News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Artificial intelligence is already a fact in international development. It is present in many of the tools researchers use on a daily basis to aid in data analysis, translation, and speech-to-text transcription. Services like Google Translate and Otter are significantly cutting the time spent on previously labor-intensive tasks. AI can also support the data collection
Read more →Foundations are all confronted with their grantees’ internal capacity issues yet can be at a loss on how to best support them – and do so in a way that does not reinforce the existing imbalance of power. The event held by the Philea Organisational Development (OD) Community of Practice in March, centered on the
Read more →Civil society often faces complex challenges with their access to financial services across the world. These challenges affect the three basic stages of the relationship between banks and CSOs: onboarding CSOs as clients (difficulty opening a bank account, extensive and burdensome due diligence); transaction monitoring and suspending/freezing accounts and transactions; as well as termination (ending
Read more →In a recent article for bond, Restless Development advocates youth leadership for sustainability, yet obstacles hinder intuitive funding. Philanthropy adapts to equity demands, colonial legacies, and potential closures for justice. Hope emerges in adaptable funding models, but progress lags for urgent youth-led initiatives. To address pressing environmental concerns, funders must adopt innovative, flexible mechanisms empowering
Read more →ECNL has shared a list of good practices regarding civil society challenges referring to access of financial services worldwide. These challenges affect the three basic stages of the relationship between banks and CSOs: onboarding CSOs as clients (difficulty opening a bank account, extensive and burdensome due diligence); transaction monitoring and suspending/freezing accounts and transactions; as
Read more →Since 2013, the annual European Day of Foundations and Donors showcases the European philanthropy sector, promoting the importance of giving and civic action. The article discusses philanthropy’s complex nature, found both in large and well-established organizations, as well as organizations operating on a grass-root level, all contributing to a motivation to do good. Read more
Read more →In the contemporary digital world, NGOs and fundraisers use different innovative tools and technologies, helping them engage with donors, maximize their efforts, and amplify impact. One such tool that has the power to change the fundraising landscape is Artificial Intelligence (AI) which streamlines NGOs operations and personalizes donor experience. Adopting AI in fundraising strategies leads
Read more →The Open Society Foundation’s Fiscal Governance Program found success by focusing on six key approaches, including empowering grantees and relinquishing power. They detail the six different approaches they used in the new publication Setting new standards for better MEL: Lessons for funders and grantees. The approaches range from checking power dynamics to growing skills for evaluative
Read more →In its latest findings on philanthropic funding for arts and culture in Europe Philea highlights the challenges faced by the sector during recent crises and the significant impact on its financial stability. Despite these challenges, the study reveals a strong commitment from the philanthropic sector to support artistic and cultural organizations. The report also notes
Read more →Civicus gathered insights from 140 grassroots activists as part of the Grassroots Solidarity Revolution. The responses reflect difficulties organizations face in receiving support from allies and donors, and the measures required for their effective work. The majority of responses reveal that resources and opportunities are limited for most grassroots activists – financial resources are essential,
Read more →Funding civil society actors in partner countries remains marginal despite recognition of the importance of localising support and international commitments to strengthening partner-country civil society actors’ ownership. Only 7% of OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) members’ CSOs funding goes directly to partner-country CSOs. This OECD toolkit offers providers guidance for funding civil society actors in
Read more →The European Commission has revealed a new Taxonomy Regulation proposal aimed at accelerating the green transition. The proposal seeks to establish a comprehensive framework that sets criteria for determining environmentally sustainable economic activities. By providing a classification system, the regulation aims to guide investors, companies, and policymakers in making informed decisions and combatting greenwashing. The
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