Shrinking civic space: Without inclusion, there is no resilience

As civic space shrinks worldwide, marginalized groups are hit hardest. A VENRO workshop pointed out that true resilience comes from human rights, inclusion, and structural change—not individual endurance.

Civic space is narrowing worldwide – and those most affected are people already on the margins of society who, experience multiple forms of discrimination, such as LGBTQI* youth in Uganda or women with disabilities in sub-Saharan Africa. The VENRO workshop “Resilience of Vulnerable Groups” therefore revolved around one central question:

How can development cooperation actors strengthen the resilience of marginalized groups and protect their rights – especially in contexts of repression and shrinking civic space?

Throughout the discussions, one point became clear: Resilience is not an individual trait – it emerges through structural change. It grows when human rights are defended, inclusive approaches are promoted, and power dynamics are critically examined.

“Human rights are universal and not Western values,” the speakers stressed, emphasizing the importance of maintaining dialogue even with difficult partners, such as conservative churches or state institutions.

Uganda: Creating safe spaces for LGBTQI* youth

Uganda illustrates how severely constrained civil society work has become: LGBTQI* youth face increasing marginalization due to restrictive laws, social stigma, and violence. Many become homeless, leave school, or experience sexualized violence. Particularly concerning is the rising incidence of mental health crises, combined with a striking lack of adequate support services.

The consequences include homelessness, school dropouts, psychological distress, and limited access to health and legal services. Organizations working with these groups are themselves under pressure or criminalized – a classic manifestation of shrinking civic space.

The recommendations for the international community are clear:

• Implement human rights–based foreign and development policy: Governments must advocate unequivocally for safe working conditions for civil society actors.
• Foster dialogue rather than isolation: Even where value conflicts exist, communication channels with governments, churches, and media are essential for shifting narratives over time.
• Reform funding structures: Financing mechanisms must place greater emphasis on inclusion, gender justice, and intersectional approaches.
• Promote empowerment: Safe spaces, peer support, legal counseling, and youth-friendly health services are vital to strengthen resilience.

Together, these recommendations call for a rights-based, inclusive, and dialog-oriented international approach that protects civil society, reforms funding practices, and actively empowers marginalized communities, particularly youth, through sustained support and structural change.

Women with disabilities: Invisible in the system

Women with disabilities face dual discrimination in many countries – through sexism and ableism. Sophie Pecourt of Humanity & Inclusion (HI) stressed: “Disability is a human rights issue – not a medical or social special category.” She highlighted that women with disabilities are not mentioned in two-thirds of all strategies addressing gender-based violence.

Additional barriers include insufficient data, low representation in decision-making processes, and limited access to resources. Their political invisibility means that gender equality and violence prevention measures often fail to reflect their lived realities.

In the workshop, the participants developed the following recommendations for donors, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs):

• Institutionalize disability mainstreaming across all programs and policy strategies.
• Prioritize genuine participation over symbolic inclusion: Women with disabilities must be involved in decision-making – not only as target groups but as experts.
• Create safe operating conditions: Organizations working with marginalized groups require protection, training, and stable funding.
• Shift public narratives: Awareness-raising through communications and social media should be pursued strategically.

Taken together, these recommendations emphasize the need for structurally anchored inclusion, meaningful participation, protected civic space, and strategic communication by donors, BMZ, and NGOs in order to counter exclusionary power structures and uphold diversity, particularly in highly restrictive contexts such as Afghanistan.

The situation in Afghanistan starkly demonstrates how totalitarian power structures suppress diversity and institutionalize inequality – and how essential international solidarity and political backing remain.

Securing civic space: What politics and development cooperation can do

Participants agreed that fostering resilience and protecting civic space must be strategic priorities in development cooperation.

A core principle is “Leave no one behind” – no one should be overlooked or excluded. This requires creating safe spaces, supporting peer groups, and involving affected individuals in all project phases – from planning to political advocacy.

Important policy levers in this context are:

• Raising awareness among decision-makers through expert dialogues, parliamentary hearings, and delegation visits.
• Ensuring policy coherence: Human rights must not be compromised for geopolitical or economic interests.
• Fostering long-term partnerships with local organizations instead of relying on short-term project cycles.
• Strengthening networks: Joint advocacy strategies and coordinated narratives enhance visibility and political impact.
• Embedding inclusion in funding policies: Diversity and intersectionality must be treated as quality criteria in funding decisions.

No inclusion, no resilience – no resilience, no democracy

The workshop underscored that strengthening marginalized groups is inseparable from protecting civic space. When organizations are criminalized, media are restricted, and human rights are undermined, the foundation for sustainable development collapses.

Resilience emerges where power structures are questioned and transformed. This includes distributing resources more equitably, using consciously inclusive language, and ensuring genuine participation for marginalized groups. As one participant summarized: “Resilience does not mean adapting – it means changing the conditions under which we live, together.”

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