Support for civil society and partnerships

ActionAid Denmark supports the development of a strong and critical civil society. MS supports partner organisations working for political empowerment of the world’s poor and marginalised.

Both in our own part of the world and in developing countries, there is a need for a dynamic civil society to act as a critical counterpart and counterbalance to the authorities, and if necessary propose alternatives, mobilise the population and put pressure on politicians.

MS’s development work supports civil society wherever we operate. Civil society varies from one place to another, encompassing, for instance, farmers’ movements, women’s groups, religious societies and human-rights organisations. There are interest groups, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which help particular parts of the population, and there are community-based organisations (CBOs), in which people at the local level have joined forces.

MS supports civil society organisations that work to improve the lot of the world’s poor and operate within MS’s focus areas to address building local democracy, land rights, anti-corruption, conflict management and trade justice – with particular emphasis on gender equality and youth for development.

We assist civil society organisations in enhancing their participation in the development process for the benefit of the poorest. We support civil society organisations' efforts to raise awareness and mobilise poor and marginalised people, to get people to believe in their own strength and demand political influence. This requires the organisations to be democratic and transparent themselves, and to have the capacity and vigour to support poor people in getting their voice heard.

We cooperate with different civil society organisations – small and large – and organisations working locally, nationally or internationally. We also support civil society organisations in creating networks and strategic alliances amongst each other, so that local grassroots groups can link up to larger, nationwide organisations with the chance of making their mark on the global agenda. In this manner, poor people in remote areas can gain a voice in international forums to speak out about aspects that affect their lives.