The UNDP and FDC share the conviction that it is important to intervene over the factors that prevent the efficacy and efficiency of Civil Society Organizations (OSCs) in order to obtain a process of endogenous and coherent development in Mozambique.

To achieve that conviction, the World Alliance for Citizen’s Participation (CIVICUS), developed the Civil Society Rate (ISC) which is a tool of participative evaluation of needs and action plan that has already been applied in over 50 countries, with the aim of creating a basis of knowledge and an impetus for the initiatives of strengthening the Civil Society.

In this context, FDC and UNDP, in partnership with CIVICUS, in February 2007 embarked on an ambitious journey of “measuring the pulsation” of the Mozambican Civil Society. Hundreds of Civil Society Organizations joined in this journey at national and community level, including members of the Group Twenty Platform (G20), social and religious organizations, Agha Kan Foundation, Kellogg and European Union.

In general, the Report has concluded that the Mozambican Civil Society is globally weak in its main dimensions, including the structure, environment, values and impact of its action; and it has a big challenge to face in terms of capacity building, so as to contribute in the best way possible in the efforts of national development.

The launching ceremony was honored with the presence of FDC Chairperson, Mrs. Graça Machel; Mr. Ndolamb Ngokwey, UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator; Mrs. Amy Bartlett, from CIVICUS, and other distinguished figures, including Joaquim Chissano Foundation Director, Mr. Leonardo Simão; SNV Director, Mr. Quirin Laumans, members of Civil Society Organizations and UN Agencies in Mozambique.

In his intervention Mr. Ngokwey, in the opening session emphasized the fact that there is little important information on the state of the Civil Society in Mozambique, this being the reason why the UNDP has decided to embark in an exercise of creating a database on the Civil Society.

On the report, Mr. Ngokwey noted that the Civil Society Rate that has just been launched was the result of an extensive, systematic and participative investigation that was also tantamount to a process of capacity building of Civil Society Organizations, because it offered them a structured space for a joint reflection on its situation, environment, coordination and impact.

This conjugation of efforts between the various institutions is justified by the fact that OSCs play a fundamental role for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The political, economic and social reforms that are occurring throughout the world have been noting the need for support to the Civil Society so that it may take an effective part in the decision-making processes, implementation and monitoring of policies and public programs.

In Mozambique, the process of drafting the report that has just been launched was very participative and it involved a variety of actors at the grassroots level, as well as women, youth and informal organizations, political parties, the private sector, academic institutions and the government, among others.

Mr. Ngokwey concluded by saying that this support to the process of drafting the Rate is proof of the priority that the strengthening of the Civil Society represents for the UNDP, reflecting our Plan of the 2007-2009 period, as well as the UN Global Plan. The proof of this compromise is the fact that one of the eight Joint Programs drafted by the United Nations corresponds to the Strengthening of the Civil Society.