The Civic Resilience Programme responds to the shrinking of civic space worldwide and the urgent need to safeguard and expand the ability of civil society to act. Authoritarian regimes restrict freedom of association, assembly, and expression, while civic actors face intimidation, criminalisation, and violence. Independent media is under attack, and disinformation is deliberately deployed to undermine trust, polarise societies, and silence critical voices. In this context, the programme strengthens communities’ resilience, supporting their ability not only to withstand pressures but also to innovate, grow, and shape their own narratives.

Central to the Civic Resilience Programme is the defence and extension of civic space, both offline and online. In partnership with local organisations and independent media partners, the programme works to counter disinformation, strengthen media freedom, and build trustworthy, community-rooted information ecosystems. Through collaborative strategies, JustPeace partners co-develop tools for secure communication, cross-border solidarity networks, and participatory civic education.

Special emphasis is placed on digital civic space, which offers youth and marginalised communities opportunities to connect, mobilise, and shape public debate. In 2025, JustPeace began building a network of youth-led organisations that resist the narrowing of digital civic space by governments and transnational corporations. The network is now seeking funding to expand exchange and peer-to-peer learning across regions, enabling local actors to share innovations, address challenges, and strengthen collective strategies against repression. It is also advancing initiatives in media literacy and collaborative monitoring of disinformation. Members plan to present their approaches at international platforms such as RightsCon 2026 in Zambia.