13th NGO Directors Summer Retreat Report

The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations held its 13th edition of the Annual NGO Directors Summer Retreat from 22 to 24 November 2023 at Elephant Hills Hotel, Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe. The summer retreat is an annual conference for sharing experiences, collective reflection, and developing innovative strategies to build a vibrant civil society for inclusive development in Zimbabwe. From the previous edition of the Summer Retreat held in 2022, NANGO's work has revolved around developing the skills and capacity of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to articulate and advocate for alternative solutions through strategic narrative changes. This edition emphasized crafting and shaping new narratives that reaffirm the vital role of civil society in addressing people's needs and concerns. It also explored strategies for countering narratives that aim to discredit CSOs, demonise their communities, and restrict civic space. The sessions covered various strategies for reimagining an ideal future, focusing on rebuilding systems that support collective foresight, collaborative scenario planning, and deliberative spaces for envisioning and working towards a stronger civic space. This included creating resource hubs to support CSOs in key competence areas and foster collaboration, along with investing in strengthening local civil society to enhance resilience and build solidarity. To read more, download the attached document.