ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the role and results of such Non-governmental organization(NGO) intervention. A conceptual framework of the relationship between civil society and NGOs is developed. The main reason for the emergence of NGOs was their location at the grass-roots level, their participatory nature, and their proximity to poor people. Donor countries wanted to give aid through NGOs, not governments. More specifically, NGOs are considered to be a sub-component of other organizations within civil society that are characterized by four common attributes, that they should be voluntary, independent, not-for-profit and not self-serving. The expansion of the NGOs role has been primarily found in the area of social and economic welfare. While commenting on the relationship between NGOs, civil society and democracy, Mercer states that as they are part of civil society, NGOs also strengthen it. The above discussion leads us to the conclusion that civil society and NGOs could play an important role in the consolidation of democratic practices.
