Refract Café

What is a ReFract Cafe?

A ReFrACT Cafe is a broad term to describe consultation sessions intended to open discussion on pressing matters and provide policy recommendations.

These sessions are called Cafes because they are done in a semi-formal setting, with a Cafe in hand, under Chatham rules.

Event Description

How can civil society actors in fragile and increasingly repressive environments continue their work towards marginalised communities?

Civic space, defined broadly as the space for civil society actors to maneuver (Buyse, 2018), is being challenged globally. The situation is particularly challenging in fragile contexts, amid rising authoritarianism, shrinking freedoms, and increasing vulnerabilities.

Drawing from a combination of literature review and policy analysis, the study to be presented during this Refract Café offers fresh perspectives on the interplay between civic space and fragility, and how the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principle can serve as a complementary lens to understand the adaptive power of civil society actors.

The presentation will discuss five innovative strategies employed by civil society actors to maintain their agency in the face of shifting civic space. The authors will also share insights from case studies and testimonies on how these actors strive to incorporate and support the LNOB principle in their agendas during challenging times.

The session will highlight practical recommendations for donors and civil society organisations seeking to sustain meaningful engagement with local actors in fragile contexts.

Speakers:  

Jan Van Ongevalle, Research manager at HIVA/KU Leuven

Alejandra Villanueva Ubillús, Senior researcher at HIVA/KU Leuven

Policy Supporting Programme

Refract (short for Resilience and Fragility in Action) is a policy support programme commissioned by the Belgian Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD). It is implemented by a consortium of researchers from Belgian and universities in the Sahel and African Great Lakes regions.

By engaging with policymakers and exploring the causes, lived experiences, and impacts of crises, the project aims to inform more effective policy responses.

Registration is free but mandatory! 

Register here