Elīna Grīnhofa takes over as Director of the Civic Alliance – Latvia: Civil society will play a particularly important role in strengthening democratic resilience

As of 2 November, Elīna Grīnhofa, formerly Head of Advocacy at the Civic Alliance – Latvia (CAL), has assumed the position of Director of the organisation. Her key priorities include strengthening the CAL team, broadening member engagement and consolidating the organisation’s leadership in advocating for civil society interests. The leadership transition comes at a time when pressure on civil society is increasing across Europe and worldwide, while disinformation, polarisation and attempts to discredit non-governmental organisations are becoming increasingly prominent challenges in Latvia as well.

“Democracy and civil society are currently facing challenges that, just a few years ago, many of us would have considered characteristic primarily of authoritarian states. Attempts to question the legitimacy of non-governmental organisations, discredit their work and undermine public trust in independent civic initiatives are no longer trends observed only elsewhere in the world – we are seeing increasingly clear signs of these developments in Latvia as well. In this situation, civil society must be able not only to defend its place in a democratic state, but also to convincingly demonstrate its role in strengthening democracy, as well as fostering societal resilience and cohesion,” emphasises Elīna Grīnhofa, the new Director of CAL.

In her view, the current challenges call for closer cooperation and greater solidarity among civil society organisations. Individual organisations are capable of defending their own interests, but when the role of civil society as a whole is called into question, a united and compelling voice from the sector is essential.

“Latvia is home to many strong, professional organisations whose work makes a significant contribution to society, yet often remains outside the wider public spotlight. Our task is to help make this collective strength more visible and influential. I want CAL to be an organisation that does not merely respond to political developments and potential threats, but actively shapes the agenda, proposes solutions and strengthens public understanding of the importance of civil society. This requires a strong team, active and engaged members, and a willingness to stand together in defence of democratic values,” says Grīnhofa.

Strengthening civic dialogue will remain one of CAL’s key priorities, ensuring that the involvement of civil society organisations in decision-making is meaningful and takes place at an early stage. At the same time, Grīnhofa emphasises the importance of maintaining a balance between constructive cooperation with public authorities and an independent, critical civil society voice.

“A strong civil society is not an adversary of public administration. It is an ally of a democratic state, helping to ensure better-informed decisions, identify problems and represent the interests of people whose voices might otherwise go unheard. However, genuine partnership also means having the right to disagree, criticise and demand accountability. This independence is precisely one of civil society’s greatest strengths,” Grīnhofa emphasises.

Elīna Grīnhofa has been working at the Civic Alliance – Latvia since 2025, leading the organisation’s advocacy work. Previously, she gained experience in establishing and developing civil society organisations at the regional level, as well as working in an international cooperation environment. This experience has given her an understanding of both the needs of local communities and the role of civil society in broader democratic and security processes.

Grīnhofa succeeds Kristīne Zonberga, who has led CAL for 13 years. During this period, the Alliance has established itself as one of Latvia’s leading civil society advocacy organisations, expanded its activities and laid a solid foundation for its future development.

“Kristīne’s contribution to strengthening the Civic Alliance – Latvia and civil society as a whole has been immensely valuable. Under her leadership, CAL has become a professional and influential organisation with a strong team and an extensive network of partners. I am grateful for everything that has been accomplished and for the opportunity to continue this work. Building on these achievements, my task will be to work together with the team, the Council and our members to shape the next stage of CAL’s development,” says Grīnhofa.

The CAL Council selected the new Director through an internal recruitment process, assessing candidates’ experience and vision for the organisation’s future development.

“We are pleased that Elīna is taking on the leadership of the Civic Alliance – Latvia. Her experience and knowledge will make a valuable contribution to the organisation’s future work. At a time when the non-governmental sector needs a strong voice and reliable support, we are confident in the Alliance’s ability to continue advocating for civil society interests. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Kristīne for her work and contribution to the development of the organisation and the non-governmental sector,” says Roberts Alhimionoks, Member of the CAL Council.

Photo: Ģirts Raģelis

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