This course is an introduction to the civil society - a growing social phenomenon in the contemporary world. Civil society organizations (CSOs) are key actors in sustainable development. This course is focused on introduction of the concept of civil society and civic space, CSO enabling environment, the importance and impact of the civil society organizations at various levels. Civil society is a vibrant social construct with its own internal and external mechanisms of relations, and structures. They play a multitude of roles including service-delivery, research and policy development. Human rights, sustainability of  development, levels of democracy are linked with the level of civil society organizations’ enabling environment. In the course, students will examine elements of the civil society enabling environment; civil society development effectiveness and role and functions of civil society organizations in sustainable development