We are proud to share the inaugural edition of the Connect, Defend, Act! (CDA!) program’s Year in Review. For a program like ours, that advances civil liberties and fights efforts to restrict (digital) civic space, 2025 was a year of great risk and pressure brought by profound global shifts in civic space. We saw authoritarianism gain ground, polarization deepen, and institutions designed to protect accountability put to endless tests. Yet it is within this challenging climate that the CDA! program found its greatest purpose and stood strong against the erosion of democratic values.
Throughout 2025, our work in Colombia, Indonesia, Malawi, and the occupied Palestinian territory countered local manifestations of these global trends. In Malawi, a high-stakes election year tested the limits of inclusive participation, while Indonesia saw a powerful wave of mass mobilization met with increased surveillance and repression. In Colombia, the persistent threat of violence against civic actors remained a grim reality. In the occupied Palestinian territory, the basic right to a civic life continued to be stifled by occupation and conflict.
This Year in Review is a testament to the perseverance and adaptability of our local partners to keep their voices heard and work seen. Despite the tightening grip of repression, CDA! partners refused to be silenced, pivoting their strategies and strengthening their networks to defend civic space against all odds. With determination and coordination, these courageous individuals and organizations have proven that even in the most difficult contexts, collective action is still our most powerful tool.
