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Civil Society Collective programme

Civil society space is under increasing threats worldwide, and civil society organisations’ (CSOs) operating environment is in flux, in the UK and internationally.

The Civil Society Collective programme helps CSOs adapt and respond to an uncertain, ever-changing, complex environment by ensuring they are relevant, agile and resilient.

Bond is drawing on its vast experience of convening, strengthening and influencing to support and enable civil society organisations to create a more just and sustainable world.

Bond will work with its partners to deliver a programme that will:

  • Empower CSOs by developing their capability to respond to changing humanitarian and development needs. We are supporting CSOs to be adaptive and effective by using evidence and learning to inform their work, as well as strengthening accountability through transparency. We are helping CSOs develop sustainable business models and diversify their funding. We are also building on new and existing approaches to strengthen safeguarding across the sector and foster organisational change for more equal and inclusive workforces.
  • Achieve greater shared value through collaboration between CSOs and with other development actors. Complex development and humanitarian challenges will not be addressed without different actors working together, from civil society, government, business and academe. We are improving collaboration practice to encourage partnerships across and beyond the sector. We are also working with funders so funding policy and practice deliver greater development impact for the world’s poorest.
  • Drive CSOs’ advocacy to contribute to sustainable positive change internationally. We are harnessing opportunities for CSOs and the UK government to work together to achieve significant and sustainable progress in national and international policy on aid and development. We are supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, including raising awareness of the agenda and coordinating action nationally and internationally. We are also working to ensure that UK-EU collaboration between CSOs and governments continues to deliver for the world’s poorest during and after Brexit.
  • Provide UK organisations working in international development and humanitarian assistance with a strong and thriving network of support. We are strengthening our specialist communities of practice to take joint action and collaborate for better peer learning. We are also expanding our regional and national outreach to better support international NGOs across the UK, focusing on small CSOs.

The programme is delivered in collaboration with the three other UK platforms: Scotland’s International Development Alliance, Hub Cymru Africa and CADA Northern Ireland, and with Bond’s partners: the South West International Development Network and The Partnering Initiative.

The programme is funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). As funding for this programme has recently been cut by nearly 50%, some activities will be reduced or stopped in the next coming months. Read our statement here.