Beyond NGOs: Why civil society will survive and thrive

Sibahle Zuma

What happens when the NGO offices shut down, the donors walk away and the annual reports stop printing? If history and current events are any guide, civil society does not die. It simply changes form.

NGOs have, for decades, been seen as the backbone of civil society, the professional face of activism and the trusted intermediaries between people and policy-makers. Their role is important and, in some cases, indispensable. But assuming that their decline would mark the end of collective action underestimates the resilience, adaptability and creativity of people fighting for justice.

Yes, we still need NGOs, perhaps more than ever. But if the era of their dominance is ending, history and the present moment suggest that grassroots movements are more than capable of carrying forward the work of justice.

The future we should aim for is not an either / or scenario. Instead, it should be one in which NGOs and movements strengthen one another, creating a civil society that is more resilient, diverse and locally rooted than before.

This is an excerpt of a blog. To read the piece in its entirety, head to the #ShiftThePower Treehouse.

By: Sibahle Zuma, a human rights and development practitioner with a focus on civic freedoms, climate activism and youth participation in policy and decision-making. This blog was first published with the Mail & Guardian.