About
The Solidarity Action Network (SANE) aims to strengthen resilience of and solidarity among civil society actors when faced with civic space restrictions or changing operating conditions. It connects international and national civil society organisations – (I)CSOs – across all sub-sectors and brings them into discussions on civic space challenges and opportunities.
SANE activities
Anticipating futures for civil society operating space
▶ A three-year initiative (2022 – 2025) aims to strengthen anticipatory capacities and future readiness of civil society professionals who are working to defend civic and civil society operating space.
▶ The initiative will increase awareness and readiness of (I)CSOs to address future challenges at the intersection of civic space and crises, offer a collaborative space to develop future scenarios, and translate them into concrete organisational strategies.
▶ Watch this video introducing the initiative and check out our landscape mapping outlining what (I)CSOs have been learning from past and present crises, and identifying gaps that require collective sector commitment (Phase 1).
▶ Read this report summarizing the outcomes and lessons from a collaborative scenario writing exercise “A history of civic space, 2024-2034” and proposing practical ways to build on them to anticipate and prepare for possible futures (Phase 2).
▶ In 2024, we focus on operationalising future scenarios for civic and civil society operating space, translating them into strategies, and turning those strategies into concrete organisational practices (Phase 3).
Sharing resilience and solidarity mechanisms
▶ We collect case studies and best practices in the so-called Solidarity Playbook to help (I)CSOs respond to undue scrutiny and challenges, and to enable learning on how to act in solidarity with civil society actors, particularly local partners.
▶ We convene virtual events and curated conversations on different civic space issues to discuss challenges as well as exchange experience and lessons learned.
Strengthening cybersecurity
▶ In partnership with the CyberPeace Institute, we captured case studies on cybersecurity to share examples of how (I)CSOs dealt with actual cyberattacks and provide insights into how organisations can prevent and mitigate similar incidents. The key findings outline main observations, lessons learned, and opportunity areas from the collection.
▶ An accompanying guidance “Navigating cybersecurity: Guidance for (I)CSO professionals” explores action steps to better protect organisations online.
Resource hub
▶ A public page where we collect resources on selected civic space topics (e.g., tackling mis- and disinformation, building narratives or countering digital risks).
▶ The hub consists of strategies, tools and guidelines to respond to threats and clampdowns faced by (I)CSOs as well as expert organisations and programmes that can help with a swift and suitable response.