space, and narratives of delegitimization are putting at risk the sustainability and future of thousands of organizations, especially in the Global South. In response to this challenging context, RACI launched the program “Reimagining the Future of Civil Society” this year—an initiative that seeks to promote new collective solutions and strengthen the sector’s capacity to build possible futures.
One of the core pillars of the program is articulation, understood as the strategic connection between actors and movements that are rethinking the current model of international aid and cooperation. With that purpose, we conducted a global mapping of initiatives that are driving structural change and share a transformative vision.
As part of this process, on Wednesday, November 26, we will hold a gathering that will bring together international leaders working on power redistribution in cooperation, community philanthropy, institutional transformation, and the decolonization of aid. Together, we will seek to answer a key question:
How can we transform the international cooperation system to make it more just, equitable, and centered on local actors?
During the conversation, we will address:
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How the cooperation system currently operates and why it is no longer adequate for today’s context
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What structural changes are needed to build a more equitable future
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What civil society organizations can do to drive this transformation
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How to align efforts across global initiatives to work collaboratively
Participation is free and open, with prior registration required.
Below, we present the initiatives that will take part in the event, selected for their key role in building a new cooperation ecosystem:
NEAR Network – Network for Empowered Aid Response
NEAR is a global movement of local and national organizations from the Global South working to transform the international aid system towards fairer, more equitable, and dignified partnerships. It promotes models where communities hold real decision-making power, replacing charity-based logic with one grounded in local leadership.
🔗 https://www.near.ngo/
Global Fund for Community Foundations & #ShiftThePower
The Global Fund for Community Foundations drives the global movement for community philanthropy and created the #ShiftThePower agenda, which seeks to change power dynamics in philanthropy and cooperation. It convenes community actors worldwide and promotes relationships built on trust, horizontality, and recognition of local knowledge.
🔗 https://globalfundcommunityfoundations.org/
Reimagining the Future of Civil Society (RACI)
This RACI-led initiative emerges in a critical scenario: USD 73 billion in funding cuts, shrinking civic space, and the risk of disappearance for 40% of CSOs. It proposes a collective response from the Global South combining strategic reflection, innovation and concrete action to strengthen the narrative, political, and operational power of civil society.
🔗 https://futurosociedadcivil-raci.org/
Humentum
Humentum is a global organization that strengthens social impact entities through practical solutions in financial management, human resources, and risk mitigation. It offers consulting services, capacity-building programs, and a membership platform that connects organizations around the world to exchange tools and learnings.
🔗 https://humentum.org/
ACAPACA – Latin American Permanent Forum for the Decolonization of Cooperation
ACAPACA connects Latin American social movements to build a new model of international cooperation rooted in decolonial, feminist, anti-racist, and participatory principles. Its agenda seeks to overcome extractive logic, challenge asymmetric donor–recipient relations, and reinforce the leadership of grassroots communities and organizations.
🔗 https://www.acapaca.org/
Event Panel
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Asier Malax – Co-Director, ACAPACA
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Jenny Hodgson – Executive Director, Global Fund for Community Foundations
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Kim Kucinskas – Director of Global Initiatives, Humentum
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Alexandra Brosnan – Advocacy Advisor, NEAR Network
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Guillermo Correa – Executive Director, RACI
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Clara Bosco – Senior Technical Advisor, Funding for Impact
The future of international cooperation is being reimagined from multiple places around the world. This event aims to open a space for dialogue among those driving this change and those who want to join in building a stronger, more legitimate, and more sustainable civil society.
👉 We invite you to be part of it. Register here.
