Supporting Civil Society in Acute Crises

When global crises erupt, a consensus often forms in the West around the need to bolster civil society. This is a well-founded approach, as nurturing more inclusive governance plays a pivotal role in peacebuilding, with civil society crucial in ensuring governmental accountability. Despite this consensus, the effectiveness of aid to civil society in times of crisis has frequently fallen short of expectations. Often, donors have lacked a nuanced understanding of the local civil society landscape and have underestimated the influence of various civil society groups in navigating crises and the path to peace. While external assistance has been vital for numerous civil societies, a general absence of strategic planning by donors has often impeded its potential to promote better governance, stability, or peace.

This analysis and its policy suggestions draw from a study of donor support to civil society in four recent crisis contexts: Belarus, Sudan, Lebanon, and Mali. The study includes academic literature, public sources, and nearly 100 interviews with officials from donor organizations, civil society representatives, and experts across these countries.

Principal Observations:

• Local civil society entities often play a more significant role in crisis situations than is typically recognized.
• Donors can offer essential support to civil society, but their immediate influence on crisis dynamics is usually limited.
• Donor initiatives to aid civil society often lack a clear strategic focus.
• Challenges in timely analysis and rigid procedures impede quick responses to evolving crisis scenarios.

Recommendations for Donors:

• Integrate civil society engagement in fragile environments into a broader political strategy.
• Develop adaptable funding and project approval frameworks suited for crisis environments.
• Invest in nearly real-time, context-relevant intelligence to guide civil society-focused initiatives.
• Formulate country or portfolio-level strategies to assist civil society in crisis situations.
• Enhance communication and strategic collaboration among organizations from the same nation and between donors with similar goals.
• Equip teams and individuals executing civil society projects with practical guidelines for adapting to sudden local changes.