A new report, Putting Out Fires till They Burn Out, examines how feminist and LGBTQI+ organisations in the South Caucasus and Western Balkans sustain their work amid war legacies, authoritarianism, economic insecurity, and shrinking civic space. Drawing on 87 interviews conducted between 2022 and 2024, alongside ethnographic research and grants analysis, the report argues that collective care is not a secondary activity but a prerequisite for movement resilience and long-term sustainability. In the Western Balkans, collective care has evolved from the region’s anti-war feminist movements and remains deeply connected to justice, solidarity, and community support. However, organisations continue to operate under chronic funding insecurity, burnout, and increasing anti-gender mobilisation, while donor support often fails to cover staff well-being, accessibility, healthcare, and recovery. The report calls for funding models that recognise care as a core component of sustainable civic activism rather than an optional expense. Find the report here.
Source: Urgent Action Fund