Civil Society and Governance Programs

Working with citizens, government and private sector institutions to strengthen leadership and transform lives

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The number of countries labeled as free in 2006 stood at 90, representing only 47 percent of the global population. Despite significant global developments, the majority of the world’s population faces serious development issues and lack of equal opportunities. This holds especially true for members of the poor and marginal communities.

World Learning’s Civil Society and Governance programs connect local communities with public and private sector institutions to promote citizen action for good governance and pro-poor policies at the local, national and global levels.

A progressive development framework encapsulates issues of poverty, human rights abuses, conflict, poor service delivery, weak governance, and social inequalities. To effectively address this diverse set of problems requires the cooperation of government and civil society institutions. World Learning draws on its 75 years of involvement in culturally and politically diverse communities throughout the world to strive for a more fully engaged and active citizenry. By providing education, policy advocacy awareness, training, technical assistance, and small grants’ support we help people build a better future.

Our Civil Society and Governance programs are most often implemented in transitional countries that face post-conflict, post-communist and democratic governance challenges. We have built the capacity of over 10,000 civil society and governance institutions and NGO coalitions to strengthen the ability of these institutions to serve thousands of communities and citizens. 

Featured Project – Indonesia: Engaging Citizens at the Grassroots Level to Promote Pluralism and Respect

World Learning’s RESPECT (Religious, Social and Governance Pluralism, Equity and Tolerance) program in Indonesia encourages democratic virtues and advocates for social and legal mechanisms to strengthen governance pluralism, religious diversity, and the rights of women and minority groups through community based programming approaches.

Download and read project brief.


 

Civil Society and Governance – Our Approach

World Learning believes that community and government leaders must be held accountable for their actions if positive government and social change are to take hold. Change begins with real action, deep conviction and an unwavering sense of belief in the capacity for deep structural changes.

Over the past 25 years, World Learning has implemented US government and other donor-sponsored projects totaling more than $650 million. The success of these projects stems from our commitment to engage and link civil society and governance institutions through six integrated approaches:

  • Grassroots and national advocacy campaigns for effective policy
  • Public sector education and training for good governance and service delivery
  • Formal and informal civil society institution leadership and capacity building
  • Women’s political and economic leadership
  • Inter-faith harmony and pluralistic governance
  • Civic and legal awareness and education in Islamic countries

World Learning’s Civil Society and Governance programs work with grassroots groups to better understand the social challenges communities face. Often this means partnering with those people who are largely excluded from public decision-making processes, namely the poor and especially women and children. Equipped with an understanding of partners’ needs and desires, World Learning provides the logistical, technical, training, and moral support necessary to present a community’s views to those in power and fight for the transparent governance and recognition they deserve.

Through training in strategic planning, project design, and management and advocacy training, World Learning provides local communities with essential resources to ensure program sustainability and to promote and defend the best interests of communities.

Download Civil Society and Governance Program Model.

Featured Project – Angola: Working with Development Organizations to Improve Performance

World Learning targets the lack of fundamental organizational development and technical skills within Angolan civil society organizations to improve the sector’s service-delivery performance and its ability to engage effectively with local and national government in a post-conflict community environment.


Download and read project brief.

 


 

Civil Society and Governance Projects

World Learning’s work and global mission are more needed in today’s world than ever before. Through our Civil Society and Governance programs, we seek to activate community capacities and make a difference in the way decisions are made. Our projects empower citizens to take control of their lives and institutions and drive forward meaningful and sustainable plans.

Projects begin with the identification of in-country partners, most often connecting with the hardest-to-reach, and therefore largely unheard, groups and communities – the most remote, rural, and poor. Small grants to activist groups are a common element of World Learning programs, as is facilitation of direct dialogue with policy-makers. In developing projects, our work is guided by the principles of cooperation and progress, ultimately aiming to relate, create, and innovate.

Featured Projects

Indonesia – Advocating for religious pluralism and strengthening rights

Since 2007 Religious, Social and Governance Pluralism, Equity and Tolerance (RESPECT) has encouraged democratic virtues and advocated for social and legal mechanisms to strengthen pluralism, religious diversity and the rights of women and minority groups through community based programming approaches in Indonesia.

Download and read project brief.

Angola – Supporting social change in post-conflict communities

With its Civil Society and Social Change Program, World Learning targets the lack of fundamental organizational development and technical skills within Angolan civil society organizations to improve this sector’s service delivery performance and its ability to engage effectively with local and national government in a post-conflict community environment.

Current and Recent Projects

Completed Projects

  • Albania – Communities Engaged in the Social and Economic Development of Albania - CESEDA
  • Albania – Local Government and Decentralization
  • Albania – Coordinated Action Against Human Trafficking
  • Albania – Fostering Religious Harmony (Download and read project brief.)
  • Angola – Coalition and Advocacy Civil Society Transparency and Accountability Program
  • Angola – Strengthening Civil Society
  • Armenia – NGO Strengthening Program
  • Bosnia-Herzegovina – Anti-Trafficking Community Mobilization Project - STAR  Network (Learn more on the STAR Network website.)
  • Croatia – Human Trafficking Prevention Activity
  • Ethiopia, Uganda – African Peace and Development Initiative (Download and read project brief.)
  • Global – Services for Women in Development
  • Kosovo – Women's Economic Network Capacity Building - STAR Network (Learn more on the STAR Network website.)
  • Laos – Laos Economic Acceleration Program for the Silk Sector - LEAPSS
  • Morocco – Strengthening Women's Rights (Download and read project brief.)
  • Uganda – AIDS/HIV Integrated Model District Programme - AIM
  • Uganda – Community Action to Support Education

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