NEWS

As it is now widespread in the development community, in mid-March the Swedish aid agency, Sida, announced abruptly that all contracts with their 17 Strategic Partner Organizations in Sweden´s Civil Society Strategy would come to an end by the end of this year. This decision affects more than 1750 partner organisations in 90 countries. Little information was provided as to future funding modalities, nor consultation was held with affected organizations in Sweden or in the global South.

 

The DAC-CSO Reference group is aware of these precipitate shifts, in particular, our working group on the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance. Following substantive discussions, the group proposed a letter that raises critical issues about the decisions and actions of Sweden in relation to the commitments made in the DAC Recommendation.

 

The letter is directed to the DAC Chair and the members of the DAC Community of Practice (CoP) on Civil Society. This CoP has responsibility for promoting and implementing the recommendation among all DAC members. It has been signed by 340 organisations from more than 60 countries, showing the impact of the decision and its notoriety for the civil society community. See the Letter below.

 

---

 

April 29, 2024

 

To: Carsten Staur, Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Chair

CC: Pia Hänni, Co-chair, DAC Community of Practice on Civil Society, Head of Swiss NGO Section, Division Multilateral Affairs and Swiss NGOs, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

Caro Krijger, Co-chair, DAC Community of Practice on Civil Society, Head Civil Society Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands

DAC Members in the DAC Community of Practice on Civil Society

 

 

A call to uphold the principles of the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society

 

As organizations deeply committed to the implementation of the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society, we are writing to the DAC and its Community of Practice with alarm about the nature of recent decisions in Sweden that will seriously affect its support for civil society, the quality of these relationships, and access to resources of organisations from more than 90 countries. Many DAC members, including Sweden, played crucial and constructive roles in developing and agreeing to a comprehensive Recommendation. The Recommendation addresses long-standing and critical issues in strengthening all civil society as development actors in their own right and in holding governments to account.

 

While we recognize that all adherents face challenges in implementing the Recommendation’s 28 key principles and commitments, we are gravely concerned by the signals arising from the abrupt decisions taken in the last month in Sweden, which dramatically affect the following key commitments:

 

Meaningful and inclusive consultation and due diligence

 

Among the important goals embedded in the Recommendation is the central role of full and inclusive consultation with civil society in establishing policies or strategies for working with civil society “in both partner countries or territories and provider countries” [Pillar Two, §1]. On March 15, the 17 strategic partner organizations (SPOs) received the abrupt announcement that by December 31st all Sida agreements will be terminated, with no prior consultation. This decision severely affects current and future programming by more than 1,750 civil society organizations in 90 countries, who had no opportunity to engage with Sida in this decision. These organizations across the global south have been working with marginalized populations in countries where civic space is already challenging and often very constrained. There is no evidence that Sida undertook even minimal due diligence or consultation to determine the impact of its March decision on these organizations and their constituencies. Those who have trusted in their Swedish partners and Sida´s consistent and responsive support for many years now face a highly uncertain future at best, in very difficult partner country contexts.

 

Flexible and predictable programmatic and core support

 

Adherents to the Recommendation have committed to work through funding modalities for civil society that are “flexible and predictable support, core support and/or programmatic support” [Pillar Two, §3]. Sida has the very unrealistic and unworkable expectation that organizations, from both Sweden and the global south, will now be able to create concept notes or letters of interest for an expected call-for-proposals as early as May, for which at the time of writing there is no information as to the terms, conditions and scope of such proposals. Such a narrow window for alternative funding is deeply disrespectful, to say the least, of the programmatic integrity of CSOs, as development actors in their own right, and for the necessary consultations and engagement with their constituencies and counterparts.

 

Investing in leadership of local civil society in partner countries

 

All adherents to the Recommendation shall “promote and invest in the leadership of local civil society in partner countries.” [Pillar Two, §4] While recognizing that a lot of work remains to be done in complex realities for civil society, CSOs in the global south and the global north have been pro-actively engaged in actions that strengthen southern civil society leadership, working towards power shifts within equitable and complementary CSO partnerships, and supporting substantial and meaningful access for direct provider funding for southern CSOs. These are complex processes requiring a stronger commitment to change on the part of civil society, north and south, as well as on the part of provider terms and conditions for funding.

 

Enabling equitable partnerships

 

In indicating that all contracts with the 17 Strategic Partner Organizations (SPOs) under the civil society strategy will be terminated, Sida has provided no information on its changing priorities for supporting civil society and the appropriate modalities of support to do so. The Community of Practice’s work on good practice (i.e. the Toolkit on Shifting Power within Partnerships) points to the importance of creating diverse provider funding modalities that enable powershifts and incentivize more equitable partnerships, but also respond to the different and often complex realities within which CSOs work in the global south.

 

In all provider contexts, including Sweden, significantly increased opportunities for direct support for CSOs in the global south is an essential part of a positive change in funding modalities, with conditions determined through consultation. At the same time, national CSOs in provider countries and/or international CSOs remain essential civil society actors working through specific mutually supportive relationships with partner country CSOs that are formed around shared long term strategic goals, often in very difficult environments.

 

In fact, Sida’s 2023 Guideline for the Strategic Partner Organizations were recently highlighted by the DAC Community of Practice as a good practice example in responding to these complexities as convenors, connectors, fiscal agents and amplifiers of development issues, while strengthening local ownership and leadership. But these relationships must also be subject to continued and collaborative re-examination of roles, which can call for deep reforms in CSO practices. Sida’s March decision provides no opportunity to do so.

 

Do no harm

 

Finally, it is not clear how Sida will effectively and efficiently manage the movement of sub-contracting from the 17 Strategic Partner Organizations into its direct administrative mandate in a matter of months. We understand these management issues are currently under review, but seemingly an abrupt decision was made irrespective of the outcome for Sida’s organizational capacities and its impact on partners and support for civil society going forward.

 

Importantly, the DAC Recommendation calls on all adherents to take “reasonable steps to do no harm to civic space in partner countries or territories.” [Pillar One, §4] It seems clear that these precipitate actions by Sida will in fact have a significant negative impact on civic space in a range of countries. There is ample evidence from other contexts – including the UK and Canada – of abrupt funding cuts and decisions adversely affecting the lives of those in need.

 

Upholding the development effectiveness principles

 

Sweden is currently in a leadership role as a co-chair for the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation. It has a special responsibility to promote the Partnership’s four development effectiveness principles, not least the essential principle of strengthening local ownership. But equally important are the principles of working through inclusive partnerships and ensuring effective mutual accountability and transparency.

 

As long-standing friends of Sweden’s development cooperation and its leadership and commitment to enabling civil society, we are deeply concerned that the nature of the decisions of the past month will ultimately undermine leadership by civil society across the global south, disable critical north/south relationships of solidarity, and ignore decades of important collaboration, experiences and knowledge in civil society both north and south.

 

In conclusion, we encourage all adherents to the Recommendation to take on board all the inter-related commitments in the Recommendation’s three Pillars when undertaking reform in their civil society policies and practices, and to do so in close collaboration with all affected CSOs, north and south.

Sincerely,

 

11.11.11, Belgium

A 11 – Initiative for Economic and Social Rights, Serbia

ABF BUSOVAČA, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Accountable Now, Global Network

ACODEV, Belgium

APCOB, Bolivia

ACT Alliance, Global Network

ACTing Together Program, Guatemala

Action, Gouvernance, Intégration,Renforcement, Groupe de travail en Santé et Développement en abrégé (AGIR/SD), Burkina Faso

Adad Malore, Albania

ADEL Morazán, El Salvador

ADIC, Sri Lanka

Advocates for Social Change Kenya, Kenya

African Institute of Corporate Citizenship, Malawi

Afrikagrupperna, Sweden

AGIMS, Guatemala

Agora Centre, Bosnia and Herzegovina

AidWatch Canada

AKÜ, Estonia

All Africa Conference of Churches, Regional

Alianza Politica Sector de Mujeres, APSM, Guatemala

Alliance Sud, Switzerland

Ambrela – Platform for Development Organisations, Slovakia

AMSATI, El Salvador

Applied Research Institute ARIJ, West Bank

Artikel2, Sweden

Associação Civil Alternativa Terrazul, Brasil

Associação Civil Escola Sem Muros Grupo Eco – Favela Santa Marta – Rio de Janeiro – Brazil

Asociación de Cooperación para el Desarrollo Rural de Occidente, CDRO, Guatemala

Asociación para el Desarrollo Integral de las Víctimas de la Violencia en las Verapaces Maya Achi (ADIVIMA), Guatemala

Asociación Coordinadora de Comunidades Afectadas por la Construccción de la Hidroeléctrica Chixoy (COCAHICH), Guatemala

ASOCIACION COMUNITARIA PARA EL DESARROLLO SERJUS, Guatemala

Asociación de Culturas Originarias Suma Kawsay – Peru

Asociación de Investigación y Especialización sobre Temas Iberoamericanos (AIETI), Spain

ASOCIACIÓN DE LIDERAZGO Y DESARROLLO EN MADRIZ, Nicaragua

Asociación de Mujeres Ixqanil, Guatemala

Asociación por la Paz y los Derechos Humanos Taula per Mèxic, Spain

Association Tin Tua du Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso

Association des Blogueurs du Burkina, Burkina Faso

Association Monde Rural (AMR), Burkina Faso

Association Nationale d Action pour Développement Intégral (ANADI), Senegal

Association “Nova generacija,” Bosnia and Herzegovina

Australian Council for International Development, Australia

Bahay Tuluyan Foundation, Philippines

Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Bangladesh

Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK), Bangladesh

Belarusian National Youth Council (RADA), Belarus

Bench Marks Foundation, South Africa

Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Bangladesh

Bond, CSO Platform, United Kingdom

Broederlijk Delen, Belgium

Brot für die Welt, Germany

Building Community Voice (BCV), Cambodia

Cambodian Center for Human Right (CCHR), Cambodia

Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (Cambo-JA), Cambodia

Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), Cambodia

Censat Agua Viva (Friends of Earth), Colombia

Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL), Cambodia

Center for Civic Cooperation, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Center for Democratic Governance (CDG), Burkina Faso

Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking (CYAN Pilipinas Inc), Philippines

Center for youth education, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Centre d’Etudes et de Recherche Appliquée en Finances Publiques (CERA/FP), Burkina Faso

Centre Delwende de Sakoula, Burkina Faso

Centre for Environmental Justice, Sri Lanka

Centre for Improved Rural Health and Environmental Protection (CIRHEP), India

Center for Migrant Advocacy, Philippines

Centre Internacional Escarré per les Minories Ètniques i les Nacions (CIEMEN), Catalonia

Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur, India

Center for Support Organisations, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Centre for Youth Work, Serbia

Centro de Defesa dos Direitos Humanos, Brasil

Centro de Desarrollo Agropecuario (CEDAP), Peru

Centro de Estudios para el Desarrollo Regional (CEDER), Perú

Centro de Tecnologias Alternativas Populares – CETAP, Passo Fundo Rio Grande do Sul – Brazil

Centro Ecológico, Brazil

Centro de Estudios e Investigación sobre Mujeres (CEIM), Spain

CEHPRODEC, Honduras

Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), Uganda

Civil Society Platform for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (CSPPS), Netherlands

Civil Society Reference Group, Kenya

Christian Aid, United Kingdom

CIUDADANIA, Bolivia

Clean Clothes Campaign International Office, Netherlands

Clowns without Borders Sweden, Sweden

CNCD-11.11.11, Belgium

Colors Rainbow, Myanmar

COMISION INTERECLESIAL DE JUSTICIA Y PAZ- Colombia

Commerce and Services Trade Union, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL), Cambodia

Commission épiscopale Justice et Paix du Burkina Faso (CJP-Burkina), Burkina Faso

Community Development Support Services (CDSS), South Sudan

COMUNA/PBFCC, Bolivia

Comunidad de Juristas Akubadaura, Colombia

CONCORD, European CSO Platform

CONCORD Sweden

CONFRAS, El Salvador

Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia, Serbia

Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Vojvodina, Serbia

Conseil national des organisation de la société civile du Burkina Faso (CNOSC/BF), Burkina Faso

Convention des Organisations de la société civile pour l’Observation Domestique des Élections (CODEL), Burkina Faso

Coop. Comunidad del Sur, Montevideo-Uruguay

Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC), Cambodia

Cooperation Canada, CSO Platform, Canada

Coordinadora Galega de ONG para o Desenvolvemento, Spain

Coordinadora de ONGD de Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

Coordinadora de ONGD-España, Spain

Coordinadora Valenciana de ONGD, Spain

COPINH, Honduras

Cordaid, Netherlands

Corporación para el Desarrollo Regional, Colombia

Corporación Serraniagua, Organización Campesina Ambiental Comunitaria, El Cairo – Colombia

Council for People’s Development and Governance (CPDG), Philippines

Council of Churches, Zambia

Conseil National de la Jeunesse du Burkina Faso (CNJ-BF), Burkina Faso

Croatian Platform for International Citizen Solidarity (CROSOL), Croatia

Czech Forum for Development Cooperation (FoRS), Czechia

Nagorik Uddyog (NU), Bangladesh

David Ntseng Director at Church Land Programme, South Africa

DCA, Denmark

Democratic Dialogue Network, Serbia

Diakonia, Sweden

Dóchas, Ireland

East Cape Agricultural Research Project, South Africa

Ecobarrial, Centro de Ecología Social, Chile

ECLOF International, Switzerland

Economic and Social Development Center ESDC, West Bank and Gaza Strip

ECPAT, Philippines

EducommuniK, Burkina Faso

Entrepueblos/Entrepobles/Entrepobos/Herriarte, Spain

Emthonjeni Women’s Forum, Zimbabwe

Equality Myanmar, Myanmar

Equitable Cambodia (EC), Cambodia

ERA-LGBTI Equal Rights Association, Serbia

ERIKS Development Partner, Sweden

Espacio de Cooperación para la Paz, Colombia

EU-LAT Advocacy Network, regional network Europe

Eurodad, Regional Network

Fairtrade Sverige, Sweden

Farmers Union of Malawi, Malawi

Fasocheck Association, Burkina Faso

FECCEG, Guatemala

FEDECARIBE, Colombia

Federación de Centros Awá del Ecuador, Ecuador

Felm, Finland

FESPAD, El Salvador

FIAN Zambia

Fundación San Alonso Rodríguez, FSAR, Honduras

FUNDASAL, El Salvador

Finn Church Aid, Finland

Finnish Development NGOs (Fingo), CSO Platform, Finland

Fishworkers’ Solidarity, Philippines

Friends of the Earth International, International Organization

ForumCiv, Sweden

Forum MNE, Montenegro

Forum of Cotton Producers, FONPA, Mozambique

Framtidsjorden, Sweden

Fundación ALTROPICO, Ecuador

Fundação CEPEMA, Brazil

Fundación de Culturas Indígenas Kawsay-Ecuador

Fundación InteRed, Spain

Fundación Myrna Mack, Guatemala

Fundación para el Desarrollo y Fortalecimiento de las Organizaciones de Base (FUNDEBASE), Guatemala

Fundación Pereyra, Argentina

Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC), Cambodia

Global Citizen, International Organization

Global Idé, Sweden

Global Interfaith Network For People of All Sexes, Sexual Orientations, Gender Identities and Expressions, South Africa

Grameena Mahila Okkuta, India

groundWork, Friends of the Earth, South Africa

HEKS/EPER Swiss Church Aid, Switzerland

IBON Foundation, Philippines

IBON International, International NGO

ICADE, Honduras

Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Philippines

Iniciativa Mesoamericana de Mujeres Defensoras de Derechos Humanos, regional Latin America

Institute for National and Democracy Studies (INDIES), Indonesia

Institute of Permaculture of Mozambique, IPERMO, Mozambique

Institute of Politics and Governance (IPG), Philippines

Instituto de Comunicación y Desarrollo (ICD), Uruguay

Instituto de Ecología Política, Chile

International Action for Peace (IAP), Spain

International Labour, Research and Information Group, South Africa

International Network Of Religious Leaders Living With or Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS (INERELA+), South Africa

International Office for Human Rights Action on Colombia, OIDHACO, European regional network

International Platform against Impunity, Guatemala

Inter Pares, Canada

IOGT-NTO Movement, Sweden

IPDRS, Bolivia

JA!FOE, Moçambique

JANIC, Japan

Jordens Vänner / Friends of the Earth Sweden, Sweden

Justapaz, Colombia

Justiça Ambiental, JA, Mozambique

KAMP, Kosovo

Kareem Baptist Convention- Social Mission (KBC- SM), Myanmar

Kawsay Bolivia

KCOC Policy Center, Korea

Keystone Foundation, India

Khanya College Johannesburg Trust, South Africa

Klahaan, Cambodia

KUDUMBAM, India

Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, Sweden

La Coordinadora de ONGD-España

La Plataforma DESCA, Colombia

La Via Campesina Southern and Eastern Africa (LVC SEAf), Regional Organization

Law & Society Trust (LST), Sri Lanka

Lawyers Collective José Alvear Restrepo (CAJAR), Colombia

Labor Education and Research Network (LEARN), Philippines

Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI), Namibia

Ladakh Ecological Development Group, India

Lafede.cat organitzacions per la Justícia Global, Catalonia

Land Research Center (LRC), West Bank

LatFem, Regional Latin America

Legal Assistance Centre, Namibia

Leornard Cheshire Disability, Zimbabwe

Le secrétariat permanent des organisations Non Gouvernementales du Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso

Listeners without Borders, Sweden

Livaningo, Mozambique

Lliga dels Drets dels Pobles, Catalunya, Spain

Lutheran World Federation, Switzerland

Lutheran World Federation / World Service – Central America Programme

Lutheran World Service India Trust, India

Malawi Union of Savings and Credit Cooperation (MUSCCO), Malawi

MECOOVISURH, Honduras

Milieudefensie / Friends of the Earth, Netherlands

Movimiento Agroecológico de América Latina, MAELA, regional Latin America

Mujeres Workers Progressive Alliance, Philippines

Murang’a Avocado Farmers Cooperative Union Ltd, Kenya

Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum, Sri Lanka

MyRight, Sweden

National Association of Youth Organizations (NAYO), Zimbabwe

National Commission for Human Rights Chile-Sweden, Sweden

National Confederation of Transport Workers Union (NCTU), Philippines

National Council of Churches, Philippines

National council of Swedish children and youth organizations (LSU), Sweden

National Confederation of Transportworkers Union (NCTU), Philippines

National Farmers’ Federation NFF, North Macedonia

NGO Forum on Cambodia, Cambodia

ngo-federatie, the Flemish federation of development CSOs, Belgium

Nicaraguan Network of Community Trade (RENICC), Nicaragua

NIRMAN, India

NOAH Friends of the Earth, Denmark

Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), Norway

Olof Palmes Internationella Center, Sweden

Operation 1325, Sweden

Organic Producers & Processors Association of Zambia, Zambia

Organization for Nonviolence and Development (ONAD), South Sudan

Organization for Women’s Development in Bangladesh, Bangladesh

Organisation pour le Renforcement des Capacités de Développement, Burkina Faso

Oxfam, International CSO

Palestinian Agricultural Cooperative Union (PACU), West Bank

Palestinian Working Women Society for Development (PWWSD), West Bank

Palhaços Sem Fronteiras, Brasil

People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections, Sri Lanka

People’s Process on Housing and Poverty in Zambia (PPHPZ), Zambia

PIANGO, Pacific Region

Plan International, International CSO

Plataforma Colombiana de Derechos Humanos, Democracia y Desarrollo (PCDHDD), Colombia

PMU, Sweden

Portuguese NGDO Platform, Portugal

Positive Vibes, Namibia

Praktisk Solidaritet, Sweden

Promotion of Family Health Association, Laos

Pro Public, Nepal

Reality of Aid Africa Network, Regional Network

Reality of Aid – Asia Pacific, Regional Network

Red de ONGD de Madrid, Spain

Red Jesuita Con Migrantes de Centroamérica (RJM CA), Regional Network

RED MUJER RURAL AREQUIPA, Perú

Redes AT, Uruguay

Red de Trabajadoras Domésticas, Honduras

Rendir Cuentas, Latín America and the Caribbean, Regional Network

RFSL, Sweden

Ruta Pacífica de las Mujeres, Colombia

Safety and Rights Society (SRS), Bangladesh

Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT), Cambodia

Save a Life, Sri Lanka

Save the Children, International CSO

Schumacher Centre, India

Self Help Development Foundation, Zimbabwe

SIMCARRD, Philippines

SLOGA, Platform of Slovenian NGOs, Slovenia

Small Producers Development and Transporters Association (SPRODETA), Malawi

SOBREVIVENCIA, Amigos de la Tierra, Paraguay

Social Association for Rural Advancement (SARA), Bangladesh

Social Policy Initiative (SPI), South Africa

SOLIDAR, European CSO Network

Srushtidnyan, India

Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh, India

Suriya Women’s Development Centre, Sri Lanka

Svalorna Latinamerika, Sweden

Swallows India Bangladesh, Sweden

Swedish Association for Sexuality Education (RFSU), Sweden

Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, Sweden

Swedish Development Forum (FUF), Sweden

Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation, Sweden

Swedish Foundation for Human Rights, Sweden

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, Sweden

Synergie des Femmes de la Société Civile (SYFES), DRC

Training Education Development Extension Trust, India

Tzuk Kim-pop, Guatemala

Udayankur Seba Sangstha (USS), Bangladesh

Uganda Cooperative Savings and Credit Union (UCSCU), Uganda

Une Gruaja, Albania

Union for Development and Integration of Roma Minority in Albania “Amaro-Drom”, Albania

Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), West Bank and Gaza Strip

Unite Theatre for Social Action (UTSA), Bangladesh

Vikas Adhyayan Kendra, India

Vive Vene, Bosnia Herzegovina

Warande Advisory Centre, Kenya

Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), Regional Organization

We Effect, Sweden

Wemos, The Netherlands

Women’s Academy For Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE), Zimbabwe

Women’s Education and Research Centre (WERC), Sri Lanka

Women Empowerment – Action (WE-Action), Ethiopia

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Zimbabwe

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, DR Congo

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Colombia

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Cameroon

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Sweden

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (International Secretariat), Geneva

Women’s Legal Resource Centre, Malawi

WoMIN African Alliance, Sweden

 World Concern Myanmar, Myanmar

World Council of Churches, Switzerland

Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust, Zimbabwe

YMCA, Ghana

YMCA, Madagascar

YWCA, Palestine

YMCA, Senegal

YWCA-YMCA, Sweden

YMCA, Togo

Zambia Alliance of Women (ZAW), Zambia

Zambia Climate Change Network (ZCCN), Zambia

Zambia Homeless and Poor People’s Federation, Zambia

Zambia National Women’s Lobby, Zambia

Zambia Youth Federation, Zambia