The Prague Civil Society Centre has been put in the spotlight regarding the cancellation of a $32m contract with USAID. We would like to clarify what this means.
This figure relates to a pledge by USAID as part of a 10-year contract (2016-2026). It does not represent an annual contribution or a new future commitment. All of our spending is audited. Every year we undergo several audits by established firms such as PwC. Our financial statements are published on the Czech public register.
We are affected by the freeze in funding and will have to adjust. However, our key concern is for the many brave activists and independent journalists working in difficult environments that are being impacted. They don’t do this work because of international donors. They do so because they believe in it and are committed to a better future. Having some funding and solidarity from abroad makes them feel less on their own in an already tough environment.