Demonstration against global injustice and for peace at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre 2005th. Photo: Mariana Bazo/Reuters/Scanpix

Demonstration against global injustice and for peace at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre 2005th. More than 100,000 activists from the global civil society gathered at the forum. Photo: Mariana Bazo/Reuters/Scanpix

Civil society

What is civil society?

Published: Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Changed: Tuesday, May 04, 2010

For Sida, civil society is an arena, separate from the state, the market and the individual household, in which people organise themselves and act together to promote their common interests.

An important part of Sweden’s development cooperation focuses on supporting and strengthening civil society organisations. 

Civil society organisations (CSOs) include NGOs, community groups, women's groups, environmental movements, faith-based organisations, professional associations, trade unions, self-help groups, social movements, business associations and advocacy groups.

These organisations supported by Sida play a key role in improving the living conditions of people in poverty. 

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As part of Sida's work with capacity and institutional development Sida offers international training programmes (ITP) for participants from low-and middle-income countries in priority areas. ITP's methodology takes account of the desire to develop and reform that the participants' organization have expressed in their application to the program.