Civil Society and Governance Programs

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.