Civil engagement in donor countries

In the context of shifting geopolitics, changing narratives around humanitarian action and declining funding, reflection is happening on the diverse roles different humanitarian actors have. A recent report by ICVA outlines the complementarity of various actors in the system. In the present context, some INGOs are exploring specifically how to strengthen their financial and political support base in the donor countries where their headquarters are based.

This session explores how organisations fulfil this role. It will present research on how the landscape is shifting and in which ways INGOs are engaging with their constituencies, and it will look at the history of creating ‘draagvlak’ (support) in the Netherlands. Thee INGOs will show their specific approaches: the thrift shop network of Dorcas, the Red Line demonstrations by MSF and the in-house team for fundraising by Stichting Vluchteling. Particpants will be able to engage clinic-style with these different modalities, to walk away with inspiration adn practical advise.

The first session in this series on ‘The role of INGOs in a localised system‘ concluded that a future role for INGOs is shaped differently. It should be smaller, less focused on implementation and more as ‘connectors’: fund managers, risk absorbers, technical support providers. In addition, a key function of the role is about exerting influence: global political advocacy, defending humanitarian principles, sustaining public support for humanitarian action in donor countries, and fundraising. This session dives deeper into how these roles are shaped.

Objectives of the session:

• Informing on various approaches to strengthening international solidarity in donor countries, historically and practically
• Inspire through examples on how INGOs engage constituencies in the Netherlands
• Explore novel opportunities for engagement within or across INGOs

• Sara Kinsbergen, Professor Cultural Anthropology & Development Studies, Radboud University
• Sera Koolmees, Senior Communications Officer, Partos
• Cyrille Koolhaas, Head of Fundraising, Stichting Vluchteling
• Pamela Hajal, Humanitarian Aid Expert, Strategic Program Advisor, Dorcas
• Erik Laan, Head of Policy Representation & Advocacy, MSF

As with all KUNO sessions, anyone working in or alongside the humanitarian field is welcome. This session, however, may also be particularly relevant to those working at communications or fundraising departments of humanitarian organisations.

Please register via this form.

Read more about this series here.

Other sessions in this series:

• Session 1 (on 12-02-’26 – please see report) – Scenarios for humanitarian systems 
• Session 3 – Futuring: what roles for INGOs are conceivable in a more localised system?