Civic space is defined as the set of legal, policy, institutional and practical conditions that non-governmental actors need to access information, express themselves, associate, organise and participate in public life. When civic space is protected and promoted, it is easier for civil society and governments to collaborate throughout the policy-making cycle, fostering an environment where people can exercise their democratic rights. Countries that commit to strengthening civic space reap many benefits: greater levels of citizen engagement, improved quality of policy decisions, strengthened transparency and accountability, empowered citizens and civil society, and ultimately higher levels of trust in government (OECD, 2024).
Fostering an enabling environment for civil society organisations (CSOs), allowing them to operate freely and effectively, is one of the dimensions included in the OECD conceptual framework for civic space, alongside civic freedoms, the public-interest information ecosystem, and inclusion and non-discrimination.
A national CSO strategy helps governments set clear objectives and define outcomes for collaboration with CSOs, both as governance partners and as independent actors. Having such a strategy in place could streamline policy planning by clarifying roles, responsibilities and priorities; reducing redundancy; addressing support gaps; and improving co-ordination. In 2020, 21 out of 28 OECD countries (75%) with data available have adopted policies or strategies to enhance the enabling environment for CSOs (Figure 6.7).
Transparent, accessible and fair registration procedures for CSOs are a key component of an enabling environment and help protect freedom of association. Online registration procedures, short timelines, low or no costs and clearly defined documentation requests help CSOs to register quickly, efficiently and effectively. International guidance suggests that laws should set a short time limit for the relevant public authorities to accept or deny a CSO’s registration request (OECD, 2022). According to the latest data, 10 out of the 24 (42%) OECD countries with available data have relatively short timelines of 15 days or less, while 11 out of 24 (46%) countries on average decide within three months. In the remaining three countries, the timeframe is between three months and one year (Figure 6.8).
Predictable, accessible, transparent and sustainable funding is another key condition of an enabling environment for CSOs. International guidance suggests that CSOs should be free to seek funding resources from various sources, including public support, such as government funding and tax exemptions; as well as international, and private funding. Government funding should follow predictable, transparent and non-discriminatory processes, offering both targeted project support and core funding for the sector's long-term development. In 27 out of 29 OECD countries (93%) CSOs receive some form of central or federal funding (Figure 6.9). However, there is a lack of comprehensive and disaggregated data on government funding. Government funds are often only disbursed for short-term projects, posing challenges for CSO sustainability.
