Bente Topsøe-Jensen has long-term experience in NGO / CSO development, including participation in international coordination and policy fora. She is fully conversant with current development policy issues related to the Accra Agenda for Action, the Cotonou Agreement, MDGs, APRM and SADC policies for trade unions and civil society. She has solid knowledge of recent NGO legislation in Southern Africa. 

Her different assignments cover a broad range of non-state actors, including civil society organisations, community based organisations, faith based organisations, trade unions and private sector actors (SMSE). 

 

She has extensive experience with funding mechanisms for civil society and NSA, including responsibility for design and setting-up of monitoring mechanisms and capacity building activities for NGOs and CBOs in organisational development, advocacy skills, communication and resource mobilisation. 

 

She has long-term engagement in civil society development with focus on organisational capacity building and organisational development; advocacy, enhancing voice and accountability and the role of civil society in democratic development.  

She has engaged in formulation and implementation of district based development programmes, with focus on the interaction between government and civil society. Experience with decentralisation as well as devolution, dealing with both capacity building and restructuring of government structures, as well as support to CSOs. 

 

Bente has worked as Country Director for Ibis in Mozambique from 1995 - 2000 and as International Director for Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke in Denmark from 2004 - 2007.