On this World NGO Day 2025, the UNDP celebrates the contributions of civil society globally.

 Civil society is at the heart of sustainable development in Trinidad and Tobago, playing a pivotal role in advancing national social, economic, and environmental priorities. The strength of this sector is evident, but its impact can be further amplified through greater coordination, reducing duplication, and ensuring that underserved development needs are addressed effectively.

Over the years, there have been various attempts to strengthen and consolidate civil society efforts, but these have often been fragmented or have not yielded lasting success. Recognizing this challenge, the UNDP Trinidad and Tobago took a strategic approach in 2024, engaging in consultations with key stakeholders, including local and regional CSO umbrella bodies, government ministries, and CSO service organizations. These discussions were aimed at assessing the feasibility and structure of a mechanism that could enhance coordination and effectiveness within the CSO sector.

The feedback was unanimous—there is a clear need for improved sectoral collaboration, but the real challenge lies in implementation. To address this, stakeholders identified key success factors necessary for any such initiative to be viable and sustainable. A proposed facility was then designed, incorporating these insights, and was presented for validation.

This consultative process led to an important partnership between UNDP and The Cropper Foundation to jointly enhance the CSO Go digital hub. This upgraded platform is envisioned as a dynamic, technology-driven hub that will provide CSOs with access to opportunities, capacity-building resources, and collaborative networks. Recognizing the diversity of civil society organizations—ranging from small grassroots groups to well-established entities—the facility will integrate both digital solutions and human-centered support services to ensure accessibility and effectiveness.

The UNDP is proud to embark on this initiative in collaboration with The Cropper Foundation and the broader national CSO sector. Development must be driven from the ground up, and through this initiative, we aim to create an enabling environment where CSOs can thrive, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to the sustainable development agenda in Trinidad and Tobago.

Happy World NGO Day to all.