CIVICUS

CIVICUS is the World Alliance for Citizen Participation, an international alliance established in 1993 to nurture citizen action throughout the world, especially in areas where there is a threat to participatory democracy. It has headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa and offices in Washington DC, USA and London.

Members

Its members include voluntary organisations, foundations, research institutes and individuals from 106 countries. Membership is open to Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), civil society organisations, grant making institutions, business entities committed to social issues, or individuals who are interested in civil society issues.

Find out how to join CIVICUS

CIVICUS and Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) became a National Co-ordinating Organisation for CIVICUS in 2004 to manage the Civil Society Index (CSI) research programme.

The CSI project assesses the state of civil society in countries around the world so as to strengthen it and contribute to positive social change. It defines civil society as: "the arena, between family, government, and market, where people voluntarily associate to advance common interests".

The National Advisory Group

The National Advisory Group (NAG) guides the implementation of the CSI. It met for the first time on 28 May 2004. Its members include representatives from civil society organisations who act as 'ambassadors' for the CSI; raising awareness and building public support.

The group has developed a Social Forces Analysis of society in Northern Ireland to visually map the orces that impinge on civil society here. The NAG's final participation in the CSI project will be a Scoring Event when they will act as judge and jury on evidence about the strength of civil society in Northern Ireland.

For more information

CIVICUS website

Sixth World Assembly in Glasgow

NICVA contacts
Gordon McCullough
028 9087 7777