The 2026 State of Civil Society Report highlights that Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are increasingly operating within an environment characterized by growing unaccountable power. This situation is compounded by increasingly populist government policies, information campaigns that undermine the legitimacy of CSOs, and global geopolitical and geoeconomic shifts that continue to reshape the civil society landscape.

In response to these challenges, Yayasan SHEEP Indonesia organized a webinar titled "The Future of Civil Society Organizations Amid Political and Global Geopolitical Changes" on 25 May 2026. The webinar featured Professor Amalinda Savirani of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and Anick HT, Executive Director of the Indonesian NGO Council.

Professor Amalinda highlighted the growing influence of populist nationalist leaders across many countries and the resulting trend of international funding realignment. At the same time, she noted that many CSOs continue to face organizational challenges, particularly in organizational management, long term sustainability, fundraising capacity, and resource mobilization. She encouraged CSOs to explore alternative financing models, including public fundraising and social enterprises such as cooperatives, which can function not only as economic institutions but also as platforms for civic engagement and citizen organization.

Anick HT added that Indonesian CSOs are increasingly facing delegitimization through narratives portraying them as "foreign agents," anti state, or anti development organizations, resulting in declining public trust. He also pointed out that domestic philanthropy remains relatively weak, with limited local philanthropy, crowdfunding initiatives, and CSO managed social enterprises. In response to these challenges, he emphasized that CSOs must evolve from reactive organizations into adaptive organizations that are agile, collaborative, communicative, and capable of building cross sector partnerships.

Through this webinar, Yayasan SHEEP Indonesia provided participants of the Leadership for Change Scholarship Program and leaders of Civil Society Organizations with an opportunity to broaden their understanding of the global dynamics affecting civil society. The discussion also served as a platform for shared learning to strengthen leadership capacity, foster collaboration, and develop organizational sustainability strategies in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing environment.