THE thing with civil society organisations (CSOs) is that they rarely make the headlines — unless it is about a controversial issue, and then they are mostly bound to come out looking bad or perceived as taking the unpopular side of social matters.

It is not often that one gets a glimpse into the workings of these mysterious organisations which seem to be so good at riling up the populace by the positions they assume on ticklish issues, whether it be hanging, crime, alleged police extrajudicial killings, gay rights, political corruption, the environment, and the like.

For all that and more, we in this space are excited by the announcement that a conference expected to draw 120 participants from 80 Caribbean civil society organisations will unfold here next week, culminating with a World NGO Day celebration that examines the long-term impact of CSOs across the region.

The powerful support that the conference is getting makes it clear that this is a time of reckoning for the CSOs across a wide spectrum of concerns including funding; governance; technology, notably AI; sustainability; and no doubt, public image.

In short, the CSOs are moved to ensure their relevance at a time when the world order seems to be turned upon its head, democracy is threatened, and governments are wont to ignore the traditional guard rails of society and the mandates they received from their electorate.

If they pull it off we will have to thank Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) through its Basic Needs Trust Fund; Global Affairs Canada’s Field Support Services Programme – Caribbean; the Commonwealth Foundation; and the Local Engagement and Action Fund (LEAF).

Behind the theme, ‘The Shift: Igniting Civil Society’s Next Chapter’, the February 24 to 27 hybrid event will bring together regional and international development partners, donors, policymakers, private sector actors, and thought leaders, the organisers said.

The Commonwealth Foundation, in particular, will convene a Caribbean civil society consultation, alongside the 2026 conference, to explore issues such as equity, civic space, and reparatory justice, in preparation for the Commonwealth People’s Forum 2026. It has invited youth-led groups, community-based organisations, regional advocates, and creative practitioners from across the region to engage with the themes of the forum.

We especially wish the CSOs success on the matter of funding, which they will discuss on day two, titled ‘Funding the Vision’. Too often their work appears to be mired under the desperate need for financial support, as money for good deeds seems to be drying up, and the competition for what is trickling in comes with overly strict criteria.

It is not unreasonable to ask whether some of the positions taken by CSOs on, say, extrajudicial killings, are not driven by the need to appear relevant, since the stridency is not always matched by evidence.

It is useful that the conference will draw on findings from a 2023 CDB assessment of 32 community groups in Guyana, Jamaica, and St Lucia which “revealed significant gaps in governance, planning, financial management, and organisational readiness”.

The decision to bring together CSOs, policymakers and donors “to foster strategic dialogue on funding”, among other things, is a strategic move that the organisers should be happy they included.

Best wishes.