Charles Kojo Vandyck starts his report for the International Consortium on Closing Civic Space by analyzing the global civil society ecosystem, which he describes as a complex and interconnected network of individuals and groups developing out of rich histories of associational relationships and interactions. He continues with the consequently difficult task of defining civil society and describing its current state.

In the process, Vandyck analyzes existing definitions of civil society sustainability and suggests a more holistic definition he claims is necessary as a starting point for more comprehensive and meaningful research on the operational and financial sustainability of civil society.

Vandyck’s conclusion is that it is imperative for civil society organizations, particularly in the global South, to shift focus in order to strengthen their abilities to mobilize resources from their own domestic constituencies and reduce the excessive dependency on foreign donors.

The full report can be found on the CSIS website.

Photo by Neil Thomas on Unsplash