Across Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, complex conflicts unfold against a backdrop of shrinking civic freedoms. The pandemic has only intensified this dynamic, giving authorities new pretexts to restrict citizen movements and dissent.
Despite these pressures, powerful movements are growing. Women and youth collectives stand at the forefront of peace initiatives, challenging deeply entrenched gender inequalities and demanding a voice in decisions that shape their futures.
Our Strengthening Civil Courage programme unites the expertise of four organizations—ABAAD, Amnesty International Netherlands, DefendDefenders, and PAX—to support these vital community efforts from January 2021 to December 2025 We work alongside local communities where courage manifests daily to protect threatened civic spaces, advance gender equality, strengthen grassroots peace initiatives, and address the harmful corporate practices that perpetuate conflict. By nurturing collective courage in challenging environments, we are supporting communities build pathways to sustainable peace where human rights flourish for all.
Empowering Voices for Peace
The problem
In many regions around the world, citizens face suppression of civic space, ineffective peace efforts, gender inequality, and harmful external factors that undermine peace and justice. These challenges create power imbalances that prevent inclusive peace processes and limit access to justice for vulnerable populations. When civic space is restricted, when gender norms remain harmful, and when external factors like illegal arms trade continue unchecked, sustainable peace remains out of reach.
For whom
We want to support the resilience of people in conflict-affected countries and strengthen the capacities of citizens and communities to realise sustainable change on the ground
The SCC programme is being implemented in 11 countries and one region across Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. These are: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Palestine, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Our goal
Through our work, we aim to cultivate:
- Civic change agents who act as frontrunners, activists and/or representatives of citizens’ needs and aspirations; they sustain inclusive legitimacy and demonstrate resilience and influence on holders of power.
- Engaged citizens who overcome fear to associate and increasingly act as inclusive collective non-violent civic power for change.
- State and non-state authorities who engage with citizens advocating for peace, justice and gender equality.
- Companies who are increasingly committed to higher norms for business in conflict-affected settings and better compliance with these norms.
- International solidarity networks who act as vehicles for local movements, support networking, mobilising resources and addressing global power inequalities.
- The international community who persistently promotes compliance with internationally agreed policies, norms and standards.
What we do
We believe that creating more equal power relations is essential for inclusive peace and justice. Our programme works through four interconnected pathways:
Mitigating external stress factors
We counter illegal arms trade, address environmental impacts of warfare, and hold companies accountable for their effects on peace and human rights.
Defending and increasing civic space
We support activists and strengthen citizen engagement to ensure people can safely advocate for peace and justice.
Transforming conflicts and protecting human right
We collaborate with local peace processes to address violations and support victims seeking justice.
Pursuing gender equality
We strengthen women’s participation in peace processes and address harmful masculinity norms that fuel violence. We also support sexual and gender-based violence victims and their claims.
Countering Anti-Gender Backlash
Worldwide we witness a surge in systematic anti-gender backlash linked to the increasing pressure on democracy, at times orchestrated and often backed by state authorities.
Partners
