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Through the Palme Center’s programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo, civil society has gained greater opportunities to influence policy, strengthen democracy and improve people’s living conditions.
During the 2022–2025 programme period, several partner organisations have contributed to tangible results in the areas of women’s political participation, political accountability and workers’ rights.
With support for organisational development and capacity building, the women’s organisation CAFCO has held its first general assembly in many years and trained newly elected female municipal councillors. Their advocacy work helped increase the proportion of female candidates in the 2023 election from 11.68 to 17 per cent.
The youth movements Filimbi and LUCHA have strengthened grassroots organising and developed new methods to scrutinise and hold local authorities to account.
At the same time, CODELT has contributed to important legislative reforms concerning natural resources, forests and land rights through legal expertise and strategic advocacy.
Through the partner organisation CONAFED, a new solidarity-based social security system has also been established for civil society actors and informal workers. In October 2025, representatives from civil society, trade unions and cooperatives gathered to adopt statutes and elect the leadership for the system, which covers pensions, health protection and survivor’s benefits.
Trade unions have also made progress. For the first time in many years, free and democratic trade union elections have been held in workplaces, strengthening workers’ representation and opportunities for dialogue with employers.
Together, these results demonstrate how a strong civil society can create new opportunities for democracy, social justice and citizen influence in the DRC.
From displacement to self-sufficiency in PalestineIn the Nur Shams refugee camp in the West Bank, a group of displaced women have moved from a state of insecurity and dependency to greater self-confidence and self-reliance.
Through leadership and vocational training, they have strengthened their skills, built networks and begun to formulate their own plans for the future. Over the course of the year, several of the women have been able to start contributing to their families’ livelihoods, create small businesses, and even educate university students in their vocational skills.
The initiative is run by the Palme Center’s partner HDIP, a civil society organisation working to empower marginalised women and young people through education, networking and local advocacy. With a clear grassroots foundation, the organisation mobilises local groups, helps them become active agents of change and to hold decision-makers accountable.
One of the participants is Fatima from Tulkarem.
After taking part in HDIP’s economic empowerment programme, she developed her skills through vocational training and started her own business. With support from the organisation she has also gone from being a participating student to becoming a mentor, educating university students herself.
Fatima’s journey shows how the combination of psychosocial support, education and economic empowerment can transform trauma into agency. Today, she is not only an entrepreneur – but a role model for other women in the camp and proof that even in the shadow of conflict, new opportunities can emerge.
Female politicians forge new alliances in the PhilippinesIn the Philippines, local politics is often characterised by informal networks and personal dependencies, which makes it more difficult for women to gain influence.
The Palme Center’s partner organisation, the Institute of Politics and Governance (IPG), has established the so-called Women Power Hub initiative to strengthen women’s role in politics. In six local communities, female politicians and women’s organisations have begun to collaborate in new ways.
Previously, many worked in isolation, with limited resources and small personal networks. Through this new initiative, these women and organisations now meet regularly to formulate joint political priorities and plan advocacy work together.
IPG has brought together local decision-makers and civil society organisations for education, mentorship and exchanges of experience on gender equality issues and an inclusive governance.
As a result, more women are now acting in a more coordinated manner and with greater knowledge of political processes.
Youth mobilisation paved the way for new female leader in the PhilippinesIn San Jose del Monte, local politics has long been dominated by political dynasties, large campaign budgets and traditional electoral machinery.
In the most recent local election, a new generation of voters showed that politics can also be built from the bottom up. With the support of hundreds of young volunteers, human rights lawyer Atty Ronalyn Pordan succeeded in winning a seat on the city council through a campaign built on dialogue and grassroot mobilisation.
Ronalyn Pordan was no typical candidate. For several years she has, as a lawyer, offered free legal advice to vulnerable groups in for example land- and labour disputes, and cases of violence against women.
When she decided to run in the election, she lacked both financial resources and the backing of a political dynasty. Instead, her campaign was built on a growing a network of young people inspired by her work.
Through the Palme Center’s partner organisation, the Active Citizenship Foundation (ACF), several of the young volunteers received training in how to run so-called grassroots campaigns – campaigns based on dialogue and organisation rather than money. Young activists organized themselves into local teams, went door-to-door, visited small shops and spoke with families in their neighborhoods.
The campaign’s motto became “Kwento, hindi kwarta” – “Stories, not money”.
The campaign quickly grew into a broad movement – the Purple Movement – which symbolised her feminist values and vision of a more inclusive political realm. When the votes were counted, it was clear that the grassroot mobilisation had succeeded. Despite limited resources, Ronalyn Pordan won a seat on the city council. The victory marks more than just an election result.
It shows that young people can change politics through organisation and participation. Today, many of the volunteers continue to work alongside Pordan on issues such as education, social services, youth participation and the protection of vulnerable groups.
Legal Aid strengthen legal protection for trans women in TurkeyIn 2025, Palme Center’s partner organisation Legal Aid helped to strengthen legal protection for trans women subjected to violence and arbitrary arrests. Ahead of Trans Pride Week in Istanbul, the organisation, together with the human rights organisation HRA Istanbul, coordinated on-site legal support during the demonstrations. Lawyers were present as observers and were able to intervene immediately when trans women were arrested.
These efforts led to faster releases and encouraged more trans women who had been subjected to violence to report abuse and initiate legal proceedings. The organisation also documented violations of human rights during arrests and in custody, which strengthened the legal possibilities of pursuing the cases further.
Through joint actions with other human rights organisations, violence against trans women was highlighted through social media, panels and public discussions. Several cases were subsequently raised politically and brought to the attention of the Turkish parliament through questions and interpellations from MPs.
