The “Shaping the Future Summit” organized by I4C MENA Hub and The Station, was a four-day online event that brought together 70 thought leaders from civil society organizations (CSOs) from 14 global south countries. The aim of the summit was to identify learnings, aspirations, and expectations for the future of civil society in the global south.
Using a co-creation approach, the I4C MENA Hub and The Station selected four themes for the online discussions, which covered practical innovation and experimentation, adaptive management, relationship building, and sustainability in the civil society sector. The discussions were led by representatives from Peace Paradigms Organization, I4C MENA Hub, and The Station.
The “Shaping the Future Summit” provided a platform for participants from diverse structures, including CSOs, CBOs, grassroots, HRDs, researchers, development practitioners, and regional donors, to come together and share their experiences and insights. Through these discussions, participants were able to envision a shared future for global south civil society.
The impact of the “Shaping the Future Summit” was significant, with more than 100 people applying to attend, and around 70 people participating in the four online sessions. The summit enabled participants to learn from each other, build relationships, and collaborate on innovative solutions to the most pressing social and civic space issues in their communities.
The “Shaping the Future Summit” was just one of the many initiatives that I4C MENA Hub and The Station are undertaking to drive innovation and sustainable change in the global south. By bringing together thought leaders and change-makers, they are empowering civil society organizations to create lasting and sustainable change that will benefit communities across the region.
As a result of this summit, a powerful manifesto has been created. This manifesto reflects our collective commitment to empower civil society, advocate for inclusive societies and fundamental rights, protect human rights defenders and activists, and drive positive change in the global south. The “Shaping the Future Summit” was a transformative event that allowed participants to envision a shared future for global south civil society. The discussions on practical innovation, adaptive management, relationship building, and sustainability in the civil society sector provided valuable insights and learning opportunities for all participants. The impact of the summit will be felt for years to come, as participants continue to collaborate on innovative solutions to the most pressing social and civic space issues in their communities.
