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Event Time: Central European Time (CET)

Learn about resilience mechanisms, solidarity and coalition responses to restrictions on civil society space

Join the launch of the Solidarity Playbook, a collection of case studies and best practices curated by the Solidarity Action Network (SANE), on how international civil society organisations (ICSOs) and coalitions have developed resilience and solidarity mechanisms to deal with restrictions on civil society space and respond to the changing operating conditions for civil society.

The Solidarity Playbook case studies focus on a diverse range of contexts, from those where closing space is characterised by more obvious, violent repression, to settings where the restrictions and measures are more subtle or technical in nature. Each case study provides unique learnings, however common themes have emerged including the need for solidarity in multiple forms, ranging from quiet, ‘behind-closed-doors’ strategies to more public, outward facing tactics.

During the launch, we will spotlight two particular case studies with transferable learnings and hear from Carolina Poggio (Plan International) how the need for solidarity can intersect with the need to shift power dynamics and what cultural and operational shift such an approach would require; and from Miguel de la Vega (UnidOSC, a CSO coalition in Mexico) how coalitions can coordinate and enable solidarity, allowing international, regional, national and local advocacy initiatives to strengthen one another in their efforts to defend civic space. Authors of the Solidarity Playbook, Deborah Doane and Sarah Pugh will present main lessons learned and remaining challenges from the overall collection and share recommendations for ICSOs and coalitions how to build solidarity to strengthen our collective action, to defend and construct an enabling environment for civil society. There will also be space to share your own experience and learnings.