Start Over
CIVIL SOCIETY
AND THE
RIGHT
TO
RECEIVE FUNDING
The crackdown on the right of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to access resources, both domestic and foreign, has reached all corners of the world and manifested in various forms. CSOs need to be aware of their right to resources and how to respond in the face of government restrictions.
RESTRICTIONS TO ACCESS
THERE ARE MANY BARRIERS
BLOCKING
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS'
ACCESS TO MUCH-NEEDED
FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
Disclaimer: This is not an exaustive list.
Prohibitions against funding
Advance government approval
Burdensome procedural requirements
Routing funding through the government
Restricted purposes and activities
”Foreign agents” categorization
Anti-money Laundering
countering terrorist financing
Venezuelan laws target NGOs dedicated to the “defense of political rights” and preclude these organizations from possessing assets, or receiving any income, from foreign sources.
In Egypt , civil society groups require advanced government approval from the Ministry of Social Solidarity to receive foreign funding. The Ministry penalizes anyone who accepts foreign funds to conduct activities deemed harmful to Egypt’s national interests and security.
The Nepalese government requires CSOs to spend 60% of funding on infrastructure projects or for the provision of goods and services, necessarily limiting human rights and democracy initiatives, including research, advocacy, and educational programs.
In Uzbekistan, laws require organizations to notify the government about planned trips of CSO representatives to foreign countries; require organizations to obtain approval for the receipt of all funds and assets from foreign states, organizations, and citizens; and require foreign funding to be channeled through one of two government-controlled banks.
Russian law states that CSOs receiving foreign funding must be labeled as foreign agents.
In Indonesia, social organizations that seek to receive or provide donations to or from foreign entities are required to engage in a detailed approval and reporting process.
The Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria may suspend the trustees of an association and appoint an interim manager if it believes there has been misconduct, mismanagement, “fraudulently activities” or where “it is desirable for the public interest.”
The Transparency of Organizations Supported from Abroad Law states that CSOs that receive funding from abroad may facilitate “international terrorism.” It is routinely used to crack down on organizations focusing on rule of law, the provision of legal services, and the protection of minorities.
THE RIGHT TO ACCESS RESOURCES
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have the right to seek and secure funding from legal sources, including:
Individuals
Business
Civil society
International organizations
Intergovernmental organizations
Local, national and foreign governments
Resources for CSOs can include:
Financial resources (grants, donations, personal funds)
In-kind donations (goods, services, properties)
Materials (office supplies, IT equipment)
Human resources (staff)
Access to international assistances (solidarity)
Opportunities (training, advocacy meetings, partnership building)
WHY IS THE RIGHT TO ACCESS IMPORTANT?
WITHOUT RESOURCES
WITH RESOURCES
With resources, civil society organizations can:
Without resources, organizations cannot:
Facilitate public gatherings
Organize advocacy campaigns
Coordinate workshops and conferences
Run programs in communities
Conduct research
HOW TO RESPOND
International Law
With international law, you can respond to and challenge restrictions. The Human Rights Council, the UN body charged with authoritative interpretation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), has published the following communications in defense of access to resources:
  • General Comment 37 on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
    The obligations of States to protect the freedom of peaceful assembly extends to actions outside of the immediate context of gatherings such as the mobilization of resources
  • Communication No. 1274/2004
    States that access to resources “relates not only to the right to form an association, but also guarantees the right of such an association freely to carry out its statutory activities,” which includes fundraising activities.
    (October-November 2006)
  • Resolution 22/6 on Protecting Human Rights Defenders
    States shall ensure that reporting requirements for civil society “do not inhibit functional autonomy [of associations]” and “do not discriminatorily impose restrictions on potential sources of funding.”
    (12 April 2013)
  • Report of the Special Rapporteur, para. 20
    The ability of CSOs to access funding and other resources from domestic, foreign and international sources is an integral part of the right to freedom of association (A/HRC/23/39, para 20). This is because of the central importance of resources in effectively exercising freedom of association.
    (24 April 2013)
  • Resolution 27/31 on Civil Society Space
    Calls upon States to ensure that they do not hinder the work of civil society, and "underlines the importance of the ability to solicit, receive and utilize resources for their work."
    (3 October 2014)
  • Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, Art. 6
    Explicitly refers to the freedom to access funding, stating that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief shall include, inter alia, the freedom “to solicit and receive voluntary financial and other contributions from individuals and institutions.”
    (25 November 1981)
To pursue an advocacy strategy using international law, consider engaging human rights mechanisms like the Human Rights Council and the Universal Periodic Review.
Civil Society and Business Partnership
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) should consider campaigns in partnership with business to advocate for fairer treatment between the sectors. The report and factsheet by the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association says:
  • Despite the neutrality of most laws on assemblies, public and private gatherings by CSOs are more likely to be restricted in practice than those held by businesses.
    In Cambodia, attendees of the 2012 ASEAN Peoples’ Forum reported being turned away from hotels en masse after State security agents pressured owners. No similar problems were reported for the country’s International Investment Conference in 2014.
  • Foreign funding or investment are sharply divergent for business and civil society: undue restrictions on civil society’s right to access funding have grown exponentially in the past decade, while restrictions on foreign business investment are loosened.
    Since 2009, Ethiopia has prohibited certain domestic NGOs from receiving more than 10 percent of their funding from foreign sources. Meanwhile, over the same time period, the country has seen a 1500% increase in commercial foreign direct investment.
A vibrant and stable civil society, which is the backbone of a strong democracy, is better for business. Leveraging each sectors efforts, both individually and collectively, could result in positive change. Learn more about the correlation between rule of law and a good business environment, in Freedom House’s “Democracy is Good for Business” report.
Bringing Civil Society Together
Across the world, the crackdown on the right to access resources is not just affecting democracy, human rights, and governance groups. It is also affecting humanitarian groups that merely seek to address basic needs, such as poverty, education, and healthcare. Humanitarian organizations have faced restrictions similar to civil society through:
  • Threats of criminal charges or extrajudicial violence against staff of local organizations
    Egypt’s restrictive policies have scared away some humanitarian donors who fear that the funds they give to organizations would either be appropriated by the government or would lead to humanitarian workers’ arrest.
  • Restriction of access for Western-funded humanitarian organizations
    According to Global Policy Forum, under the previous Sri Lankan government, one poverty-focused aid organization, Care International, was forced to withdraw staff and scale down operations in 2011 due to these restrictions.
  • Punitive measures by government authorities after criticism
    In Venezuela, HIV/AIDS support groups like Acción Solidaria were hindered from working in prisons because the groups they worked with, which criticized the prison system, were forced out by the government.
  • Stigmatization of Western-funded humanitarian organization and/or donors
    In Venezuela, since the 2010 Law for Protection of Political Liberty and National Self-Determination, industry nationalization has tightened the government’s grip on humanitarian work. The government created mechanisms (like Communal Councils) to control aid work, which has limited the operation of organizations like orphanages, shelters, and educational initiatives.
Democracy and human rights groups should partner with humanitarian groups in advocacy campaigns that appeal to a broader base. Learn more about building a coalition among civil society by using the Defending Civil Society Toolkit.