Carmen Malena's Page

Please feel free to provide a short bio about yourself or the work of your organization (no more than 3 paragraphs)

I'm a political sociologist, with special interest in the areas of civil society, participatory governance, social accountability, and gender. I've worked as a development practitioner, policy advisor, researcher and trainer for more than 20 years. I've worked with a range of civil society organizations and have also held positions as a civil society and participation specialist at the World Bank and the African Development Bank. I currently work as an independent consultant and part-time director of the CIVICUS Participatory Governance Programme from my base in Quebec City, Canada.

Please list the countries and/or regions in which you (or your organization) have direct and significant expertise

Research and work experience in North America (Canada and U.S.), Latin America (Argentina, Bolivia, Honduras and Jamaica), Asia (Cambodia, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka) and Africa (Botswana, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Togo, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe). Studies and travel in Eastern and Western Europe.

What is your current country of residence (or location of your organization)?

Canada

What is your current job (and organization) and/or where and what field are you studying?

I currently work as an independent consultant and part-time director of the CIVICUS Participatory Governance Programme from my base in Quebec City, Canada.

How many years professional experience do you have ?

15+

Which are your primary sectoral areas of expertise (or the primary sectoral areas of your organization) ?

Anti-Corruption, Civil Society, Democratization, Development, Dialogue, Gender, Organizational Development, Transparency

Which are your primary skills areas(or the primary skill areas of your organization)?

Advocacy, Capacity Building, Communication, Program Design, Program Implemenation, Research, Qualitative Skills, Training

What are some of your current areas of research (if any)?

Civil society, participatory governance, social accountability, political will.

If appropriate feel free to list several of your (or your organization's) publications

Malena, C. Forthcoming. “Civil Society and Good Governance” in International Encyclopedia of Civil Society. New York: Springer.

Malena, C. (ed.). 2009. From Political Won’t to Political Will: Nurturing Support for Participatory Governance. Sterling: Kumarian Press.

Malena, C. and K. Chhim, 2008. Linking Citizens and the State: An Assessment of Civil Society Contributions to Good Governance in Cambodia. Phnom Penh:World Bank.

Malena, C. 2007. “Does Civil Society Exist? in V. F. Heinrich and L. Fioramonti (eds.) CIVICUS Global Survey of the State of Civil Society, Volume 2. Kumarian Press.

Malena, C. and V. F. Heinrich. 2005. “The CIVICUS Civil Society Index” in D. Narayan (ed.) Measuring Empowerment: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives. Washington: World Bank.

Malena, C. with R. Forster and J. Singh. 2004. Social Accountability: An Introduction to the Concept and Emerging Practice, Social Development Papers No. 76. Washington: World Bank.

Malena, C. 2004.“Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships Involving UN and Civil Society Actors”. New York: UN Panel of Eminent Persons on UN-Civil Society Relationships, UN Secretariat.