This report is produced as part of the project "Dialogue, Consultation, Empowerment (3D) - Protecting and Strengthening Civic Space in Cyprus", implemented under the BUILD Programme, with Civil Society Advocates as the leading body. The initiative is dedicated to fortifying civic space in Cyprus by fostering stronger collaboration between Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and public authorities. Through a structured dialogue process, the project aims to empower CSOs so that they enhance their advocacy capacities and create a regulatory environment that supports their operations and contribution to society.

This report sheds light on the everyday challenges faced by CSOs in Cyprus, which significantly impact their operational and advocacy efforts, while also creating obstacles to their sustainability and effectiveness. The main challenges established are:

• Inconsistencies in the implementation of the Law by the Ministry of Interior and the District Administration Offices/Registrars.
• Inefficiencies in bureaucratic processes managed by the District Administration Offices.
• A lack of dialogue between the Ministry of Interior and CSOs/NGOs.

This leads us to an additional challenge: the absence of consultation between the Ministry of Interior and the NGO sector in the preparation of the Implementation Manual, which would have allowed the NGO sector to express matters of concern and challenges in the implementation of the Law. It would also have allowed suggestions for improvements and further clarifications that would have facilitated NGOs in better adhering to their responsibilities under the Law, which has had a major effect on their operations.

The report includes recommendations that would create a more enabling environment for the NGO/CSO sector in Cyprus, supporting their efforts to grow and have a substantive role within society and, equally important, enable regular and ongoing engagement, communication, and dialogue between CSOs and the relevant government bodies.