The growth of civil society has been one of the most significant trends in international development.  Partnerships between governments, businesses and civil society organizations (CSOs) are now one of the most effective ways to raise standards of living and achieve sustainable development. Civil society organizations (CSOs) play a critical role in helping to amplify the voices of the poor in the decisions that affect their lives. The World Bank recognizes the important role that CSOs play in meeting the challenges of development and welcomes the opportunity to work with civil society.

 The World Bank engages civil society organizations (CSOs) in three ways:

• First, it facilitates dialogue and partnership between civil society and governments by providing resources, training, technical support, and often playing a convening role.
• Second, the Bank dialogues and consults with CSOs on issues, policies and programs, by listening to their perspectives and inviting suggestions. These interactions vary from consultations on global policies, such as social safeguards and adjustment lending, to discussions on local Bank-financed projects. 
• Third, the Bank partners directly with CSOs through contracting technical assistance and training services, funding civil society initiatives, and  managing joint programs. 

Funding for Civil Society Organizations

Small Grants Program

The Small Grants Program (SmGP) is one of several facilities or programs supported by the World Bank that provides grants to NGOs and other organizations of civil society.

The SmGP aims to make development more inclusive and equitable by providing funds for activities that support the civic engagement of marginalized and vulnerable groups.

Accordingly, grants focus on empowering people who have been historically excluded from society's decision-making processes, such as women, youth, people from racial and ethnic groups, people with low-income, and people from rural areas.

They also aim to enhance partnerships with key players in support of the development process. Key players could include government agencies, civil society organizations, multilateral and bilateral agencies, foundations, and the private sector.

The Small Grants Program is administered by the World Bank office in Hungary and makes decisions once a year by June.

Most grants are in the range of $1,000 to $5,000. The Small Grants Program rarely funds more than half of the proposed budget for an activity, and therefore prefers that its grants help leverage additional contributions from other sources. Applicant organizations are asked to describe how a grant from the World Bank might help them to raise matching funds from other donors

The Program is funded by the Development Grant Facility and was created in 1983.

2005 - List of Awarded Projects
2004 - List of Awarded Projects
2003 - List of Awarded Projects
2002 - List of Awarded Projects
2001 - List of Awarded Projects
2000 - List of Awarded Projects
1999 - List of Awarded Projects

Development Marketplace

The Development Marketplace is another mechanism by which the World Bank provides funds to CSOs. Established in 2000, the initiative is an open competition of innovative proposals. The proposals  accepted by the Development Marketplace have to be submitted in partnership with at least one other organization - e.g., an NGO partnering with another NGO, bilateral/multilateral development agency (including from the UN family), government, academic/research institution or foundation, or private business. Proposals submitted can address a multiplicity of issues from sustainable development to information technology.

   Development Marketplace

Other funding for Civil Society Organizations

The World Bank seldom funds Civil Society organizations (CSOs) directly. The most common way for a CSO to receive project funds is by working as a paid consultant or contractor to the borrower (government). Bank-financed projects are sometimes designed to include mechanisms for channeling funds to CSOs—the most significant examples are the social funds. In addition, CSOs may be contracted directly by the World Bank to fulfill a variety of specific functions, such as assisting with project design, implementation and supervision.

 Resources for Mobilizing Funding for Development Projects (145KB, MS Word)

 Bank Funds for for Civil Society Organizations 

 Grant Resources for for Civil Society Organizations (627KB, PDF file)