Glossary

Strategic initiatives or actions aimed at influencing political, economic, cultural, or social conditions, practices as well as mal-practices with the goal of improving the living conditions for rights-holders- positively or permanently. 

Civic space is the political, legislative, social and economic environment which enables citizens to come together, share their interests and concerns and act to influence and shape their societies. 

Read CISU’s learning cases on this subject

Follow CIVICUS Monitor who keeps an eye on the shrinking civic space globally.

Climate adaptation is understood as the way humans adapt ecological, social and economic systems or political processes, as a reaction to actual or expected consequences of climate change - according to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 

Climate Integration Tool is a tool for organisations that want to get off to a good start with climate actions. It is based on one or several sustainable development goals.

Read more on the Climate Integration Tool.

Climate resilience is understood as the ability to resist, recover from and adapt to negative effects of climate change. It is crucial to create new opportunities for dignified living conditions without compromising with nature as a resource.

Building climate resilience is linked to concrete action, investment, capacity building, advocacy, decision-making and negotiations at local, national and global levels. 

The do-no-harm concept aims at ensuring that project actions are not causing injury or injustice to people, communities, or the environment.

Special emphasis is put on understanding the context and the two-way interaction between project activities and the context, and by adjusting activities to avert harmful outcomes and reinforce opportunities to maximize positive impact. 

The Human Rights-Based Approach recognizes the equality of all human beings and emphasises our legal and moral obligation to promote human development and justice among people sharing the same fundamental and universal human rights. 

The eight Principles for Locally-Led Adaptation is a guidance on active involvement, funding, decision-making and ownership when working to address and reduce the impacts of climate change.  

The eight principles are: 

• Devolving decision making  

• Addressing structural inequalities  

• Providing patient and predictable funding  

• Investing in local capabilities  

• Building a robust understanding of climate risk  

• Flexible programming  

• Ensuring transparency & accountability  

• Collaborative action & investment  

Find inspiration in this Tool Paper for civil society organisations engaging in partnerships to address climate change adaptation issues. 

Read more about Locally Led Adaptation here

Nature based solutions are actions to protect, sustainably manage or restore natural ecosystems that address societal challenges such as climate change, human health, food and water security and disaster risk reduction effectively and adaptively.

Read more about NbS.

Read more about NbS standards.

Outcome Mapping (OM) is a participatory method for planning, monitoring, and evaluating projects. It focuses om changes in behaviour with the people and institutions a project works with.

Read more in our Tool Paper. 

The project guide can be used as a reference point when preparing a new project or as a general training manual for the first three phases of project cycle management; analysis, project design and inception.

Short for Prevention of Sexual Harassment, Exploitation, and Abuse. Efforts that seek to prevent unwanted or offending physical, psycological, or verbal behaviour.

Informal civil society are not formally registered, do not have bank accounts. Leadership structures can vary. Social movement is when more actors work in an alliance or network towards a shared purpose. 

Read more in our tool paper on the subject.

CISU’s model for sustainable development that balances capacity development, strategic services and advocacy.

Read more on the development triangle..

Furthermore, find the development triangle in the guidelines for the Civil Society Fund.