Flexible Support Mechanism Programme (FSM)

The Flexible Support Mechanism programme intends to support civil society across 86 countries by preventing efforts to restrict the enabling environment for civil society. The programme is linked to a programme hosted by our partner organization, HIVOS that is designed to address restrictions and act on opportunities on the enabling environment: Early Warning Mechanism. Both components include a strong advocacy dimension both at national and international level in order to galvanise supporters around the globe and mobilise financial assistance to activists who are protecting and promoting civic space.

Oxfam Novib leads the Flexible Support Mechanism (FSM) programme, which provides flexible financial support for civil society. The mechanism supports civil society to advocate for a sustained enabling environment, develop resilience and also provides opportunities for civil society to capitalise on positive developments within operating environments. The programme is implemented together with Protection International, CIVICUS and Urgent Action Fund Latin America and the Caribbean.

Strategies

Following our shared values, feminist principles and human rights-based approaches, we will put the voices and efforts of a broad range of CSAs at the centre of our action. The FSM will target approximately 640 different civil society actors, including formal and informal CSOs, networks, alliances, collectives and individuals engaged in defending and strengthening their enabling environment. The consortium will prioritise applicants that are typically excluded from, or are for various reasons, unable to access existing sources of funding and urgently need resources, including women, youth, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ people, groups of indigenous communities or protecting the environment and common goods, and particularly self-led groups or organisations.

The FSM will allow grantees to apply to different funding modalities bridging different needs and strengthening their capacity to respond and adapt to a changing environment. For example, a collective could apply for a short-term sudden opportunity fund to implement an action and later on apply for a preventive and proactive medium-term fund for a more structured follow-up of that action.