People in Need

A few months ago, we invited the families of Salwa, Aida, Amina and Mohammed to document their everyday lives in northern using only mobile phones. Through honest and unfiltered recordings, they welcomed us into their homes and shared moments of hardship, resilience and hope after almost 14 years of war.
From cooking and caring for children to learning, laughing and playing together, their stories capture the small human moments that connect us all. Temporary Learning Centres we established with funding from EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid provide children not only with education, but also with a safe place to play, make friends and rediscover hope.
Find out more about our series and read their stories. https://www.peopleinneed.net/throughtheireyes-syrian-families-capture-life-learning-and-hope-in-a-video-series-13485gp #

Flipping the Power Dynamic: Professional Capacity Building for Local CSOs

At our Civil Society Now (CSN) initiative, we work to shift the power dynamic in international development by ensuring local grassroots organisations have the institutional structure required to lead. To achieve this, we provide a comprehensive suite of resources designed to move local partners from sub-grantees to primary recipients of global funding.

A key part of our work is our CSN Global Webinar series. These sessions offer practical, expert-led guidance on the operational complexities of the aid sector—covering everything from financial management and donor compliance to environmental sustainability.

By bridging the gap between local expertise and international standards, we help civil society groups remain resilient and independent while driving sustainable change within their own communities.

Whether you are looking to professionalise your internal processes or strengthen your programme planning, our webinars provide the technical support needed to navigate the global aid system with confidence.

Check out our session: Sustainable Procurement
https://civilsocietynow.org/sustainable-procurement-2/

💔 Zawadi walked with her children for a month and a half through the mountains in eastern DR Congo. She was fleeing armed conflict and violence. When she arrived in Kisongati, she had nothing.

🌽🌾 We gave her seeds and a food package, so now she has hope that her children won’t go to sleep hungry—at least for now.

Read more about how our team People in Need DRC are helping Zawadi get back on her feet with funding from the U.S. government: https://www.peopleinneed.net/despite-the-volatile-security-situation-and-limited-access-we-continue-delivering-aid-in-eastern-dr-congo-13506gp

🌱 From conflict to coffee plantations

On the Philippine islands of Basilan and Sulu, coffee plants were long neglected. Due to years of instability and limited market access, farmers lost faith that coffee could still provide them with a sustainable livelihood.

With funding from the European Union in the Philippines, our team at People in Need Philippines are helping to revive the coffee industry in the Philippines. However, none of this would be possible without the local farmers – Ibrahim Uto and Ajahuli Ahajani tested new agricultural techniques on their own farms first, setting a powerful example for others.

🗨️ " The people here struggled at first. Some husbands and wives even argued," says Ahajani.

But the results didn’t take long to show:
✅Coffee prices per kilo have increased
✅The region is no longer known for unrest, but for excellent coffee
✅Local people have reclaimed their livelihoods

☕ Read how coffee is bringing prosperity and peace back to the region:

Community Champions reviving coffee farming On the islands of Basilan and Sulu, coffee was a quiet casualty of conflict. Farms were abandoned, trees left untended.

War not only robs children of their safety, but also of their daily routine, social interactions, and sense of stability. The loss of educational opportunities is one of the most painful consequences of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

With the support of EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid, our team People in Need Ukraine are helping schools in five oblasts of Ukraine. Tutors are helping children catch up with their maths, Ukrainian, and English studies, while school shelters are being repaired and the psychological resilience of pupils, parents and teachers is being strengthened.

Read about those who, despite everything, continue teaching and learning: https://ukraine.peopleinneed.net/en/knowledge-to-overcome-fear-giving-ukrainian-school-children-back-their-future-13480gp

After another massive Russian attack on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine, many families across the country—including our colleagues—faced damaged homes, frightened children, sleepless nights, and the unending exhaustion of living under constant attacks.

And yet, as with every other attack, the people returned to work, took their children to school, checked in on loved ones, and life carried on.

This article captures what life in Ukraine looks like today after yet another night of bombing. Through the lens Albert Lores, see the destruction wrought on Ukrainians, but also their resilience as they have adapted to this reality.

Read more:

Another Night of Terror for Kyiv Civilians, Homes, and Infrastructure Hit in Massive Russian Attack

💡 At Civil Society Now (CSN), we are an initiative by People in Need that provides a digital platform designed to strengthen the institutional capacity of local CSOs. We work to "flip the power dynamic" in the international development sector by enabling grassroots groups to move from sub-grantee roles to becoming primary recipients of international donor funding.

We provide our members with standardised operational resources, including templates and training modules focused on financial management, donor compliance, monitoring and evaluation, and safeguarding. Additionally, the initiative facilitates technical support through peer learning sessions, consultancy services, and advisory clinics, ensuring local organisations meet the professional requirements of the global aid system.

🔎However, for non-members, we maintain a repository of accessible resources intended for general use. These include open-access policy templates, procedural guides, and introductory training materials. These tools allow you to align your internal structures with international standards and improve operational efficiency independently.

🔗For example, take a look at our Saving Energy in Your Offices: https://civilsocietynow.org/eco-friendly-waste-management-2/