We strengthen collective learning, build foresight skills, and foster collaborations to help civil society anticipate change, respond to challenges, and seize opportunities to protect and expand civic space.
We encourage joint learning for civil society resilience by bringing (I)CSOs together to learn from one another in a safe space and collecting best practices in the Solidarity Playbook. Through Anticipating Futures for Civil Society Operating Space, we enhance the anticipatory capacities of civil society professionals, moving beyond reactive crisis firefighting toward proactive, informed action. This future-oriented approach is reinforced through the International Civic Forum (ICF), our annual gathering of global civic space leaders to exchange knowledge, forge connections, and collaborate on solutions to pressing civic space challenges.
We promote rights-driven change by empowering civil society to advance progressive causes with effective strategies and compelling narratives. We provide collaborative spaces and practical tools to help international civil society organisations strengthen their responses and build alliances that challenge anti-rights actors and drive positive change. In parallel, we support (I)CSOs in navigating digital threats and opportunities by fostering peer exchange and developing resources to address the evolving risks and opportunities in the digital sphere.
Anticipating Futures for Civil Society Operating Space
This initiative focuses on strengthening anticipatory capacities and future readiness of civil society professionals who are working to defend and expand civic and civil society operating space.
Convening Civic Space Leaders
Since 2016, the International Civic Forum (ICF) convenes leaders from civil society and other sectors who are at the forefront of protecting and advancing civic space around the globe. It is the annual platform for discussing key civic space issues, forging connections, and identifying opportunities for collaboration.
Navigating Digital Threats and Opportunities for Civic Space
With increased digitalisation, (international) civil society organisations – (I)CSOs – have faced an increase in digital threats and cyberattacks carried out by malicious actors interested in financial gains and access to sensitive data or identifiable personal information. In recognition of this growing challenge, we are taking a closer look at cybersecurity in the civil society sector.
Collective Learning for Civil Society Resilience
We collected case studies and best practices in the so-called Solidarity Playbook to help (international) civil society organisations – (I)CSOs – respond to undue scrutiny and challenges, and to enable learning on how to act in solidarity with civil society actors, particularly local partners.
If we didn’t have this space, where would I be having this technical exchange, generating ideas, […] thinking about civic space and how it applies to a global organisation?
Anonymous, SANE evaluation