News and updates from BCSDN and the region
This guidebook provides practical advice on forming and managing local civil society networks in North Macedonia. It covers topics like defining a shared vision, establishing membership criteria, setting up governance structures, and securing legal status. The guide highlights how these networks unite individuals and organizations to address social challenges and participate in decision-making processes. Key
Read more →The RINGO Project aims to transform how local, national, and international NGOs and funders collaborate, addressing calls to decolonize and shift power to local and national civil societies. Since the RINGO Social Lab began in 2021, many organizations have initiated change, while others wait for early adopters’ results, hindered by external barriers. This survey seeks
Read more →Since November 2023, nearly 200 organizations in North Macedonia have utilized the Civil Resource Center’s self-assessment tool to evaluate their organizational capacities. The results show that organizations generally excel in areas like organizational values, commitment, and culture, which include aspects such as trust, leadership commitment, and conflict of interest policies. However, there are notable challenges
Read more →Accountable Now’s recent bulletin highlights key insights from the Dynamic Accountability Dialogue on feminist youth-led research. Despite progress in women’s rights, achieving gender equality remains distant, with only 0.2% of global aid addressing violence against women. Young feminists are driving transformative change through innovative solutions and participatory research. The dialogue emphasized the need for organizations
Read more →The OECD Toolkit for implementing the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development and Humanitarian Assistance provides guidance for fostering fair partnerships between aid providers and local CSOs. It focuses on correcting power imbalances, boosting the effectiveness of aid, and encouraging local leadership through participatory methods. The toolkit advocates for involving local CSOs in
Read more →The #ShiftThePower Global Summit in Bogotá highlighted the efforts of international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) to decolonize and shift power dynamics. The summit provided a platform for INGOs to reflect on their roles and challenges in transforming their practices. Discussions emphasized the need for INGOs to create spaces for feedback, engage in flexible funding, and strengthen
Read more →Accountable Now delivers a Guidebook focusing on dynamic accountability for organizations, regardless of their starting point. The Guidebook outlines the concept of dynamic accountability, emphasizing a people-powered approach that prioritizes continuous dialogue and mutual, horizontal relationships with stakeholders. It provides practical actions for embedding dynamic accountability in all phases of an organization’s work, from planning
Read more →The Solidarity Action Network toolkit equips CSOs to navigate complex challenges like inequality, polarization, climate change, and health crises using foresight methods. It offers practical tools and strategies to anticipate future trends, strengthen resilience, and foster proactive responses. Developed by experts commissioned by the International Civil Society Centre, the toolkit draws on insights from the
Read more →CIVICUS is actively involved in the Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI), aiming to strengthen civil society and democracy in the digital era through two main streams: empowering local civil society in the Global South to utilize digital tools for inclusive democracy and defending civil society by advocating for rights-focused policies and improved security measures. CIVICUS and
Read more →A group of CSOs has written a letter urging the World Bank Group (WBG) to reinstate a civic engagement (CE) indicator in its Corporate Scorecard. The recently released Corporate Scorecard no longer includes this indicator, raising concerns about the WBG’s commitment to civic engagement. The CSOs propose adding a “Quality of Citizen Engagement and Social
Read more →In the world of development aid, less than 10% of funds directly reach CSOs in the Global South, with the majority being retained in donor countries. This indirect funding often imposes strict procurement rules, hindering effective utilization by CSOs. Known as “Tied Aid,” this practice limits the autonomy of Southern CSOs and perpetuates power imbalances.
Read more →Last December, 700 representatives from philanthropic, developmental, NGO, and community sectors convened in Bogota, Colombia to address power imbalances in global development. They emphasized a shift towards bottom-up development, prioritizing human dignity, rights, and equality. The summit highlighted the sector’s failure to embody these principles, instead perpetuating colonial and patriarchal structures. Advocates called for power
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