Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have long proven their significance in pushing for rights-based, people-centered sustainable development. They have demonstrated and reaffirmed continuing dedication to their own effectiveness as development actors or partners and continuing engagement with governments
and institutions to uphold long-standing commitments on effective aid and development cooperation. However, CSOs also face challenges in pursuing their work withthe global trend of shrinking civic spaces. Specifically, CSOs and other peoples’ organizations are threatened with repressive and neoliberal policies in this stage of worsening capitalism, thereby affecting their rights and democratic practices. Hence, there is an ever-pressing need to hold the line and assert their critical role in the development sector – to monitor and analyze key issues and emerging trends and provide alternatives that protect people’s rights.
