BAN, Christian Aid Launch ‘Navigating Power’ Amid Growing Civic Space Concerns
By: Marion P. George
The Budget Advocacy Network (BAN), in collaboration with Christian Aid, has officially launched a new advocacy resource titled Navigating Power, positioning it as a strategic tool for civil society organizations (CSOs) operating in increasingly restrictive civic environments.
The launch, held on Thursday, 12 February 2026, at the El Greco Conference Hall in Aberdeen, Freetown, brought together civil society actors, development partners, and public officials at a time when concerns over shrinking civic space continue to dominate both national and global discourse.
BAN Coordinator Abubakarr Kamara described the book as a product of shared learning under Christian Aid Ireland’s Irish Civil Society Partnership for a Better World (ICSP) Programme. He stressed that the publication responds to what he termed an “unprecedented civic space emergency,” where freedoms of association, assembly, and expression are increasingly under pressure worldwide.
According to Kamara, human rights defenders and grassroots oruganizers are facing mounting legal, political, and social constraints, even as inequality, climate challenges, and governance concerns demand stronger civic engagement.
Christian Aid’s Programmes and Partnership Lead, Mattia Koi Dimoh, underscored the urgency of the publication, arguing that civil society is becoming more indispensable not less in moments of democratic strain and social fragmentation.
He emphasized that advocacy is fundamentally about power: who controls budgets, whose voices are prioritized, and which communities remain invisible. The book promotes Political Economy Analysis as a tool for understanding visible, hidden, and informal power structures, encouraging CSOs to go beyond representation toward systemic transformation.
Dimoh further urged organizations to balance boldness with conflict sensitivity, especially when engaging politically sensitive issues. He noted that Sierra Leone’s rapidly shifting political and economic context requires agility, constant reassessment, and multi-level engagement across micro, meso, and macro spheres.
Deputy Auditor General Morie Lansana of the Audit Service Sierra Leone framed change within the broader public interest, calling for stronger collaboration between CSOs, the media, and oversight institutions.
He encouraged sustainable partnerships and community-led initiatives, highlighting ongoing cooperation between his office, civil society, and media actors in addressing audit findings and strengthening accountability mechanisms.
Navigating Power offers practical guidance on pitching advocacy at appropriate governance levels, maintaining legitimacy, and reflecting on strategies across different advocacy spaces. Its launch comes at a moment when debates around governance, transparency, and citizen participation remain highly charged.
Whether the book becomes merely another policy resource or a practical roadmap for reshaping civic engagement in Sierra Leone will depend on how boldly and strategically civil society chooses to use the power it seeks to navigate.
