26/09/2026
📊 Civil Society Participation Matters in Development Planning
The OECD–UNDP Making Development Co-operation More Effective: Progress Report 2026 highlights a persistent gap between the participation of civil society organisations (CSOs) in development planning and the extent to which their priorities are reflected in consultation and financing processes.
🔹 90% of partner-country governments, on average, engaged CSOs and other stakeholders while preparing national development plans.
🔹 Development partners consulted CSOs in 72% of their country strategies.
Yet, meaningful participation remains a challenge:
🔸 In more than 70% of partner countries, CSOs reported that government consultations were either absent or of limited quality.
🔸 In almost 75% of partner countries, CSOs reported that consultations with development partners were non-existent, occasional or selective.
🔸 In more than 80% of partner countries, CSOs considered development-partner funding either restricted or insufficiently aligned with their own priorities and initiatives.
🔸 Only 26% of partner countries were assessed by CSOs as having most of the key elements of effective partnerships with development partners in place, compared with 62% according to development partners.
🇵🇰 Pakistan: Key Findings
Pakistan is among the 22 partner countries that undertook a multi-stakeholder action dialogue in 2026. The process brought together government institutions, development partners, civil society, research institutions and private-sector actors.
📌 Only 28% of development partners’ results indicators in Pakistan can be monitored using data from government statistics.
📌 Only 26% of development partners use Pakistan’s national procurement system.
📌 Just 33% of development partners provide forward-spending plans, highlighting the importance of greater predictability in development financing.
The report underscores the need for stronger country ownership, meaningful civil society participation, predictable and transparent financing, better use of national data, and more inclusive development partnerships—key elements for ensuring that development efforts respond effectively to the needs and priorities of communities.
Source: OECD & UNDP, Making Development Co-operation More Effective: Progress Report 2026.
🇵🇰 National Advocacy For Rights of Innocent-NARI Foundation
