Ariadne News & Events

HAPPY NEW YEAR: We’d like to wish our members a happy and healthy 2019, and we look forward to working with you in the year ahead!

REGISTER NOW – 2019 ARIADNE FORECAST ROUNDTABLE MEETINGS: Ariadne is creating its fifth Forecast for European Social Change and Human Rights Funders. We will be holding roundtables on 29^th January in Paris (in French), 30^th January in London (in English), 7^th February in Milan (in Italian), 12^th February in Leiden (in Dutch), and 28^th February in Berlin (in German). The five meetings will focus on relevant trends in the field of social change and human rights at national, European and global levels and in the philanthropic field itself. We will open each meeting with the results of a short survey of pivotal grant-makers in their region. Two to three senior forecasters in each location will then offer expert input and then there will be an open discussion between funders. The results of the survey and roundtables will be collated into the 2019 Ariadne Forecast for publication by the end of March. For more details and to register for the location of your choice, please click on the cities.

REGISTER NOW – ELECTIONS AND DEMOCRACY – WHAT ROLE FOR FUNDERS? Parliamentary democracy in Europe has been significantly challenged in recent years: Movements and charismatic individuals have created new parties, anti-democratic and nationalist forces have had major electoral gains, and protesters such as the French Gilets Jaunes are increasingly questioning the legitimacy of established institutions to speak on their behalf. With 2019 becoming an important election year in the Netherlands and in Belgium, Ariadne invites funders to join a roundtable in Amsterdam to discuss what role the European and other elections play in their current work and what funders can do to strengthen political participation and democratic discourse. Marjan Sax, Ewald Engelen of the University of Amsterdam and Sophie Logothetis of Dutch Culture will speak at this event. The meeting will take place on Wednesday 23rd January 2019, 14:00-16:00 at the Democracy and Media Foundation, Amsterdam. Click here to register.

REGISTER NOW – A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO CAPACITY BUILDING OF EUROPEAN ANTI-DISCRIMINATION NGOs: This meeting will gather representatives of grantmaking foundations to discuss a potential collaborative approach to support NGOs’ capacity-building and exchanges. The discussions will be based on Ariadne’s Seeking an Inclusive Europe report, the results of related workshops and the insights gathered during an upcoming survey of the CSOs’ needs. This meeting will be held in English and is open to representatives of grantmaking foundations who support projects for social change and human rights both in national contexts and internationally within Europe. The event will take place on Monday 28^th January at 12.00-17.00 CET in Brussels, Belgium. To register, please click here.

REGISTER NOW – 2019 ARIADNE POLICY BRIEFING: Ariadne is pleased to announce that the 2019 Ariadne Policy Briefing will be held Wednesday 3^rd to Friday 5^th April 2019 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Individuals from The Social Change Initiative, Fondazione con il Sud, The Baring Foundation, Calala Women’s Fund, SOLIDARNA – Foundation for Human Rights and Solidarity, Fondation Abbé Pierre and Adessium will join this year’s planning committee. Click here to register.

REGISTER NOW – ARIADNE PORTAL TUITION: A half-hour of tuition to improve your skill in using the Ariadne Portal will be held on Tuesday 12^th February at 15:00 GMT. This is an online webinar you can participate in from your desk. To join, you will need a computer or tablet (iPad/Android) to watch the online demonstration. To register, please click here. For additional portal tuition dates, please click here.

*To register for Ariadne events, your institution must be a member organisation of Ariadne. For questions regarding your membership status, please contact Hannah Stevens.

New Research, Articles and Judgements

Front Line Defenders Global Analysis 2018: Front Line Defenders’ Global Analysis 2018 details the physical assaults, defamation campaigns, digital security threats, judicial harassment, and gendered attacks faced by HRDs and women human rights defenders (WHRDs). December 2018 marked the 20^th Anniversary of the HRD Declaration and the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but HRDs around the world continue to face lethal threats from state, non-state, and corporate actors in their peaceful struggles for rights.

A CSO Playbook to Reclaim Civic Space: Version 1.0: Over the past four years, the Center for Strategic & International Studies has published more than 10 reports, both thematic and country-focused, to identify new programmatic models, broaden domestic constituencies, strengthen transnational solidarity, and align security and civic space. In addition to problem analyses, the reports provide examples and policy recommendations aimed at governments, donors, and INGOs as well as national and local CSOs on how to push back against closing civic space. The suite of iCon (International Consortium on Closing Space) reports provides a depth of insight and ideas, not fully captured in this brief, which readers can draw on to inform their analysis. This brief consolidates key lessons from iCon’s research, with a focus on building CSO legitimacy and resilience.

Europe’s polarisation trap: In this article from International Politics and Society, Dr Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf outlines how EU supporters might be giving Salvini and Orbán the upper hand.

Renewable Energy: A Gender Perspective: Renewable energy employs about 32% women, compared to 22% in the energy sector overall. Still, within renewables, women’s participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics jobs is far lower than in administrative jobs. This report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) examines the question of gender equity throughout sector. Building on a survey of employees, companies and institutions, it finds that much remains to be done to boost women’s participation and allow their talents to be fully utilised. The ongoing global energy transition offers the chance to create new jobs and reshape all aspects of how energy is produced and distributed. But these opportunities should be equally accessible, and the benefits equitably distributed, the report notes.

Christian Fundamentalism: In this article from International Politics and Society, Bettina Rühl writes about how the political and social influence of radical Christian groups is rapidly growing worldwide.

New year, new human rights narratives? In the human rights community, there is a growing enthusiasm for new narratives to build public support for human rights. But creating a new narrative is about more than language and framing. Find out more in this OpenGlobalRights blog from James Logan of the Fund for Global Human Rights.

Developing a More Diverse AI: This article from Stanford Social Inovation Review looks at AI4ALL’s summer programmes for high school students, which aims to increase diversity in the growing field of artificial intelligence. The students receive both technical training in computer programming and learn about tech policy and ethics.

Learning China’s Forbidden History, So They Can Censor It: For Chinese companies, staying on the safe side of government censors is a matter of life and death. Adding to the burden, the authorities demand that companies censor themselves, spurring them to hire thousands of people to police content. That in turn has created a growing and lucrative new industry: censorship factories. This New York Times article investigates how thousands of low-wage workers in these so-called ‘censorship factories’ trawl the online world for forbidden content, where even a photo of an empty chair could cause big trouble.

What France’s Yellow Vest Protests Reveal About the Future of Climate Action: On 17^th November 2018, hundreds of thousands of French citizens wearing bright yellow safety vests blockaded roads across the country. Over the following weeks the “Gilets Jaunes” protests, sparked by hikes to gas and diesel taxes, drew international attention and forced French president Emmanuel Macron to suspend the tax increase and raise the minimum wage. This Brookings article argues that proponents of climate change policy around the world, and especially in the United States, have a lesson to take from the French case.

Remembering the  Victims: The 2018 International Human Rights Day was more of a funeral than a celebration in the Middle East. The wreckage caused by the autocratic crackdowns on the Arab uprisings of 2011 has created perhaps the worst regional human rights environment since the 1980s. This article from Carnegie Middle East Center considers that, whilst few who work on or in the Middle East can be optimistic these days, there are reasons to believe that human rights norms are poised for a revival in the not-too-distant future.

Blogs and Other Sites of Interest

Photo: Qimono/Pixaby (CC0 Creative Commons)

BLOG: The Right to Design Babies? Human Rights and Bioethics: New developments in gene modifications make it more urgent than ever to raise societal awareness and adopt appropriate measures to enforce existing international agreements that prevent the creation of genetically modified human beings. This OpenGlobalRights blog from Roberto Andorno and Alicia Ely Yamin explores this issue.

PODCAST: Who Belongs? Racial Justice Activism in Europe with Emilia Roig: In this episode of the Who Belongs? podcast series, Sara Grossman of  the Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society interviews Emilia Roig of the Center for Intersectional Justice (CIJ). Emilia is the founder and director of CIJ, a nonprofit working to combat intersecting forms of structural inequality and discrimination in Europe. CIJ works in three main areas: advocacy, research, and training, ultimately aiming to influence public discourse and policy-making on issues related to intersectional discrimination. Emilia Roig gave a masterclass at this year’s Ariadne Grant Skills Day on the theme of intersectionality. You can watch the video here.

COLUMN: Adventures in Activism: The ‘Adventures in Activism’ column from tbd* is supported by Guerrilla Foundation and describes itself as ‘A defiant column letting you in on who the coolest cats of today’s rebel alliance are, why grassroots movements matter more than ever, and what radical systemic re-envisioning is being done by badass activists around the world.’

BLOG: What Bolsonaro Means for Human Rights in Brazil: Under the leadership of president elect Bolsonaro, Brazil must be poised for increased threats to public security, the environment and democratic space. This OpenGlobalRights blog from Oliver Hudson and Juana Kweitel explores this issue.

ARTICLE: The Last ‘Acceptable’ Prejudice: The nomadic Scottish Traveller community – whose ancestral roots date back to the 12^th century – is facing a multitude of social injustices. The indigenous group are met with signs plastered onto restaurants, cafés, bars and local shop windows, reading, “The management reserves the right to refuse any Gypsies or Travellers.” This article looks at what Scottish Traveller and activist Davie Donaldson considers to be “the last civil rights movement to happen.”

BLOG: Ten Humanitarian Crises and Trends to Watch in 2019: This blog from IRIN highlights ten humanitarian crises and trends which have caught their attention, and which they believe should demand ours in 2019.

BLOG: How Can AI Amplify Civic Freedoms? The future of democracy is entangled with artificial intelligence (AI). How international, national, and individual actors interact with the development of AI technology and policy will influence how it restricts or amplifies civic freedom. Civil society must improve its knowledge and use of artificial intelligence in order to limit exploitation and protect and promote civic freedoms. The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law explores these issues and more in their recent OpenGlobalRights blog.

PODCAST: Diversity in Charities: Third Sector’s inaugural podcast focuses on diversity in the sector. Eleanor Southwood, chair of the RNIB, and Kemar Walford, chair of the Institute of Fundraising’s Black Fundraisers UK Group, join Third Sector’s Rebecca Cooney to discuss the issues and challenges facing charities concerning diversity in the workforce.

Do you have a great blog post, case study or podcast you’d like to contribute? We would love to feature it. Email Hannah Stevens at hannah.stevens@ariadne-network.eu.

Grant-Making

From Survival to Sustainability: Imkaan is a UK-based, Black feminist organisation – the only national second-tier women’s organisation dedicated to addressing violence against Black and minoritised women and girls. Imkaan has recently published a new report – From Survival to Sustainability – which outlines critical issues for the specialist black and ‘minority ethnic’ ending violence against women and girls’ sector in the UK. The report presents an analysis of the funding situation and trends affecting specialised services for BME women survivors of VAWG in the UK.

If Dalits can establish a community foundation then any community – no matter how marginalised – can do it too: In this blog, Jenny Hodgson of the Global Fund for Community Foundations writes about the journey to the recent launch of the Dalit Community Foundation, and the role the GFCF played in its development.

Dignity reassessed: From old-school grantmaker to local philanthropy enthusiast: The recently published paper from Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace (PSJP) ‘Dignity and Development’ looks at the concept of dignity in development and philanthropy. In this blog, the Zambian Governance Foundation for Civil Society (ZGF) outlines how the paper provided them with an opportunity to revisit their own journey from a dignity lens, and shares the practices at ZGF that helped them develop a community-led approach and ensure dignity in their work.

Will Brazilian philanthropy leapfrog the ‘grantmaking phase’ and move directly to an impact investing model? This blog from Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace asks if Brazilian philanthropy might be set to leapfrog the ‘grantmaking phase’ and move directly to an investment-based model, shifting the focus even further away from civil society organisations and towards social enterprise as the preferred vehicle for driving social change?

Advice for Foundations, from a Fundraiser Turned Grantmaker: In this blog, fundraiser turned grantmaker Alison Lopez of the Julian Grace Foundation shares her top seven takeaways for philanthropic practitioners, especially those that have never been on the “asking” side. See also this blog for Alliance Magazine, which outlines five steps you can take to rekindle your love of philanthropy.

Whose impact are we measuring? Proving the efficacy of participatory grantmaking: This GrantCraft blog from Rose Longhurst was inspired by colleagues at Red Umbrella, UHAI, FRIDA, Wikimedia Foundation and others at the Institute on Participatory Grantmaking at the Human Rights Funders Network meeting in Mexico. It focuses on the need for more research on participatory approaches, plus the need for communities to be the determinants of whether something has had impact.

As money moves offshore, new questions about how foundations invest their assets: Throughout philanthropy’s history, it’s drawn intermittent waves of intense criticism. Tate Williams of Inside Philanthropy believes that we’re heading into one of these now. In this blog for Alliance Magazine, he writes how outrage over wealth accumulation, an unbridled tech industry, money in politics and more is inspiring healthy scrutiny from many directions (including us).

A Global Snapshot: Impact Bonds in 2018: The Brookings Institution has released its latest research into the global impact bond market. What does the impact bond market look like?  Most of these contracts are still social impact bonds (SIBs), where the outcome funder is the government—there are just seven development impact bonds (DIBs), with third-party funders paying for outcomes. Social welfare and employment remain the most popular sectors for impact bonds, together making up 69% of contracts. While 27 countries have now contracted impact bonds, over a third of the contracts are in the U.K.  Fewer contracts were signed in 2018 than 2017, with just 24 new impact bonds contracted, down from 34 in 2017. In answer to the question of whether impact bonds are successful, Brookings are taking a cautious approach, saying it’s not clear yet as most of the bonds are in the implementation stages. Nevertheless, the impact bond market is growing steadily, and most completed deals have repaid investors their principal plus positive returns. Brookings notes the difficulty in isolating the “impact bond effect”—that is whether using the impact bond financing mechanism adds value.

Philanthropy and Digital Civil Society: Blueprint 2019: The Blueprint is an annual industry forecast about how private resources are used for public benefit in the digital age. Each year, the Blueprint provides an overview of the current landscape, points to big ideas that matter, and directs readers’ attention to horizons where they can expect some important breakthroughs in the coming year.

The next Thread will go out on Thursday 21^st February. We would love to hear from you! Please contact Hannah Stevens by 19^th February if you would like to share announcements, events, or resources for the next issue.

Jobs and Tenders

Consultant – European Programme for Integration and Migration (EPIM): EPIM is looking for consultant(s) to map migrant-led advocacy work across Europe and to inform support strategies. As part of its strategy for 2019-2023, EPIM is exploring support that would contribute to migrant advocates and migrant-led initiatives accessing, manoeuvring, and influencing policy-making spaces at the local, national and EU-levels. EPIM works with partners to mainstream migrant participation in their work, but this targeted intervention would directly support migrant advocates and migrant-led initiatives. For this purpose, EPIM is scoping this area of work by commissioning a mapping and external feedback exercise, as outlined in the Terms of Reference.  Deadline for applications is 8^th February 2019.

CEO – Asfari Foundation: The Asfari Foundation is seeking a dynamic, experienced and capable CEO to lead the Foundation during its next phase of development. The successful candidate will work closely with the Asfari family and the Foundation’s six Trustees to ensure that the Foundation is dynamic and resilient and continues to respond in creative and effective ways to deliver change for civil society and young people from Syria, Palestine, Lebanon and the UK. Location: London, United Kingdom. Deadline for applications is 19^th January 2019.

Programme Officer (Wildlife Conservation and Trade, Environment Programme) – Oak Foundation: Oak Foundation is seeking a Programme Officer to join its Wildlife Conservation and Trade Environment Programme. The objective of the programme is to help disrupt the illegal trafficking of wildlife and implement innovative people-centred wildlife conservation models. Location: London, United Kingdom. Deadline for applications is 10^th February 2019.

Director of Grassroots Partnerships – Thousand Currents: Thousand Currents is hiring a Director of Grassroots Partnerships; a newly created and senior level position that will lead and guide the organisation’s work with grassroots partners in Africa, Asia, and Latin America while also serving as a member of its senior management team. Location: Oakland or New York, but applicants from elsewhere in the United States or located internationally will be considered. Deadline for applications is 13th February 2019. 

African Diaspora Partnerships Manager – Thousand Currents: Thousand Currents is hiring an African Diaspora Partnerships Manager who knows that Africans around the globe are the only ones that can transform African communities and understands that the concept of “international aid and “development” must be eliminated. The ideal candidate is determined to channel and connect diaspora resources with social movements working on economic justice, food sovereignty, and climate justice in Africa. Location: United States, city is flexible. Deadline for applications is 31st January 2019.

Head of UK Democracy Fund – Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust: The UK Democracy Fund is a new initiative, managed by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, that aims to strengthen the integrity and vibrancy of democracy by increasing voter participation and improving the representativeness of the electorate. Operating on an independent and non-partisan basis, the Fund will support targeted approaches to engage low propensity voter groups, civil and political campaigns for electoral reform, events to convene knowledge and activism, and research and evaluation to build an evidence base about what works. The Fund is seeking a consultant who will develop the strategic direction, source and assess applications for the JRRT Board, manage donor relations, and develop projects such as convening or research, finding partners and attracting funding for these. Location: Homeworking, with travel to London and York, United Kingdom. Deadline for applications is 22^nd January 2019.

Trustees – Coutts Foundation: Coutts Foundation is recruiting trustees who have: extensive knowledge of the poverty and/or women and girls’ sector in the UK, and of the broader charitable sector in the UK; knowledge of public policy/commissioning related to charitable organisations tackling poverty or working with women and girls; prior experience of being a trustee of a charitable organisation or corporate governance in the public sector; and prior experience of grantmaking/undertaking due diligence on charitable organisations. To request a candidate pack and for more information about the application process, email coutts.foundation@coutts.com.

Grants Assistant (Office of Grants Management) – Open Society Foundations: Open Society Foundations’ Office of Grants Management (OGM) is seeking a grants assistant to provide grants administration and technical support to OGM, OSF staff, applicants and grantees related to its Foundation Connect grant making system; assist with department communication efforts and special projects; and provide administrative support to the department. Location: Berlin, Germany. Deadline for application is 3^rd April 2019.

*For more jobs, see the ‘Career Opportunities’ section on the landing page of the Ariadne portal.

Public Meetings

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
January 27^th – February 2^nd
Responding to the anti-gender movement: Applications are now open for a participatory training on building new narratives in response to the anti-gender movement. The workshop will combine theoretical content, participatory activities, peer-learning, input from experts and activists beyond the LGBTI movement, as well as lots of opportunities for participants to share their own experiences and hear from the experiences of others. The workshop builds on the work developed by ILGA-Europe on strategic communication and campaigning. The event will take place between 31^st January and 2^nd February 2019 in Brussels, Belgium.

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
March 24^th – 30^th
Is Nationalism Contagious? Though scholars have long warned that globalisation neither flattens difference nor erases political claims-making under the banner of national belonging, the speed and forcefulness of the past years’ rise of nation-firsters around the world has baffled social scientists. Some see the present rise of nationalism and right-wing populism as a, perhaps cyclical, response to dislocations promoted by global economic changes; others are more inclined to focus on changes in the public sphere, social media and ideological contagion. Short of explaining today’s resurgence of nationalism, this Lunch Briefing seeks to provide some historical depth to the current discussion by inquiring into historiographical debates concerning the global spread of nationalism. The event will take place on 26^th March 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA
April 21^st – 27^th
Driving Philanthropy for the Future: This meeting will examine the philanthropy support networks and associations of the future, identifying factors that will help and hinder the development of the kinds of associations we want and need. Philanthropy, and its context, is changing fast, and there will be new challenges and opportunities for philanthropy support associations. There is general agreement that we need a strong global ecosystem of philanthropy support, but there is little knowledge about how we will achieve it. This meeting, and the larger process of recording knowledge about philanthropic association work, will seek to help emerging and existing networks to strengthen their leadership in the philanthropic space, which in turn will strengthen their foundations’ (members) work, and ultimately, civil society. The event will take between 24^th and 26^th April 2019 in Kingston, Jamaica.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
January 13^th – 19^th
Transforming the world through film and philanthropy: Peter Samuelson, a Hollywood and British film producer, will discuss his vision and journey as a media entrepreneur moving towards an active social entrepreneurial approach to his philanthropic interests. Participants will discuss the risk appetite for new models within the charitable sector and for philanthropists and social investors; addressing emergent philanthropy which is better aligned with the complexity of today’s society. The event will take place on 17^th January 2019 in London, United Kingdom.

January 20^th – 26^th
Dispossession: The Great Social Housing Swindle: ‘Dispossession: The Great Social Housing Swindle’ explores the agenda behind the neglect, demolition and regeneration of council estates in the UK over the past thirty years. The film reveals how individuals and communities are fighting against the state and private developers, as they try to save their homes from demolition, while investigating the decisions that turned a crisis into a tragedy. Dispossession is the story of people who know that housing is not an expensive luxury, but a fundamental human right. The film screening will be hosted by Queen Mary University of London’s International State Crime Initiative and be followed by a panel discussion. The event will take place on 22^nd January 2019 in London, United Kingdom.

February 3^rd – 16^th
In memory of Naomi Hersi: the impalpable lives and history of queer and trans and intersex people of colour: This exhibition brings together a collection of QTIPOC experiences and activism through instruments of art, photography and media. It will explore notions of joy, pride, strife and political dogma; amalgamated with the aim of embracing erased voices in ordinary LGBT+ History. The exhibition will be open between 4^th and 15^th February 2019 in London, United Kingdom.

March 3^rd – 9^th
Networking & strategy share: Paul Hamlyn Foundation and the Migration Exchange funder network invite colleagues from trusts and foundations whose work includes issues of migration, refugees and integration to meet and spend time share work and future plans. The aims of this session are to: update one another on current funding of migration and refugee organisations, strategy, approach and any specific areas of interest; explore areas of progress or success, as well as common challenges and tensions in funding this work; identify areas where some funders may wish to align or collaborate, including any plans currently in development; and get to know one another and network. This session is being organised with support and input from Migration Exchange, but it will take a wider lens than usual Migration Exchange meetings. This is envisaged to be a one-off session, and colleagues from funders who have a broader remit but include migration in their work are welcome. The event will take place on 5^th March 2019 in London, United Kingdom. To register, please email Katie Lau at katie@global-dialogue.eu.

March 17^th– 24^th
Harnessing risk and embracing opportunity: Trustees are responsible for managing a charity’s risks. But considered risk taking, when well managed and in keeping with a charity’s values, can present an opportunity and lead to a charity achieving more for its beneficiaries. This seminar, organised by NPC and The Clothworker’s Company, will explore how considered risk taking can bring opportunities through new ways of working, partnering, fundraising or even a new strategy; examine examples of considered risk taking from trustees; and discuss the barriers and opportunities for trustees to harness risk and embrace opportunity. The event will take place on 18^th March 2019 in London, United Kingdom.

March 17^th – 23^rd
Bond Annual Conference: The Bond Annual Conference attracts over 1,000 people from across the international development and humanitarian sectors. NGOs, civil society leaders, funders, researchers, government and private sector come together to debate crucial current issues, share ideas and interrogate emerging trends. The conference comes at a time when civil society faces an increasingly complicated political environment and growing funding pressures. Earlybird rates until 31 December. Get a further 15% discount with code: Marnp15. The event will take place between 18^th and 19th March 2019 in London, United Kingdom.

February 14^th – 12^th May
Is This Tomorrow? In an era when humanity is facing new challenges posed by big data, bioengineering and climate change, Whitechapel Gallery has invited ten groups of artists, architects and other cultural practitioners to explore the potential of collaboration and offer their visions of the future. They imagine scenarios in which queer desire, house music and fracking meet on a mountainside; grief and microbes generate new possibilities for housing; or machines dispense objects and emotions to support our place in the technological world of tomorrow. Is This Tomorrow? features experimental propositions from some of today’s leading architects and artists responding to issues we face in the 21st century from natural resources and migration to technology and spirituality. The exhibition will be open between 14^th February and 12^th May 2019 in London, United Kingdom.

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
January 20^th – 26^th
Film Screening and Q&A – Intelligent Lives: Education is a basic human right and a threshold right that enables the realisation of all others. Because education is also the first civic arena where people test their rights and responsibilities as citizens, meaningful inclusion of all learners in quality education sets the stage for open society. Following long-term advocacy, great progress has been made in the area of inclusive education, but there is still much work to be done. Learners with differences framed as intellectual disabilities or developmental delays are often the last to realise the right to education in their own community’s schools with their peers. These students are often defined by the results of intelligence tests, and they too often face barriers of discrimination in education that can be insurmountable. Intelligent Lives recounts the lives of three pioneering young adults with intellectual disabilities who challenge perceptions of intelligence as they navigate high school, college, and the workforce. The film focuses on ongoing intelligence testing practices in the US and questions their ability to assess children’s capabilities. Dan Habib, director of Intelligent Lives, will be present for a Q&A following the screening. The event will take place on 23^rd January 2019 in New York, United States.

ONLINE
January 20^th – 26^th
Predict-a-Palooza: Civil Society Forecast 2019: Digital Impact invites you to join a virtual roundtable of experts to identify key trends and share predictions for 2019, including insights from Philanthropy and Digital Civil Society: Blueprint 2019, Lucy Bernholz’s annual industry forecast. Panellists will explore emerging developments in philanthropy, technology, data governance, public policy, and more as they share and discuss their personal predictions on what the coming year holds for civil society around the globe. Attendees will be invited to weigh in on panellist predictions and share their own thoughts and foresights on where civil society is headed in 2019. The webinar will take place on 23^rd January 2019.

January 27^th – February 2^nd
Religious Conservatism on the Global Stage: Global Philanthropy Project’s (GPP) new report: ‘Religious Conservatism on the Global Stage: Threats and Challenges for LGBTI Rights’ documents the main conservative strategies, discourses, funding sources and actors opposing Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity rights at the global level. The report also includes three regionally-focused case studies from Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. Download the report in English and Spanish. The webinar will take place on 30^th January 2019 in English and 31^st January 2019 in Spanish.

January 27^th – February 2^nd
Catalysts for Change: Non Governing Boards as Pipelines for Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Leader: Engaging in board service is an invaluable opportunity to have substantial community impact and can be one of the most rewarding experiences volunteers can have. Non-governing boards, such as junior boards, young professional boards, or advisory councils, are creative tools for nonprofits to build pipelines for diversity and cultivate the next generation of talented leaders. Webinar participants will learn how these types of boards can help reach emerging leaders and add to a nonprofit’s overall diversity by fostering the support of new donors. The webinar will provide the necessary insights and tools to build a sustainable and diverse non-governing board. The webinar will take place on 31^st January 2019.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
April 7th – 13th 
Organizing Philanthropy for Systemic Change: EDGE Funders’ 2019 gathering will offer participants an opportunity to situate their work within the social, economic and political context of Brazil, Latin America and the wider world, and to broaden perspectives on the systemic and global nature of today’s challenges. The goals of the gathering are: to support civil society allies from around the world in their efforts to analyse global trends, strengthen alternatives for systemic change and advance renewal and hope; and to identify and develop strategies aimed at moving more resources towards those struggles and alternatives by advancing a “systemic change philanthropy” that is informed by engagement with social movement allies. The event will take place between 9th and 12th April 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

STANFORD, UNITED STATES
February 17^th – 23^rd
Data on Purpose: Navigating the Digital Now: At its 5^th annual Data on Purpose conference, Stanford Social Innovation Review will help nonprofit leaders identify the best ways to build data and technology capacity. Participants will weave together the latest research- and practice-based insights from data scientists and researchers, nonprofit and foundation leaders, policymakers, and other prominent experts, to help identify what is truly important, versus simply what is possible or what is urgent. The event will take place between 19^th and 20^th February 2019 in Stanford, United States.

THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS
January 20^th – 26^th
HagueTalks: How can transforming media contribute to human rights? Stories and news are more accessible than ever to people all around the world. Social media can provide a platform for human rights activists and those who are underrepresented in society such as women and the LGBT community. But, how is transforming media really changing the work of human rights activists? How can it be used for the benefit of human rights and freedom of expression? And what are the risks? Three speakers from Nigeria, Kuwait and Turkey will give short, personal accounts and discussion amongst themselves and with the audience on how transforming media can be used and supported for the benefit of human rights and freedom of expression. The event will take place on 23^rd January 2019 in The Hague, The Netherlands.

VIENNA, AUSTRIA
February 3rd – 9th
Europe’s Far Right on the Rise: European polities are facing a challenge from the far right unprecedented in the post-WW2 era. This new fascism is well financed, transnational and intent on turning the clock backwards on democracy, human rights, and the freedoms of minorities. They also often promote climate change denial at this dangerous moment for the ecological future of our planet, wrapping this up in a narrative of opposition to ‘experts’ and ‘elites’. Capitalising on xenophobic attitudes, and promoting a politics attune to a sense of lost ethnic privilege and resentment, the rise of the far right poses a major challenge for democratic and progressive forces. How do we analyse the causes of far right radicalisation? What steps can we take to address this ‘politics of fear’? And what alternatives are needed? And how can civil society and progressive parties respond? This event will bring together campaigners, journalists, academics and politicians from across Europe in a reflective dialogue on these questions. The event will take place on 4th February 2019 in Vienna, Austria.

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND
March 17^th – 23^rd
ILGA World Donor Pre-Conference: The ILGA World donor pre-conference is a multi-regional donor consultation focused on LGBTI issues, convening key public and private funders, donor governments, corporate funders, high net worth individual donors, thought leaders, and other partners. Attendees will gather for an evening reception on 18^th March, and a full day convening on 19^th March. The event will take place between 18^th and 19^th March 2019 in Wellington, New Zealand.

WEIL AM RHEIN, GERMANY
January 27^th – February 2^nd
Investigative Architecture as a Tool for Political Intervention: Forensic Architecture founder and director, Eyal Weizman, will be delivering a talk about the group’s radical research methods, focusing on the examination and visualisation of human rights violations whose novel combination of design and politics is causing international furore. The lecture will coincide with the exhibition ‘Victor Papanek: The Politics of Design,’ running until 10^th March 2019 at the Vitra Design Museum. This will present the first large retrospective focusing on the designer, author, and activist Victor J. Papanek (1923–1998). Papanek was one of the twentieth century’s most influential pioneers of a socially and ecologically oriented approach to design beginning in the 1960s. The event will take place on 31^st January 2019 in Weil Am Rhein, Germany.