As digital technologies reshape civic participation, local civil society actors are facing growing challenges in accessing funding, technical infrastructure, and institutional support. In an environment of shrinking civic space and global democratic pressures, grassroots organisations remain essential for promoting inclusive governance and community accountability. The CIVICUS Digital Democracy Initiative highlights that many local actors operate with strong community trust but lack the administrative, financial, and cybersecurity capacity needed to compete with larger NGOs. Beyond funding, experts stress the importance of building organisational, digital, and strategic skills to help grassroots groups respond to surveillance risks, online harassment, and platform-based suppression. Through co-designed support models, initiatives across Latin America, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Asia aim to strengthen locally led democratic innovation. The future of inclusive democracy, analysts argue, depends on empowering those closest to community challenges. Read more here.
Source: CIVICUS