Civil Society
A reading of the reality of Palestinian civil-society organisations, the challenges of civic work, and the future of advocacy and services.
A reading of the reality of Palestinian civil-society organisations, the challenges of civic work, and the future of advocacy and services.
Key recommendations
- Review the associations law to guarantee freedom of establishment and simplify registration.
- Create a joint Palestinian fund for civil society, governed by representatives of the organisations themselves.
- Build a digital coordination platform so organisations can share data and avoid duplication.
At a glance
- Organisations at risk of closure through funding obstacles — 38%
- Organisations that improved administrative transparency in 2025 — 55%
Timeline
- October 2025 — Palestinian Civil Society Index 2025 — A comprehensive assessment of 340 civil society organisations in the West Bank and Gaza.
- May 2025 — Report: the consequences of the new associations law — A legal and institutional analysis of the risks the law poses to organisational independence.
- January 2025 — The 'Our Right to Organise' campaign — A coalition of 60 civil society organisations defending the right to organise and assemble peacefully.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the main challenges facing Palestinian civil society? — Volatile external funding, mounting legal restrictions on registration and operation, difficulty reaching the Gaza Strip, and competing priorities between protection and development in the current context.
- How can civil society survive financially? — The clearest models for sustainability are diversifying between external and local funding, building reserve funds, and developing paid services consistent with the institutional mission.
- What is civil society's role in the post-war period? — A central role in delivering community services where government cannot, advocating for the rights of those affected, and monitoring public spending and the governance of reconstruction.