Helvetas Symposium 2023
Reclaiming Civic Space
Authoritarianism is on the rise globally. Civic space is shrinking, and social movements and local civil society organizations are under pressure in many countries. To counter these tendencies and maintain the role of civil society as a driver for change, INGOs and donors must revisit the concept of cooperation, and question power structures and funding relationships in existing partnerships.
At the symposium, we will facilitate a dynamic discussion about:
- New and innovative practices for protecting and reclaiming space for rights-based civic action amidst global democratic backslides
- Emerging alternative approaches to empowering an interconnected local-to-global civil society and promoting collective action for social justice
- The enablers and restraints in international development cooperation for locally led civil society
- How partnerships between INGO/donors and civil society organizations in the Global South need to be redefined
- Innovative funding models that allow local actors and NGOs to define and follow their own agenda for change, while furthering civic rights
- Best practice models and tools for initiating and supporting change
Watch the recording of the the Helvetas Symposium 2023
Helvetas E-Game
Program
13:30 Registration
14:00 Welcome to Helvetas Symposium “Reclaiming Civic Space»
- Paddy Siyanga Knudsen, symposium host and moderator
- Regula Rytz, Helvetas, President
14:15 Introduction
- Regula Rytz and Agnieszka Kroskowska, Helvetas, Head of Voice, Inclusion & Cohesion
14:25 Keynote speech
- Rajagopal P.V., Ekta Parishad, founder president
14:45 Panel discussion with international activists
- Maja Stojanovic, Executive Director of the Civic Initiatives Organization in Serbia
- Stephenson Meus, Director of the Executive Committee at Kouraj pou Defann Dwa Moun in Haïti
- Fumba Chama, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts in Zambia, known as Pilato, musician and activist
15:45 Break
16:15 Ukrainian-designed social e-game "Reclaiming Civic Space" played in small groups
17:00 The view of foundations
- Otto Saki, Ford Foundation, Program Officer, Civic Engagement and Government International
17:15 Closing
- Melchior Lengsfeld, Helvetas, Executive Director
- Paddy Siyanga Knudsen
17:35 Networking happy hour at Hotel Bern
20:00 End
Information for participants can be downloaded here
Speaker Profiles
Trailer
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