Abstract

For over a decade, the “shrinking civic space” has been the dominant framework for analysing state-society relations, a narrative given urgent validation in Zimbabwe by the 2025 enactment of the restrictive Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Act. This paper argues, however, that a focus on domestic repression alone is insufficient, as Zimbabwean civil society confronts a dual crisis created by the convergence of this legislative assault with the simultaneous withdrawal of international donor funding. Moving beyond the “shrinking” metaphor, this study contends that this crisis is not merely closing civic space but is fundamentally reshaping it, catalysing a painful but necessary reckoning with the vulnerabilities of a professionalised, donor-dependent NGO/CSO model. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 30 young Zimbabwean activists conducted between April and June 2025, the paper explores the adaptive strategies emerging from this contested terrain. The findings reveal a significant strategic pivot away from national-level advocacy towards localised, community-driven organising. Activists are demonstrating significant resilience by creating informal pockets of democracy and adopting fluid, infrapolitical tactics in place of formal protest. This paper concludes that this moment of crisis, is forcing a potentially transformative re-evaluation of activism, leading to the emergence of a more locally grounded, agile, and arguably more authentic form of civic engagement in Zimbabwe.

Keywords: Civic Space, Zimbabwe, Youth Activism, PVO Amendment Act, Donor Funding, Social Movements, State-Society Relations, Infrapolitics

ABSTRACT

This study examines the complex role of campaigning NGOs in fostering sustainable
livelihoods within Zimbabwe's challenging socio-political landscape. Focusing on ActionAid
Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association, and the Zimbabwe Coalition on
Debt and Development, the research employs a qualitative, multiple-case study approach,
drawing on document analysis, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions across
six districts. Grounded in an integration of the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework and Political
Process Theory, the study develops a new, context-specific Campaigning NGOs Sustainable
Livelihoods Framework (CNGO-SLF) to analyse the intricate interplay between advocacy
efforts and livelihood outcomes. Findings reveal that while these NGOs contribute to raising
awareness, influencing policy, and building community resilience, a critical disconnect exists
between their advocacy work and sustained, tangible improvements in livelihoods. This gap
is attributed to factors including inconsistent policy implementation, limitations of project-based
funding, challenges of attribution, and a restrictive political environment. Communities
acknowledge the value of NGO interventions in enhancing their understanding of
vulnerabilities and fostering livelihood diversification, yet express concerns about transient
engagement and the need for longer-term support. The study concludes that while
campaigning NGOs are vital actors, their effectiveness hinges on a holistic, long-term, and
context-specific approach that bridges the gap between advocacy and tangible change,
fostering genuine community ownership. The proposed CNGO-SLF offers a tool for navigating
these complexities. Recommendations are provided for NGOs, communities, the government,
and donors, emphasising collaboration, sustained engagement, and addressing structural
constraints. This research contributes to a nuanced understanding of campaigning NGOs in
development, offering theoretical and practical insights for fostering social justice, equitable
resource access, and community resilience in Zimbabwe and similar contexts.