In the present day, civil society is witnessing a global trend towards the decline in available civic space, which limits the ability of civil society organizations to effectively exercise their role in achieving sustainable development. This trend includes infringement of individual and collective rights such as freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, demonstration, registration, and access to resources. In practice, this may mean physical assault on activists, their arrest, enforced disappearance, the closure of associations, and the prevention of demonstrations and gatherings. In Arab countries in particular, civil society is facing a significant reduction of civic space. This is mainly due to the political situation in a region witnessing conflicts, a lack of political, economic and social stability, or the return of some regimes to tyranny and dictatorship. This is the main challenge facing civil society organizations in the Arab region, especially at the national level. On the other hand, while the world seeks to achieve the goals of sustainable development and Agenda 2030, the space available to civil society as a partner and stakeholder in the development process is declining as well. Despite Agenda 2030’s aims to recognize the role of various partners in achieving sustainable development and the partnership among them, there are still many practical problems that arise, especially in relation to civil society. These problems hinder the effective participation of civil society in development cooperation. In addition to the political and legislative environments restricting the work of civil society at the national level, there is a decline in the share allocated to development from official development aid (ODA), which now includes humanitarian aid, security, and military spending, in addition to the increasing focus on the role of the private sector at the expense of other development partners.

The decline in the enabling environment for civil society in the Arab region is attributed to many reasons, including the nature of the political systems. Historically, civil society environments ranged between restrictions and prohibitions in countries that lived through periods of military rule and in general under totalitarian regimes. While the ideological character usually dominates the discourse of totalitarian regimes, the security and military character prevails in regimes of a dictatorial and authoritarian nature but the two models do not differ in their dealings with civil society. Most Arab countries range in status between restriction and relative restriction, a situation that allows some space for the work of civil society organizations, so that countries sometimes relax under international pressure, for example, or target a certain type of activity or category of organizations and not others. Finally, there is a situation of partial or relative freedom, which is characteristic of a minority of countries in the region. These regimes have always used various pretexts to legitimize restrictions on civil society: national or revolutionary legitimacy, the existence of other priorities in light of national conflicts, demonizing civil society and accusing it of being a cover for Islamist or leftist agendas, etc. Recently, the pretext of combating terrorism has become essential in limiting civil society's freedom of action and preventing it from accessing resources.

In the context of recognizing the role of various actors and partners in development, and especially civil society, the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND) is involved in monitoring and defending civic space. Our goal is to support the role of civil society in the face of repression and attempts at exclusion and provide an enabling environment for dialogue and influence in the making of development policies. An open civic space is the basis for any kind of development partnership, and it is the ground upon which democratic societies are built. Without it, no kind of participatory or accountability can be expected.

Therefore, the network launched this electronic platform in 2018 to monitor civic space and its most relevant developments, and to keep pace with civil society in its efforts to achieve sustainable development and consolidate human rights. This platform publishes updates and news periodically about the state of civic space at the national and regional levels. It also publishes national and regional reports annually, reflecting a deeper analysis of the reality of civic space. It is also possible to view the most important activities of the network, its members, and partners, in addition to other resources related to civic space on this platform.

The network is also involved in other efforts related to civic space, such as participation in the CIVICUS Monitor, and membership in the CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE), which is concerned with development cooperation and defends an enabling environment for the work of civil society organizations. ANND is always seeking to collaborate with other national, regional and international organizations to involve them in this process, to engage in advocacy at a regional and global level, and to communicate with special rapporteurs and bodies concerned with human rights and freedoms. ANND seeks to respond to the changes related to civic space by organizing campaigns, raising the voice in international and regional forums, and supporting organizations that face restrictions on their work. As a result, monitoring civic space constitutes a first and essential step in the path of defending it.