Civil society is a key partner for effective development co-operation. Yet, it faces ever-growing challenges that prevent it from maximising its diverse contributions to sustainable development. The Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society supports DAC Members in addressing civic space and working with civil society actors, underscoring the need for these actors to enhance their effectiveness, transparency, and accountability. This Framework Principles provides practical advice for achieving this.
Enabling civil society
Abstract
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are important agents of change. They have a vital role in bringing the voices of those on the frontlines of poverty, inequality and vulnerability into development and humanitarian processes, thus helping to meet the 2030 Agenda promise to leave no one behind.
Enabling environments for civil society and CSO effectiveness principles are necessary for CSOs to maximise their contributions to development.
But studies show that:
Resources supporting civil society are not provided in an effective way.
Restrictions on civic space increasingly impact civil society’s ability to operate.
CSOs’ effectiveness, accountability and transparency need to be incentivised.
The 2021 OECD DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance identifies three inter-linked pillars to guide development co-operation and humanitarian assistance providers in enabling civil society:
Note: Pillar II.4 of the OECD DAC Peer Review Analytical Framework on partnering with civil society highlights the need for members to (i) leverage and enable the independent role of international, member country and partner country civil society in all its diversity as a source of expertise, resources and services and as a channel for representation; and (ii) to support civil society space in partner countries.
1. Respecting, protecting and promoting civic space. Monitor and take co-ordinated, pro-active and preventative action against restrictions on civic space, support human rights defenders, and address risks related to digital technology that limit or exclude civil society, including through collaboration with the private sector and independent media.
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation’s (SDC) guidance and learning reports analyse threats to civic space and put forward individual and joint response measures for providers.
The EU supports the EU System for an Enabling Environment for Civil Society (EU SEE), implemented by a global CSO consortium that monitors civic space through an early warning mechanism and provides timely, flexible support to respond to emerging risks and opportunities.
The Netherlands is supporting a human rights-based and inclusive approach to technology by encouraging digital safety, protecting civic space online and ensuring civil society inclusion.
The Digital Democracy Initiative is a Danish and European Commission programme to support local organisations and activists in the Global South to advocate for democracy, human rights and open civic space in the digital age.
2. Supporting and engaging with civil society.
Setting clear policies for enabling civil society: establish a policy framework that defines civil society, acknowledges its diversity, affirms its value, and clarifies objectives and ways of working, while recognising contextual risks. Co-developing and monitoring policies with CSOs strengthens ownership.
The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation’s (Norad) Principles for Support to Civil Society establish a cohesive framework for supporting and engaging with civil society, outlining the purpose of each principle and suggesting actions that civil society and Norad can undertake.
The French Government’s Strategic guidance paper 2023-2027 contains five strategic priorities: promoting a supportive environment and open civic space; supporting CSOs' development; developing partnerships; strengthening civic engagement; and empowering CSOs as advocates.
Canadian CSOs contributed to the development of Canada’s Civil Society Partnerships Policy (CSPP) for International Assistance. CSOs are also engaged in developing the CSPP implementation plan and reviewing it through annual meetings through a CSO Policy Advisory Group.
The Korean NGO Council for Overseas Development Co-operation (KCOC) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have developed a shared Policy Framework for Government-CSO Partnership. They monitor its implementation jointly twice a year.
Embracing dual objectives for engaging with civil society: recognise and support both the intrinsic value of a strong, independent civil society and the instrumental value of CSOs as implementing partners to enable democratic ownership and locally-rooted development.
Iceland’s 2024-28 policy for international development co-operation outlines that support is provided for CSOs as project implementers and aims to promote an independent, powerful and diverse civil society in developing countries.
One of the key objectives of Finnish development policy, as reflected in its civil society guidelines, is to strengthen civil society in developing countries and to support civil society actors’ work towards achieving development goals.
The Netherlands’ “Dialogue and Dissent” programme, and its successor, the “Power of Voices” partnership, support advocacy-focused CSOs in partner countries to strengthen their capacities and to represent and protect the interests of their constituencies.
Switzerland’s Civil Society Support Facility supports partner country CSOs to drive social change in North Macedonia, offering a competitive grant for institutional development and project support.
Aligning funding mechanisms with policy objectives: rectify the imbalance between project-based and core support to reinforce CSOs’ right of initiative and internal capacities. Provide support to diverse, local civil society actors to strengthen pluralism and local leadership.
Iceland’s framework agreements have strengthened strategic partnerships with four Icelandic CSOs, supporting their institutional and financial capacities. These agreements mark a move toward more stable, collaborative partnerships based on mutual trust, accountability and continuous dialogue.
Ireland provides high levels of core support and flexible and predictable funding to civil society partners for both development and humanitarian programmes.
Italy has widened its eligibility criteria to allow direct funding of local CSOs working in humanitarian when they have been engaged in partnerships or consortia with Italian or international CSOs.
Germany’s Blue Action Fund (BAF) and Legacy Landscapes Fund (LLF) provide direct grants to local civil society in partner countries to expand their activities.
Engaging in meaningful dialogue: use dialogue to promote learning, relevant and quality programming, mutual trust and accountability. Engage with stakeholders beyond development to advance policy coherence, balance institutionalised and ad hoc formats and give generous timelines for engagement and co-ordination.
The French National Council for Development and International Solidarity (CNDSI) is a multi-stakeholder forum that includes various components of civil society. Its regular high-level dialogue explores the objectives, guidelines, coherence and means of French development policy.
The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation’s (AECID) manual on country partnership frameworks is clear on the need to consult CSOs in the partner country when designing, implementing and monitoring partnership frameworks.
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) maintain structured dialogue with civil society through the NGO-MOFA Regular Consultation Meeting – comprising a plenary and two subcommittees on ODA policy and partnership promotion – and JICA's biannual NGO-JICA Dialogue Meeting.
The EU Policy Forum on Development brings together CSOs and local authorities through regular, regional and sectoral dialogues to discuss cross-cutting issues, promote policy debate and exchange information and experience.
Streamlining and adapting administrative and reporting requirements: use CSO-led or jointly defined systems, expand multi-year and pooled funding, and requirements to contribution size and risk. Adopt iterative and adaptive results approaches when working on social and institutional change.
Australia's accreditation process is reported to streamline due diligence and reduce transaction costs for both CSOs and the donor.
Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida) supports partner-led monitoring by accepting their own formats or terminology, reinforcing local ownership.
The Czech Republic has streamlined its procedures to allow a quick response in fragile contexts (e.g. in Ukraine) by fast-tracking the endorsement of project proposals and allowing for flexibility in timeframes and reporting requirements.
Global Affairs Canada's Grants and Contributions Transformation Initiative (GCTI) aims to transform its grants and contributions system into one that is more responsive, transparent and accountable by improving results-based monitoring and reducing the reporting burden on partners.
3. Incentivising the effectiveness, transparency and accountability of CSOs.
Investing in CSOs' institutional capacities and fostering ownership: support CSOs’ efforts in strengthening internal systems to meet international standards, fostering collaboration, and using CSO-defined indicators to enhance learning. Promote equitable partnerships and invest in local capacities to strengthen the enabling environment.
The Mexican Agency for International Co-operation for Development (AMEXCID) engaged with Germany’s development agency (GIZ) through the Civil Society Program PROFOSC to strengthen Mexican CSOs’ capacities and advocacy efforts. It also worked with UNDP to build CSOs’ integration of human rights and gender perspectives.
Through triangular co-operation, the UK supports Indian CSOs in Africa to foster research collaboration, learning and exchange of experiences across sectors such as agriculture, health, nutrition and natural resources.
The Belgian Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Co-operation monitors and reports in consultation with Belgian CSOs and combines government requirements and CSOs' indicators (see p. 91 here).
New Zealand’s Partnering for Impact (P4I) funding programme encourages partnerships with local organisations and provides long-term and flexible funding, including overhead costs. This contributes to local ownership and capacity strengthening.
Supporting transparency and accountability: support CSOs in strengthening their accountability while improving members’ own transparency on CSO funding to open civic space. Transparency over country-disaggregated CSO flows makes data more readily accessible but needs to be balanced with potential risks for funded civil society actors in sensitive contexts.
Norad’s Guiding Principles call on CSOs to be accountable to affected populations including through public ethical guidelines and whistle-blowing channels for reporting financial irregularities, sexual harassment or other misconduct.
Sweden’s Sida supports the CSO-led Global Standard for CSO Accountability, which offers a reference to transform how CSO approach accountability. The standard works with local civil society networks to establish context-specific accountability mechanisms.
The Liberia Project Dashboard is a database of aid disbursements in the country which includes financial, sector, Sustainable Development Goals, geographic, and implementing partner information.
The UK, Netherlands and Belgium request their CSO partners to report official funds received to the International Aid Transparency Initiative, though data is not always disaggregated by partner country.
How do we know if DAC Members are moving in the right direction?
Policies are in place for working with CSOs and for respecting, protecting and promoting civic space.
Steps are being taken, including with other providers, international, regional and national bodies, to respect, protect and promote civic space.
CSOs are direct actors in the definition, implementation and monitoring of public policies in member and partner countries.
A wide range of CSOs from provider and partner countries are supported in their own right and as implementing partners to fulfil their own objectives and contribute to development outcomes.
Administrative and financial requirements are proportionate to risks and contribution size.
Results management emphasises learning and adaptation.
CSOs’ effectiveness, transparency and accountability is incentivised and supported, while information on providers' CSO funding is accessible.
Efforts are in place to support the leadership of local civil society actors in partner countries
Guidance and Good Practice on CSO Development Effectiveness and Enabling Environment (2019), Task Team on CSO Development Effectiveness and Enabling Environment, Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation.
Co-ordinating Action for Civic Space: Toolkit for implementing the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance (2025), OECD Publishing, Paris.
Shifting Power with Partners: Toolkit for Implementing the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance (2024), OECD Publishing, Paris.
Funding Civil Society in Partner Countries: Toolkit for Implementing the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance (2023), OECD Publishing, Paris.
DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance (2021), OECD legal instruments.
Digital transformation and the futures of civic space to 2030 (2020), OECD Publishing, Paris.
Development Assistance Committee Members and Civil Society (2020), OECD Publishing, Paris.
Civil Society and Aid Effectiveness: Findings, Recommendations and Good Practice (2010), OECD Publishing, Paris.
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