Ariadne News & Events

SEASON’S GREETINGS: As the holiday season approaches, we would like to take the time to wish you a peaceful and happy holiday and thank you for your continued support. It is the Ariadne members who make our jobs a pleasure and make Ariadne successful. We look forward to working with you in the coming year.

REGISTER NOW: 2018 ARIADNE FORECAST ROUNDTABLES: Ariadne is creating its fourth Forecast for European Social Change and Human Rights Funders. We are inviting you to join some of the best brains in the field to help us create an Ariadne forecast for the year ahead. We will be holding meetings on January 23^rd in London, January 29^th in Paris (in French), February 8^th in The Hague (in Dutch) and February 15^th in Naples (in Italian), to help us all think about major trends, in both the issues and in the field of philanthropy. The four round tables 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 offer expert input and then there will be an open discussion between funders. The results of all four meetings will be collated into a 2018 Ariadne Forecast for publication by the end of March. For more details and to register for the location of your choice, please click here.

REGISTER NOW: COUNTERING RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION ROUNDTABLES: In 2017, the ‘Countering Hatred’ project released its ‘Seeking an Inclusive Europe’ report which revealed a lack of coordination among private donors and a shortage of funding going into addressing xenophobia and ethnic and religious bias affecting not only migrants, but also European citizens from ethnic or religious minorities. From the spike in hate crimes following Brexit, advantageous electoral results for openly xenophobic parties, recent events only confirm the urgency to tackle these issues also in Europe. But how can funders address these issues more effectively? Through a series of national roundtables in The Netherlands (date TBC), Italy (February 15^th in Naples), France (January 29^th in Paris) and Germany (date TBC), and a regional event, this year Ariadne (with the support of Open Society Foundations, Democracy and Media Foundation and Adessium Foundation) will work to sustain European donors’ strategic thinking, encourage greater collaboration, and ultimately generate more support for the field. For more details and to register for the location of your choice, please click here.

SAVE THE DATE: 2018 ARIADNE WINTER FILM NIGHT: Ariadne will be holding its annual Winter Film Night, in partnership with the Bertha Foundation, to explore how film and documentary-making can be a powerful means of accelerating change, and how funders can support its production. A yet to be released film will be screened, to be followed by a Q&A with the film-makers, and a glass of wine with fellow grant-makers. The screening will take place during the week commencing the 12^th of February, at the Bertha DocHouse. Further details and confirmation of the film will be posted in the new year via the Ariadne portal.

REGISTER NOW: 2018 ARIADNE POLICY BRIEFING – 7-9^TH MARCH 2018: We invite you to register for the 9^th Ariadne Policy Briefing on 7-9th March 2018 in Paris for two and a half days of networking, understanding the cutting-edge issues for European funders, improving your grant-skills and having an informative and enjoyable time in the company of fellow funders and grant-makers. The briefing will include a selection of visits to local sites of interest to social change and human rights funders, several breakouts, plenaries, a grant skills workshop, networking dinners and opportunities for participants to organise informal open sessions throughout the event. Space is limited so please register early to be sure of a place. A draft agenda is available via the Ariadne portal or you can email Lori Klos for a copy.

REGISTER NOW: ARIADNE PORTAL TUITION: An hour’s tuition session to increase your skill in using the Ariadne Portal will be held on Thursday 18^th January 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 RSVP here. For additional dates for portal tuitions, please click here.

RESPOND NOW: SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN PHILANTHROPY SURVEY: As we are all aware, the issue of sexual harassment (including sexual assault) has been brought to the fore over the past month, generating some long overdue discussion about sexual harassment in the workplace. This has precipitated a moment in which every industry and every institution must reflect upon its own practices. We believe the first step is to understand where we as a field are starting from. As such, Ariadne is conducting what we believe to be the first-ever survey regarding workplace sexual harassment in philanthropy. We hope that this will help identify both some of the good practices and areas needing improvement among foundations and help us develop resources to assist our members that may not have adequate policies and practices in place. We invite you to please take part in our anonymous survey. The results will be collated and shared with members as a starting point for discussion about what we are doing well and what we need to change. The deadline for filling in the survey is Friday, 22^nd December 2017. Thank you for your participation.

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

New Research, Articles and Judgements

The value of diversity in creating systemic change for human rights: In this article for OpenGlobalRights, Barbara Klugman, Ravindran Daniel, Denise Dora, Maimouna Jallow and Marcelo Azambuja argue that the human rights movement must value and mobilise the expertise of all players, from local to international levels in order to create systemic change for human rights. See also by Barbara Klugman, ‘Towards a new ecology for the human rights movement – Lessons from the Ford Foundation’s Strengthening Human Rights Worldwide global initiative’.

European Union minorities and discrimination survey: The European Agency for Fundamental Rights published the results of its second ‘European Union Minorities and Discrimination Survey’ in December 2017. The survey focuses on discrimination across the EU’s 27 member states and if there has been progress since the first survey in 2008. The results show little progress compared to the first wave of the survey. Proportions of those experiencing discrimination, as well as physical violence and harassment motivated by hatred, and of those not aware of relevant legislation and possibilities for redress, remain at levels that raise serious concern. The Roma and those of African backgrounds, particularly second generation respondents, experience higher levels of discrimination, harassment and violence motivated by hatred. See also, ‘What do Conservatives think about human rights and tackling discrimination?’, a new report from the UK liberal Conservative think tank Bright Blue, supported by Oak Foundation.

Contesting identity and preventing belonging – An analysis of British counter-terrorism policy: This report from The Bonnart Trust, by Dr. Maria W. Norris of the London School of Economics and Political Science examines the selective and racial understanding of terrorism in the UK, which has significant policy and national security implications. Firstly, the counter-terrorism strategy does not view violence from far-right extremism as terrorism. Further, the disproportionate focus on the Muslim community leads to resentment and alienation, and so fuels Islamic extremism. This selective application of the terrorism label weakens the concept of UK citizenship, redrawing it along racial lines where citizens with a recent history of immigration are more vulnerable to coercive state power. Finally, the paper argues that a dismantling of counter-terrorism legislation and the extension of the category of hate crime to include politically-inspired offences would end this inaccurate and exclusionary view of terrorism.

Resuming civic activism in Turkey: Despite a large-scale crackdown on civil society, groups in Turkey are adjusting their institutions and preserving their voices with a cautious eye to the future, argues Özge Zihnioğlu, Associate Professor in the Department of International Relations at Istanbul Kültür University in Turkey in a publication from Carnegie’s Civic Research Network. Özge states that the successive demonstrations, protests, and marches since early 2017 not only show civic activists’ continuing potential to mobilise but also demonstrate that civic activists can weather unfavourable conditions. This drive has the potential to bring together different segments of society and mobilise the masses. See also, ‘Civil society development in the Balkans’ by the Balkan Civil Society Development Network and TUSEV.

Germany passes law forcing internet giants to remove hate speech: On 1^st January 2018 a new law will come into force in Germany that gets tough on online giants (such as Fecebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google) to remove extremist, hate speech and defamatory fake news material published on or accessible via their platforms, according to the Migrants Rights Network. The German legislation enforces the country’s existing limits on hate speech, with fines of up to €50 million if internet companies continuously fail to remove illegal content within a week. There is also provision in the law that the IT company’s person responsible for handling complaints of hate material can be fined up to €5 million.

Philanthropy and the media: The pursuit of mutually assured survival: In this article for Alliance Magazine, Miguel Castro, Senior Officer for Global Media Partnerships at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation looks at the reasons why the worlds of philanthropy and the media are still so far apart and what could and should be done to bring them closer together.

EU makes aid efforts more inclusive for people with disabilities: The European Union is taking important steps to ensure that EU-funded humanitarian assistance reaches people with disabilities, according to a recent statement by the European Disability Forum, Human Rights Watch, and the Norwegian Refugee Council. People with disabilities in humanitarian crises face massive problems in getting even basic services such as food, water, sanitation, shelter, education, and safety protection. At the 4^th European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities on 6^th December 2017, Christos Stylianides, the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, announced a number of measures that would considerably improve access to humanitarian aid worldwide for people with disabilities.

New study on the space for civil society in natural resource struggles: The new report ‘Tricky Business: Space for Civil Society in Natural Resource Struggles’, published by the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, focuses on patterns and dynamics in the curtailment of civil society organisations and activists who speak out against land grabbing and environmental degradation, advocate environmental protection and the fair use of resources, and insist on participation. The authors of the study, Dr. Carolijn Terwindt and Dr. Christian Schliemann of the ECCHR also formulate a series of strategy recommendations for defending and recapturing civil society’s space for action.

Joseph Rowntree Foundation report – UK Poverty 2017: Poverty rates for children and pensioners are on the increase, a reversal of 20 years of reduced poverty in the UK. This is according to ‘UK Poverty 2017’, a new report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation which identifies that 14 million people live in poverty in the UK (over one in five of the population). The analysis highlights that the three factors which have led to a fall in poverty and are now under question; state support for people with low incomes is falling in real terms, rents are increasing, and rising employment is no longer reducing poverty.

Integrating issues – Framing for racial equity and children in immigrant families: This brief paper by the Framework Institute and prepared for the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the KIDS COUNT Network, offers guidance on framing race and immigration. According to the report, racial justice cannot be achieved without addressing the concerns of immigrant families.

Defenders and businesses: From adversity to cooperation in providing remedy for victims: In this blog for the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, Ana Zbona, Project Manager for Civic Freedoms & Human Rights Defenders at the Centre provides key take-aways from this years’ UN Forum on Business & Human Rights. According to Ana, the main take-away is for businesses, states and investors, to urgently include and safeguard human rights defenders. The Forum underlined that human rights defenders are instrumental in uncovering the actual and potential impacts of companies on people, a first step to secure effective remedy. By doing so, defenders also provide access to information so that companies know what is really going on in their supply chains, enabling better due diligence.

Blogs and Other Sites of Interest

VIDEO: How we can end sexual harassment at work:  In this TED talk, Gretchen Carlson discusses how we can end sexual harassment at work. When Gretchen spoke out about her experience of workplace sexual harassment, it inspired women everywhere to take their power back and tell the world what happened to them. In this fierce talk, she tells her story and identifies three specific things we can all do to create safer places to work. Ariadne is currently conducting a survey on sexual harassment (see the Ariadne News and Events section above) and we invite all of you to take a moment to respond.

PODCAST: Closing civic space in the digital age: Digital Impact hosted a virtual roundtable to discuss the role of digital resources in the shrinking of global civic spaces and next steps for civil society in an age of digital dependencies and disruptions. In this webinar, Lucy Bernholz, Director of the Digital Civil Society Lab, Chris Worman, Senior Director of Alliances and Community Engagement for TechSoup, Mandeep Tiwana, Chief Programmes Officer for Civicus, Wilneida Negrón, Technology Fellow for Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice at the Ford Foundation and Dan Meredith, Principal Director of Open Technology Fund, discussed the digital threats and constraints faced by civil society actors and organisations across global contexts. They identified gaps between principles and practices in democratic societies and described the increasingly complex ecosystem for civil society, as shaped by rapid shifts and evolutions in technology, policy, markets, and social change.

INFOGRAPHIC: Europe’s growing Muslim population: In recent years, Europe has experienced a record influx of asylum seekers fleeing conflicts in Syria and other predominantly Muslim countries. To see how the size of Europe’s Muslim population may change in the coming decades, Pew Research Center has modelled three scenarios that vary depending on future levels of migration. These are not efforts to predict what will happen in the future, but rather a set of projections about what could happen under different circumstances.

PODCAST: East West Street: Personal stories about genocide and crimes against humanity: In celebration of its 15^th anniversary this year, The Bonnart Trust held an evening lecture given by Philippe Sands QC, on the theme of ‘East West Street: Personal Stories about Genocide and Crimes against Humanity.’ Philippe Sands QC is Professor of Law and Director of the Centre for International Courts and Tribunals in the Faculty of Laws at University College London. He is a practicing barrister, with extensive experience litigating cases before international tribunals including the International Court of Justice and European Court of Justice. A recording of the lecture is now available.

VIDEO: Best of DocHouse 2017: The Bertha DocHouse are celebrating 2017’s best documentaries, bringing six of the best theatrical releases of the year back to the big screen from December 27^th – January 4^th.  A list of films is now available on the Bertha DocHouse website. Ariadne in collaboration with the Bertha Foundation will hold a Winter Film Night in mid-February. More details will follow soon on the Ariadne Portal.

PODCAST: Blueprint for freedom: Ending modern slavery by 2030: On November 9^th, the Rights Track podcast released the first episode (second episode also available) of its new season, which focuses on strategies for ending modern slavery. The episode features a discussion with Professor Zoe Trodd, Director of the Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham, which, through its programme of trans disciplinary research is seeking to help end slavery by 2030. Discussing the same topic in her latest article for OpenGlobalRights, ‘Finding research pathways to a slavery-free world’, Zoe argues that ending slavery means building a science of anti-slavery where advocates can use rigorous research to analyse how and why slavery practices persist.

Creative and socially minded Christmas gifts from Nesta: Christmas is fast approaching. With online shopping rapidly replacing busy Saturdays on the highstreet, some of you may already have found and wrapped gifts for your friends and family. If, however, you are still unsure about what gift to buy, Nesta has prepared a list of creative and socially minded Christmas goodies that you can look at.

BLOG: The truth about terror and youth radicalisation: In this blog for Open Society Foundations, Cristina Goni discusses the truth about terror and youth radicalisation in the context of the Barcelona attack. She argues that, to tackle the recruitment of young women and men by ISIS, one must look at a broad spectrum of factors, including social and economic inequality, political polarisation, globalisation, declining levels of trust in institutions, disaffection, belonging and identity crises, and discrimination. Cristina also offers five lessons she draws from the Catalan experience on countering youth radicalisation.

VIDEO: Funding peace efforts and violence prevention: Milt Lauenstein, an individual grantmaker interested in the data that funders and practitioners need in order to make good decisions about where their resources will contribute the most to peace, produced an animation that makes the case for better understanding what peacebuilding actions contribute the most to peace and stability. He is supporting research that will build more evidence for cost-effective intervention, ultimately providing more data to funders as they make decisions about their giving.

The social change career helping line: The Peace and Collaborative Development Network launched a career helping line for professionals in the social change space. It is a place where professionals in social change meet and together answer one another’s questions to leverage their careers.

TOOLKIT: UK Government Equalities Office toolkit: Gender Pay Gap – Actions for Employers: ‘Action for Employers’ is a toolkit for employers looking for advice on how to understand and address their gender pay gap. This toolkit, published by the Government Equalities Office in December 2017, sets out a number of actions employers can take to improve gender equality in their workplace. See also, ‘Slow progress on the politics gender gap’, by the Guardian.

Blog: Interview with the Adessium Foundation: In this interview for Alliance Magazine, founder of the Adessium Foundation, Gerard van Vliet, gives his first-ever media interview together with his son, Rogier van Vliet, and managing director, Rogier van der Weerd, and discuss how Adessium came into being and where their philanthropic journey has taken them.

TOOLKIT: Protecting the identities of human rights defenders in video evidence: Amidst discussions about striking the right balance between documenting human rights abuses on video and safeguarding activists’ safety and privacy, WITNESS has released a step-by-step tutorial on protecting the identities of human rights defenders in videos using YouTube’s blurring tool. The toolkit also includes additional tips on protecting subjects’ identities using methods such as voice distortion and alternative filming techniques.

VIDEO: Ideas on how to combat closing space in the EU: This video presentation by Liberty outlines what civil society organisations can do to preserve the civic space in the EU.

Do you have a great blog post, case study or podcast you’d like to contribute? We would love to feature it. Email Lori Klos at lori.klos@ariadne-network.eu.

Grant-Making

Grantmakers must learn new tricks to strengthen the sector: Lloyds Bank Foundation have teamed up with New Philanthropy Capital to look at how they can use their influence as funders to strengthen the civil society sector. In their new report, the two organisations address the question whether the charitable foundations in the UK are doing enough, and are doing the right things, to support the voluntary and community sector. The report looks at funding practices around the globe and calls upon funders to consider how they can use their skills and financial assets to support the voluntary sector. These global examples provide a fresh challenge to UK funders on the need to do more, but simultaneously offers a wealth of experience to draw upon to highlight the possibilities for doing so and to ensure that practice is of the best quality.

Five years of mapping human rights funding: key findings: The Human Rights Funders Network and Foundation Center have released a five-year (2011-2015) trends analysis of the field of human rights philanthropy. The ‘Five years of mapping human rights funding: our key findings,’ co-authored by HRFN’s Sarah Tansey and Foundation Center’s Anna Koob summarises some of the findings from the research.

Participatory grantmaking: Has its time come? The Ford Foundation launched ‘Has the time come for participatory grant making?’, written by Cynthia Gibson. The report looks at how foundations are experimenting with new approaches to philanthropy that engage people from setting priorities and developing strategies to sitting on boards or advisory committees. See also, William F. Buckley’s Phone Book vs. Ford Foundation’s Participatory Grantmaking, by Philanthropy Daily which responds to Ford Foundation’s above report as well as FundAction, a new peer-led fund and platform supporting activism in Europe.

What influences wealthy donors to give to different causes? Donations to the environment are estimated to represent less than 4% of total foundation giving in the UK and less than 5% of public donations. In research about the causes to which the wealthy give, the environment is always a low priority. In an attempt to understand the reasons, this paper by the Environmental Funders Network, summarises the state of knowledge around what facilitates wealthy individuals to donate to different causes, with a particular focus on the environment. It summarises the key learnings, provides a reading list and makes recommendations for environmental charities running major donor programmes. See also Environmental Funders Network’s latest research report, ‘Where the Green Grants Went – Scotland’ and  ‘Land intensive corporate activity: The impact on women’s rights’, by CORE & Womankind Worldwide.

TOOLKIT: Resource mobilisation toolkit: FRIDA launched a resource mobilisation toolkit to help guide youth-led groups in mobilising resources to bolster activism. The toolkit provides additional tools, tips and tricks about how to mobilise resources for their work. It aims to especially benefit small-scale startup groups, particularly in the Global South, and can be used by organisations as well as individuals with different levels of skills and experience. See also the outcomes of a FRIDA and Mama Cash gathering on resourcing young feminists.

Re-energising Europe – New NPE report steered by funders: The New Pact for Europe initiative released the report ‘Re-energising Europe’, a culmination of five years of work reflecting more than 120 national and transnational debates throughout Europe. It argues that the EU27 should have the political will and courage to agree on an ambitious but realistic win-win package deal to overcome deadlocks and counter the danger of a more regressive, nationalistic, closed, illiberal and authoritarian Europe, the greatest challenge we are currently facing. The New Pact for Europe Initiative is steered by the King Baudouin Foundation, Open Society Initiative for Europe, Bertelsmann Stiftung, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Open Estonia Foundation, the BMW Foundation and the Network of European Foundations.

Philanthropic support to address HIV/AIDS: Funders Concerned About AIDS’ report, ‘Philanthropic Support to Address HIV/AIDS’, is the most comprehensive study of its kind. The current edition, based on calendar year 2016 grantmaking, captures data on more than 7,000 grants, awarded by 392 foundations in 15 countries, in an effort to identify gaps, trends, and opportunities in HIV-related philanthropy. This data supports funders in their efforts to make informed decisions about where resources would make the most impact.

Changing philanthropy to challenge inequality: ‘Philanthropy is not a sector that likes to change’, Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation, asserted at a recent lecture at the London School of Economics. Although the Ford Foundation has been changing in recent years, his assertions still ring true: many philanthropic organisations have bold rhetoric on inequality, but (as he put it) ‘stop short of interrogating their own practice’. In this blog for Alliance Magazine, Rose Longhurst of the Edge Fund offers her views on Darren’s talk and argues that attacking what Walker calls the ‘scourge’ of inequality should be a priority for philanthropy. She offers five recommendations on what philanthropy can do to challenge inequality.

Rights eroded –  A briefing on the effects of closing space on women human rights defenders: Adopting a human rights perspective, this briefing report by the International Human Rights Law Clinic, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law and the Urgent Action Fund, highlights how women human rights defenders are experiencing closing space. It throws into stark relief the degree to which States are falling short of their obligations under international law to these activists. It offers recommendations to States, the United Nations, and funders on how to address the impacts of closing space on human rights defenders.

New $500 million Co-Impact Fund leverages collaborative philanthropy for systems change: System-level change requires collaboration across a range of partners and it has become clear that a collaborative approach among funders is a critical piece of the puzzle of solving the world’s most pressing problems. Jeff Skoll, Richard Chandler, Bill and Melinda Gates, Dr. Romesh and Kathy Wadhwani, and The Rockefeller Foundation announced the launch of Co-Impact, which will invest $500 million in health, education, and economic opportunity to ignite systems level change in communities across the developing world. Additional core partners will join as co-investors interested in specific initiatives or geographic areas. In addition, a Co-Impact Network will provide a broader group of philanthropists from around the world with an opportunity to contribute, exchange, and learn from Co-Impact’s model.

Learning report on Stars Foundation Impact Awards: The Stars Foundation recently released a learning report that evaluates its Impact Awards programme and gathers lessons learnt from 10 years of administering the programme. Star Impact Awards provide $50,000 of flexible funding, capacity-building support, and publicity to locally led civil society organisations in the Global South. Since 2007, the programme has supported 130 organisations in 41 countries. The report emphasises the value of flexible funding, transparency, and collaboration and makes recommendations to funders wanting to support local civil society in similar ways.

The next Thread will go out on Thursday 18^th January. We would love to hear from you! Please contact Lori Klos by 16^th January if you would like to share announcements, events, or resources for the next issue. 

Jobs and Tenders

Programme Associate – Global Philanthropy Project: The Global Philanthropy Project (GPP) seeks a Programme Associate to provide administrative and programmatic support for the GPP Director and carry out project management, coordination, and administrative duties as assigned. Formally reporting to Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice’s Director of Programmes based in New York, the successful candidate will work most closely with the GPP Director who will oversee the substance of their work. Location: Open. Deadline for applications is 29^th December 2017.

Programme Officer, Global Mental Health Financing – Open Society Foundations: Open Society Foundations’ Public Health Programme is looking for a Programme Officer to develop and implement portfolios of grants to advance the health and human rights of people with lived experience of mental health problems. The Public Health Programme focuses on four interconnected issues in mental health and human rights: global financing for mental health reforms; the influence of the pharmaceutical industry and other private interests in mental health; the mental health and wellbeing of people in high-risk situations, such migrants and people who use drugs; and the establishment of a new enterprise to support the dissemination of models of community inclusion in mental health and disability globally. Location: Budapest, Hungary. Deadline for applications is 26^th January 2018.

Senior Advisor, Art for Justice Fund – Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors: The Art for Justice Fund (A4J) collaborative grantmaking programme is a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. With only 5% of the world’s population, the United States currently detains 25% of the world’s incarcerated population, disproportionately representative of black and Latino men. The A4J programme will fund non-partisan efforts to reduce incarceration rates by 20% in the 10-15 states that have the highest prisoner to general population ratios. The Senior Advisor will maintain a focus to strengthen the impact of the project over its 5-year life, coordinate necessary programmatic and grantmaking resources and establish ongoing, significant donor engagement. Location: New York, United States of America. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

International Human Rights Programme Officer, Disability Rights – Wellspring Advisors: Wellspring Advisors seeks a Programme Officer with experience in disability rights to lead the strategy and implementation of grantmaking focused on advancing the rights of persons with disabilities as part of its International Human Rights programme. The Programme Officer will stay abreast of relevant issues, trends and policy developments, building and maintaining close relationships with grantees, soliciting and reviewing proposals, recommending and evaluating grants, and participating in funder collaborative initiatives. Location: New York, United States of America. Deadline for applications is 5^th January 2018.

Programme Specialist – Open Society Foundations: The Open Society Initiative for Europe (OSIFE) is recruiting a Programme Specialist. The successful candidate will be part of the Governance and Policy Debates unit, and will work on the implementation of the ‘Reclaiming Local Public Spheres in CEE countries’ portfolio. The Programme Specialist will perform a wide range of tasks related to the coordination of OSIFE’s regional offices in Hungary but also contribute to the ‘constituency building’ and ‘community organising’ efforts of the portfolio in other countries of the Visegrad Four portfolio. Location: Budapest, Hungary. Deadline for applications is 30^th December 2017.

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

Public Meetings

ATHENS, GREECE

June 17^th – 23^rd
The 7^th Annual Stavros Niarchos Foundation International Conference: This annual conference brings together speakers from the fields of academia and science, as well as representatives of other foundations and institutions. The aim of the conference is to present best practices, and become the ground for the exchange of ideas and discussion on the developments within the wider field of philanthropy. Each year’s theme varies depending on current challenges, keeping at its core the four program areas of the Foundation: Arts and Culture, Education, Health and Sports, and Social Welfare. The event will take place between 21^st and 23^rd June 2018 in Athens, Greece.

BERLIN, GERMANY

January 21^st – 27^th
Tricky Business – Space for Civil Society in Natural Resources Struggles: Based upon research in India, Mexico, South Africa, and Philippines, the study Tricky Business: Space for Civil Society in Natural Resource Struggles, prepared by ECCHR and the Heinrich Böll Foundation, uncovers patterns and dynamics of shrinking civic spaces in the natural resource arena and elaborates on response strategies. The authors of the study Carolijn Terwindt and Christian Schliemann will present and discuss the findings at this joint event. Another panel, with human rights lawyer Kranti L.C., Executive Director of the Human Rights Law Network, will focus on India; reflecting on the current situation, dilemmas and tentative ways to respond to multiple forms of pressures. The event will take place on 24^th January 2018 in Berlin, Germany. To register, please email event@ecchr.eu.

BARCELONA, SPAIN

June 24^th – 30^th
The Fundamental Course on Venture Philanthropy and Impact Investing: This training course is designed to offer participants who are new to the sector the tool-kit to practice venture philanthropy and impact investing. The course includes three phases; (i) online learning through ESADE’s e-learning platform with readings and exercises, (ii) a two-day residential course in Barcelona, with leading professors and practitioners from the field, and (iii) a final exercise and evaluation part where participants will start consolidating their learning in daily practice. The event will take place between 28^th and 29^th June 2018 in Barcelona, Spain.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

May 27^th – June 2^nd
Culture Matters – Connecting Citizens, Uniting Communities: Our cultural heritage is a bridge from where we have come from to where we are going, a legacy we don’t own but rather borrow from future generations. This is where the unique nature of philanthropy has a major role to play, to ensure that culture is both an asset to be enjoyed in the now and a legacy to be appreciated in the future. In short, culture matters. Taking place during the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage, the 29th EFC AGA and Conference will be a cornerstone of Philanthropy Week – a series of exhibitions, topical sessions and thought-provoking site visits. The event will take place between 29^th and 31^st May 2018 in Brussels, Belgium.

LONDON

February 25^th – March 3^rd
Bond Conference and Awards 2018: The Bond Annual Conference brings together diverse organisations and thinkers to examine the biggest and most pressing issues, trends and challenges facing the development and humanitarian sectors. Whether you’re concerned about the future for NGOs, adapting to global changes, funding and alternative financing, current issues affecting policy and advocacy, strategic partnerships and effective leadership there is something for you in the wide-ranging programme. Join 1,000 INGOS, sector leaders, funders, government, private sector, academics and think tanks. Book using code ARIADNE15 for 15% off the non-member rate. The event will take place between 26^th and 27^th February 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

January 21^st – 27^th
Diversity in Governance – The What, Why and How: Different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences can add considerable value to board discussions and the strategic decisions they make. But diversity on boards is not achieved through a one-off solution, and is not just a tick box exercise. Boards need to proactively step outside their members’ social and business circles when sourcing new candidates – and work hard to engage, nurture and retain a diverse set of trustees once they are on board. This seminar will: examine what it means to have true diversity on a board of trustees; explore what a diverse board can do for an organisation; and offer some ideas on how to increase and maintain diversity on Boards. The event will take place on 22^nd January 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

February 18^th – 24^th
Creating a Theory of Change – An Introduction for Funders: The theory of change approach is well known and used among charities, and now funders are increasingly drawn to its benefits. This training session is designed for grant-makers, corporate funders, and philanthropists who are considering using the tool to guide their work in a more strategic direction. The session will cover what is meant by the concept, how to create a theory of change and decide what form it should take, and then use it to underpin learning and improvement. It will also help participants to assess when it is—and is not—appropriate, and if and how they should encourage grantees to develop their own. The event will take place on 22^nd February 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

January 14^th – 20^th
Turbulent Climate Change – why we need to address injustice: Events such as hurricanes affecting Texas, Florida and Caribbean Islands, wild-fires raging in California and Portugal, and severe monsoon rains in South Asia, bring home the urgency of a people centred, climate justice approach. Mary Robinson will speak at this event hosted by the Ralph Miliband Programme at LSE. The event will take place on 18^th January 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

February 4^th – 10^th
Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70 – Rejuvenate or Retire? At the beginning of the year in which the UDHR’s 70 birthday will be commemorated around the globe, Francesca Klug asks: is the Declaration no longer relevant for our modern world or has its time finally come? The event will take place on 5^th February 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

January 28^th – February 3^rd
The effect of Brexit on the Fight Against Economic Crimes: Organised by the Bingham Centre, this event will seek to address: the kind of challenges Brexit poses for the UK in terms of tackling economic crimes domestically and internationally; the kind of tools that the UK will have at its disposal after Brexit; how the UK’s legal framework will be impacted by Brexit; the EU’s stance on judicial cooperation in criminal matters with the UK after Brexit; whether Brexit will require the UK to negotiate and sign an agreement on judicial cooperation in criminal matters with the EU; and the kind of structural and institutional arrangements that will help the UK be better equipped to address economic crimes after Brexit. The event will take place on 31^st January 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

January 28^th – March 24^th
Human Rights Due Diligence: Built around Ethical Trading Initiative’s Human Rights Due Diligence Framework, this three-day professional-development programme is a practical, interactive way to develop the professional skills and knowledge needed to identify, understand and act on human rights risks. Participants will gain an insight into the different elements of Human Rights Due Diligence and leave equipped with the knowledge and tools to identify and manage human rights impacts in their companies. The course will take place on 8^th February; 1^st March and 20^th March 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

NEW MEXICO, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

October 7^th – 13^th
International Funders for Indigenous Peoples’ 2018 Global Conference: The IFIP invites you to attend its Global Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which will highlight the vibrancy and challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples globally and by the local tribes and Pueblos. A day-long gathering of Indigenous-led Funds, will kick off the pre-conference activities, an opportunity to connect Indigenous funders, engage in peer learning, and advance opportunities for Indigenous Peoples. The conference will also include a funders’ retreat; a space only for funders to come together to reflect on the issues as peers, build relationships, and form collaborations. The event will take place between 7^th and 10^th October 2018 in New Mexico, United States of America. To join the planning committee, please email Ashley Hernandez at ashley@internationalfunders.org.

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

April 8^th – 14^th
International Funders for Indigenous Peoples’ Learning Institute: IFIP is launching its inaugural Learning Institute in New York just before the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and its faculty includes local and global prominent Indigenous leaders. The Learning Institute is a programme for funders, new and seasoned, who would like to grow their knowledge and experience on how to partner with Indigenous leaders, organisations, and communities in ways that respect their rights, cultures and self-determined development. The event will take place between 11^th and 13^th April 2018 in New York, United States of America.

ONLINE 

January 8^th -14^th
Predict a palooza: Civil society forecast 2018: Civil society, our shared space and work for the public good, faces startling new pressures and possibilities in this dynamic, digital age. This virtual roundtable hosted by Digital Impact will look at the trends, opportunities, and risks which are likely to inform and reshape civil society in 2018.  Speakers include Crystal Hayling, Executive Director of the Libra Foundation, Lucy Bernholz, Senior Research Scholar at Stanford PACS and Director of its Digital Civil Society Lab, David Callahan, Founder and Editor of Inside Philanthropy, Julie Broome, Director of Ariadne (European Funders for Social Change and Human Rights) and Trista Harris, Philanthropic Futurist and President of the Minnesota Council on Foundations. The event will take place on 11^th January 2018 between 18:00-19:00 GMT/13:00-14:00 CET.

January 29^th – February 4^th
Financing for Social Impact: How to better support social purpose organisations: The European Venture Philanthropy Association will hold a webinar entitled ‘Financing for Social Impact: how to better support social purpose organisations’ taking place on 31^st January 2018 between 15:00-16:30 (CET). During the webinar you will have the opportunity to get an overview about the latest EVPA report ‘Financing for Social Impact – The Key Role of Tailored Financing and Hybrid Finance’ and to hear from experienced practitioners how funding can be shaped to match the goals of venture philanthropy and social investment (VP/SI) organisations with the financial needs of social purpose organisations. You will also have the chance to know more about how different actors can collaborate to bring more resources into the VP/SI space. Speaker will include Anne Holm Rannaleet, Trustee and Executive Director of IKARE Ltd, Johann Heep, Social Banking Development Manager at ERSTE Group Bank AG and Laura Kromminga, Social Finance Associate at Ashoka UK.  The event will take place on 31^st January 2018 between 15:00-16:30 CET, online.

PARIS, FRANCE

Janvier 7^ème – 13^ème
Rencontres pour une citoyenneté engagée : Créé par huit fondations à la suite de la grande mobilisation citoyenne qui a suivi les attentats de janvier 2015, le Fonds du 11 janvier vous invite à participer à une journée de réflexion et d’échanges en présence de porteurs d’initiatives citoyennes innovantes. L’événement se déroulera le 11 janvier à Paris en France.

SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

February 11^th – 17^th
The Movement of Money: A Changing Landscape of Human Rights Funding: HRFN is launching the first-ever five-year trends analysis in the Advancing Human Rights initiative. Participants are invited to join HRFN as they celebrate this multi-year undertaking and reflect on where the field has been and where it is going. This day-long event will convene members to explore ongoing trends and challenges in human rights funding. The event will take place on 14^th February 2018 in San Francisco, United States of America.

STANFORD, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

February 11^th – 17^th
Data on Purpose – The Promise and Pitfalls of the Connected World: The technologies that connect us and provide unimaginable opportunities to effect positive change can also expose us to potential liabilities and tremendous risks. Stanford Social Innovation Review invite you to a two-day exploration of the macro trends and practical technologies shaping our global society – Stanford Social Innovation Review’s Data on Purpose: The Promise and Pitfalls of the Connected World. The event will take place between 15^th and 16^th February 2018 in Stanford, United States of America.

THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS

January 14^th – 20^th
The Judge – Documentary and Talk: When she was a young lawyer, Kholoud Al-Faqih walked into the office of Palestine’s Chief Justice and announced she wanted to join the bench. He laughed at her. But just a few years later, Kholoud became the first woman judge to be appointed to the Middle East’s Shari’a (Islamic law) courts. ‘The Judge’ offers a unique portrait of Judge Kholoud: her brave journey as a lawyer, her tireless fight for justice for women, and her drop-in visits with clients, friends, and family. With unparalleled access to the courts, ‘The Judge’ presents an unfolding vérité legal drama, with rare insight into both Islamic law and gendered justice. In the process, the film illuminates some of the universal conflicts in the domestic life of Palestine – custody of children, divorce, abuse – while offering an unvarnished look at life for women and Shari’a. The film screening will be followed by a discussion with Nadia Sonneveld, editor of the book ‘Women Judges in the Muslim World: A Comparative Study of Discourse and Practice’. The event will take place on 14^th January 2018 in The Hague, The Netherlands.