Civil society organizations (CSOs) are a constellation of nonstate, nonprofit and voluntary entities created by citizens in the social sphere that are separate from the state and the market. In the education sector, CSOs represent a wide spectrum of constituency interests and focus areas.
They work in close cooperation with ministries of education at national and decentralized levels; in coordination with foundations, nonprofits and the private sector; and through organized coalitions and constituency networks.
As such, CSOs play several important roles: key allies in local service delivery; advocates for the right to education of underserved groups and communities, representing the interests of those groups in policy discussions; and a critical counterpoint to government policy.