e-CIVICUS: 26 May 2026

Newsletters 26 May 2026

Connect with CIVICUS: Join Our Drop-In Clinics

We’re excited to launch CIVICUS Members Drop-In Clinic Sessions, a new space designed to connect you directly with our Membership team.

Whether you’re seeking guidance, have questions about your membership, or simply want to explore how to make the most of your engagement with CIVICUS, these informal sessions are here for you. With no appointment required, you can join at your convenience, drop in at any point during the hour, and have a one-on-one conversation with our team.

This is part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening our community and ensuring you feel supported every step of the way. We look forward to connecting with you.

Upcoming Drop-In Clinics

Time: May 27, 2 – 3pm SAST

Language: English

Time: June 16, 3 – 4pm SAST

Language: Spanish

Time: July 13, 2 – 3pm SAST

Language: French

Time: August 11, 2–3pm SAST

Language: English

Time: Sept 14, 2– 3pm SAST

Language: Spanish

Can short-term grants build long-term digital resilience? In 2024, 16 organisations received CIVICUS Digital Resiliency Grants of $10–20k over 6 months to respond to rising digital threats. Small funding can unlock lasting resilience.

Learn more

How can art become a tool for resistance under repression? Watch the recording of our latest webinar to hear from Guerschom Gobouang, Shataakshi Verma , and Shila Bhatta as they share insights on the mobilising power of creativity in contexts where speaking out carries real risks.

Watch here

How civil society tells its story matters. At a recent convening co-hosted by CIVICUS and Asia Centre in Bangkok, communicators, activists, and civil society representatives from across Asia came together to strengthen narrative strategies that defend and expand civic space. The gathering highlighted the power of collective storytelling in countering misinformation, amplifying grassroots voices, and driving civic action in increasingly challenging environments.

What would development look like if it were truly locally led?

CIVICUS has joined a new invitation to action calling on governments, donors, foundations, and civil society to shift power and resources closer to communities.

Add your voice and be part of the change.

Take Action

Stop the Madness: Civil Society Cannot Thrive on Burnout

Civil society organisations are facing mounting pressure to deliver impact in increasingly complex and constrained environments, often at significant cost to their wellbeing and sustainability. This piece by CIVICUS' Hannah Wheatley, Joanna Makhlouf and Taís Siqueira, explores how unrealistic expectations, shrinking resources, and restrictive civic spaces are driving widespread burnout across the sector. It calls for a fundamental shift towards more supportive, trust-based approaches that prioritise care, set realistic goals, and recognise the limits of organisations working on the frontlines of change.

Read the Opinion Piece

CIVICUS Lens stories are directly informed by interviews with civil society activists, leaders, and change-makers. You can click on the stories below to read our analysis. You can also head to the platform and navigate the themes, stories, articles, and interviews - articles are available in multiple languages. Subscribe to the CIVICUS Lens newsletter mailing list for monthly updates on interviews and articles.

Repression in Education: A wave of Dismissals, Removals and Disciplinary Procedures

A new report by Građanske inicijative highlights a growing pattern of repression within Serbia’s education system, marked by dismissals, disciplinary proceedings, and institutional pressure on teachers, principals, and academics. The findings point to a systematic effort to target education workers, particularly those perceived to support student protests, through job losses, legal action, and governance changes. The report warns that these practices undermine academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and fundamental rights, with potentially far-reaching consequences for the future of education and democratic participation in the country.

Call for Applications: IACHR Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression

A key opportunity to advance freedom of expression in the region: the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is inviting applications for the next Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression. Apply by 15 June 2026. Finalists will be announced on 27 July, with the mandate beginning 1 November.

Find out more

UN financial crisis: Mapping the impact for human rights

Wondering about the impact of UN budget cuts under the UN80 Initiative? Publicly available research shows these reductions are weakening human rights mechanisms worldwide, limiting justice and accountability where it’s needed most.

Fellowship Opportunity for Environmental Journalists

Applications are open for a six-month storytelling fellowship by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), in partnership with UNESCO’s Global Media Defence Fund. The programme supports environmental journalists to investigate and report on violence against their peers, while strengthening capacity and amplifying impactful stories. Deadline: 8 June 2026

Apply here

Call for Input: UNGA 81st Thematic Report on Youth Activism and the Future of Civic Space

The UN Special Rapporteur is calling for input for the 81st UN General Assembly (UNGA) thematic report on “Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association: Youth Activism Report – Gen-Z Activism and the Future of Civic Space”. This report will explore how young people are reshaping civic space through new forms of mobilisation, digital organising, and collective action, as well as the challenges they face in exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and association. Contributions are invited from civil society, youth-led movements, and other stakeholders to help shape a global understanding of Gen-Z activism and its implications for the future of civic space.

Submit input

Apply Now: 2026 UN SDG Action Awards

There’s still time to apply or nominate a changemaker for the 2026 UN SDG Awards. Join a global community of #HeroesofTomorrow driving progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Deadline: 31 May 2026

Apply here

Terms of Reference: Editor Consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide editing support to CIVICUS, including (but not be limited to) research reports, either written or commissioned by CIVICUS, country updates for the CIVICUS Monitor platform and other research materials produced by CIVICUS. Additionally, the consultant can be requested to edit research materials published by the EU SEE network of over 80 civil society partners (EU System for the Enabling Environment for Civil Society – Early Warning and Monitoring Mechanism).

Apply here

Terms of Reference - Consultancy: Senior Advisory for the design of CIVICUS' Digital & Civic Space Strategy

The Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) is seeking a consultant to support the operationalisation of its Digital and Civic Space Strategy. The consultant will develop thematic advisory notes across the strategy’s five focus areas and lead consultations with CIVICUS staff, members, partners, and digital rights stakeholders to help ensure effective and inclusive implementation.

Apply here

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e-CIVICUS: 26 May 2026

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