Current event

INTRAC 20th Anniversary Conference

Civil Society at a New Frontier

Challenges and opportunities presented by economic growth

5-6 December 2011 / St Anne's College, Oxford, UK

A two-day international development conference focusing on civil society, economic growth and the post-aid environment. Recent world events are bringing a new urgency to our conversations about the future of civil society:

  • In Europe, the threat of recession and Eurozone crisis paint a gloomy picture.
  • In other continents, the outlook is very different with growth and new relationships still contributing to a sense of confidence and energy. 
  • In North Africa and the Middle East the spontaneous mobilisation of people showed the power of determination allied to new technology and has inspired others, including the Occupy movement in America and Europe.
  • New philanthropists have entered the international development arena with large ambitions and have been looking for a more personal and active engagement in the work they fund. 
  • Private sector companies have also brought new alliances and ways of doing things. Many of these developments have happened outside the traditional relationships of the aid sector.

These trends are complex and do not offer a single story but it is clear that they are potentially profoundly changing the way that civil society organisations and actors relate, are supported and develop.

INTRAC invited people from different perspectives - civil society organisations, private foundations, donors and the public sector - to pause and take stock of what this all means. We explored what is happening and constructed together a better understanding of the implications: What are the challenges and what are the opportunities of the ‘new frontier’? What new ways do we need of doing things into the future and how best can we collaborate to make that future one of social justice?

Conference themes

  • Reconciling economic growth, redistribution and poverty reduction: the response of civil society
  • Civil society and the private sector
  • Private philanthropy and international development
  • Adapting to middle- income status: the changing face of civil society and international aid
  • Citizen rights, governance and democracy in the face of economic growth and change
  • Responsible global citizens: engaging with global challenges.

This conference was part of the Civil society at a Crossroads? research project which is investigating the future of civil society around the world. This is a joint initiative involving: PSO, the Netherlands, PRIA, India, CDRA, South Africa, EASUN, Tanzania and INTRAC, UK.