them as key interlocutors on the right to peaceful protest.

  Our newest offering, theCIVICUS Lens has helped us draw on the voices and experiences of diverse civil society groups to provide real-time analyses and perspectives on geo-political trends and developments. Articles published through CIVICUS Lens have – along with other aspects of our work - helped us forge partnerships with wider platforms for dissemination. Across June and July, we have published multiple op-eds and recorded over 84 media citations across global, regional, and local platforms including Reuters, IPS, Open Democracy, The Diplomat, Afrika NewsRoom, and El Pais.

  Finally, we are proud to have recently completed the Accountability Now reporting cycle for 2021-22. The review report includes commendations about the transparent and inclusive process undertaken to refresh our strategic plan and an acknowledgment of CIVICUS as a trusted and valued partner whose work has remained relevant to members in a time of rapid context changes. Efforts being made to provide a safe and equitable working environment have also been acknowledged in the report. Three key areas for improvement have also been identified in the review process and include: (i) Improving the indicators we use to measure strategic progress (ii) Improving our risk mitigation processes, and (iii) Increasing staff awareness and use of internal complaints mechanisms. Actions to address these areas of improvement have been identified and included in this summary of the process that has been published on the CIVICUS website.

  None of this would be possible without the active engagement of our members and allies. We are grateful for your support and look forward to your continued engagement in the work and outcomes of the alliance!

  In solidarity,

  Lysa John

  Secretary-General, CIVICUS.
  @LysaJohnSA

• CIVICUS’ AGM comes to a close with an approved Annual Report and Solidarity Fund!

  Spanish | French 

  In December 2018, CIVICUS members from all over the world gather in Montevideo, Uruguay, to attend a multiplicity of convenings. This includes a board meeting, a youth co-design workshop and a global exchange on diversity and inclusion. Participants share cake and celebrations to mark CIVICUS’ 25 year anniversary.

  CIVICUS Alliance also bid farewell to outgoing Secretary General, Danny Sriskandarajah, who reflects on his 6- year tenure as “a wonderful mix of change and constancy, of frustration and fulfillment, of pride and humility” in this blog post, and welcomes incoming SG Lysa John. 

  All of this end of year activity culminates in the CIVICUS members AGM (annual general meeting), held at the Spanish International Cooperation Agency for Development. Members approve the  CIVICUS Annual Report, as well as the framework for a ground-breaking CIVICUS Solidarity Fund. Stay in touch early 2019 for more information!

  Voting members unable to join physically participate online through the Virtual AGM, where they actively contribute to the discussions around  key agenda items and cast their votes. Many express their contentment to be able to take part remotely. “We are happy and are with you who are on site in Uruguay; CIVICUS governance is more democratic and the needs of members are taken into account; we receive all information related to the management of the Alliance and agree to vote for the Report submitted to the members.”

  One of  the AGM highlights, is when each continent comes together to create  a slogan representing their solidarity. Asia envelops everyone in a giant hug saying that ‘no one is an outsider’, North America links hands around the room as a physical manifestation of solidarity, Europe tells us that ‘your journey is our journey’, South America protests across the room to the slogan ‘the people united shall never be defeated’ and the Africans join everyone in a giant train across the world with a protest song.

  As everyone leaves to go back home, crossing the globe to get back to our countries, we carry with us the spirit of togetherness, and the power of what we can achieve together.

• Civil society is blurring? Let’s remember our whys and get creative!

  Reflection from “Money, Culture and Change” - a participatory action research process on the sustainability of youth-led civil society organisations (CSOs) in Medellin, Colombia.

  By Gioel Gioacchino

  In the middle of a research workshop, Stiven got up and drew the picture below on the board.  Stiven is a civil society leader active in Castilla, a neighbourhood on the slopes of Medellin, Colombia. He has not studied any theories of civil society, but, with his drawing, he put his finger on a big wound within the sector. He used the picture to explain that funding, and CSOs themselves, should be seen as tools, trampolines to promote a gearing of economic development and social economies based on solidarity.

  Stiven believes that social projects need to have economic models. “We need to move to an economy of solidarity,” he reflected, reminding us that there cannot be a community that lives in solidarity and justice without an economy of solidarity and justice.

  As part of a PhD program at the Institute of Development Studies (University of Sussex), for the last four years I have been researching how youth-led CSOs seek financial sustainability, and with what implications for their organisational culture and understanding of social change.

  Carrying out participatory action research with a group of ten youth-led CSOs in Medellin, Colombia we found a sort of double paradox in resourcing youth-led civil society organisations.

  A double paradox

  First, we noticed that youth-led organisations are more likely to want to do work that fits outside the buzzwords of the moment (read: they do not think of following the money). Yet, to do the type of work they value they do need resources.

  If they manage to obtain some of the scarce funding available, they are asked to fit within the cha-cha-cha of funding parameters which often limit their independence - they need to adopt practices that might feel incoherent or set priorities that might not be their own.

  Funding available to youth-led groups is scarceand often comes along with worldviews that disregard the contribution these organisations are making while emphasizing the more ‘technical aspects' of development. The risk is that CSOs will become more homogenous, less able to be in touch and respond to the needs they perceive in their communities.

  They work with the crumbs of funding available, while having to digest the practices and values of a system they would not want to support.

  Many youth-led organisations tend to be critical of our economic system and they would like to be truly independent, while they continue resourcing themselves from within a system that they struggle to fundamentally question - because it feeds them.

  The other option is to generate funding by engaging with the market (e.g. Social entrepreneurship) - but many youth-organizations ask: how can we solve the challenges of a society, that we think are deeply tied to the injustice of the neoliberal economic system, by working with the same logic?

  To make it all more complicated they often associate funding with negative emotions - they might think: ‘we do need funding, but money sucks’. It’s hard to attract funding when you think it sucks.

  In short, the idea of an independent civil society seems redundant.

  Looking at the future of civil society

  A turning point in our research was a two-day participatory foresight workshop. Young civil society leaders and representative from donors’ institutions in Medellin came together to construct a range of eight scenarios for the future of civil society in 2035.

  One of the most striking observations during the workshop was that, across all eight scenarios, participants expected differences between the public, private, and civil society sectors would blur even further.

  Today, CIVICUS defines civil society as: “the arena - outside of the family, the state, and the market - which is created by individual and collective actions, organisations and institutions to advance shared interests”. In short, the current definition of civil society is tied to the idea that there are three sectors.

  As they expected these boundaries between sectors to become thinner, participants were challenged to distil the meaning of civil society. If the structure and resourcing modalities of civil society were to change radically; if CSOs, as we know them today, were to disappear – what would be left of the concept of civil society?

  To explore these scenarios, we had to go back to the essence. Why does civil society matter?

  Across all eight scenarios, civil society was understood by participants as providing opportunities for questioning, reflecting, re-imagining and renewing social values and norms. A discussion on the question “What is the role of Civil Society?” suggested that civil society is a space where alternative values can be articulated, nourished, and explored. Someone argued that civil society seeks to “resist all the pressure to suppress citizens’ ability to express themselves”. Civil society generates well-being: it seeks to work in collaboration with others, it builds strong social ties, it crafts communities. Someone summarised the discussion by stating that civil society “promotes coexistence as intrinsically important”.

  This research pointed out that many young people in Medellin are thirsty for different ways of being together and experiencing alternative community constructions: they are craving meaning. Consciousness, spirituality, and connection with nature were at the core of their work.

  The youth-led CSOs in this study realised that resources matters beyond being instrumental to their work. Through funding, they create ties and conversations with other sectors. As we admitted civil society is not so independent, we realised that CSOs can only sustain themselves when they can co-construct realities with others, so as to pull together resources and energy.

  For this type of work to happen, the current funding logics need to be transcended. Now, this won’t happen overnight - there is a lot to learn.

  Experimenting!

  So the youth-led CSOs that took part in this study are engaging in constant experimenting.

  They seek financial sustainability by trying different strategies that can uphold their views, while learning to engage with market-forces selectively. In other words, they are responding to market forces as a necessity, while trying to uphold their worldview as a way to work toward their visions. We found that the CSOs in this study were developing their ability to also speak the language of the market as a way to expand their opportunities, comprehend their ecosystems, and contribute to shaping it. Meanwhile, they organize rituals, exchange their products and services, build meaningful relationships with people from different institutions, support local artists and artisans, grow their own food, and resist getting in competition with one another. They choose solidarity and collaboration at every corner.

  Civil society cannot afford to sit around and question an economic system without looking to find new ways to sustain itself. We all need to play, experiment and get creative.

  CIVICUS is currently analysing trends and practices of resourcing youth-led groups and movements in Africa and Latin America. We hope to gain more insights on trends and challenges that could provide useful recommendations for both funders and youth-led groups. The analysis will be led by the author of this blog who has been researching extensively on the sustainability of youth-led groups.

  If you’d like to input/engage in this analysis, reach out to