Social Development and Public Governance > State, Governance and Civil Society
Civil Society
- Citizen Participation Strategy
- Interdepartamental Group on Participation and Civil Society (GIPSC)
- Civil Society Consultation and Outreach Mechanisms
- Operational Policies and Sectoral Strategies
- IDB Office of External Relations Civil Society Topics
- IDB-Civil Society Meetings
- Civil Society Liaisons in the IDB Country Offices
- Documents
- Links to Other Sites
- Publications
CIVIL SOCIETY
The far-reaching changes taking place in the countries of Latin America ?democratization, economic reform, redefinition of their international role, decentralization, and the impact of the new information technologies and globalization? have entailed a substantial revision of the roles of government and of the different sectors of society. Another factor contributing to this process, has been the emergence of a broad consensus on the importance of certain issues on the development agenda such as the environment, gender, ethnicity and social structures that are a basis for exclusion. The countries of the region are making great efforts to strengthen their democratic systems while at the same time promoting economic and social development. These efforts are not exempt from obstacles and difficulties; on the whole, however, the countries? development models recognize the inseparability of democracy and economic and social development. This bond was clearly established by the Bank?s member countries in the basic document of the Eighth Replenishment, and subsequently in the principle that "there is a direct relationship between economic development and the quality of the government process."
In this context, citizen participation is of growing importance, both in respect to ideas about how it can contribute to the strengthening of democracy, and about the processes and mechanisms that can be used to achieve development goals in the region. Indeed, participation enhances the quality of development policies, which in turn contributes to the consolidation of the democratic system. In consolidated democracies public policies are more sensitive to the demands, aspirations, interests and opinions of citizens, and hence development policies and projects are more responsive to those demands and interests, especially to those who have traditionally been the victims of economic, social or cultural marginalization. For this reason, the Bank attaches great importance to programs and projects that support the consolidation of democratic systems.
The Strategy for Promoting Citizen Participation in Bank Activities was formally approved by the Board of Directors on May 28,2004.
