In response to the current crises, the nonprofit sector is stepping up its efforts
Over the past few months, campaigns led by French non-profit organisations have become increasingly visible. Across the media, social networks and public spaces, they are reminding us of one simple truth: solidarity is not optional. For a sector that usually lets its actions speak for themselves, this wave of public advocacy is unusual. It reflects a defining moment for our societies and raises a fundamental question: what place do we want to give solidarity in the future?
For decades, organisations working in international cooperation and social solidarity have been known for what they do rather than what they say. They communicated about the projects they implemented, the people they supported and the partnerships they built.
Today, many of them also feel the need to explain what makes these actions possible… and what increasingly threatens them. Because the context has profoundly changed.
A paradox that concerns us all
We live in a time when global challenges have never been so interconnected.
The impacts of climate change are accelerating. Conflicts are multiplying. Inequalities are widening. Social and humanitarian needs continue to grow, both in France and around the world. Yet, at the very moment when solidarity is needed most, the resources dedicated to it are shrinking.
France’s 2026 Finance Act, enacted in February 2026, includes a 24% reduction in funding for youth and community life, while Official Development Assistance (ODA) has been cut by almost 18%, following another significant decrease the previous year.
These figures may appear abstract. In reality, they translate into very tangible consequences.
When funding disappears, projects are delayed or cancelled. Teams become smaller. Partnerships built over many years become more fragile. Local authorities, community organisations and entire communities can lose access to solutions that are essential to improving everyday life.
At Geres, we witness this reality every day. Whether we are supporting households affected by energy poverty in France, helping local authorities accelerate their energy transition or working alongside communities facing the impacts of climate change abroad, one thing is clear: needs are growing, not declining. This is the paradox we face today.
Beyond funding: a broader question about solidarity
The current debate goes far beyond public budgets.
In recent years, we have seen growing scepticism towards international cooperation in many parts of the world. National interests increasingly dominate political discussions, while international solidarity is sometimes portrayed as a cost rather than a shared investment.
Yet the major challenges of our century do not stop at national borders.
Climate change, access to energy, food security, public health, migration and social stability are all deeply interconnected. Strengthening communities’ resilience, supporting sustainable development and sharing knowledge are not only acts of solidarity—they are also essential investments in our collective future.
International cooperation is therefore not simply about responding to emergencies. It also helps prevent future crises, supports long-term resilience and contributes to building more stable, equitable and sustainable societies. This is precisely what many organisations are seeking to remind us of today.
« The Thread of Our Future »
Led by nearly 200 organisations brought together under Coordination SUD, The Thread of Our Future promotes a simple but powerful message: international solidarity is an investment in our shared future.
The campaign reminds us that climate, health and food crises transcend borders. Cooperating, sharing knowledge and supporting the territories most exposed to these challenges ultimately benefits us all.
Supported by an unprecedented coalition of media organisations, advertising agencies and content creators, the campaign is expected to reach more than 10 million people.
« France That Stands Together »
With France That Stands Together, France générosités and Le Mouvement associatif focus on another reality: the millions of volunteers, employees and committed citizens who keep the country’s associations alive.
Because this commitment often goes unnoticed, the campaign invites everyone to join the #Battement (“Heartbeat”) challenge by sharing a simple symbolic gesture representing the heartbeat. It is a way of highlighting the everyday work of associations in strengthening social cohesion and building stronger communities.
Protecting our collective capacity to act
Although these two campaigns take different approaches, they ultimately tell the same story.
Associations are not peripheral actors. They innovate, experiment, bring stakeholders together and help territories navigate social, environmental and energy transitions. They are essential partners in addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time.
At Geres, this conviction has guided our work for nearly fifty years. In France and internationally, we work alongside local partners to develop sustainable solutions because lasting transitions cannot simply be decreed—they are built over time through cooperation, dialogue and trust.
At a time when climate, social and geopolitical crises are becoming increasingly intertwined, preserving this capacity to act is a collective responsibility.
Behind the current debates on public funding and behind the campaigns launched by civil society lies a more fundamental question:
What kind of society do we want to build?
The answer will shape not only the future of the non-profit sector, but also our collective ability to respond to the challenges of the twenty-first century.
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