The Challenge of Democracy-building: Practical Lessons on NGO Advocacy and Political Change

(Introduction only) This chapter looks at some of the challenges involved in supporting the role of NGOs to be effective actors in strengthening civil society and contributing to democratization. It draws on the experience of a North-South collaboration involving advocacy training with groups working on rights and women’s issues in Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Ghana, Russia and Poland and with a coalition of US NGOs working in development. The lessons about political change and strengthening civil society emerging from this project raise questions about current programme strategies and invite NGO practitioners to evaluate and refine thinking and practice.