Civil society in developing countries can be a powerful agent for change, and is an important development partner in addition to partner governments and the private sector. ODE conducted an evaluation of AusAID's engagement with civil society, assessing how well AusAID helped civil society in developing countries contribute to the development of effective states.
This evaluation recommended that Australia build on current strategic approaches for engaging with civil society, work with local systems and partners, and apply good practice in the design of individual programs. The evaluation found that choosing appropriate intermediaries can help donors enhance sustainability, manage risk, reduce high transaction costs and take small activities to scale.