Civil society organisations are vital in ensuring that the voice of the people is heard. They can also play important roles for improved governance and accountability in any country. NIRAS has throughout the years supported and strengthened the capacity of civil society organisations working with democracy at local, regional and national level.
The organisations include natural resource management committees, agricultural organisations, local water management committees and specific civil society organisations and networks working entirely with democracy, governance and advocacy aspects.
For civil society organisations it is important to be aware of their different roles, i.e. interacting with the government as counterparts, making use of their specific knowledge and anchorage in the communities to advise and assist the government in development issues - and at the same time play the role of watchdogs, encouraging government to keep its promises and to respect of international agreements.
Civil society organisations are vital in ensuring that public institutions function in a transparent manner, and people are aware of their rights.
NIRAS supports civil society to contribute towards an enabling government where public and private institutions become more transparent, accountable and respectful of the rule of law and human rights.
Reference projects
- Tanzania: Fund management for legal sector support through civil society organisations
- Benin: Governance, Decentralisation and Human Rights Programme
- Iraq: Evaluation of Swedish support programmes on civil society, gender and political awareness
- Kenya: Decentralised Natural Resource Management
- Mali: Formulation of a multi-donor fund supporting capacity building of civil society
- Russia: Local Democracy, Civil Society and Rural Development
- Tanzania: Land Management, Governance and Human Rights