Upholding Democracy: Role of Civil Society in Resisting Democratic Backsliding

Democratic backsliding is a growing global challenge. This webinar will share perspectives from multiple stakeholders to collectively make sense of the challenges democracy faces, why it matters and how we can resist democratic backsliding.

In doing so, speakers will share insights from their work and research, help understand how (some) civil society actors play a critical role in strengthening democratic resilience and accountability, opening civic space, advocating for social change.

Lastly, it will address some of the innovative ways in which funders and donors can support such civil society actions in the context of shrinking aid budgets and growing illiberalism. This webinar will be of interest to policy-actors, practitioners, scholars, and funders.

There will be time for an audience Q&A towards the end of the webinar.

Speakers:

• Niranjan Nampoothiri, Researcher, K4DD and Institute of Development Studies
• Dr Shandana Mohmand, Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies
• Mandeep Tiwana, Secretary General, CIVICUS
• Dr Nic Cheeseman, Professor of Democracy, University of Birmingham
• Rosa Crawford, Head of International, Trade Union Congress
• Oliver Anene, Program Officer, Robert Carr Fund