14 May 2025 –
Pablo Herrera

A strong sense of resilience, hope and determination was felt amongst the participants of the 19th Regional Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) of the UNCAC Coalition, held on April 30, 2025. Civil society organizations (CSOs) from across the region came together to share stories and experiences of their work that demonstrated an unrelenting adaptability to the shrinking civic space, funding cuts and institutional setbacks currently rippling across the globe. As one speaker put it, “we take our local struggles to the global stage, and bring global support back to our local struggles”.

This post shares key insights and strategies from the meeting and reflects on how CSOs are adapting, collaborating, and pressing on in the fight against corruption.

Challenges in a shrinking civic space

In our last Annual Activity Survey, respondents exhibited the ways CSO capacity has been affected by freezes from key donors and aid cuts. This decline in funding has led to tightened budgets and reduced operations and workforce, causing the sudden termination of programs and the need to find new resources. 

The shrinking civic space is also affected by restrictive laws, as shown by Venezuela’s 2024 “NGO oversight” law and Peru’s recent bill which limits foreign-funded NGOs. This is part of a growing trend of state control with similar measures implemented in Mexico, Paraguay, Nicaragua, El Salvador and elsewhere. These restrictions and systemic obstacles to civic space are not compliant with UNCAC frameworks.

The deformation of the institutional framework due to corruption has become a strategy of several States. The Mexican senate’s ruling to extinguish the National Institute on Access to Public Information (INAI) – is one example shared during the meeting that highlights how institutional rollbacks further weaken accountability. INAI was an autonomous constitutional body recognized for its role in promoting transparency and access to information, as well as protecting personal data, and was considered essential both domestically and internationally. Attacks to institutional bodies are on the rise, with specialized anti-corruption institutions facing political interference and budget cuts, and defenders becoming increasingly under threat. Weakened anti-corruption frameworks endanger individuals but also signal to the public that speaking out against corruption can carry heavy personal costs. These setbacks embolden corrupt actors and deepen impunity.

Despite this bleak panorama, the message from the regional meeting was clear: civil society is not giving up.

Resilience and impact amid adversity

98% of the survey respondents reported successful advocacy or project outcomes in 2024 – proof that impact remains possible. These wins spanned policy change, community empowerment, and legal victories.

In the Dominican Republic, civil society technical expertise provided by the Open Data Charter helped the government launch a revamped open data portal that publishes crucial anti-corruption information – from political party financing to public officials’ asset declarations. By proactively opening up data, this initiative empowers citizens and journalists to scrutinize potential corruption and improve transparency in governance. Meanwhile, in Paraguay, Semillas para la Democracia through its “CREER” project, trained dozens of journalists, activists, and academics to trace dirty money in electoral campaigns, while partnering with private sector and different stakeholders. The project led to multiple reports being filed to electoral authorities, exposing links between organized crime and political financing.

The impact of community-led oversight in promoting electoral integrity was also demonstrated by the Transparency International chapter in Guatemala  in collaboration with its Social Auditing School. A leading project of 580 graduates as Social Auditors served as a tool for citizen legal advice, investigation and accountability. This led to a major legal victory in Totonicapán, a city in Guatemala, where Acción Ciudadana successfully triggered a rerun of the election for the Departmental Development Council after exposing politically-motivated manipulation. As César Vega, General Coordinator of Acción Ciudadana noted, even when institutional allies fall silent, civil society keeps the anti-corruption agenda alive.

Adapting and collaborating to keep the fight alive

How have groups persevered? Collaboration has been essential. Facing pressure, CSOs have built alliances to share resources and amplify their impact. Regional networks and platforms have become lifelines, and exchanges have proven invaluable in this regard. Additionally, international frameworks like the UNCAC, provide crucial support and legitimacy for local advocacy. 

Article 13 of the UNCAC explicitly calls on governments to promote active participation of society in preventing and fighting corruption. Natalia Carfi, Executive Director of the Open Data Charter and UNCAC Coalition board member, shared how that principle of collaboration took shape in practice through the Inter-American Open Data Program (PIDA). In countries like the Dominican Republic, ODC has worked as an essential technical assistance partner with governments and civil society to co-develop data sets and policies focused on corruption prevention. For Carfi, this kind of cooperation across sectors and borders is vital. She states: “Working through shared agendas like PIDA shows that data is not just about transparency – it’s about building trust and enabling action”. Armed with UNCAC commitments, activists can hold their governments accountable not only to national laws but also to global standards. In other words, being part of a regional and international community has enabled LAC CSOs to exchange best practices, gain new skills, and present a united front.

Cross-sector solidarity was emphasized by Marta Ferrera, Executive Director of Semillas Para la Democracia, who stressed that building broad coalitions domestically can create powerful constituencies for reform. Across borders, CSOs are coordinating through platforms like the UNCAC Coalition’s LAC network and the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption’s civil society forum, creating peer support in a time of crisis.  Activists are creating informal civic spaces—online forums, community meetings, storytelling initiatives—to stay engaged when governments block access. Innovation becomes key and global advocacy a lifeline. “Más fuertes juntxs” is not just a slogan—it reflects the lived experience of organizations adapting under pressure and helping each other endure. 

As a result of these adaptive strategies, LAC’s anti-corruption civil society has managed to thrive in adversity. The meeting was, in a sense, a celebration of that tenacity. “We refuse to retreat,” said César Vega resolutely, capturing the collective mindset.

Strengthening efforts and looking ahead

The final part of the session turned toward the future – how the UNCAC Coalition and its members will continue strengthening civil society in the region based on the needs identified and shared priorities:

• Defend civic space: The Coalition will operationalize its rapid response protocol for at-risk groups and advocate for protective language at CoSP11. Ensuring CSO participation at the conference is also a key goal, ensuring the defense of civic space remains a core pillar of the Coalition’s strategy.

• Expand expertise and training: To address capacity gaps, the Coalition will ramp up knowledge-exchange programs through regional workshops and peer-learning sessions that will help fill capacity gaps. Cross-border collaboration is an important way to strengthen the exchange of resources and expertise.

• Disseminate  funding opportunities and establish partnerships: The Coalition will help members identify new funding opportunities, support consortium building, and raise awareness of the civil society sector’s financial crisis.

Each action point aims to empower civil society at the local level – where the fight against corruption takes root. By defending civic space, building skills, and securing resources, the coalition is effectively fortifying the frontlines of the anti-corruption movement across the hemisphere.

With CoSP11 on the horizon in December 2025, LAC CSOs are preparing to bring their experiences and demands to the conference in Qatar. In the coming months, the Coalition and its members will host public webinars, release reports, and run campaigns to amplify the call for an inclusive, transparent and effective anti-corruption agenda for CoSP11 and beyond.

 The UNCAC Coalition and its members are marching united, and they welcome allies to march alongside them towards a more transparent and just future.