Democracy Network and European Foundations for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Network – Restricting Advocacy: The Shifting Landscape of NGO Funding
The Democracy Network and European Foundations for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Network will co-host a funders-only online session on “Restricting Advocacy: The Shifting Landscape of NGO Funding” on 10 March.
EU funding for NGOs helps to counterbalance corporate lobbying and support democracy by amplifying a diverse set of voices. However, recent policy shifts are questioning EU funding for NGOs and imposing tighter restrictions on NGOs working at EU level ,especially for advocacy. Direct advocacy towards EU officials, for example was previously allowed but may no longer qualify for funding. Clear signals have emerged with the recent restrictions on the LIFE Programme, and there is a real risk that similar measures could extend to other sectors.
These changes raise concerns about shrinking civic space and restricting NGOs’ ability to engage in policy discussions, provide expertise, and advocate on key societal and environmental issues, hence impacting democracy.
This invite-only session will provide an overview of these developments and explore their implications and discuss key policy shifts, challenges and potential responses.
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