As the world grapples with democratic backsliding, civic space restrictions, and overlapping global crises, the resilience of civil society has never been more critical. At the upcoming OGP Global Summit in Spain, The Good Lobby and Queen’s University Belfast are co-organising an in-person side event to explore how advocacy ecosystems can withstand these turbulent times and emerge stronger.
📅 Date: Monday, 6 October
🕒 Time: 15:30 – 17:30
📍 Venue: La Casa de las Mujeres, Vitoria-Gasteiz
👥 Closed event – maximum 40 participants
📄 Concept note here
🔗 Register here
Civil society organisations (CSOs) remain central to democratic accountability, yet they face unprecedented strain—from financial pressures to hostile political environments. Meanwhile, private companies and philanthropic foundations navigate the same volatility, often caught between their stated values and their reluctance to act in politically sensitive contexts.
Our side event, “Resilient Voices, Robust Organisations: Redefining the Future of European Civil Society,” will bring together a closed group of 30–40 researchers, practitioners, and advocates to explore:
- What makes organisations resilient in fragmented political landscapes
- How philanthropy and donors can embrace greater “strategic courage”
- The evolving political role of businesses
- New opportunities for cross-sector collaboration
The programme includes insights from two major research initiatives, Impact Under Stress and the Resilient Civil Society Project (ReCiv), followed by a dynamic roundtable discussion and participatory Q&A.
We’ll close with coffee, informal networking, and an invitation to continue the conversation.
Join us in Vitoria-Gasteiz to help shape the future of resilient, democratic, and impactful civil society in Europe.