International Civil Society Centre

The International Civil Society Centre (ICS Centre) is a non-profit organization founded in 2007 in Berlin. The founding was initiated by Peter Eigen, the former chair of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and founder of Transparency International, as well as by Burkhard Gnärig, former CEO of Save the Children International, Greenpeace Germany, and terre des hommes Germany.

The mission of the ICS Centre is to strengthen the influence and resilience of international civil society organizations (ICSOs) and to support people in changing their world for the better. The vision of the Centre is to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to end all forms of poverty, achieve social justice, and combat climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind[2].

The ICS Centre focuses on three core areas:

• Convening: The Centre hosts workshops and conferences where civil society practitioners come together to collaborate and develop solutions collectively.
• Futures and Innovation: Here, research is conducted on the latest innovations and analyzes how these can help ICSOs achieve greater impact. Additionally, future developments that could affect the relevance of civil society are explored.
• Collaboration: The Centre promotes collaboration among various actors in civil society, think tanks, media, business, and politics to pool effective knowledge and capacities[1][2].

A central project of the ICS Centre is the Leave No One Behind Partnership, initiated by a dozen international civil society organizations. This partnership brings together actors from local to international levels to promote a more participatory and inclusive implementation of the SDGs. The goal is to close knowledge gaps about marginalization and promote evidence-based policymaking at national and global levels. The pilot project was launched in five countries and is set to expand to 20 countries[1].

The Centre also advocates for innovation in civil society by publishing an annual report in an interactive multimedia format that shares insights and analyses on innovations in pressing areas. This aims to connect ICSOs with new strategic partners, trendsetters, and implementers at local and global levels to foster reflective analysis and practice that encourages responsive action[1].

The ICS Centre is owned by 14 of the largest international civil society organizations working in the fields of human rights, social justice, humanitarian aid, and environmental protection. These organizations hold equal shares in the Centre and form its highest decision-making body. They meet twice a year to elect members of the board, hear reports on the Centre's work, and approve the budget and audited accounts. The board oversees the management of the organization[1][3].

The Centre is additionally supported by core supporters and affiliate organizations that, while not holding shares, contribute through annual contributions and participation in the Centre's work[3].

The ICS Centre is firmly committed to promoting an inclusive environment within the organization and in all its work. It advocates for diversity, equality, and the elimination of discrimination, upholding the universal principles of human rights. The Centre creates a respectful and harassment-free environment, offers training and development opportunities, and promotes leadership that values human rights. It actively works to represent diverse voices in its initiatives and recognizes the intersectionality of multiple discriminations[2][3].

• 1 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Civil_Society_Centre
• 2 - https://icscentre.org/about-us/our-story/
• 3 - https://icscentre.org/about-us/governance/
• 4 - https://icscentre.org/get-involved/contact/
• 5 - https://icscentre.org/our-work/