The Open Society Foundations, a significant player in global human rights funding, reassures the community of its ongoing support amidst recent organizational shifts.
Open Society Foundations, established by billionaire George Soros and currently led by his son, Alex Soros, has been a cornerstone for funding human rights groups. Notably, the organization has undergone substantial reorganization since 2021, marked by program closures and staff reductions. Despite these changes, Binaifer Nowrojee, the foundation’s president, asserts that their dedication to human rights remains strong. This statement comes as the global human rights sector awaits confirmation of continued financial backing.
Under the leadership of Alex Soros, the organization is undergoing a ‘reimagination’ to address concerns about its focus on rights, equity, and justice. This reassurance is particularly timely, given the apprehensions that arose due to recent strategic shifts. In 2020, Open Society Foundations was recognized as the largest global funder of human rights, despite a recent reduction in staff from 800 to an intended 600 worldwide.
Earlier this year, Open Society Foundations pledged $400 million towards green jobs and economic development. Additionally, they launched a program aimed at safeguarding environmental defenders in select countries, including Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Sharan Srinivas, a program director at the foundation, highlighted the identification of funding gaps, which the new initiatives aim to fill.
Despite economic pressures, the foundation assures extended grant durations of up to five years, offering more flexibility and emergency funds for human rights defenders globally. This contrasts with the general trend where other major donors, like Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, have announced winding down operations.
The foundation has transitioned its global public health program into a new phase, with former leader Jonathan Cohen reflecting on the impactful legacy and adaptation of resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cohen noted the internal challenge of reallocating funds, which was eventually necessary in response to global health crises.
Additionally, some adjustments involved spinning off efforts focused on Roma communities into a separate entity, illustrating a shift in strategy as the movements they supported have grown stronger independently.
Meanwhile, Ruth Morgan Thomas from the Network of Sex Work Projects expressed a desire for the foundation to continue supporting sex workers’ rights, a testament to the broad spectrum of issues that Open Society Foundations has engaged with over the years. These strategic shifts underscore the organization’s evolving approach to philanthropy while maintaining its core values.
The Open Society Foundations, amidst structural adjustments, reiterates its unwavering support for human rights, emphasizing a strategic realignment rather than a withdrawal from its foundational commitments.
Source: News4jax
