Grassroots Organizations Back In The Spotlight
Even before the explosive dismantlement of USAID, resources in the NGO sector have always been scarce and reliant on the goodwill and passion of its workers. In addition, universal problems such as the rising cost of living and inflation have affected the not-for-profit sector: when struggling to survive, many people’s first instincts are to focus their attention on smaller units, such as the families and self-interests, not so-called ‘big issues’.
The result is that NGOs have even fewer resources to deal with ongoing human rights dilemmas in already hostile climates. As Vietnam Rise’s Program Manager, I attended Asia Centre’s Global Democracy Coalition forum in Bangkok in April. I had the opportunity to discuss the state of democracy in Asia and practical details about the ongoing cultural and financial struggles that young people and women face in political participation. Earlier in the year, I convened with hundreds of fellow activists, scholars, technologists at RightsCon 2025 in Taipei and saw a reignition of concerns about China’s digital firewall, transnational repression of Hong Kong activists, and attempts to smuggle information into North Korea via USBs. Notably, Rights Con sessions related to funding, networking with potential funders, and forming collaborations between NGOs working in similar regions were noted to be extremely crowded. The rapidity and enormity of USAID’s dissolution has only further shocked human rights defenders who continue working on worsening problems from authoritarian governments on far fewer resources.
In an increasingly destabilised political and financial environment for NGOs, Two immediate solutions should be considered to help the not-for-profit sector overcome resourcing challenges.
First, discard the zero-sum gain picture of NGOs jostling for their share at a trough of finite international funding. Foreign aid bolsters bilateral trade and cultural exchange between America and the beneficiary country. Similarly, linkages between related local and global movements can strengthen both. For example, Human Rights Watch noted that ‘a strong global movement has improved respect for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people around the world.’ Groups working within similar domains can collaborate to pool their financial and intellectual resources to create a cohesive movement.
Reaching out to other NGOs can also help us understand the different pressures comparable groups may face which puts our own struggles into perspective. In our recent outreach to NGOs based in Kuala Lumpur, I was struck not only by the relative openness of civil society in Malaysia but also how they contended with other challenges. One civil society actor we spoke to mentioned that while activism is permitted, issues relating to LGBT, race, religion and royals were often highly contentious and in some cases taboo. For example, LGBT groups in Malaysia contend with Shariah Law and the penal code 377a (criminalization of "carnal intercourse against the order of nature”), which primarily targets gay men. In response, LGBT groups have tried to overcome religious stigma by calibrating their level of visibility and emphasizing their focus on the common good through the provision of care homes and food distribution.
Second, capitalize on non-financial resources such as soft skills and industry-specific expertise to create streamlined, mutually beneficial systems. For example, the Centre for Digital Resilience’s (CDR) Disinformation Project is working on the Terali project, a helpdesk service for east and southeast Asian human rights defenders to tackle cybersecurity issues. To do this, CDR will link arms with organizations who have deep connections to civil society. These organizations include TibCert (Tibet), Vietnam Rise (Vietnam), and Security Matters (Thailand, Hong Kong, Cambodia, and Malaysia). At the end of June, staff members from these organizations assembled in Chiang Mai to brainstorm and share ideas about how to best maximize user experience and best enhance activists’ digital safety. Not only will these organizations efficiently share services across regions and CDR but also make learning about different types of threats easier and more accessible.
Recent political events have threatened to sideline NGOs. Our programs and regional outreach are our way of bringing grassroots activists and local CSOs back into the spotlight as key movers in their communities.
Vietnam Rise.