Pact In The News
After democracy summit, we must invest in civic networks
In Devex, Pact's Mason Ingram, along with Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu and Charles Kojo Vandyck, discuss the importance of taking action after the recent Democracy Summit, particularly to support civil society and civic networks. "Looking ahead, diverse civil society actors should be seen as equal participants to their state counterparts, especially because it is they who will hold participating governments accountable to their commitments and continue to push for democratic change in nonparticipating states," the authors write. "Learning, exchange and network strengthening among state and non-state actors must be approached as an ongoing process deepened over the course of years. Summits — even virtual ones — can foster new ties, but nascent connections are cemented based on dialogue and collaboration after closing remarks are delivered."