CIVIC: The Civil Society and Social Innovation Alliance

???In case you missed it!? ?? Last week, CIVIC: The Civil Society and Social Innovation Alliance, together with the Ban Ki-moon Foundation and The Global Financing Facility (GFF), co-hosted a powerful discussion in #NewYork alongside the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (#CSW69).?? ??Our event, "Catalyzing Change: Scaling Civil Society-led Solutions for Global Challenges," brought together global leaders to explore the vital role of grassroots organizations in advancing health, gender equity, and climate resilience. ??The conversation opened with special virtual remarks from H.E. Ban Ki-moon’s, emphasizing civil society’s role in proactive, community-driven development.? Insights from frontline leaders further underscored the need for increased financing, resources, and collaboration to empower civil society organizations (CSOs) and scale their solutions. ?? A key theme that emerged was the recognition that grassroots organizations are not just complementary to large-scale development efforts, they are essential drivers of lasting change. To truly empower these organizations, more adaptable and sustainable funding mechanisms are essential. Innovative financing mechanisms enables CSOs to strengthen their capacity, scale their impact, and respond effectively to evolving community needs. Additionally, multi-stakeholder partnerships—including governments, the private sector, and international institutions—are essential in recognizing and supporting civil society as equal partners in development. Strengthening these collaborations and expanding direct support to grassroots initiatives will be vital in advancing global health, gender equity, and climate resilience on a global scale. ?? Many thanks to our friends and collaborators at the BKM Foundation, and the Global Financing Facility (GFF) for helping make this event a success. Be sure to explore the impactful initiatives led by our panelists at Fundación Guatemala, Shibuye Community Health Workers, and the Gem Hub Initiative. #CIVIC #CivilSocietyAndSocialInnovationAlliance #CivilSociety #Health #CSW69 #ClimateResilience #SocialInnovation?

?? Join us tomorrow! ??There is still time to register for our CIVIC AI EngageFest webinar co-hosted by CIVIC AI Collective and People Powered ?? We will we explore how innovative #partnerships are transforming #citizenengagement in the public sector! By uniting public administrations, private enterprises, academia, and civil society, these collaborations drive cutting-edge technological solutions that empower citizens and foster participatory governance. ??? Together, we will discuss how these principles manifest when?civic?tech organizations, city governments, and public sector innovators interact, work together to contribute to the development and use of emerging technologies for citizen participation and overcome challenges related to data privacy, accessibility, trust, resource constraints, and system interoperability. ? Register here: https://lnkd.in/gUQJXf4A ?? Moderator: Aly Rahim, Global Lead for Citizen Engagement, Program Manager of CIVIC: The Civil Society and Social Innovation Alliance, The World Bank Speakers: - Bruno Venancio de Abreu Costa, Coordinator of the Open Government Department, City of #S?oPaulo - Diana Sang, Africa Director, Digital Impact Alliance - Melissa Zisengwe, Program Associate, People Powered - Simon Strohmenger, Director, Consul Democracy Foundation - Tonny Bbosa, Senior Systems Analyst, National Information Technology Authority, Government of #Uganda

Explore the #GreenAccountability Platform on #ClimateFinance, transparency & accountability w/ partners from #Brazil, #Cameroon, #Mexico & #Senegal. Register here: https://lnkd.in/e7wNRtGx

?? SAVE The Date! ?? We are delighted to invite you to our next CIVIC AI EngageFest webinar series co-hosted by CIVIC Ai Collective and People Powered. ?? Join us on March 18 for an exploration of how innovative #partnerships drive digital #citizenengagement in the public sector. These partnerships bring together diverse actors — including public administrations, private sector entities, academia, and civil society organizations — who collaborate to develop technological solutions that empower citizens and enhance participatory governance.? ? Register here: https://lnkd.in/gUQJXf4A ?? Moderator:?? Aly Rahim, Global Lead for Citizen Engagement, Program Manager of CIVIC: The Civil Society and Social Innovation Alliance, !The World Bank ?? Speakers:?? - Bruno Venancio de Abreu Costa, Coordinator of the Open Government Department, City of #S?oPaulo?? - Diana Sang, Director for Country Engagement, Digital Impact Alliance - Melissa Zisengwe, Program Associate, People Powered?? - Simon Strohmenger, Director, Consul Democracy Foundation? - Tonny Bbosa, Senior Systems Analyst, National Information Technology Authority, Government of #Uganda This webinar will showcase how these principles manifest when civic tech organizations, city governments, and public sector innovators interact, work together to contribute to the development and use of emerging technologies for citizen participation and overcome challenges related to data privacy, accessibility, trust, resource constraints, and system interoperability. ?? Don't miss this opportunity to learn and connect! ?? Follow?CIVIC: The Civil Society and Social Innovation Alliance for more updates.

?? On the sidelines of CSW69: "Catalyzing Change: Scaling Civil Society-led Solutions for Global Challenges" ?? Yesterday, CIVIC: The Civil Society and Social Innovation Alliance, Ban Ki-moon Foundation, and The Global Financing Facility (GFF) co-hosted a dynamic panel on strengthening civil society’s role in advancing the SDGs. I joined inspiring panelists who emphasized that grassroots organizations are not peripheral solutions—they are essential to achieving sustainable development and must be a core part of the financing architecture. High-level policymakers, donors, and civil society leaders joined the session to explore how grassroots networks drive progress on health, gender equity, and climate resilience. The discussion underscored that sustainable development requires local communities to have power and resources to lead solutions. ?? H.E. Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, opened the event with virtual remarks by addressing today’s global challenges and opportunities, emphasizing that “development is most effective when citizens and civil society are meaningfully engaged in solutions that are not just reactive, but proactive”. He also highlighted the central role of gender equity in shaping impactful responses to health and climate crises. ?? Kate Landon, CAP?, Executive Director of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation, moderated the conversation and stressed the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, noting: “Civil society is key to building resilient communities and shaping policies that prioritize people.” ?? María Teresa Rodríguez, Executive Director of Fundación #Guatemala, shared how grassroots women are rehabilitating land and shaping climate solutions: “Communities must have unrestricted funding to respond to their realities. True resilience comes from investing in those on the frontlines.” ?? Violet Shivutse, Global Chair of Huairou Commission and Director of Shibuye Community Health Workers, raised a key challenge: “Grassroots women receive funding for programs but not for organizing, coordinating, or sustaining partnerships with governments.” ?? Oyeyemi Pitan, Executive Director of Gem Hub Initiative and CSO Representative on GFF’s Investor Group, reinforced the need for accessible financing for local CSOs: “Invest in systems. Strengthen grassroots structures. Support civil society not just with funding, but with capacity-building and an enabling environment.” This conversation reaffirmed that collaboration between civil society, governments, and development institutions is crucial to shaping policies that ensure development effectiveness and sustainability. By investing in community-led innovations, we can create lasting impact. Let’s work together to drive meaningful change! Follow the new CIVIC: The Civil Society and Social Innovation Alliance page to stay updated. #CivilSociety #Health #GenderEquity #CSW69 #ClimateResilience #WorldBank #SocialInnovation

?? There is still time to register! ?? #Tomorrow at 10:00 am EST, our #Citizen Engagement Global Lead and Program Manager CIVIC The World Bank, Aly Rahim, will be joining a panel discussion co-hosted with The Global Financing Facility (GFF) in partnership with the Ban Ki-moon Foundation, ‘Catalyzing Change: Scaling Civil Society-led Solutions for #Global Challenges’ on the sidelines of CSW69, to discuss how health can serve as an entry point to tackle gender equity, youth inclusion, and climate resilience. The conversation will also highlight how CIVIC’s bridge financing, capacity building, and coalition-building efforts are shaping a future where grassroots innovation meets global impact. Moderator Kate Landon, Executive Director, Ban Ki-moon Foundation Panelists: Violet Shivutse, Global Chair of Huairou Commission's Governing Council and Director of Shibuye Community Health Workers Aly Rahim, Citizen Engagement Global Lead and Program Manager, CIVIC World Bank María Teresa Rodríguez, Executive Director of Fundación Guatemala, Huairou Commission Governing Council Member Oyeyemi Pitan Executive Director Gem Hub Initiative, CSO Representative on the GFF Investors Group ??Register in the link below: https://lnkd.in/dnAgEFsD #CSW69 #NewYorkCity #Event #OnlineEvent #Webinar #CommissionOnTheStatusOfWomen #Health

??Empowering Voices: Digital Platforms as Catalysts for Responsive Governance In a world where technology continuously reshapes governance, digital participation citizen engagement is more than just an opportunity, it’s a necessity. By harnessing digital tools, we can unlock powerful insights from citizen feedback, uncover patterns in public sentiment, and optimize service delivery for greater impact. The ability to collect, analyze and respond to real-time data, making governance more transparent, inclusive and responsive to community needs.?? That’s why we are delighted to share The World Bank’s Digital Citizen Engagement Catalog, designed to bridge the gap between governments and communities. ?? This comprehensive catalog highlights innovative, open-source solutions that:? ? Improve participatory governance and decision-making? ? Leverage AI-driven feedback analytics for real-time responsiveness? ?? Explore the catalog here: https://lnkd.in/gTSYnSte ?? Why does this matter?? Citizen engagement is key to effective governance, yet many initiatives struggle to reach marginalized groups or adapt in real time. This initiative tackles these challenges using AI-powered tools like conversational AI and feedback analytics platforms to ensure that every voice is heard and contributes to better policies and service delivery.? ?? Join our conversation! Connect with professionals working on digital citizen engagement and exchange best practices in our LinkedIn group: https://lnkd.in/gaWGuxtt ?? How do you see digital tools transforming citizen participation? Drop your thoughts in the comments! ?? ???? ? SAVE THE DATE! Join us on our webinar on March 18 to connect with key stakeholders, including government agencies, CivicTech firms, and thought leaders.?Discover how innovative partnerships drive digital citizen engagement in the public sector. These partnerships bring together diverse actors—including public administrations, private sector entities, academia, and civil society organizations—who collaborate to develop technological solutions that empower citizens and enhance participatory governance. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gJHBjFWU Together, we can enhance civic participation and strengthen governance through technology. Share this post and help us shape the future of digital democracy! #CitizenEngagement #DigitalDemocracy #GovTech #CivicTech #ParticipatoryGovernance #Transparency #PublicParticipation #GPSA #CIVICAICollective #ArtificialIntelligence #Digitization?#CivilSociety

??Empowering Voices: Digital Platforms as Catalysts for Responsive Governance In a world where technology continuously reshapes governance, digital participation citizen engagement is more than just an opportunity, it’s a necessity. By harnessing digital tools, we can unlock powerful insights from citizen feedback, uncover patterns in public sentiment, and optimize service delivery for greater impact. The ability to collect, analyze and respond to real-time data, making governance more transparent, inclusive and responsive to community needs.?? That’s why we are delighted to share The World Bank’s Digital Citizen Engagement Catalog, designed to bridge the gap between governments and communities. ?? This comprehensive catalog highlights innovative, open-source solutions that:? ? Improve participatory governance and decision-making? ? Leverage AI-driven feedback analytics for real-time responsiveness? ?? Explore the catalog here: https://lnkd.in/gTSYnSte ?? Why does this matter?? Citizen engagement is key to effective governance, yet many initiatives struggle to reach marginalized groups or adapt in real time. This initiative tackles these challenges using AI-powered tools like conversational AI and feedback analytics platforms to ensure that every voice is heard and contributes to better policies and service delivery.? ?? Join our conversation! Connect with professionals working on digital citizen engagement and exchange best practices in our LinkedIn group: https://lnkd.in/gaWGuxtt ?? How do you see digital tools transforming citizen participation? Drop your thoughts in the comments! ?? ???? ? SAVE THE DATE! Join us on our webinar on March 18 to connect with key stakeholders, including government agencies, CivicTech firms, and thought leaders.?Discover how innovative partnerships drive digital citizen engagement in the public sector. These partnerships bring together diverse actors—including public administrations, private sector entities, academia, and civil society organizations—who collaborate to develop technological solutions that empower citizens and enhance participatory governance. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gJHBjFWU Together, we can enhance civic participation and strengthen governance through technology. Share this post and help us shape the future of digital democracy! #CitizenEngagement #DigitalDemocracy #GovTech #CivicTech #ParticipatoryGovernance #Transparency #PublicParticipation #GPSA #CIVICAICollective #ArtificialIntelligence #Digitization?#CivilSociety

?? Save the Date! There’s still time to register for the event! ?? CIVIC: The Civil Society & Social Innovation Alliance is headed to New York next week for the 69th Commission on the Status of Women ?? ? We will be co-hosting a panel event 'Catalyzing Change: Scaling Civil Society-led Solutions for Global Challenges' on the sidelines of this year’s CSW together with the Ban Ki-moon Foundation and the The Global Financing Facility (GFF).? Join us on March 11th at the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice for an insightful discussion with global civil society leaders on innovations and initiatives emerging from the space that address global challenges at the intersection of health, gender, youth, and climate resilience.?? In the midst of compounding global crises, multi-stakeholder approaches are more critical than ever. Recognizing this need, we are convening global civil society, private sector, policymakers and philanthropy to discuss the need for more systematic partnerships, collaboration, and coordination to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of development finance.? The discussion will also spotlight?CIVIC: The Civil Society and Social Innovation Alliance, the World Bank’s upcoming financing and support facility for civil society organizations. We will preview CIVIC’s?inaugural global health platform being established in partnership with the Global Financing Facility for women, children and adolescent health. The platform will support civil society and youth-led organizations working on?maternal, child, and adolescent health. This platform aims to?scale impact, enhance access, and foster alignment?with national health programs and World Bank-financed initiatives, driving more effective health solutions worldwide. The gathering will serve as an opportunity to mobilize partners for collaboration and leverage the seed financing for a broader set of resources for this critical agenda at a critical time.? ?? When? March 11 from 10:00 to 11:30 AM EST? ?? Where? Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice, 320 E 43RD St, New York, NY 10017 ?? Register here: https://lnkd.in/givefWif ?? Can't join in person? Join the live stream here: https://lnkd.in/gPcmJsg9 ?? We’d love to connect with partners, organizations, and advocates working on civil society engagement, gender, global health, climate, and youth. The Global Financing Facility (GFF) Ban Ki-moon Foundation #CIVIC David McNair Jamie Drummond Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli Rosalind McKenna Blair Glencorse Michael Jarvis Rich Wilson Indy Johar Michael Sheldrick Haidee Bell Pia Saunders Campbell Kate Donald David Passarelli Emily Janoch Michelle Nunn Dr. Fran?ois Bonnici Alessandro Valera Jeroo Billimoria Jesse Worker

International financial institutions are evolving to address today's global, interconnected crises. But a crucial question remains: ?? How can we ensure that the voices and solutions of those most affected are not only heard but integral to shaping outcomes? In the article "How partnerships with financial institutions can power inclusive development," Aly Rahim from The World Bank and Dr. Fran?ois Bonnici from the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship and the World Economic Forum explore the social economy's role in helping these institutions better respond to global challenges. Their insights highlight how partnerships between grassroots initiatives and large-scale financing structures can unlock innovative, inclusive solutions: https://lnkd.in/eE_we-my Image credit: Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) #wef25 #social #innovation Carolina Coch Veerle Klijn