The varied roles of civil society organisations include many activities that change the lives of poor people by strengthening governance. In addition to the provision of basic services and humanitarian relief, which are more closely linked to complementing state capability, civil society has an important role in promoting state accountability and enabling responsiveness.

Pressing for better public services, pushing political leaders to improve the performance of the state, identifying who benefits from public spending (especially the poor), bargaining around taxation issues, lobbying for land rights, organizing and fighting for women’s rights, campaigning against corruption or brokering relationships between poor people and local authorities - the list of approaches is extensive. How effective these activities are is equally variable and context specific.

Like civil society, the media also has a critical role to play in strengthening governance. Citizen empowerment requires information, a human right. Participatory policy making necessarily requires informed citizens in order for it to be meaningful. A well-managed, independent media can thus strengthen the demand side of accountability.

The media is both an important instrument for voice (especially in contexts where the poor have few or no opportunities to make their voices heard), creating a platform for diverse views, as well as for accountability purposes, through awareness raising, generating public debate and informed public opinion, and campaigning for action. The negative publicity that the media can generate to highlight aspects of poor governance is an important source of sanction.