2021 - 2026 Core programmatic support to monitor and safeguard an enabling environment for civil society

The Dutch Government's programmatic funding to CIVICUS contributes to the policy goal of monitoring and safeguarding an enabling environment for civil society of the Department for Social Development (DSO) (policy article 3.3 strengthening civil society). Besides, the proposed cooperation with CIVICUS fits in the policy goals as described in the policy letter to Parliament of the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of 9 October 2013. CIVICUS plays different roles as monitoring, lobbying, and convening, within the international discussion on enabling environment for civil society. CIVICUS has access to international networks and policy processes, and stimulates democratization of these processes. Besides, CIVICUS produces yearly, relevant and up-to-date research and monitoring reports. It is important for civil society worldwide and for the MFA that these roles and products are supported in order to maintain quality. Besides, the roles that CIVICUS plays are very complementary to the roles that the MFA plays and can increasingly play in international discussions. CIVICUS also complements the roles international and Dutch civil society play in capacity strengthening for both Lobby and Advocacy and for service delivery. CIVICUS tackles the basic conditions for civil society to operate at both national and international level.