Civil Society

The challenge: Effective and efficient civil society organizations have been a hallmark of successful societies, whether it is in the form of farmer’s federations, arts clubs, or other non-governmental organizations. Civil society is when citizens come together to express their shared values and interests and take action for the public good. But around the world, trends indicate that the environment for civil society is becoming more restrictive, while funding – especially for women’s organizations – is decreasing. This is at a time when civil society is needed more than ever, to provide a safeguard against instability and exclusion and help to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Our solution: We support diverse and active civil society at all levels, from school committees in rural villages to world-class research institutes in urban hubs. Our programs underwrite greater competency, legitimacy, accountability, and sustainability within civil society, which translates to long-term gains across our program areas. All this work is underpinned by a commitment to gender equality and pluralism, to ensure that all voices are heard and valued. A robust, efficient civil society – increasingly funded by local sources – is a key driver of the overall quality of life, both in developing and developed countries.

Improving Early Child Development and Wellbeing in Refugee and Marginalized Communities (CDMC)

Duration: 2017-2022 Location: Kenya Reach: This is a research project with no direct beneficiaries. Budget: $2 million (International Development Research Centre: $1

It takes a village

We were all once children. We were all once young, full of hope and potential.

We are there

For vulnerable communities in remote, high mountain valleys across Central Asia, lives are changing.

Dispatch from the field: Don’t hit hard, hit home – A lesson in journalism from Kenya

I found Jesca Ciahcabi sitting beneath the shade of a crispy, brown banana tree. I reached for a handshake, but instead she hugged me. We were in Ndiruni, a small village roughly three hours northeast of Nairobi.

Dispatch from the field: The complexities of reporting in Kenya

It was a straightforward story of exploitation. The people of the fragile Tana Delta, still recovering from tribal violence that claimed over 100 lives in September, were facing an assault on their treasured land by big business – in this case, a Canadian corporation planning a massive biofuel plantation in the region.

These keys unlock five things you take for granted

These are the keys to a lockbox where 12 members of a savings group in Mozambique are investing their earnings. With the return on their investments, they have been able to make basic improvements to their homes, like a freezer, an oven, a table and chairs, bowls and plates, and a roof that doesn’t leak.