On 12 August, CESE joined a Multilateral Roundtable Dialogue about the Reconfiguration of International Cooperation and the Role of Civil Society, organized by the Andean Region of the Change the Game Academy (CtGA), in partnership with the PODION Corporation, Wilde Ganzen and the CtGA Global Alliance. Representatives from Asia, Africa and Latin America raised a range of voices and perspectives about how this theme directly impacts on the work of organizations in the Global South.
Representing Brazil, Sônia Mota, CESE’s Executive Director, shared reflections from the Brazilian and Latin American context, which is characterized by the advance of conservative political forces, cuts to resources and changes to international cooperation priorities. This scenario puts pressure on civil society organizations, threatens historical rights agendas and requires creativity, coalitions and the strength in alliances in order to guarantee the sustainability of the struggles.
During her talk, Sônia outlined four essential strategic fronts to strengthen civil society within this context:
- The creation and strengthening of parliamentary fronts to defend organizations;
- The expansion of dialogue with private foundations and public banks;
- The defence of legal frameworks that guarantee autonomy and public funding for civil society;
- The construction of political mobilization actions at local, national and international level.
“We cannot only assume a reactive position. That’s why we try to dialogue with parliament, to strengthen organizations and create a favourable legal environment, to dialogue with private institutes and foundations, so that they can learn more about our work. The aim is to strengthen sustainability and guarantee our autonomy. We are also seeking improved funding from public banks, by mobilizing political support, because the logic of bank charges cannot be the same for us as for other people. It should be one of cooperation, not of private business,” she declared to a plenary session of approximately 70 participants.
The meeting also heard contributions from Bidyanath Bhurtel (Nepal Center for Integrated Development – Nepal) and Charles VanDyck (West Africa Civil Society Institute – Ghana), who shared experiences from their countries about the withdrawal of traditional funding, the restrictions imposed by governments and the need for new, more horizontal and decolonial, forms of cooperation.
