For more than a quarter of a century non-governmental organizations and more broadly civil society organizations have been in the forefront of efforts to mainstream the participation of ordinary people across the Caribbean in the economic, social and culture development of the region.

Whether through the work of traditional institutions such as the church, and various other remedial service organisations, or more recently through the activities of community based organization fighting poverty and development NGO seeking policy change, the contribution of CSO to the orderly development of the region, its institutions and peoples cannot be questioned.

In this regard contemporary Caribbean society, much like others in the international community have witnessed the growth and expansion of the number and quality of social organizations seeking to influence the scope of public policy and its impact on ordinary people.

Indeed, the last ten years have seen a rich and welcomed opening up of the process of policy development, implementation and monitoring to the influences of groups and individuals who operate outside of the immediate mainstream of the governmental apparatus.

The work of these groups to build partnerships with state organizations and representative have been for the best be useful and have led for more informed decisions regarding policy intervention in the lives of poor people across the Caribbean.

However, while great steps have been made in beginning a process of partnership between policy makers and the people they serve, fundamental gaps still remain to be filled in constructing meaningful processes of collaboration between the two sides.

See the new CPDC kit on Participation for more.