Last week, as part of our project in the Comoros—Shawiri, we supported a consultation with civil society organizations (CSOs) in the Union of the Comoros, organized as part of the preparations for the European Union’s cooperation programming with the country for the period 2028–2034.
The European Union is currently preparing the next phase of its cooperation with the Union of the Comoros. In this context, the preparatory phase includes broad consultations with stakeholders to inform the EU’s country assessment and gather diverse perspectives on trends, challenges, and opportunities to be considered in future cooperation.
The consultation on September 9 thus enabled Comorian civil society actors to share their perceptions, analyses, and recommendations to contribute to this strategic discussion. The discussions focused in particular on identifying the key economic, social, environmental, and political trends that deserve priority attention in the coming years, analyzing the added value of cooperation with the EU and its member states, and assessing the current arrangements for the EU’s engagement with civil society.
The consultation was designed to reflect the diversity of Comorian civil society, including national and local CSOs, women’s and youth organizations, organizations representing people with disabilities, community associations, and the media. Particular attention was also paid to the geographic and thematic diversity of the stakeholders.
Discussions focused on several areas closely linked to the country’s development challenges: governance, human rights, and democracy; human and social development; inclusive and sustainable growth; the environment and climate; peace and security; as well as migration and mobility.
Participants were also invited to reflect on the quality of the dialogue between the EU and Comorian CSOs and on potential improvements that could strengthen civil society’s participation in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of programs.
Civil society plays an important role within Comorian communities, particularly in environmental protection, education, access to water, community health, and social cohesion. Nevertheless, CSOs continue to face several challenges related, in particular, to their participation in public policy, their institutional and operational capacities, and access to resources.
The September 9 consultation therefore provided an opportunity to place civil society’s perspectives at the center of discussions on the future of EU–Comoros cooperation and to explore ways to foster a more inclusive and participatory engagement.
This initiative is part of ECES’s ongoing support for civil society in the Comoros, particularly through actions aimed at strengthening youth participation, the organizational development of women’s organizations, and more inclusive governance within CSOs. ECES also supports the establishment of a Youth Sounding Board for the Delegation of the European Union, as well as efforts to strengthen the coordination and visibility of civil society organizations.
Through its support for this consultation, ECES continues its commitment to inclusive dialogue, local ownership, and the effective participation of civil society in governance and development processes.
18 September 2026
