Sections:
How to work with Civil Society
Why we need to work with civil society
The development of more effective and accountable states is key for poverty reduction. Effective and accountable states need effective and accountable civil society . It is important to provide people with the space for association, critical reflection, debate and action and through these a means for poor people to claim their rights. This is potentially one of the decisive factors in progress towards poverty reduction, including the move from being passive recipients of government services to becoming active citizens
Focusing on effective and accountable states as well as on democratic political systems emphasises DFID's concern with effectiveness as well as accountability . Programmes that are solely pro-democracy tend to stress accountability. Democratic regimes offer formal political equality. However they do not necessarily work in ways which benefit poor people. Effective authoritarian states have sometimes been more beneficial for poor people, at least in the short term, than ineffective democracies. Whether the emphasis should be on effectiveness or accountability depends on specific country circumstances.
The size and number of civil society organisations is not necessarily connected to whether poor people's interests are represented effectively. It is possible to have a large number of organisations that represent the interests of the powerful and articulate and leave the power relations within society undisturbed.
The process of association itself can be empowering in that it develops skills in organising, mobilising, expressing ideas, solving problems, negotiating, team working and fund-raising. It fosters the formation of identity, strengthens collective solidarities that cross immediate family relationships and cultivates citizenship and public duty.
Violence in society has political, economic and social dimensions. It is a barrier to poverty reduction and participation of the poor. Violence targeted at vulnerable sections increases exclusion and discrimination. In many societies, violence is structural, though not necessarily driven by internal forces alone. When violence is covertly or overtly supported by the state or those in power, the situation for the excluded is further aggravated. The excluded often have no political voice or legitimate mechanism to express their concern for fear of further repression. Civil society action in these situations has been able to challenge existing institutions and systems. Civil society also has the potential to play a critical intermediary role in situations that are polarised due to violence in society.
While civil society has a role to play, donors sometimes exaggerate its importance. Much of the work undertaken to build effective and accountable states has been led by politicians or policy reformers, been prompted by external pressure or resulted from changing economic realities. Such factors have contributed as much as direct pressure from civil society. How much constructive influence civil society can wield will depend on the specific situation. More will be achieved where basic institutions are already in place to provide the space and incentives for civil society to operate and for the state to respond.