External publications

Working with civil society in authoritarian contexts? The case of Niger

Gutheil, Lena
External Publications (2024)

in: Megatrends Afrika Policy Brief 28 (October 2024)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18449/2024MTA-PB28
Open access

The recent wave of coups in the Sahel puts Western policy makers in a difficult situation: While they wish to maintain relations and vie for influence, they also want to avoid strengthening unconstitutional rule. Collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs) who are supposedly closer to citizens, is currently discussed as a way out of the dilemma. However, research reveals that especially in authoritarian contexts, the lines between CSOs and the state are often blurred. If Western policy makers wish to collaborate with CSOs, they need to have up-to-date knowledge about local CSO landscapes, flexible funding instruments, and a clearly defined strategy that entails risk mitigation measures while embedding CSO support in a concerted political approach.