Last month, the government confirmed that the Fund would invest $35 million over four years to “improve access to civic space, to allow people to meet, express themselves, share information and contribute to decisions that affect their lives.”
Many in Australia’s development ecosystem celebrated the Fund’s announcement as a welcome response to shrinking civic space in the region. The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) hailed it as “demonstrat[ing] a renewed Government commitment to support for civil society.” While some may be disappointed by the level of funding that has now been committed, others will point out that the size of the Fund matters less than how it is designed for impact. What is clear is that the government has some critical choices to make about the design and implementation of this important new investment.
To help inform the government’s design process for the Fund, currently underway, this Brief maps out key lessons, insights, risks and options for consideration. It is based on views the Lab gathered from key Australian experts, some of which have been shared through our online debate series, the Intel.
