Capacity Gap Analysis of Civil Society Organisations Working Against Violent Extremism in Indonesia and South East Asia

Abstract

This chapter examines the findings of three annual capacity gap analysis surveys of civil society organisations (CSOs) belonging to the SEAN-CSO network (South East Asian Network of Civil Society Organisations working against violent extremism), which is a network that brings together key regional civil society organisations working on P/CVE-related initiatives. The findings represent a window into the current workings of CSOs engaged in P/CVE work in South East Asia. The surveys found that Indonesian CSOs reported to having relationships with a relatively large number and variety of partners, compared to the CSOs operating in other South East Asian countries. This is significant because access to stable, sustained funding appears to represent one of the greatest challenges faced by CSOs in this space. Foreign partners are best placed to provide resources to launch sustainable initiatives in the P/CVE space (e.g. social enterprise), and to collaborate on research initiatives. But for some CSOs in sensitive contexts collaboration with foreign entities can also undermine relationship with communities. Although CSOs work extensively with government, there is much room to improve relationships between CSOs and governments in South East Asia. This is the case in all four countries considered; however, Malaysia and Thailand in particular have reported the least positive relationships.