International Civil Society Centre

What International Civil Society Centre does

The International Civil Society Centre is a Berlin-based non-profit support organisation (gGmbH) founded in 2007 by Peter Eigen and Burkhard Gnärig. It is co-owned by 16 of the world's largest international civil society organisations (ICSOs), including Oxfam, CARE, Plan International, Sightsavers, HelpAge, CBM, World YWCA, and others, each providing annual unearmarked core funding and governance oversight through a twice-yearly shareholders' meeting and a 12-seat Board of Trustees. Its mission is to keep the international civil society sector resilient, relevant, and forward-looking through leadership support, civic-space defence, futures and foresight work, and citizen-data initiatives serving marginalised communities.

The Centre delivers its work through a portfolio of convening formats and programmatic initiatives rather than commercial products. Flagship convenings include the Global Perspectives conference (since 2009), the Vision Works CEO retreat (since 2008), Leading Together, the International Civic Forum, the Digital Dialogue series with the Civic Tech Innovation Network, and invitation-only Global Chairs and Curated Conversations. Programmatic initiatives include the Leave No One Behind Partnership (active in eight countries with national lead organisations), the Solidarity Action Network (SANE), Scanning the Horizon (a collaborative trend-scouting platform originally funded by the Rockefeller Foundation in 2015), and Futures of Localisation. Knowledge is disseminated through a Knowledge Hub of reports, guides, and toolkits.

Revenue is generated through four streams: annual core contributions from the 16 ICSO shareholders, contributions from four core supporters (ActionAid, WaterAid, Wikimedia Deutschland, World YMCA), multi-year institutional grants from foundations and bilateral donors (SIDA, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Ford, Rockefeller, William and Flora Hewlett, Deutsche Postcode Lotterie, Deutsche Stiftung für Engagement und Ehrenamt), and membership/event fees plus sector consultancies. No products or services are sold commercially; financial figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

International Civil Society Centre

Legal name

International Civil Society Centre gGmbH

Website

https://icscentre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Civil Society Centre is a Berlin-based non-profit, co-owned by 16 international civil society organisations, that provides leadership support, convening, civic-space defence, futures thinking, and citizen-data initiatives for the global ICSO sector.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Society Sector Support Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space (BPADAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

Keywords

• Civil society support
• Leadership convening
• Programmatic initiatives
• Futures thinking
• Peer exchange networks

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Core support from shareholders: Annual contributions from 16 shareholder organisations (ICSOs) who own the Centre and provide unearmarked flexible funding for operations and strategic projects.
2. Core supporter contributions: Annual financial contributions from core supporters (ActionAid International, WaterAid International, Wikimedia Deutschland, World YMCA) who actively participate but hold no ownership.
3. Institutional donor grants: Major grants from foundations including Swedish Agency for Development Cooperation (SIDA), Robert Bosch Stiftung, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Deutsche Postcode Lotterie, Deutsche Stiftung für Engagement und Ehrenamt.
4. Membership and event fees: Income from membership fees and participation fees for events and communities, plus sector consultancies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The International Civil Society Centre is a Berlin-based non-profit support organization that convenes civil society leaders through flagship events (Global Perspectives, Vision Works, International Civic Forum, Leading Together), delivers programmatic initiatives (Leave No One Behind Partnership, Solidarity Action Network, Scanning the Horizon, Futures of Localisation), and produces knowledge resources via its Knowledge Hub. The Centre operates as an independent intermediary owned by 16 of the world's largest international civil society organisations, providing peer exchange, strategic foresight, leadership support, and capacity building for the global civil society sector.

Product overview

The International Civil Society Centre provides a portfolio of convening formats, programmatic initiatives, and knowledge resources for the international civil society sector. The core offerings include flagship events (Global Perspectives conference, Vision Works CEO retreats, International Civic Forum, Leading Together, Digital Dialogue series), programmatic initiatives (Solidarity Action Network, Leave No One Behind Partnership, Scanning the Horizon, Futures of Localisation), and a Knowledge Hub with publications and toolkits. The Centre operates as a platform for peer exchange, strategic foresight, and collaborative action rather than a traditional software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Solidarity Action Network (SANE): Network that strengthens resilience and solidarity among civil society actors when faced with civic space restrictions
• Leave No One Behind Partnership
• Scanning the Horizon
• Futures of Localisation
• Vision Works
• Global Perspectives
• Digital Dialogues

Products and services

• Global Perspectives Conference The Centre's annual flagship conference inviting leaders and innovators from ICSOs, politics, business and the wider sector to explore key and emerging civil society trends. Open to all participants.
• Vision Works Annual leadership retreat for chief executives and Board Chairs of international civil society organisations, providing headspace to catch up on sector trends, peer support, and collaboration opportunities.
• Leading Together Annual event bringing together senior leaders from international civil society organisations for peer learning, collaboration, and strategic dialogue on key sector challenges.
• International Civic Forum
• Digital Dialogue Series Key platform for civil society organisations worldwide to discuss topics related to digital technology and its impact on civil society. Conducted in collaboration with Civic Tech Innovation Network (CTIN).
• Leave No One Behind Partnership Global platform of 100+ organisations using community-driven data to ensure marginalised groups are visible, heard, and included in decision-making. Active in eight countries.
• Solidarity Action Network (SANE) Network working to strengthen resilience and foster solidarity among civil society when faced with civic space restrictions. Includes International Civic Forum, cybersecurity resources, and solidarity playbook.
• Scanning the Horizon The only collaborative trend scouting and analysis platform in the civil society sector. Includes futurists, strategists, trend analysts and organisational learning specialists.
• Futures of Localisation
• Knowledge Hub

Quantifiable outcome

• Leave No One Behind Partnership: UN Statistics Commission endorsed Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data in March 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Christian Blind Mission (CBM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009One of the first four shareholders (2009) alongside Amnesty International, Transparency International, and Oxfam. CEO Rainer Brockhaus serves on the Board of Trustees. Provides annual core support and governance oversight.
• Oxfam InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the first four shareholders (2009). CEO Amitabh Behar currently serves as Board Chair. Major governance partner providing strategic direction.
• CAREcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShareholder/owner of the Centre providing governance oversight and annual core support contributions.
• Plan InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShareholder/owner providing governance oversight and annual core support.
• SightsaverscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShareholder/owner. CEO Caroline Harper actively engaged with the Centre's leadership support programmes.
• VSO InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShareholder/owner providing governance oversight. Also serves as country lead in LNOB Nepal and co-lead in Kenya.
• ADRA InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShareholder/owner providing governance oversight and annual core support.
• ChildFund AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShareholder/owner providing governance oversight and annual core support.
• HelpAge InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShareholder/owner. CEO Cherian Mathews serves on the Board of Trustees.
• Islamic Relief WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShareholder/owner providing governance oversight and annual core support.
• SOS Children's Villages InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShareholder/owner providing governance oversight and annual core support.
• World YWCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShareholder/owner. CEO Casey Harden serves on the Board of Trustees.
• ActionAid InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore supporter (non-owner) making annual financial contributions. Founding member of Leave No One Behind Partnership.
• WaterAid InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore supporter making annual financial contributions and actively participating in the Centre's work.
• Wikimedia DeutschlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore supporter making annual financial contributions and actively participating in the Centre's work.
• World YMCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore supporter making annual financial contributions and actively participating in the Centre's work.
• CIVICUSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate engaged with the Centre but does not provide financial contributions.
• International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate engaged with the Centre. One of first affiliates (2023) alongside CyberPeace Institute and WACSI.
• West African Civil Society Institute (WACSI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate engaged with the Centre. One of first affiliates (2023) alongside CyberPeace Institute and ICVA.
• Protect.NGOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate engaged with the Centre but does not provide financial contributions.
• CyberPeace InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate engaged with the Centre. One of first affiliates (2023). Partnership on cybersecurity case studies for Solidarity Playbook.
• United Nations Statistics DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in LNOB Partnership. Joint efforts led to UN Statistics Commission endorsing Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data in March 2025.
• Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in LNOB Partnership, working together on citizen data for SDG monitoring.
• Danish Institute for Human RightscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in LNOB Partnership working on human rights-based approaches to citizen data.
• GIZ Global Programme 'Partners for Review'coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in LNOB Partnership, supporting review processes for sustainable development.
• Civic Tech Innovation Network (CTIN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for Digital Dialogue series addressing digital technology impacts on civil society.
• CyberPeace InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on cybersecurity case studies expanding the Solidarity Playbook. Joint work on cybersecurity resources for (I)CSOs.
• Forum for the FutureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on methodology for International Civic Forum 2023, developing workshop approaches for futures thinking.
• BRACcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Lead Organisation for Leave No One Behind Partnership in Bangladesh since 2018.
• Centre for Social Accountability & Transparency (CSAT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Lead Organisation and co-lead for Leave No One Behind Partnership in Malawi since 2021.
• Wada Na Todo AbhiyancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Lead Organisation for Leave No One Behind Partnership in India, representing 4,000+ CSOs.
• SDGs Kenya ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Lead Organisation for Leave No One Behind Partnership in Kenya. Chairs national steering committee.
• Management and Sustainable Development Institute (MSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Lead Organisation for Leave No One Behind Partnership in Vietnam since 2020.
• VUFO-NGO Resource CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic support for Leave No One Behind Partnership in Vietnam.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BOND: UK membership body for international development and global justice NGOs, providing convening, learning, and policy representation. Comparable as a national/regional ICSO network with peer exchange, convening, and policy functions similar to the Centre's leadership support portfolio.
• International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA): Global network of humanitarian and development NGOs focused on influencing humanitarian policy and practice. Directly comparable as a membership-based international NGO support network; already a Centre affiliate.
• International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL): Global organisation supporting an enabling legal environment for civil society and defending civic space. Comparable to the Centre's Solidarity Action Network and civic space agenda; both engage foundations and international NGOs on shrinking civic space.
• CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation: Global civil society alliance that monitors civic space and convenes civil society actors worldwide. Highly comparable to the Centre's convening, civic space focus, and global ICSO membership model; CIVICUS is also listed as a Centre affiliate.
• Forum for the Future: International sustainability and futures-thinking organisation that works with civil society, business, and government on systemic change. Closely comparable to the Centre's strategic foresight, Scanning the Horizon, and futures-of-localisation work; existing Centre partner.
• CharityComms: UK membership network for charity communications professionals, offering peer learning, convening, and resources. Comparable in membership-based convening, communications support, and knowledge products for the charitable sector.
• Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD): Multi-stakeholder partnership advancing data-driven sustainable development, including citizen-generated data. Directly comparable through joint work on the LNOB Partnership and Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data.

Regional players

• NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations): UK membership body supporting voluntary sector organisations with infrastructure, policy, and convening. Comparable to the Centre's support functions but UK-focused rather than globally oriented.
• West African Civil Society Institute (WACSI): Capacity-building institute supporting civil society organisations in West Africa. Comparable as a civil society support centre with peer learning, convening, and capacity offerings; existing Centre affiliate.

Emerging players

• Accountable Now: International accountability platform for civil society organisations, incubated with Centre involvement. Comparable as a sector-wide standards and accountability initiative serving the same ICSO shareholder base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheBCSC
• Facebookfacebook.com/icscentre.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-civil-society-centre
• Xx.com/ics_centre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Civil Society Centre