Role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Achieving Sustainable Development
Date | Format | Duration | Fees | |
---|---|---|---|---|
22 Apr - 26 Apr, 2024 | Live Online | 5 Days | $2050 | Register |
06 May - 10 May, 2024 | Live Online | 5 Days | $2050 | Register |
24 Jul - 26 Jul, 2024 | Live Online | 3 Days | $1400 | Register |
19 Aug - 23 Aug, 2024 | Live Online | 5 Days | $2050 | Register |
28 Oct - 01 Nov, 2024 | Live Online | 5 Days | $2050 | Register |
18 Nov - 29 Nov, 2024 | Live Online | 10 Days | $4095 | Register |
Date | Venue | Duration | Fees | |
---|---|---|---|---|
06 May - 10 May, 2024 | Dubai | 5 Days | $4250 | Register |
27 May - 31 May, 2024 | Amsterdam | 5 Days | $5125 | Register |
24 Jun - 28 Jun, 2024 | Dubai | 5 Days | $4250 | Register |
15 Jul - 17 Jul, 2024 | Singapore | 3 Days | $4100 | Register |
22 Jul - 26 Jul, 2024 | Dubai | 5 Days | $4250 | Register |
05 Aug - 09 Aug, 2024 | London | 5 Days | $5125 | Register |
05 Aug - 09 Aug, 2024 | Dubai | 5 Days | $4250 | Register |
09 Sep - 13 Sep, 2024 | Dubai | 5 Days | $4250 | Register |
14 Oct - 18 Oct, 2024 | Barcelona | 5 Days | $5125 | Register |
28 Oct - 01 Nov, 2024 | Dubai | 5 Days | $4250 | Register |
04 Nov - 15 Nov, 2024 | Houston | 10 Days | $9425 | Register |
25 Nov - 29 Nov, 2024 | Dubai | 5 Days | $4250 | Register |
09 Dec - 13 Dec, 2024 | Dubai | 5 Days | $4250 | Register |
Course Overview
While there are numerous definitions of civil society, all link to the aspect of ‘common objective’. While some believe that civil society is a community of citizens linked together by common interests and collective activity, others think it is a third sector of society distinct from business and the government but inclusive of family and the private space. Civil societies are made up of civil society organisations that come together and work for a common objective or belief. In reality, civil society organisations play a critical role in enhancing transparency and good governance in developing countries by contributing to public debate on issues related to formulation and implementation of government plans and budgets and supporting transparency of government functioning and spending. Civil society organisations engage in advocating public rights and can influence the government and hold it responsible. They play an important role in strengthening democracy and serve as a mechanism for public participation in governance of a nation. Homeless shelters, food pantries and support groups are some examples of civil society organisations. They are not-for-profit in nature and comprise either community-based organisations or non-governmental organisations. Most civil society organisations have resulted from emotion, concepts of justice and an urgent need for change. Civil society and democracy are considered to be interconnected, given the strong influence of civil society on democracy. The International Civil Society Centre (ICSC), a worldwide known organisation, helps civil society organisations maximise their impact for a sustainable and more equitable world. Therefore, existence of civil society and active functioning of civil society organisations increase the level of transparency in governance and foster better democracy within a nation, ultimately leading to the economic growth and development of the nation.
This Zoe training course will empower you with the necessary knowledge and information about civil society and the functioning of civil society organisations. It will not only increase your awareness of civil societies and their functions but also provide you the necessary exposure and knowledge to partake in building civil society and civil society organisations, leading to demonstration of your talent and skill to undertake more dynamic and responsible roles in your organisation. The role you play in developing the role of civil society and civil society organisations will also encourage public participation in governance, resulting in increased transparency and greater accountability of the government towards citizens.
Course Objectives
The main objective of this course is to empower public sector professionals with—
- complete knowledge and information about civil society and civil society organisations
- the necessary exposure, experience and confidence to partake in building civil society and forming or encouraging the activities of civil society organisations
- the necessary skill and capability to effectively manage governance functions, while also ensuring transparency and accountability
- the required awareness to not let the presence of civil society or civil society organisations in government functioning affect confidentiality and protection of intellectual property, as deemed appropriate
- knowledge and understanding of the scope, role and rights of non-governmental organisations towards governance and governance decisions
- the necessary knowledge and experience to set up civil society organisations, while ensuring that public interest is sustained as the primary objective throughout the functions
- the necessary understanding of the importance and contribution of civil society and civil society organisations to good governance
- the confidence and knowledge to deal with any challenges that may arise from civil society organisations’ participation in public debates and governance decision making and functions
Training Methodology
Zoe Talent Solutions offers various courses across a wide range of topics. Every course can be customised to tailor-made level to foster relevance to the audience as per the audience’s professional background and experience. The trainer, a highly experienced and certified professional in the relevant domain, uses detailed and helpful audio-visual presentations to garner trainee attention and focus. Trainee participation is encouraged through group activities and role-plays. Case studies and practical experiences related by trainees are discussed in detail for ease of reference.
This course, like all other courses at Zoe Talent Solutions, follows the very innovative and successful Do–Review–Learn–Apply Model.
Organisation Benefits
With public sector professionals attending this course, their respective organisations will benefit in the following manner:
- Employees with a clear and complete understanding of the importance and contribution of civil society and civil society organisations
- More streamlined and planned integration or involvement of civil society organisations or their representatives in certain functions or decision making
- Increased transparency and accountability
- Better and more citizen-friendly decisions and functions because of public voice being heard and acted upon
- Better management and balance of transparency and the protection of intellectual property
- More citizen-friendly policies and procedures because of public opinion being brought to fore
- Regular feedback and audits as a result of civil society involvement
- Happier citizens and increased customer satisfaction
Personal Benefits
By undertaking this course, public sector professionals will benefit in the following ways:
- Greater knowledge and understanding of civil society and civil society organisations
- Increased confidence and experience to handle involvement of civil society organisations in certain decision-making processes and functions, while not letting them overrule logic and priority
- Greater experience to encourage transparency and accountability in one’s organisation, thus building credibility for one’s organisation
- Increased awareness and skill to manage and balance transparency and protection of intellectual property
- Increased experience and knowledge to frame policies, keeping in mind the objective of good governance and also ensuring that citizens and their voices are heard
- Enhanced skill and capability to undertake critical roles involving focus on public opinion and want, while not compromising on other aspects of governance decisions, in turn resulting in exponential career growth and progression
- A sense of pride and satisfaction to partake in increasing customer satisfaction and helping citizens lead a better quality of life
Who Should Attend?
- Directors and other top management officials who need to clearly understand the importance and involvement of civil society and civil society organisations
- Investors who would like to understand and be aware of public involvement in organisational functions and decisions
- Policy makers who would need to keep in mind public opinion and understand the authority of civil society organisations when framing policies
- Human resource professionals and legal officers who need to be aware of the rights of civil society organisations in case of any internal or external dispute
- Members of civil society organisations who need to be clear about their outreach and rights in governance and governance functions
- Any other public sector professional who would like to know more about civil society and civil society organisations
Course Outline
The course will cover the following topics regarding civil society and civil society organisations:
Module 1: Benefit of Civil Society Organisations to Citizens
- Right to scrutinise representative work
- Right to publicise illegal, unethical and false acts of the government
- Right to protest against wrongdoing
- Right to participate
Module 2: Functional Contribution of Civil Society to Good Governance
- Watchdog: against violation of human rights
- Advocate: of the point of view of weaker sections of society
- Agitator: on behalf of aggrieved citizens
- Educator: of citizens on their rights and responsibilities
- Service provider: to areas and people unreachable by official efforts
- Mobiliser: of public opinion for or against a programme or policy
Module 3: Problems/Challenges of Civil Society
- Political instability and illiteracy
- Lack of adequate awareness
- Lack of unity
- Inadequate funding
- Lack of internal democracy
- Corruption and personal enrichment
Module 4: Focus Points for Setting-Up a Civil Society Organisation
- Understanding need
- Determining members
- Defining core values and vision
- Identifying focus areas and activities
- Networking
- Determining organisational structure
- Dealing with legal issues
- Framing policies and procedures
- Handling financial issues (including budget and funding)
Module 5: Day-to-Day Operations of Civil Society Organisations
- Leadership
- Sharing responsibilities
- Communication
- Meetings
- Privacy and confidentiality
- On-boarding/recruitment
- Promotion
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Reporting
Module 6: Characteristics of Non-Governmental Organisations
- Voluntary
- Independent
- Not-for-profit
- Not self-serving in aims and values
Module 7: Role of Non-Governmental Organisations in Civil Society
- Promote diversity and tolerance
- Advance science and thought
- Motivate citizens in all aspects of society
- Create an alternative to centralised government agencies
- Establish mechanism to hold government and market accountable
Module 8: Ways to Build a Global Civil Society
- Get organised
- Be inclusive (do not overshadow national priorities)
- Have shared values
- Learn from grass-root activists
- Make the most of resources
- Listen to women and young people
- Influence funders
- Promote movement globally
Module 9: International Civil Society Centre
- Definition
- Objectives
- Advantages