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The NGO Directors Summer Retreat, hosted annually by NANGO, is a flagship event dedicated to fostering experience-sharing, collective reflection, and co-creating innovative solutions to address challenges faced by civil society, non-state actors, and the general public in Zimbabwe. Convened in collaboration with CSOs, development partners, private sector representatives, and state actors, the 14th edition brought together 128 delegates, including local and international CSO leaders, government representatives, and key stakeholders from across Zimbabwe and beyond.
This year's retreat opened with a conference foresight session, setting the stage for engaging discussions and a shared understanding of key priorities. Over two-and-a-half days of dynamic dialogue, participants explored pressing challenges and emerging opportunities within the civic space. The first day focused on two critical sub-themes: "Reflection on the State of CSOs Operating Environment in 2024" and "Shifting Spaces for Strengthening Civic Voice and Participation." These sessions provided a platform for strategic insights and actionable solutions to enhance civic engagement and amplify civil society’s role in governance and development.
To gain deeper insights, download the full report here:
NANGO successfully hosted the 14th Edition of the Annual NGO Directors Summer Retreat from 23 to 25 October 2024 at Troutbeck Resort Hotel, Nyanga, Zimbabwe. This annual gathering provides a platform for CSO leaders to engage in collective reflection, experience sharing, and strategic planning to strengthen civil society in Zimbabwe. With 143 participants from across the country, this year's retreat took place against the backdrop of an evolving civic space, marked by the passage of the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill and increasing restrictions on CSO operations.
The retreat emphasized the need for CSOs to adapt and respond to a broader spectrum of challenges, including economic instability, climate concerns such as the looming El Niño-induced drought, and rising social ills like drug and substance abuse. Discussions centered on navigating the regulatory landscape, strengthening advocacy efforts, and fostering an enabling environment for civil society. Participants also explored strategies for countering narratives that discredit CSOs while reinforcing their role in good governance and inclusive development.
As a key outcome, the retreat produced a comprehensive action agenda and resolution blueprint, outlining strategies to safeguard civic space, enhance accountability, and amplify collective impact. NANGO and its members remain committed to championing sustainable development, good governance, and the resilience of Zimbabwe’s civil society sector. This document serves as a guiding framework to drive strategic interventions and ensure a united, impactful, and empowered civil society movement in Zimbabwe.
The 14th NGO Directors Summer Retreat is a flagship event bringing together visionary leaders and key stakeholders from civil society organizations across Zimbabwe and beyond. Hosted under the theme "Empowering Civil Society to Navigate Evolving Landscapes for Collective Impact," this program provides a platform to engage, collaborate, and strategize for transformative change.
Participants will delve into pressing topics, including governance, sustainability, digital transformation, and innovative approaches to tackling socio-economic challenges. Through thought-provoking plenary sessions, interactive workshops, and dynamic panel discussions, the retreat aims to empower leaders to adapt to changing contexts, strengthen partnerships, and foster collective impact.
This year’s program features renowned keynote speakers, insightful case studies, and ample networking opportunities to foster meaningful connections. Together, we will chart a course for a resilient and thriving civil society that champions inclusive development and equitable progress.
Join us at the 14th NGO Directors Summer Retreat—where leadership meets innovation for a better future.
Government budget decisions – what taxes to levy, what services to provide, and how much debt to take on – have important consequences for all people in society. When governments provide information and meaningful channels for the public to engage in these decisions, we can better ensure public money is spent on public interests.
The Open Budget Survey (OBS) is the world’s only independent, comparative and fact-based research instrument that uses internationally accepted criteria to assess public access to central government budget information; formal opportunities for the public to participate in the national budget process; and the role of budget oversight institutions, such as legislatures and national audit offices, in the budget process.
The survey helps local civil society assess and confer with their government on the reporting and use of public funds. This 9th edition of the OBS covers 125 countries. Visit www.internationalbudget.org/open-budget-survey for more information, including the full OBS methodology, the 2023 Global Report, findings for all surveyed countries, and the Data Explorer.
The 13th edition of the Annual NGO Directors Summer Retreat, hosted by the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations, took place from November 22nd to 24th, 2023, at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. This annual gathering serves as a platform for sharing experiences, engaging in collective reflection, and devising innovative strategies aimed at cultivating a vibrant civil society conducive to inclusive development in Zimbabwe.
Building upon the momentum generated in the previous year's retreat, held in 2022, NANGO has been steadfast in its efforts to enhance the skills and capacities of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). These efforts have been directed towards empowering CSOs to articulate and advocate for alternative solutions through strategic narrative shifts.
This year's retreat placed a significant emphasis on the crafting and shaping of new narratives that underscore the indispensable role of civil society in addressing the needs and concerns of the people. Moreover, it delved into strategies aimed at countering narratives designed to undermine CSOs, vilify their communities, and constrict civic space.
For further insights, we invite you to download the attached Action Agenda document.
The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations held its 13th edition of the Annual NGO Directors Summer Retreat from 22 to 24 November 2023 at Elephant Hills Hotel, Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe. The summer retreat is an annual conference for sharing experiences, collective reflection, and developing innovative strategies to build a vibrant civil society for inclusive development in Zimbabwe. From the previous edition of the Summer Retreat held in 2022, NANGO's work has revolved around developing the skills and capacity of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to articulate and advocate for alternative solutions through strategic narrative changes. This edition emphasized crafting and shaping new narratives that reaffirm the vital role of civil society in addressing people's needs and concerns. It also explored strategies for countering narratives that aim to discredit CSOs, demonise their communities, and restrict civic space.
The sessions covered various strategies for reimagining an ideal future, focusing on rebuilding systems that support collective foresight, collaborative scenario planning, and deliberative spaces for envisioning and working towards a stronger civic space. This included creating resource hubs to support CSOs in key competence areas and foster collaboration, along with investing in strengthening local civil society to enhance resilience and build solidarity.
To read more, download the attached document.
14th-NGO-Directors-Summer-Retreat-Consolidated-Report.pdf