What is civil society organization

• Governance • Democracy & elections • Public sector management • Security & justice • Service delivery • State-society relations • Social Development • Gender • Inequalities & exclusion • Social protection • Poverty & wellbeing • Humanitarian Issues • Humanitarian financing • Humanitarian response • Recovery & reconstruction • Refugees/IDPs • Risk & resilience • Conflict • Conflict analysis • Conflict prevention • Conflict response • Conflict sensitivity • Impacts of conflict • Peacebuilding • Development Pressures • Climate change • Food security • Fragility • Migration & diaspora • Population growth • Urbanisation • Approaches • Complexity & systems thinking • Institutions & social norms • PEA / Thinking & working politically • Results-based approaches • Theories of change • Aid Instruments • Budget support & SWAps • Capacity building • Civil society partnerships • Multilateral aid • Private sector partnerships • Technical assistance • M&E • Indicators • Learning • M&E approaches Civil society is widely understood as the space outside the family, market and state (WEF, 2013). What constitutes civil society has developed and grown since the term first became popular in the 1980s and it now signifies a wide range of organised and organic groups including nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), trade unions, social movements, grassroots organisations, online networks and communities, and faith groups (VanDyck, 2017; WEF, 2013). Civil society organisations (CSOs), groups and ...

Civil society is a term that’s widely used, rarely agreed upon, and not always understood – and it often means different things to different people. The academics Jeremy Kendall and Martin Knapp have even called it a ‘loose and baggy monster’. As we said in the first report from the Law Family Commission on Civil Society, ‘At its broadest, civil society is the connections that exist between different individuals and institutions. We engage in civil society when a group of people find common interests and make their voice heard, when we debate about the sort of future we want to see, when we help our neighbours and friends, or when we make our communities better places to live. A narrower concept of civil society would be the set of organisations that provide the infrastructure for those connections, from charities to trade unions and from housing associations to social enterprises.’ The Law Family Commission on Civil Society is concerned with both broader and narrower concepts. Taking the narrower view, we are interested in how the subset of charities, community groups and social enterprises that together form the social sector, which sits alongside the private and public sectors, could be supported to achieve even more. But the broader view allows us to explore the integral role civil society plays in the success of our economy, the functioning of our democracy, the strength of our communities and the nation’s wellbeing. In this case, having a rigid definition to identify...

In a democracy, public policy is made through a process that includes input from civil society. Civil society organizations can influence public policy in a number of ways, including through public education, mobilizing citizens to take action, and directly lobbying decision-makers. Civil society organizations play an important role in holding government accountable and ensuring that public policy reflects the will of the people. In many countries, civil society organizations are essential to ensuring that the voices of marginalized groups are heard and that the needs of the most vulnerable are met. Civil society organizations can also help to shape public opinion on important issues, and can mobilize citizens to take action on issues that they care about. When citizens are engaged in the public policy process, they are more likely to hold their government accountable and to demand that public policy reflects their values and needs. Civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are groups that are formed on a local, national, or international level to advocate for social justice, civil rights, and environmental protection. Civil society engagement is the goal of this section. The government works with civil society organizations at the national level to develop and implement an OGP national action plan. An institution for ongoing dialogue and collaboration between government and civil society is encouraged in a variety of countries. The Civil...

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are organized voluntary non-state institutions which mostly operate on non-profit basis. They are formed and led by the citizens to champion their collective or common interests and concerns of the members, specific target groups or the general public.The governance arrangementsand interventions undertaken by the CSOs is defined by the leadership, members or the target constituency without significant government-controlled participation or representation. The main focus of the CSOs is often service delivery particularly access, quality and accountability. They play integral roles inthe successful functioning of democratic governance systems, and are active stakeholders in the social, economic and cultural activities CSOs can be diverse in purpose, governance structure, size and serve an important function in society.For example, CSOs can be community-based organisations, village associations, environmental groups, women’s rights groups, farmers’ associations, faith-based organisations, labour unions, and co-operatives. There is an established regulatory framework governing the registration and coordination of the CSOs that includes Non-Governmental Organizations Coordination Board, Registrar of Societies, Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Social Services. Combined, these bodies have registered thousands of CSOs whose coverage and scope range from local e.g. county to national and international. There are however thousands of active CSOs...

If anyone needs a crash course in the critical role played by civil society organizations, COVID-19 is providing it—from increased need for the services they provide to those less fortunate, to the strain they are experiencing from lack of supplies and the need to “social distance,” to government having to act too quickly without civil society input. Twitter @GMIngramIV But beyond the current crisis, civil society is an essential building block of development and national cohesion. In a country blessed with peace and stability, civil society fills the space untouched by government and the private sector. In a fragile and conflict-ridden country, it plays an even more important role of providing services normally the responsibility of the state and business and can lay the foundation for reconciliation. Civil society comprises organizations that are not associated with government—including schools and universities, advocacy groups, professional associations, churches, and cultural institutions (business sometimes is covered by the term civil society and sometimes not). Civil society organizations play multiple roles. They are an important source of information for both citizens and government. They monitor government policies and actions and hold government accountable. They engage in advocacy and offer alternative policies for government, the private sector, and other institutions. They deliver services, especially to the poor and underserved. They defend citizen rights an...

Countries country dropdown • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The CSPF is a key event during the World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund Spring and Annual Meetings. This weeklong forum provides an open space for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)* to dialogue and exchange views with World Bank Group and IMF staff, their peers, government delegations, and other stakeholders on a wide range of shared development issues. The CSPF will take place October 10-13, 2023, in Marrakech, Morocco, with hybrid components. The call for proposals is open to all CSOs and CSO networks. The *CSOs include non-governmental organizations, community groups, labor unions, indigenous peoples’ movements, faith-based organizations, professional associations, foundations, think tanks, charitable organizations, and other not-for-profit organizations. Representatives from the private sector, academia, or governmental bodies must apply for accreditation through the "Guests" or other respective registration c...

Countries country dropdown • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The CSPF is a key event during the World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund Spring and Annual Meetings. This weeklong forum provides an open space for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)* to dialogue and exchange views with World Bank Group and IMF staff, their peers, government delegations, and other stakeholders on a wide range of shared development issues. The CSPF will take place October 10-13, 2023, in Marrakech, Morocco, with hybrid components. The call for proposals is open to all CSOs and CSO networks. The *CSOs include non-governmental organizations, community groups, labor unions, indigenous peoples’ movements, faith-based organizations, professional associations, foundations, think tanks, charitable organizations, and other not-for-profit organizations. Representatives from the private sector, academia, or governmental bodies must apply for accreditation through the "Guests" or other respective registration c...

In a democracy, public policy is made through a process that includes input from civil society. Civil society organizations can influence public policy in a number of ways, including through public education, mobilizing citizens to take action, and directly lobbying decision-makers. Civil society organizations play an important role in holding government accountable and ensuring that public policy reflects the will of the people. In many countries, civil society organizations are essential to ensuring that the voices of marginalized groups are heard and that the needs of the most vulnerable are met. Civil society organizations can also help to shape public opinion on important issues, and can mobilize citizens to take action on issues that they care about. When citizens are engaged in the public policy process, they are more likely to hold their government accountable and to demand that public policy reflects their values and needs. Civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are groups that are formed on a local, national, or international level to advocate for social justice, civil rights, and environmental protection. Civil society engagement is the goal of this section. The government works with civil society organizations at the national level to develop and implement an OGP national action plan. An institution for ongoing dialogue and collaboration between government and civil society is encouraged in a variety of countries. The Civil...

Civil society is a term that’s widely used, rarely agreed upon, and not always understood – and it often means different things to different people. The academics Jeremy Kendall and Martin Knapp have even called it a ‘loose and baggy monster’. As we said in the first report from the Law Family Commission on Civil Society, ‘At its broadest, civil society is the connections that exist between different individuals and institutions. We engage in civil society when a group of people find common interests and make their voice heard, when we debate about the sort of future we want to see, when we help our neighbours and friends, or when we make our communities better places to live. A narrower concept of civil society would be the set of organisations that provide the infrastructure for those connections, from charities to trade unions and from housing associations to social enterprises.’ The Law Family Commission on Civil Society is concerned with both broader and narrower concepts. Taking the narrower view, we are interested in how the subset of charities, community groups and social enterprises that together form the social sector, which sits alongside the private and public sectors, could be supported to achieve even more. But the broader view allows us to explore the integral role civil society plays in the success of our economy, the functioning of our democracy, the strength of our communities and the nation’s wellbeing. In this case, having a rigid definition to identify...

If anyone needs a crash course in the critical role played by civil society organizations, COVID-19 is providing it—from increased need for the services they provide to those less fortunate, to the strain they are experiencing from lack of supplies and the need to “social distance,” to government having to act too quickly without civil society input. Twitter @GMIngramIV But beyond the current crisis, civil society is an essential building block of development and national cohesion. In a country blessed with peace and stability, civil society fills the space untouched by government and the private sector. In a fragile and conflict-ridden country, it plays an even more important role of providing services normally the responsibility of the state and business and can lay the foundation for reconciliation. Civil society comprises organizations that are not associated with government—including schools and universities, advocacy groups, professional associations, churches, and cultural institutions (business sometimes is covered by the term civil society and sometimes not). Civil society organizations play multiple roles. They are an important source of information for both citizens and government. They monitor government policies and actions and hold government accountable. They engage in advocacy and offer alternative policies for government, the private sector, and other institutions. They deliver services, especially to the poor and underserved. They defend citizen rights an...