With the support of the UK Government's Arab Partnership Fund, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has launched the ‘Building Bridges’ project to strengthen civil society in North Africa.

The £350,000 project will deliver capacity building to civil society organisations in the region over the next three years.

Training will cover a range of areas including good governance, advocacy and network building and will be developed in close partnership with local groups.

Following the Arab Spring, the UK Government set out plans to support the people of the region as they look to build more stable, prosperous and inclusive societies.

This new project will strengthen civil society networks in emerging democracies in North Africa as part of this wider strategic commitment by the UK Government, sustaining crucial political and economic reform providing expertise to the new Governments and local organisations, as they implement their plans for restructuring public institutions and strengthen processes for an open plural political system.

The ‘Building Bridges’ project will deliver tailored training and support for a cross-section of emerging civil society organisations in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, reaching hundreds of citizens per country.

NCVO will work with local partners through the Arab NGO Network for Development and connect this learning to global partners through CIVICUS: The World Alliance for Citizen Participation.

In each country, the project will concentrate on three core themes: improving standards of governance, capacity and management; facilitating collective advocacy to government and international donors; and developing detailed frameworks for participation and structured policy-making with their respective governments.

There will be a particular focus on organisations which support work with young people, women, human rights and social inclusion.

Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, said: "During the recent upheaval in the region many groups emerged out of the chaos, providing food and medical assistance to those in need.

"The challenge now is to help these groups consolidate their work and put the right structures in place so that civil society can help shape the fledgling democratisation process.

"We are delighted to be involved in this exciting and significant international project. Civil society networks have real value to add and a crucial role in emerging democracies, and this project will support organisations to build their skills, share best practice and grow stronger together."

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