Who’s round the table? A review of civil society participation: the future of civil society participation in aid
Author: Richmond, J. and McGee R., Instituto de Estudios de Religion (ISER)
Source: Global Development Network
This online document addresses ways in which civil society can participate in aid. The report reviews civil society’s involvement in aid and considers a number of country case studies where theory has been put into practice. The authors note that many development actors are currently formulating their own rationales for widening participation in aid coordination processes. These rationales are founded in arguments for democratic representation, efficiency of aid, prioritisation of poverty eradication, good governance and a rights-based approach to development. The paper highlights how, to varying degrees, the actors involved in aid coordination have tentatively and sporadically begun to widen the base of participation in these processes and to involve civil society organisations. The document concludes that the future of the aid coordination processes remains to be seen. There is, however, unanimity on the benefits of national ownership of the development process, and a general trend towards the extension of ownership to civil society representatives.
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