As part of the process of developing its 2027–2032 Strategic Plan, as a continuation of the 2022–2027 Strategic Plan, Yayasan SHEEP Indonesia (YSI) held a critical discussion to revisit changes in the external context and their relevance to the organization’s future direction.

The discussion provided a space for YSI to reflect on its organizational journey, reconsider the approaches it has used, and gain perspectives from external stakeholders. These insights were expected to help YSI better understand changes in the social, political, and economic landscape, funding environment, and the evolving dynamics of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Indonesia.

Revisiting Changes in the Civil Society Space

The discussion featured Nani Sulminarni, a civil society activist and one of the key figures in the women’s movement. She shared her extensive experience in building and transforming civil society organizations (CSOs), as well as her experience with organizational transformation after more than two decades of work.

During the discussion, Nani encouraged YSI to revisit some of the assumptions it has used to understand the current civil society landscape. One of these assumptions is that civic space is becoming increasingly restricted. According to her, opportunities for change can emerge in different forms, particularly through social media, changing narratives, and digital spaces.

“Now the space is actually broader and more open, but it exists in a different space from before.”

Shifting Resources and Spaces for Change

These changes are also reflected in resource mobilization patterns. According to Nani, resources and funding are not necessarily becoming more limited. Some resources have shifted to digital spaces and sectors that were previously not part of the main civil society ecosystem.

Organizations therefore need to reassess these changes rather than viewing resources solely through conventional funding patterns.

Rethinking the Role of Organizations in the Ecosystem of Change

The discussion then turned to the role of CSOs in creating change. Nani introduced the perspective of an ecosystem of change, which includes various roles, ranging from grassroots change agents and collaboration orchestrators to issue navigators, network builders, new narrative creators, and resource connectors.

This perspective positions organizations not necessarily as the primary actors driving change. Organizations can also become part of an ecosystem that connects different actors and resources to support more systemic change.

Learning from Organizational Transformation

Nani’s experience in organizational transformation also provided an important learning point. She shared the experience of Yayasan PEKA, which was eventually dissolved after more than two decades of work. The decision followed a long process of reflection on the relevance of the organization’s form, changes within the movement, and the need to redefine its role within the civil society ecosystem.

“Our roles need to be redefined. We need to change our roles and become part of the ecosystem.”

This experience provided YSI with an opportunity to reflect on its own role over the next five years. One of the key questions raised was what kind of system of change YSI wants to influence and what ecosystems need to be built or strengthened through its work.

The discussion also highlighted the importance of strengthening connections among civil society organizations, government, the private sector, communities, and other change actors. Changes in the external context require organizations to view these relationships more openly and explore forms of collaboration that can strengthen their change agendas.

For YSI, the discussion became one of the sources of reflection in the review and development of the 2027–2032 Strategic Plan. The perspectives gained are expected to help YSI sharpen its understanding of the external context, reassess the role of civil society organizations, and formulate its position and approaches to remain relevant amid the evolving ecosystem of change.