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Nations in Transit 2022: From Democratic Decline to Authoritarian Aggression

April 15, 2022

On February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin launched a brutal invasion of Ukraine. This war, which has already displaced millions of people and menaced the lives of millions more, presents an existential challenge not just to Ukraine's sovereignty, but also to the liberal international order. It comes at the time when liberal democracy's star has faded across the 29 countries covered in Nations in Transit. This edition of the report, assessing the events of 2021 from Central Europe to Central Asia, marks the 18th consecutive year of democratic decline for the region as a whole.Putin's war is the latest and gravest expression of his thuggish and malignant influence on neighboring states. When free societies have resisted his efforts to warp their media and corrupt their politicians, he has threatened or actually used military force, as in Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014. When authoritarian incumbents have teetered in the face of popular demands for change, he has backstopped their regimes and deepened their dependence on Moscow, as in Belarus or more recently in Kazakhstan. But the stakes of the current conflict are even higher. If the Kremlin succeeds in subjugating a sovereign, democratic Ukraine, it will mark the first time that an authoritarian power has overthrown a freely elected national government in the region since the end of the Cold War. Even if the effort fails, it has already destabilized the Nations in Transit region, potentially accelerating the steady antidemocratic transformation that has taken place across Europe and Eurasia.

Attacks on Education in Ukraine 17 February-02 March 2022

March 7, 2022

Russian troops invaded Ukrainian territory on 24 February. Russian forces have made extensive use of explosive weapons in populated areas leading to widespread damage of educational buildings. Most schools are closed depriving children of education. Some educational buildings have been used as bomb shelters. Many families with children have been fleeing the country. It is estimated that around half of the two million refugees who have left Ukraine are children. International students studying at Ukrainian universities have had difficulties leaving the country.Insecurity Insight's monitoring for the period 17 February-02 March 2022 has identified reports of 16 incidents of violence against education. Most incidents reported explosive weapons use.

Violence Against or Obstruction of Health Care in Ukraine 24 February-02 March 2022

March 7, 2022

Russian troops invaded Ukrainian territory on 24 February. The initial strategy is believed to have been rapid capture of large populated areas, notably the capital Kyiv and Kharkiv, a city of around 1.4 million inhabitants. These however largely remain in Ukrainian hands and, likely in consequence, Russian forces have started to resort to much more extensive use of explosive weapons in these populated areas.Insecurity Insight's monitoring for the period 24 February-02 March 2022 has identified reports of 24 incidents where explosive weapons damaged hospitals. A doctor, ambulance driver and medical student have been reportedly killed in attacks. The armed violence has also hindered access to health care or forced health care providers to change how they were able to provide services. The conflict has also affected supply of drugs and other key medical supplies with crucial shortages for patients with long-term care needs.

Facilitating Financial Sustainability: Funder Approaches

May 4, 2018

Financial sustainability remains a critical challenge for Civil Society Organization (CSOs) around the world. Although a variety of toolkits and research papers exist examining specific sustainability strategies , many CSOs continue to struggle to develop and maintain the resources needed to carry out their missions. The Facilitating Financial Sustainability (FFS) activity was launched in 2017 to develop and test ways that different actors (including donors, policymakers, intermediary organizations, and CSOs themselves) can work together to improve the factors that drive financial sustainability for local organizations in different developing world contexts. This paper covers an analysis of funder strategies to support CSO financial sustainability. This represents one part of the three-part FFS research series, and is best considered alongside the other papers in the series to give a holistic perspective on CSO financial sustainability: "Understanding the Drivers of CSO Financial Sustainability", which includes an analysis of specific factor combinations that support CSO sustainability in different contexts, and "Facilitating Financial Sustainability: Synthesis Report", which brings together the key findings from the other two papers in the series.

Facilitating Financial Sustainability: Understanding the Drivers of CSO Financial Sustainability

May 4, 2018

Financial sustainability remains a critical challenge for Civil Society Organization (CSOs) around the world. Although a variety of toolkits and research papers exist examining specific sustainability strategies , many CSOs continue to struggle to develop and maintain the resources needed to carry out their missions. The Facilitating Financial Sustainability (FFS) activity was launched in 2017 to develop and test ways that different actors (including donors, policymakers, intermediary organizations, and CSOs themselves) can work together to improve the factors that drive financial sustainability for local organizations in different developing world contexts. This paper covers an analysis of the drivers of CSO sustainability based on interviews with CSO representatives. This represents one part of the three-part FFS research series, and is best considered alongside the other papers in the series to give a holistic perspective on CSO financial sustainability: "Funder Approaches to Facilitating CSO Financial Sustainability", which provides an overview of the funding landscape for financial sustainability in the six countries included in the study, and "Facilitating Financial Sustainability: Synthesis Report", which brings together the key findings from both other papers in the series.

Facilitating Financial Sustainability: Synthesis Report

May 4, 2018

Financial sustainability remains a critical challenge for Civil Society Organization (CSOs) around the world. Although a variety of toolkits and research papers exist examining specific sustainability strategies , many CSOs continue to struggle to develop and maintain the resources needed to carry out their missions. The Facilitating Financial Sustainability (FFS) activity was launched in 2017 to develop and test ways that different actors (including donors, policymakers, intermediary organizations, and CSOs themselves) can work together to improve the factors that drive financial sustainability for local organizations in different developing world contexts. This paper synthesizes the findings from the analyses of both funders and CSOs. This represents one part of the three-part FFS research series, and is best considered alongside the other papers in the series to give a holistic perspective on CSO financial sustainability: "Understanding the Drivers of CSO Financial Sustianabiltiy", which includes an analysis of specific factor combinations that support CSO sustainability in different contexts, and "Funder Approaches to Financial Sustainability", which provides an overview of the funding landscape for CSO financial sustainability int he six countries included in the study.

Corporate Philanthropy in Kenya: A Report on Nature, Trends and Engagements By Corporates In Philanthropy

January 26, 2018

The Yetu Initiative, which works to strengthen community philanthropy in order to support local developmentoutcomes, commissioned a research on Corporate Philanthropy in Kenya. The complete findings for thereport can be downloaded from www.yetu.org

Water Security Implementation

January 1, 2018

The success of a WSI process depends on the implementation of activities or measures defined through collaborative planning and decision-making with the purpose of addressing and mitigating priority water risks now and in the future. Implementation produces tangible results that improve water security; builds capacity and teamwork through participation; and anchors water security planning and decision-making in knowledge and evidence of what works.Key considerations for implementing water security actions embrace and reinforce principles and themes of the entire WSI process. These include delivering "quick wins" and early results; effective communications and adaptive management; accountability by mobilizing promised resources and fulfilling responsibilities defined in action plans; and complying with regulations. A wide range of tangible actions and measures can improve water security. These can be broadly listed under four categories: gray as well as green infrastructure; policy, regulatory, and institutional measures; and social and behavioral change measures.

Theories of Democratic Change Phase II: Paths Away from Authoritarianism - DRG Center Working Paper

December 12, 2017

Despite the global spread of democracy following the end of the Cold War, dictatorships still rule about one-third of the world's countries. The persistence of authoritarian governments poses a challenge for the international community on a variety of fronts: dictatorships are more likely to repress their citizens, instigate wars, and perpetrate mass killing, among others. This challenge is even more pressing given the gradual decline in the number of democracies worldwide over the last decade. Practitioners confront critical questions about which strategies are likely to pave the way for democratization versus which are likely to stifle it.

Corporate Philanthropy In Kenya

November 1, 2017

Corporate contribution to the community has come a long way over the years – from one-off charity giving to more business/corporate philanthropy, and to some extent, a more strategic focus with an emphasis on selected partnerships with Civil Society Organizations/NGOs. The number of ways companies have practiced their giving to the community has increased as has the amount allocated through their Corporate Social Investments and Corporate Social Responsibility programs. This journey is an important one to understand, especially for local civil society organizations keen to diversify their resources and partner with the private sector to enable them to achieve their mission.Corporate giving towards development and humanitarian assistance has become increasingly important and consequently moved up the agenda in many companies operating in Kenya both multinational, Small and Medium Enterprises. As shown in this study, companies support causes in health, education, environmental conservation, poverty reduction and humanitarian emergencies among others. The growing private sector giving has therefore attracted the attention of development agencies including civil society organizations particularly against a backdrop of economic downturn and shrinking donor support. This is viewed as a sustainable alternative to bridge the financial gap to meet increasing needs for responding to development work and humanitarian aid.However, the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) engagement with the private sector is fairly new. Additionally, the two sectors have for a long time been perceived to have an ambivalent relationship occasioned by assumed lack of similar values or mutual interest in sustainable development, limited trust, and perceived CSOs limited capacity and expertise to effectively engage with the business sector. The rift is further deepened by limited information and understanding on how each sector engages in community development that has as a result hindered strategic partnerships. As part of strengthening CSOs in Kenya, the Aga Khan Foundation and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are partnering in implementing a project, the 'Yetu Initiative' which seeks to build a "Community of Practice" in which CSOs strengthen their assets and capacity. The initiative is envisaged to build trust necessary to cultivate a culture of community philanthropy as well as enhance proactive civic engagement in addressing community needs.This report presents information on motivation to private sector giving, nature, and trends with special focus on corporate philanthropy in Kenya. It maps out players in corporate philanthropy in Kenya, outline key drivers and deterrents of corporate philanthropy to CSOs in Kenya, and assesses the processes and criteria employed by the private sector for corporate philanthropy. A cross-sectional research approach informed the study design in which qualitative and quantitative techniques were integrated to capture information from a sample of 60 companies operating in Kenya. The sector distribution of companies was as follows: Manufacturing (17%), Transport & Storage (13%), Money, Banking & Finance (13%), Tourism (12%), ICT (12%), Agriculture & Agro-processing (10%), Commercial Services & Retailers (10%), Environment & Natural Resources (7%), Energy (5%), and Building and Construction (2%).

Dapivirine Ring: The Case for Action

October 10, 2017

The monthly dapivirine ring, the first discrete, long-acting, HIV prevention product designed specifically for women, will soon be on the market.* Women account for over half of adult HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa, but have few HIV prevention options that they can control. This new product is critical to empower women to protect themselves and to make progress towards the elimination of HIV.Developed with the OPTIONS Consortium, a five-year USAID and PEPFAR initiative, and the International Partnership for Microbicides, this report is for national governments, donors, implementers, and advocates who are planning for the launch of the monthly dapivirine ring.*Pending approval by regulatory authorities.Top TakeawaysWomen and girls need HIV prevention options they can fully control. The dapivirine ring will enable more women to protect themselves against transmission without requiring action from a partner.The ring offers 4 major benefits: it is highly acceptable to users, it is effective in reducing HIV transmission, and it is safe and easy to use.The dapivirine ring could prevent over half a million new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.

Maintaining Civic Space in Backsliding Regimes (2017)

September 22, 2017

In 2016, USAID's Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance launched its Learning Agenda—a set of research questions designed to address the issues that confront staff in USAID field offices working on the intersection of development and democracy, human rights, and governance. This literature review—produced by a team of political scientists, geographers, and an anthropologist—synthesizes scholarship from diverse research traditions on the following Learning Agenda question:How can citizens keep civic space from shrinking? What enables civic and political participation in countries where civil liberties have been lost? How do forms of civic and political engagement in such contexts differ from forms of engagement in contexts in which civil liberties are protected? Are some forms of civic and political engagement generally more tolerated in newly repressive contexts than others? How do civic actors adapt their engagement tactics to achieve their objectives?The authors identify five strategies that have worked in at least some instances to pry open civic space under backsliding regimes:Alliance-and coalition-building with other domestic civil society groups, since larger groups have greater resources and can reach a larger audience.Indirect resistance and actions, such as charity provision, artistic expression, and local-level political involvement, since strategies that do not overtly confront the regime are less threatened and can still provide a space for community involvement, expression, and problem-solving.Non-violent contentious action, especially protest, which is more likely to be successful and have domestic and international appeal than violent action.Creative and careful use of digital technologies, since much of digital communication is beyond the reach of the state.Maintaining organizational autonomy from the government and international actors, since co-optation by the regime and affiliation with international actors risk compromising a group's message and goals.