A recent analysis by the Global Fund for Community Foundations highlights a deepening global crisis affecting both democracy and civil society, with implications for CSO accountability. The rise of far-right movements, alongside reputational attacks and criminalisation of civil society, is shrinking civic space and limiting the ability of CSOs to act as watchdogs and hold institutions accountable. At the same time, politically driven funding cuts and donor-imposed constraints are not only weakening financial sustainability but also shifting CSOs away from their core role in advocacy and public oversight toward administrative compliance and depoliticised action. This dual pressure risks undermining their independence and capacity to represent citizen interests effectively. The analysis stresses that without more autonomous, diversified, and resilient funding models, CSOs’ ability to contribute to democratic governance and accountability will be further weakened, pointing to the need for collective action and systemic change across the sector. Read more here.
Source: GFCF
