Highlighted programmes for 2024-25

SO 5

Strengthening the CIVICUS Alliance

Starting 2024, CIVICUS coordinates the five-year programme to strengthen the expertise and voices of CIVICUS members and networks as key actors for the expansion of civic and democratic space. It will promote partnerships that enhance the influence of the CIVICUS alliance and build the effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of CIVICUS members.

SO 1 SO 3

Early warning mechanism for crisis funding and prevention

New funds secured will enable CIVICUS and strategic partners to devise a system to track the early signs of civic space restrictions by drawing on CIVICUS Monitor methodology and create tools to elicit response to restrictions. This will help identify changes in civic space to inform the channeling of emergency and crisis funding to support solidarity actions to defend or build civic and democratic space. Grants and complementing support will be channeled to traditionally marginalized groups, enhancing our ecosystem strengthening work.

SO 5

International Civil Society Week (ICSW)

International Civil Society Week (ICSW) which builds on previous experience of hosting CIVICUS World Assemblies was officially launched in 2014 in Johannesburg to coincide with celebrations marking 20 years of democracy in South Africa. This year, CIVICUS will focus on preparations and launch of its next ICSW event to be held at the end of 2025. The ICSW focus will be on strategies and opportunities to realise the goal of a ‘fully networked, resourced and empowered civil society’ at local, regional and global levels.

SO 4 SO 5

Innovation Awards

This year marks twenty years of the Nelson Mandela-Graça Machel Innovation Awards. CIVICUS and founding board member Graça Machel established the awards with the belief small amounts of seed or start-up funding can make the critical difference in amplifying some of the strongest ideas that emerge from small and local civil society groups. As part of this celebration, we will curate and build a strong community of civil society innovators featuring twenty years of award winners. They will support in crafting an innovation journey for new awardees and help us refine the CIVICUS innovation approach and practice.

SO 1

Improving global governance

CIVICUS joined a three-year research project, ENSURED, that explores how the European Union can do better in leading the defence of multilateralism and succeed in making global governance more robust, effective and democratic. CIVICUS has conducted consultations with civil society stakeholders on global governance deficits and solutions, drawing from our experience from the We the Peoples campaign to include innovative ideas to enhance citizen participation at the UN. We will also produce an analysis report and policy recommendations on the functioning of the UN Human Rights Council and Special Procedures. ENSURED is a consortium of 14 partners from Europe, the United States, Brazil, China, India, and South Africa.

SO 2

Unmute Civil Society Initiative

To create pathways for robust civil society engagement at the United Nations (UN) with the Summit of the Future in mind, CIVICUS will continue its advocacy and coordination through the Unmute Civil Society Initiative. The Unmute initiative will enhance civil society participation at the UN. Its work includes appointment of a civil society envoy, use of information and communication technologies to make UN meetings more accessible, improving focus on bridging digital divides, deepening civil society participation in UN processes, and an annual civil society day.