The third and final Learning Hub for 2022 confirmed that this space is a valuable resource to community activists in the region. We used theatre, photographic essays, cartoons, and physical movement to tell our stories of resistance and to celebrate those who defend the dignity of their communities and of nature. Visit our photo gallery – hopefully it will give you a sense of the vibrant, honest, and critical reflection and sharing on our practice with each other.

ACT Ubumbano hosted an online conversation about shrinking civic space and the threats against those who stand in solidarity with people defending their dignity. 49 people from many countries in the region and globally were able to reflect on what we can do to support defenders of human rights, and to push back against the might of states and corporations.

You can watch a video recording of the event here.

Ashley was invited to spend a week in Durban and Pietermaritzburg with church leaders from South Africa and the United Kingdom. The exchange was hosted with great kindness and generosity by Church Land Programme. The group spent time with Abahlali baseMjondolo and communities living in shacks around Durban, the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, and the Ujamaa Centre at UKZN. It was a space to reflect on what it means to be prophetic in the world today, and how standing with those on the margins is a challenge the Church must meet.

Click here to see some pictures of the exchange.

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Masithethe means Let’s Talk. The conversation continues.
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The Alliance for Sustainable Development (ASD) is non-governmental, non-partisan and non-profit making organization registered in 2008 under the laws of Zambia. ASD was set up by a group of former United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP)  staff to manage some WFP Programmes at that time. ASD has successfully managed various progammes since then, including providing logistical support for food distribution in disaster-stricken areas and refugee camps, drainage management in urban areas, advocacy, nutrition and health, and managing Food for Assets projects. Most prominent was the pioneering of the first ever food voucher project which transformed to electronic vouchers, now adopted for cash transfer.
ASD has support from various donors such as the UNWFP, UNICEF, OXFAM, Millennium Challenge, Counterpart International, and now ACT Ubumbano.

Click here to learn more about ASD Zambia.

Social justice leaders active in community organising face increased threat of physical violence, malicious litigation, and reputational attacks. While what is usually described as ‘protection for human rights defenders’ has traditionally focused on physical safety and the enforcement of legal protections, social factors that contribute to a shrinking of the space for civic action need more attention: patriarchy and misogyny; the prevalence of violence, particularly gender-based violence; communities who struggle to survive economically; and a generally more conservative political environment in the region.

The 2^nd Critical Conversation will be an online dialogue space that will reflect on the question:

What practical measures can communities themselves take to protect and defend local community-based organisers/activists facing threat?

Civil society organisations, faith institutions and individuals can register here to explore how they can be in solidarity with community struggles.

You are warmly invited to join CIVICUS, Christian Aid and ACT Alliance for a joint learning event on the state of Civic Space following the COVID-19 pandemic.

When: 19 September 12.30-14.00 UK/Nigeria, 13.30 – 15.00 Belgium/South Africa (CET) 17.30-19.00 Bangladesh, 6.30-8 am Colombia

CIVICUS, Christian Aid and ACT Alliance jointly invite you to this learning event around the impact of covid on civic space. We will explore recent research by Christian Aid on How covid-19-has-shrunk-civic-space, the latest CIVICUS analysis in the 2022 SOCS (State of Civil Society) report and share ideas and plans for countering this trend, supporting CSOs and alliances, looking for ways to fund civil society and asking how to make digital space more inclusive. We will look ahead to future policy/advocacy opportunities! All welcome. (You can also look back at a pre-covid ACT Alliance publication on civic space and the SDGs).

Please register for this free here.

Thirty organisations participated in a training session on the Ubumbano Voice App. Ubumbano Voice continues to be a platform for community activists in Southern Africa to share stories of their struggles for dignity and justice. This is particularly important right now as calls for democracy in the Kingdom become louder.  You can read stories from eSwatini here and download the Ubumbano Voice App here.