Civil society is a crucial partner for UNDP in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). UNDP has a rich history of engagement with CSOs in programme implementation and policy advocacy across our major focus areas: Democratic Governance, Poverty Reduction, HIV/AIDS, Environment and Energy, Women's Empowerment and South-South Coorporation.

Why Do We Engage With the Civil Society Organisations?

• Governments cannot on their own fulfill all tasks required for sustainable human development. This goal requires the active participation and partnership of CSOs.
• CSOs have emerged as a powerful force for social justice and equity across and within borders.
• Globalization and the revolution in information and communication technology are empowering CSOs, providing them with greater access to information and improving their capabilities to communicate, thus allowing for a much stronger role in decision-making.
• CSOs play a key role in implementing what is agreed on at the international level as well as national policies and programmes through advocacy and monitoring activities.
• CSOs have vital roles to play in legitimizing and endorsing government policy and action, as watchdogs of the behaviour of regimes and public agencies, and as collaborators in the national development effort

Who Do We Work With?

UNDP works with a wide variety of CSOs, including grassroots organisations, faith-based organisations and indigenous peoples support groups. Key activities include capacity building to strengthen CSOs to play a leading role in their respective communities, advocacy for issues surrounding the MDGs, small-scale collaborative projects, and information and knowledge exchange. 

Some of the previous partnerships pursued by UNDP Malaysia include: