Civil Society and Policy-Making in Malawi

Civil society organisations (CSOs) are potentially important public policy actors. Those who promote them believe that involving CSOs in policy processes will lead to greater participation of all citizens in policymaking. Even though CSOs are an important policy actor several factors undermine their significance for policy processes influence. A very small number of organisations undertake policy advocacy leaving out Grass Roots Organisations (GROs) and other mechanisms to involve the poor’s concerns in policies supposedly made for their benefit. The aid donors’ focus on a small group of technical advocacy organisations has contributed to a narrowed conception of CSOs. Therefore the book calls for extension of current civil society policy advocacy practice and rhetoric to include grassroots-based organisations.