Funding civil space: the role of the EU and other donors

As Europe grapples with complex and interconnected crises - including climate change, widening economic precarity, and eroding trust in democratic institutions - the very fabric of our democracies is at risk. Growing social divisions and declining trust in institutions leave societies vulnerable to forces seeking to weaken democracy.  In this context, the strength of our democracies vis à vis these challenges depend on a robust civil society. Organised civil society has played a crucial role in responding to crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the displacement of Ukrainians fleeing war and the response to environmental disasters. With few means and little direct power, CSOs are often the first ones to arrive and the last ones to leave when people are in need, and when democracy is under stress. Poland serves as a recent example of how civil society played a critical role in restoring the rule of law and democracy when they were undermined.  

However, with USAID cuts and other public budget re-shifting going on, there are high expectations on the next EU budget as well as on philanthropic funding. In this respect, the new EU Civil Society Strategy commits the Commission to facilitate dialogue between donors, and between donors and CSOs, in order to develop a holistic approach to funding for civil society across the MFF. It also commits the Commission to explore the expansion of regranting schemes to third parties to further programmes beyond the CERV programme, where it proved vital to reach civil society organisations on the ground. It also underlines the key role of Civil Society in policymaking. 

How can the MFF deliver meaningful support for civil society's action in the different fields it needs to intervene? How can better co-ordination of different types of donors and their exchanges with civil society take place? What role is there for transformative and strategic multi-stakeholder partnerships between donors and civil society? How can funding for advocacy continue to be supported across all policy areas? How can this be reflected in new and transformative grant-making practice?