Navigating a Changing and Shrinking Civic Space

Navigating a Changing and Shrinking Civic Space

We are pleased to share this collection of practical tools developed by local and community women’s organisations and initiatives in Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, and Tunisia. These tools reflect how these groups are navigating increasingly restricted and shifting civic spaces in their respective countries.

About the Toolkit

This resource was developed collaboratively by:

• The Centre for Transnational Development and Collaboration (CTDC)

• The FemPawer Consortium

• Arab Women Organisation

• Collective for Research and Training on Development (CRTD.A)

• Palestinian Working Women Society for Development

• The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation

The toolkit is designed to:

✅ Document lived experiences of women’s organisations and activists engaged in the FemPawer project as they advocate for economic rights amid tightening civic space.
✅ Provide adaptable tools and strategies to counteract restrictions and negotiate with authorities and institutions.
✅ Foster mutual learning and self-reflection among grassroots actors across Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, and Tunisia.
✅ Offer concrete recommendations to stakeholders interested in supporting women-led initiatives working within constrained civic environments.
✅ Serve as a reference for understanding the challenges, resilience, and strategies of the participating groups.

We hope this toolkit will support your organisation in responding to challenges within civic space and inspire collaborative, context-sensitive approaches.

📩 For feedback, questions, or to share your own experiences, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.