REFRACT Publications

Gender backlash is a function and facilitator of authoritarian politics, emerging from and exacerbated by perceived or actual crises. Reflecting context-specific social and political dynamics, gender backlash takes a myriad of forms, from overt oppression of women and LGBTQIA+ communities, to strategic genderwashing and cooptation. Understanding how the precarity of gender rights can be exploited towards autocratic ends is essential for effective intervention planning and risk management in fragile settings. The research paper identifies three trends of concerns of gender backlash:(1) discursive opposition to gender equality, (2) social and political oppression of women and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, A sexual and gender minorities (LGBTQIA+), and (3) genderwashing and cooptation. This research paper attends to the fact that where this dynamic coincides with authoritarian leadership and systemic fragility, the implications for development cooperation outcomes are significant. The document provides a preliminary exploration of these key trends, drawing from a desk review of pertinent academic research and grey literature on gender backlash, fragility, and authoritarianism.

Since 2012, the Sahel has been at the center of a regional conflict characterized by the failure of international interventions and “stabilization” practices. Largely driven by imaginaries of state reconstruction and counterterrorism, these policies have ultimately accompanied local dynamics of violence and political polarization. The rise of authoritarianism, illustrated by recent coups d’état, reflects a rejection of interventionist models perceived as externally imposed and redefines power relations at the regional level. In this context, West African actors play a central role in reinterpreting governance practices but, more importantly, in fostering new alliances and intensifying competition among interventionist powers. This policy brief offers a sociological and critical analysis of the limitations of international strategies, highlighting the differentiated effects of interventions on local social and political structures. Finally, it explores the prospect of a renewed international engagement that is more attuned to local dynamics and ongoing sociopolitical transformations.

In this video, we explore the crucial role of civil society actors (CSAs) in supporting the Leaving No One Behind (LNOB) principle in fragile and authoritarian contexts.

Despite facing increasing restrictions, CSAs continue to adapt and respond to challenges. The video delves into five key strategies they employ to navigate these restrictions and maintain their vital work towards LNOB. Additionally, it explains the concept of civic space and its importance, highlighting the dynamic nature of CSAs’ ability to operate freely.

Watch now to understand the resilience and innovation of CSAs in the face of adversity!

The PSP is funded by the Belgium’s Directorate-General for Development Cooperation (DGD) to draw relevant policy suggestions on how DGD can continue its work in the Sahel Region, especially Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which are currently facing a stressful scenario that combines poverty, growing authoritarianism, and extreme vulnerability towards climate change. The central questions driving this paper are: A) How do CSAs navigate changes in civic space, particularly in fragile and authoritarian contexts? B) What strategies are available to different types of CSAs, and how are these implemented in practice? C) What are the implications for CSAs working with or representing marginalized populations whose needs and rights are often ignored or actively repressed? D) How can donors better support CSAs’ agency in fragile contexts? The document provides a preliminary exploration of these questions, drawing from a desk review of pertinent academic research and grey literature on civic space, fragility, and the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principle.