Civil society organisations, with their depth of insight, reach into communities and capacity for innovation, have an important role to play in achieving the government’s five missions. But they are too often seen as a stakeholder to manage rather than an equal partner alongside business.
Unveiled last year to strengthen partnerships with the sector, the government’s Civil Society Covenant offers a real opportunity for a reset – but good intentions must now be backed by meaningful action.
Published by The Future Governance Forum in partnership with NPC and Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, Mission Critical 03 proposes a new partnership between civil society and the state – one that gives the sector a seat at the table in shaping and delivering the government’s missions.
Written by former Labour Party adviser Shadi Brazell, FGF’s Hamida Ali and Grace Wyld, and NPC’s James Somerville, the report offers practical steps Government can take to embed civil society’s insight and expertise at every stage of policy design and delivery.
This paper is the third report in FGF’s ‘Mission Critical’ programme. It follows papers on implementing mission-driven government in the UK and forming stronger partnerships with business and trade unions, and will be followed by a final piece in our ‘governing in partnership’ series on the collaborative leadership required across society to deliver missions.