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ICSF 2023
ICSF 2022
The Indonesia Civil Society Forum (ICSF) is an annual forum to discuss and support issues for civil society and civil society organizations in Indonesia, including at the sub-national level. ICSF convenes national and local civil society activists and government reformists for networking, capacity development, and acknowledgement for innovations and smart practices. ICSF gathers insights and perspectives on the present health of democracy and civil society in Indonesia, key issues, and the roles of civil society to advance inclusive democracy in Indonesia. As one of the pillars of a vibrant democracy, the health of civil society is crucial. Civil society plays a key role in building and strengthening democracy and promoting peaceful development.

Building on the success of the 2018, 2021, and 2022 forums, the fourth Indonesia Civil Society Forum 2023 was held on June 14-15, 2023, on the theme of Civic Space, Capacity, and Sustainability.

ICSF 2022
ICSF 2023 documentation Photo and Video
Around 275 participants and resource persons joined the event from 21 provinces various parts of the country to share their thoughts, perspectives, experiences, and lessons learned. Participants engaged in discussions centering on the civic space, the capacity, and sustainability needs of Indonesian civil society at the national and sub-national level. ICSF 2023 was organized by the USAID-MADANI project in collaboration with INDIKA Foundation and a Steering Committee comprised of CSO experts from development partners and Indonesian civil society who planned the events, identified topics and speakers, and co-finance, with Indonesian CSO hosting breakout discussions.

After two years online, the ICSF 2023 was held in-person at the Aryaduta Hotel in Jakarta on June 14-15, 2023. The format combined two keynote speaker sessions, two panel discussions, and two parallel sessions with five facilitated breakout groups in each session. Special design considerations and technical solutions were used to ensure that the ICSF is interactive, collaborative, and participatory. The Forum was a two-day event.

The focus on the first day, June 14, was on  Inclusive Democracy and Civic Space in a Post-Reformasi Era. While many countries around the world are experiencing profound challenges in managing their democracies, resulting in an increasing in intolerance, social tensions, and authoritarian rule, Indonesia has been less exposed to this type of populism and non-democratic rule. There remains strong support for democracy and regional autonomy. However, as participants at the ICSF 2021 and 2002 noted, the country is not immune to a democratic decline and Indonesia is experiences declining score in international indexes. An increase in the rise of “uncivil society” and challenges to freedoms of association and expression have taken place, leading to a democratic stagnation. Speakers in ICSF 2022 highlighted increasing religious radicalism and social chauvinism that are leading to social intolerance. To avoid a backlash, it is important to maintain the integrity of democratic institutions and popular support for democratic practices, such as regular elections at all levels and effective forms of everyday citizen participation so that the voices of citizens can be heard in policymaking. The first day featured keynotes by Professor Yasonna H. Laoly, Ph.D, Minister of Law and Human Rights and Ms. Bivitri Susanti, Indonesia Jentera School of Law, a panel discussion with prominent panelists, and parallel breakout sessions, highlighted best practices and discussed various aspects of the challenges and opportunities for civil society in Indonesia to strengthen democracy, covered topics such as protecting civic space, peace-building initiatives, civil society preparation for 2024 elections, and protecting the marginalized.

Minister of Law and Human Rights, Prof. Yasonna Laoly Ph.D, giving a speech at he opening of ICSF 2023.
ICSF 2023 documentation Photo and Video
A civil society marketplace and networking dinner was organized on the evening of June 14.

The focus on the second day, June 15, was on Civil Society Organizations Capacity and Sustainability. Since democratic and decentralization reforms in 1998, Indonesian CSOs have both contributed to and benefitted from key democratic achievements. In a democracy, civil society groups uphold respect for the law, for the rights of individuals, and for the rights of other groups to express their interests and opinions, including tolerance and the accommodation of pluralism and diversity. However, during the past ten years, civil society in Indonesia has stagnated or even declined, with the rise of new forms of populist politics. Many CSOs have found it difficult to respond the challenges of the times, such as misinformation, fragmentation, and social polarizations. As discussed at the ICSF 2022, new forms of civil society actions are needed, led by a new generation, and using new forms of communication and social media, to reflect civil society in the 2020s. For CSOs to contribute to putting a brake on further democratic backsliding in Indonesia, national and sub-national CSOs need to continue to build their capacity, including on financial sustainability, which remains elusive for many CSOs, especially at the subnational level. The second day featured a keynote by Nani Zulminarni from ASHOKA, a panel discussion with prominent panelists, and parallel breakout sessions, highlighted best practices and discuss various aspects of the challenges and opportunities for civil society in Indonesia, covering topics such as dealing with a shrinking enabling environment for CSOs, improving the financial sustainability of CSOs, innovations in technology and social media, resource mobilization for CSO and regeneration of civil society and the role of youth.

The ICSF 2023 ended with a closing session providing highlights from panel discussions and the breakout sessions and outline next steps and forms for collaboration, as well as the future of the ICSF after MADANI ends.

Presentation documents can be found here:

  • PUSAD Presentation “Impact of Social Intolerance” at ICSF 2023, 14 June Bahasa
  • LSI Survey Presentation “Attitudes towards Social Tolerance” at ICSF 2023, 14 June Bahasa

Detailed documents can be found here:

Session Briefs for the ten Breakout Sessions in English

Breakout Session English
Group 1: Countering the Misuse of Digital Technology and social Media Session brief 1 Countering the Misuse of Digital Technology and social Media.pdf
Group 2: Civil Society Preparation for 2024 Session brief 2 Civil Society Preparation for 2024.pdf
Group 3: Protecting Civic Space and Tolerance at The National Level: Lesson from C20 Session brief 3 Protecting Civic Space and Tolerance at The National Level: Lesson from C20.pdf
Group 4: Protecting the Marginalized: The Role of Civil Society Session brief 4 Protecting the Marginalized: The Role of Civil Society.pdf
Group 5: Integrating Personal Transformation and Peace Movement Leadership Session brief 5 Integrating Personal Transformation and Peace Movement Leadership.pdf
Group 6: CSO’s Trust and Credibility: Accountability and Transparency Session brief 6 CSO’s Trust and Credibility: Accountability and Transparency.pdf
Group 7: Coalition Building for a Strong Civil Society Session brief 7 Improved Protection of Human Rights for Marginalized Groups.pdf
Group 8: Understanding and Involving Youth: How to Gain Trust and Support from Youth Session brief 8 Understanding and Involving Youth: How to Gain Trust and Support from Youth.pdf
Group 9: Digital Transformation in Fostering Sustainability of Women’s Organizations Session brief 9 Digital Transformation in Fostering Sustainability of Women’s Organizations.pdf
Group 10: Innovation in Resource Mobilization and Capacity Building for CSOs Session brief 10 Innovation in Resource Mobilization and Capacity Building for CSOs.pdf