Civil society, which is often referred to as the third sector, has played a pivotal role in shaping the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and continues to work alongside key actors from the state and markets in areas of policy, planning, and execution.

Over the last few decades, civil society has also started playing new roles, such as serving as a subject matter expert, by bringing field knowledge and experience to shape policy and programmes; as a capacity builder by providing training; and as an incubator, helping design and pilot solutions to address social problems.

There is a common theme to all these roles. As facilitators, conveners, innovators, service providers, or advocates, all are focused on engaging with the state and market, helping them function better for improved human development and well-being.

While this is necessary, the disproportionate focus on these two stakeholders has resulted in under-prioritising the mandate of helping communities become inclusive and progressive.

Improving governance and markets alone will not lead to achievement of the SDGs; it requires communities to become inclusive. With communities excluding people based on gender, caste, class, and religion, efforts by the state, markets, and civil society to achieve the SDGs will always fall short.

Most people in civil society agree that communities must become more inclusive and vibrant; however the dominant view is that it is best for the community itself to address its limitations. There is certainly merit in this view; however, as we have learnt from history, it doesn’t necessarily happen.

Read the full article about inclusive communities by Shamik Trehan at India Development Review.