Category: Uncategorized
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The global funding squeeze on civil Society: challenges and responses
This article draws on the first alerts submitted by the EU SEE Network Members to explore the growing impact of global funding cuts—particularly the freeze on U.S. development aid—and to assess what’s at stake for civil society worldwide. It also offers actionable recommendations for protecting and rebuilding civil society’s operating space.
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New forms of civic engagement vs standing firm in front of rising restrictions on activism
Across the globe, activists and civil society organisations are targets of legal, political, and judicial tools to restrict their work. From sedition charges in Hong Kong to arbitrary detention in Sierra Leone, and the legal charges against environmental defenders in Bolivia, recent alerts gathered by EU SEE illustrate a growing trend of criminalising dissent, limiting…
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The consequences of the US funding freeze extend far beyond budgets and balance sheets
A new survey by the EU SEE network has revealed that the US funding freeze is severely impacting civil society worldwide, with 67% of surveyed organisations directly affected and 40% reporting budget losses of up to 50%. This sudden halt in funding is disrupting human rights, democracy, gender equality and health programmes, forcing organisations to cut services, lay off staff, and, in some cases, close their doors entirely. “Across the world, the immense contributions of civil society to democracy, the rule of law, good governance, policy making and in advancing the rights of excluded voices…
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New Survey: US funding freeze triggers global crisis in human rights and democracy
Press release: A new survey carried out by the EU System for an Enabling Environment (EU SEE) network exposes the impact of the US funding freeze on civil society organisations (CSOs) in over 50 countries. With 67% of surveyed organisations directly impacted and 40% of them losing between 25-50% of their budgets, the abrupt halt…
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Launching the European Union System for an Enabling Environment for Civil Society
Civil society organisations come together on 29 January 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa to launch this new initiative to anticipate and react to changes in the enabling environment – an environment where civil society can thrive, express itself freely and actively engage in shaping its context. The initiative named the European Union System for an Enabling…
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Landmark EU partnership signed to support civil society globally
On June 12 the European Union and nine civil society organizations (CSOs) including Hivos signed a new €50 million program funded by the EU to support civil society: the EU System for an Enabling Environment for Civil Society (EU SEE). Hivos is an integral part of this initiative, leading one of its two main components.…