Challenges Facing Civil Society Organizations in Exile
In a world increasingly shaped by authoritarianism and shrinking civic space, many human rights defenders have been forced to flee their home countries — yet continue their vital work through civil society organizations in exile. While this reality brings relentless challenges, it also opens new avenues for advocacy. Miguel Ángel Ceballos, Junior Consultant at Colectivo […]
The Future is Woven Through Networks: Lessons from the 2025 Central American Donors Forum
The Central America Donors Forum 2025, held in Guatemala City under the theme “Resist, Unite, and Rebuild in Times of Change,” brought together more than 800 participants from nearly 500 organizations representing 29 countries on October 6 and 7, 2025. Sebastián Hernández Mora, Senior Consultant, Colectivo META The Central American Donors Forum: A Gathering to […]
Key Ideas to Use Futures Methodology in Your Organization
Change is constant across all contexts, yet the pace and scale of transformation are increasingly rapid and disruptive. Strategic reflection helps us to better position ourselves as these shifts unfold, and it becomes even more meaningful when grounded in futures methodologies. These approaches help us anticipate the consequences of change and understand how emerging trends […]
How to Define SMART Strategic Goals?
SMART strategic goals are goals that allow us to clearly visualize the impact we aim to achieve within our organizations. When they are clearly formulated, they reflect the social changes we seek to bring about. A strategic goal describes what will change as a result of our organization’s work. In other words, it explains how […]
Three Financial Resilience Strategies for Your Organization In Challenging Times
Across Latin America, we are navigating an increasingly difficult context defined by shrinking of civic spaces and a growing risk of political repression. That´s why building financial resilience strategies has become essential to sustain our causes and ensure their continuity. Maylí Sepúlveda Toledo, external consultant at COMETA As civil society organizations, we face the impacts […]
Resilience in Civil Society Organizations: Sustaining Change
Today, Mexico and Central America face an increasingly hostile civic landscape—one that continues to test the resilience of community-based civil society organizations. These grassroots actors play an irreplaceable role: they sustain life and offer real alternatives in territories where government presence is often absent. Their work is not only essential—it is transformative. Maylí Sepúlveda Toledo, […]
What Should Feminist Movements in Latin America Do Amid the Shrinking of Civic Space?
Feminist movements across Latin America have played a pivotal role in securing rights and advancing gender equality. Their collective strength has fueled profound transformations throughout the region and helped shape global discourse. Yet in recent years, these hard-won gains face growing threats: the shrinking of civic space, the rise of authoritarian governments, and anti-rights campaigns […]
Key Elements of a Strategic Budget for Civil Society Organizations
A strategic budget is a financial compass for civil society organizations that helps to stay on course as they work to fulfill their mission in a sustainable, coherent, and effective way. More than just a planning tool, it reflects not only what is currently possible, but also what is truly needed to operate under optimal […]
The Importance of Belonging to a Network or Collective Spaces: Horizontal Learning
Horizontal learning spaces are essential for networks and collective platforms because they recognize that every organization brings valuable knowledge and tools shaped by everyday experience. By fostering peer-to-peer exchange, these spaces promote collective construction, strengthen inter-organizational relationships, and create context-specific solutions. This kind of learning encourages reflection, adaptation, and transformation of our practices—and, in turn, […]
Real Time Evaluation: An Opportunity for Continuous Learning
Conducting a real-time evaluation (RTE) can lead to a rich process of continuous learning for civil society organizations. Tracking the outcomes and impacts of ongoing projects is essential—not only to account for what we’ve already accomplished, but also to identify areas for improvement. At times, the scope and dynamics of a project require close attention […]