I was very interested to see that the State Department has launched the Civil Society 2.0 Initiative, which is designed to “help grassroots organizations around the world use digital technology to tell their stories, build their memberships and support bases, and connect to their community of peers around the world.”

Announced in Marrakesh, Morocco at the 6th Forum for the Future, Secretary Clinton described the initiative as a way to provide new technologies to civil society organizations and indicated the US will send experts in digital technology and communications to help build capacity.

“Civil Society 2.0” includes the following components:

1. Deploying a team of experienced technologists to work with civil society organizations around the globe to provide training and support to build their digital capacity. The competencies developed in the trainings will include:
   • How to build a website
   • How to blog
   • How to launch a text messaging campaign
   • How to build an online community
   • How to leverage social networks for a cause
2. Partnering these technologists with local civil society organizations and governments to develop and implement
   technology-based solutions to local problems.
3. Publishing interactive “how to” programs and curriculum online to help organizations that do not have access to in-person assistance.
4. Creating a curated open platform that allows any citizen or company to develop, share or suggest content for the curriculum.
5. Allocating $5 million in grant funds for pilot programs in the Middle East and North Africa that will bolster the new media and networking capabilities of civil society organizations and promote online learning in the region.

I’m curious how the initiative will be implemented, its timeframe/funding opportunties, and goals. How do you measure the success or failure of a program like Civil Society 2.0? One assumption is that the funding for this will likely include efforts like Global Technology and Innovation Fund or the New Empowerment Communication Technologies opportunity funded by the Middle East Partnership Initiative.

There are those with concerns for Democracy-building efforts like this, as they could “enable the enemy”, but I feel that addressing a core enabling issue – infrastructure development - especially one that allows for the free exchange of ideas is a good first step towards enabling a sustainable democracy.