So I have a lot of bright, creative friends and colleagues in this network and I could use your help today.
Many of you know that I've been working on a couple of projects in Afghanistan for the past year. In fact, I'm back in Kabul at the moment drafting a road map for where some of this work should take us next.
The plan I'm writing is the result of a year-long effort to determine the most effective strategy for strengthening institutions and building wider public support for organizations and individuals working within Afghan civil society (CS)—particularly NGOs.
By improving the transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness of civil society organizations (CSOs) and by engaging government, local and international donors and partners, and existing NGOs and their stakeholders, it is our belief that local actors in Afghan civil society can make a significant positive impact on development and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.
After a few trips here and to Pakistan, a lot of research, dozens and dozens of interviews and conversations, things are starting to move quickly. I'm really excited about where we are in the process, especially as local stakeholders are really driving the process.
CIVIL SOCIETY is often simply defined as “The arena, outside of the family, state and market where people associate to advance a common set of interests.”
Another good way to describe it comes from my client, who defines civil society as “Organizations and actors committed to the public good and powered by voluntary energies.”
Despite the term civil society being in common use among the more urban and/or educated in Afghanistan, neither of the above definitions adequately capture the breadth of Afghan civil society; Neither the Farsi nor Pashto translations explain the concept in a way that makes “cultural sense” to many Afghans.
In fact, even among donors and international organizations, there is no clear consensus on the meaning of the term.
In provocative new research by Elizabeth Winter, she suggests that the term civil society has become “synonymous in the minds of most donors, and the public, with NGOs; perhaps because they are more easily identifiable and accessible than other components of civil society.”
In Afghanistan, if we are to improve the perception of civil society, that term itself must become more expansive and representative of the many actors helping to achieve the will of the people.
Perhaps the most valuable contribution of her research, at least for our purposes, is a proposed definition of the term civil society that seems much more suitable to the Afghan context and one which translates more appropriately.
So, I'd love to know how you feel about this definition. Even if you don't know much about the context here, think about whether it would apply in your world. Your feedback is appreciated ...
“Civil society is formed by individual and collective action around shared values, interests and purposes which is intended to improve the lives of Afghan men, women and children without compromising their dignity. Action can take a variety of non-profit forms; from charitable work, through cultural activities, to advocacy and campaigning. Civil society organizations can include registered non-governmental organizations, community and self-help groups, art and cultural associations, women’s organizations, professional associations, trade unions, business associations, faith-based organizations, umbrella groups and coalitions.”