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Civil society and democracy
There are good reasons for promoting democracy. Democratic states have proven successful in building stable societies with competitive economies and functioning public service systems. Compared to autocratic states, democratic systems are less prone to conflict. Support for young democracies has been high on the agenda of international partners since the 1990s, when a wave of democratizations swept the globe. In the beginning the focus lay primarily on supporting the establishment of democratic structures. Democratic constitutions granting civic and human rights, systems of regular elections, and even participatory dialogue mechanisms in policymaking have been created in numerous countries all over the world.
After the institutios are set up, the challenge remains of filling democratic structures with life. Changing behaviour and attitudes of both state and non-state actors constitutes a difficult task. The state has duties vis-à-vis its citizens and should be held accountable by them even between elections. Citizens knowing their rights, expressing their interests, and actively taking part in decision-making processes are crucial for a prospering, dynamic, and internationally competitive economy. The claim is that a democratic system that involves its citizens improves the lives of the majority; a democracy that does not prove to be the better system will not last.
Civil society, in GFA’s understanding, is comprised of all groups that join forces to advocate their rights and interests in a public sphere. GFA’s starting point in promoting democracy and civic participation is that all measures should contribute to improving the well-being of the people. GFA has been involved in a variety of projects supporting civil society. Their services include mapping studies that assess relevant civil society stakeholders in specific areas (water, education, human rights, land rights e.g.), level of development, and need of support. These assessments often pave the way for capacity-building measures or campaigns to enhance knowledge on rights and plights.
The aim is to strengthen non-state actors so they may become respected dialogue partners whose voice is heard and considered when planning and monitoring the implementation process of strategies at all levels. Increasingly, western donors rely on civil society as a watchdog safeguarding the proper use of development assistance. An important issue in this context is training civil society actors (including parliamentarians) to read and understand budgets and follow up on budget performance in the public sphere.