March 2025

Promoting grassroots-level efforts for mainstreaming climate-vulnerable communities is an indispensable element of an effective energy transition strategy. Globally, civil society organisations (CSOs), often abbreviated as NGOs (Non-government organisations), are known to play a crucial role in bringing about a positive societal change. Spanning different geographies and sectors, such organisations are critical in building consensus across diverse actors on the vision and roadmap for the future, particularly in matters of public interest and social welfare. CSOs act as a bridge between social, economic and political actors, including governments, businesses and communities. They enable evidence-based decision making by incorporating grassroots perspectives and a knowledge of community needs and wants into decision-making platforms. Their reach across various socio-economic actors enables them to play an indispensable role in the delivery of public services, addressing (technical as well as social) capacity deficits, and acting as anchors for meaningful community participation.