Mappings, Analysis and Knowledge Product Development on Civic Space and Local Democratic Governance

Experts for Team Europe Democracy is a strategic project supporting the EU’s collective efforts to strengthen civic space and local democratic governance worldwide. On behalf of Enabel, the Belgian Development Agency, the project delivered a comprehensive mapping and analysis of initiatives across both online and offline civic space and local democratic governance, led by EU institutions and the 14 Team Europe Democracy (TED) Member States.

The work systematically identifies ongoing and planned actions by DG INTPA, DG NEAR, the EEAS and selected EU Delegations, highlighting best practices, fostering mutual learning, and pinpointing concrete opportunities for stronger coordination and joint action across Team Europe.

Building on this mapping, the project developed a high-value knowledge product that synthesises the findings with existing work from TED Working Group 2 (political and civic participation), including reports and webinars. Together, these outputs translate evidence into actionable insights, helping Team Europe actors align strategies, amplify impact, and more effectively support democratic actors on the ground.

Key deliverables include:

• A detailed internal mapping report for EU and Member State stakeholders
• An accessible knowledge product designed to inform, inspire and guide a broader audience

European democracy support is facing growing challenges, from shrinking civic space and democratic backsliding to declining development funding and increasingly complex operating environments.

This policy brief is the final output of an assignment commissioned by Enabel in 2025. It examines how European actors can respond more effectively to challenges facing civic space and local democratic governance.

The brief highlights gaps in current approaches and identifies practical opportunities for stronger coordination, more adaptive support and better use of existing European mechanisms, including Team Europe and the Global Gateway.

Drawing on research, analysis and case studies, it provides actionable recommendations for European institutions, Member States and other actors seeking to translate democratic commitments into more coherent and effective action.