Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Time: 12.00 CET/ 13.00 UTC+3
Zoom Link: Register here
Translation to Arabic and English will be available.

Project Background and Purpose

Under the Civic Horizons project, Human Security Collective conducted an online consultation on shrinking civic space in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The consultation culminated in the report “Operating in Unsettling Times: Stories from Civil Society Organizations in the Middle East and North Africa”.

In this report Human Security Collective describes how civil society in the MENA is experiencing a reality composed of compounding crisis and amassing restrictions leading to a state of survivalism and reinforced shrinking civic space.

Strategies and Recommendations for Action

We share recommendations and present repertoires of actions and potential strategic avenues of action. These range between short-term coping strategies as well as longer-term systemic change that require rethinking and action by civil society organizations as well as donors, including INGOs who operate as intermediary funders.

Webinar Launch and Collective Reflection

Some of those involved in the online consultation will come together for the duration of 1h30 in an online webinar to present and discuss the findings. We would like to use the opportunity of the launch of this report to provide a platform for organizations from the region to share their experiences and the challenges & dilemmas that result from their realities, as well as to reflect together on practices that can transform our sector.