CIVIL SOCIETY EMPOWERMENT AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
CIVIL SOCIETY EMPOWERMENT AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
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Our experts work with different civil society organizations (CSOs) and initiatives. We excel in CSO management, planning and outreach. We work on monitoring the civic space and advocacy for legal and policy reforms. We focus on building competencies from the bottom up; helping CSOs and local actors (especially women) to organize, fundraise and negotiate their local and national regulatory frameworks. We support CSOs in leveraging community resources and mobilizing local communities to establish commons and advocate for the public good. We also support strategic partnerships and negotiations among donors, governments, private sector actors with civil society groups and stakeholders.
Our services in this field include:
Research & Analysis
Research & Analysis
The LUGARIT team developed a variety of research methodologies to assess the impact of civil society groups in conflict situations and to understand the eco-system in which they work.
We provide sectoral analysis of CSOs (education, health, women’s rights, human rights, media, and advocacy).
We conduct research into the viability of the civic space in countries and assess risks and opportunities to expand this space.
Scenario Development
Scenario Development
LUGARIT helps civil society actors to develop contingency planning, risk assessments, and scenarios for their strategic growth over the short, medium, and long terms.
We support civil society actors to visualize their objectives and to develop alternatives using fiscal models and scalability analysis to plan their growth.
Advice
Advice
We support civic actors to map their local context and stakeholders, to assess risks, and to develop their working programs in a conflict sensitive manner.
We work with civic actors to map local resources and develop partnerships to leverage access to local resources.
We work with civil society actors to develop their communication and advocacy programs.
We support CSOs in developing strategic visions, institutional bylaws, fundraising processes, and organizational development models.
We support civil society alliances to negotiate their bylaws and to develop their strategies and work programs.
We foster partnerships and support negotiations among public, private, and civil society actors.
We help donors negotiate their engagement with civic actors and support strategic approaches to empowering civil society actors.
We work with governments to develop legal frameworks to regulate civil society work in a transparent manner to ensure freedom of association is protected while implementing the law.
Stakeholder Engagement
Stakeholder Engagement
LUGARIT’s experts supprt dialogues among civil society actors and between civil society actors and governments.
We help CSOs to engage in different track 2 and track 3 processes and to set up advocacy process to influence track 1 negotiations.
We work with CSOs to develop stakeholder maps and eco-system analysis.
We facilitate dialogue among civil society groups working on competing agendas to mitigate their differences.
Capacity Building
Capacity Building
Our team provides training modules for civil society actors to develop their internal administrative and governance capacities as well as support their development to engage on thematic issues, advocacy, and communication.
We provide capacity building modules for local authorities and regulators to work with civil society actors in accordance with constitutional mandates to protect the freedom of assembly and association.
We provide support to communities who want to develop local commons and to create CSOs to manage them.
Monitoring & Evaluation
Monitoring & Evaluation
LUGARIT supports CSOs to develop their internal M&E systems and to align their own M&E systems with those of donors and national development plans (SDGs).
We work with CSOs to monitor the progress of their strategic plans, and to conduct risk analysis and do no harm studies for their work.
We support CSOs to develop shadow reporting on different international conventions.
We help donors develop monitoring processes to track the impact of their funding to civil society groups in a strategic manner beyond the M&E reporting on individual projects.
We support assessments and evaluations of the civic space, and we use participatory assessment methods to develop comprehensive tracking of the shrinking and expansion of civic space as a result of policies and regulatory frameworks.
We help CSOs visualize the impact of their work and to communicate their achievements to donors, governments, and communities.
We help set up voluntary accreditation systems and accreditation bureaus, and we support CSOs to negotiate with regulatory institutions for the development of mutually agreeable accreditation processes.
Related Works
Related Works
Date: 23 April 2025
LUGARIT co-organizes a workshop at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in Damascus to discuss NGO legislation in Syria. The event gathered government officials, civic leaders, and legal experts to explore regulatory reforms. Key discussions focused on legal frameworks, civic autonomy, transparency, and inclusive engagement across Syria’s diverse regions and governance contexts.
Date: 8 April 2025
Publisher: LUGARIT
Following the fall of the Assad regime, Syria's civic space is being cautiously renegotiated. NGOs face regulatory ambiguities and legacy constraints but also new opportunities. The paper highlights the need for inclusive legal reform, mutual trust, and a balanced framework that safeguards independence while enabling constructive state–civil society collaboration.
Date: 17 January 2025
A guidebook on nurturing social capital and leveraging it for community cohesion and welfare. Developed by Niuversity and Afkar Plus based on a workshop organized by LUGARIT’s Partner Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj. The guide simplifies key concepts and offers practical insights into fostering trust-based networks for sustainable development. Published under a Creative Commons license, the guide provides accessible knowledge to empower communities and support inclusive, trust-driven approaches to social and economic progress.
Date: 8 October 2024
An article examines the intercultural challenges local NGOs in the MENA region face when partnering with international entities. It highlights issues like power imbalances, communication differences, and misaligned goals. It offers solutions, including capacity building, transparent governance, and cultural sensitivity, to foster equitable, effective, and sustainable partnerships for long-term community development.
Date: September 2024
Publishers: Duderi e.V, EuroMed Feminist Initiative, LUGARIT
A policy paper outlines the role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Syria's education sector, emphasizing the need for long-term sustainability and scalability. It highlights challenges in teacher retention, localization, and fragmented efforts, and offers recommendations for enhancing collaboration, leveraging local resources, and supporting formal education for broader impact.
Date: August 2024
Publishers: Duderi e.V, EuroMed Feminist Initiative, LUGARIT
A research explores the role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in providing educational services amid Syria’s conflict. It highlights how CSOs address gaps in education through non-formal programs, despite facing challenges such as limited resources, short-term funding, and complex interactions with local authorities and de facto powers.
Date: 14 November 2023
At the "Structured Chaos" webinar, experts including Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj discussed not-for-profits in conflict zones, focusing on Syria. They explored the economic impact of these organizations, emphasizing the need for a shift towards sustainable development and recovery, and critiqued current aid models for their focus on short-term relief.
Date: 13 June 2023
A discussion on "Effective Early Recovery in Syria and the Role of Civil Society" was held in Brussels, organized by NAFS at ESCWA. We join key figures to discuss rebuilding Syria, alongside the Brussels VII Conference, focusing on humanitarian aid and political solutions for the Syrian conflict.
Year: 2021 - 2023
Client: EU - European Union
This EU Roadmap, developed by Logos Civicus and LUGARIT, aims to empower Syrian local organizations. It includes mapping of civil society, assessing environments, and providing recommendations for capacity building and sustainability. The project involved extensive stakeholder consultations and strategic planning for effective EU support.
Date: May 2023
Publisher: EU - European Union
A Roadmap outlines strategies for EU collaboration with Syrian CSOs, focusing on their historical evolution, community legitimacy, legal challenges, and donor relations. It emphasizes the need for inclusive, sustainable approaches, and highlights four priority areas: representation, democracy, public wellbeing, and self-constitution.
Date: April 2023
Publisher: Baytna
A research report examines the divisions within Syrian civil society organizations, identifying three main types: territorial, socio-political, and organizational. It highlights the challenges in bridging these divides due to limited cross-territorial dialogue and varying relationships across different control areas. The research suggests paths for cohesion despite complex barriers and varying levels of communication among CSOs.
Date: 16 February 2023
We join a policy meeting in Brussels, titled "Enhancing EU Stabilisation Practice." Organized by EPLO, the event focused on improving EU stabilization efforts in conflict areas, emphasizing transparency, inclusive civil society engagement, and adaptable, human-centered strategies, with key recommendations from global experts.
Date: 20 March 2017
An article discusses the evolving role of Syrian civil society in Geneva peace talks, highlighting their transition from government-controlled entities to active participants in humanitarian aid and human rights advocacy. It addresses the challenges they face, including internal divisions and representation issues, underscoring their growing significance in the peace process.
Date: March 2017
Publisher: Citizens For Syria
A research study analyzes Syrian CSOs, focusing on their structure, roles, and challenges in the Syrian socio-political context. It assesses their operational dynamics, financial aspects, and impact on society, highlighting the complexities and constraints these organizations face in a turbulent environment.
Date: 23 January 2017
The Helsinki seminar, "How To Support Bottom-Up Community Resilience In Syria," convened experts, including Pre-LUGARIT's Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj and Zedoun Al-Zoubi, focusing on local-led approaches for Syrian community resilience, aligning with the upcoming UN 3RP launch. It emphasized civil society's pivotal role in Syria's stability and resilience planning.
Date: 16 June 2016
A lecture at the University of Stuttgart examines Aleppo's historical, political, and socio-economic transformations, emphasizing the city's shifting role due to colonial interventions and internal dynamics, and advocating for localized, context-sensitive approaches in post-conflict reconstruction, highlighting the importance of civil society and informal networks.
Date: October 2015
Publisher: NOREF
An article examines the challenges faced by Syrian medical NGOs during the crisis, highlighting issues like organizational weaknesses, dependency on donors, logistical and security challenges, and maintaining neutrality amidst severe violence and deteriorating public health services. It underscores the need for skill enhancement and strategic planning.
Date: 25 September 2014
In the Syrian civil war, media oversimplifies the conflict, neglecting the role of civil society in peace-building. Syrians from various backgrounds are countering hate and division through local initiatives, education, and relief efforts. These grassroots movements, despite risks and disconnection from formal peace processes, challenge the prevailing narratives of violence.
Date: December 2011
A paper discusses the crucial role of civil society and decentralization in Syria's local development. It emphasizes the need for administrative reforms, local community involvement, and the empowerment of local administrations and civil organizations to ensure the effective distribution of economic growth benefits throughout Syrian society.
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