Written by A. Muhammad Mamdouh Civil Society Associations in the Development Equation Civil society organizations are defined as organizations that occupy the space between the individual and the state. They are also organizations that do not fall under the direct supervision and direction of the state, so they are called non-governmental organizations. Rather, they operate in accordance with the laws regulating them by the state, such as companies, unions, civil associations... etc. Civil associations are also known as non-profit, voluntary organizations that seek to create a balance within society between the priorities of the state and the priorities of local communities, which state agencies may not see due to their large administrative structures, or their focus on the overall goals of society, which may lead to reaching development plans that are more responsive to the needs of society that include all its groups, and bring it to a society of social justice and equity, and achieving well-being and modernity. This is in addition to what these organizations seek to work to strengthen the position of the weak and marginalized within society, and work to sustain development processes in accordance with the goals. higher society. In the pursuit of these organizations - civil society associations - to achieve that goal, these organizations are based on a value system that elevates the status of the human being, preserves his dignity, and guarantees his personal freedom, which makes us emphasize that these voluntary organizations play a vital and important role within society, in order to achieve societal stability and contribute to accelerating development if they are well invested. Their ability to reach the groups most cared for, the marginalized, and those who do not have the ability to access community services or opportunities in the smallest administrative unit, is characterized by It is easier and more flexible than the tools of government agencies, as it is more closely linked to society and has flexibility that allows it to move quickly and at the lowest cost. It also has the ability to reflect society's visions and needs more credibly than its counterparts from other organizations. In addition, the philosophy of the presence of civil society organizations within society, and the methods they follow while exercising their roles, are among the most important results of strengthening the concepts of citizenship, the values ​​of volunteerism, and achieving the principle of community participation, thus linking individuals and integrating them into the development process. The effective role of these associations in participating in bringing about development at the global level has led international organizations to classify non-governmental organizations, including civil society associations, as one of the sides of the triangle of development management within society, as civil society organizations are considered the third side in the development process next to the public and private sectors, making them the clearest voice for expressing the aspirations and hopes of societies. The practices of civil society associations, in accordance with the philosophy of their existence, must express the highest interests of society, reflect its hopes and aspirations, and their interests should not depend on a specific group, such as companies or unions, whose interests often depend on their shareholders or affiliates. Those who follow here the state of Egyptian NGOs today, and the weakness and distortion of the role that has befallen some of them, require us, as those concerned with this vital and important sector for the issue of development, to pause for a moment and search for the reasons for that distortion. The number of NGOs in Egypt has exceeded 56 thousand NGOs, according to the statement published by the Ministry of Social Solidarity, which is a number that if we were able to improve its organisation, investment and direction towards the development process, would create added value to the development process and contribute to achieving its sustainability, and there are many examples. Some countries of the world demonstrate the extent to which civil society organizations have contributed to making a qualitative leap in the development of those societies, such as India and Malaysia. The effectiveness of civil society organizations can create a healthy society and an environment suitable for qualifying human cadres capable of leading society with awareness and understanding of all the data and factors affecting its management. But with a quick analytical look at the practical practices of NGOs today within society, and what many reports indicate is that this sector is facing a set of crises that limit its launch and influence within society in the manner hoped for, and at the top of these crises is the issue of financing and the problems that surround it, which are considered an important input into the equation of the effectiveness of NGOs within society. Not only that, but also the lack of most NGOs in having a development strategy, and not adopting the principles of good governance in their management, which affects their effectiveness and performance. The community is greatly affected, and its weak ability to attract volunteers is also one of the most important factors affecting its effectiveness, especially since most of these organizations suffer from the absence of a second class, in a country characterized by the fact that more than 70% of its population is young. This is a set of problems facing NGOs today at the level of institutional capabilities, which pose a challenge to them starting to truly contribute to development processes. As for the level of direction and determination of the course of action, this is a result of the lack of most of those in charge of the development vision, and how to make a real difference in the lives of citizens, or to employ the organization in achieving personal interests and benefits, or the connection of some of them, while they are few, with external goals and interests, which affects its credibility within society and with the state, and on its ability to achieve real, tangible contributions to development, which is inconsistent with the philosophy of its existence and its societal roles, which are mainly based on protecting the highest goals of society, and also maintaining societal stability. The main reason for this distortion in practices may be due to the fact that some NGOs have been afflicted with what has afflicted many sectors of Egyptian society, from the distortion and weakness of human resources and the spread of corruption in its various forms, which requires all concerned parties to develop NGOs and maximize the benefit from them as one of the vital sectors within society, to search for a way out of these crises, and not by attempts to restrict them by reducing the role, as a way to get rid of the effects of the distortion that has befallen some of them, but the way out must be to try to organize the community of NGOs, and to rearrange its priorities. To invest the benefits and added value of its development contributions, especially at a time when development challenges have become characterized by extreme complexity, which makes it difficult for one party within society to address them, but what these associations need is the community mobilization of all players within the concerned community, which is what civil associations can do. From this platform, we launch a call to open the door to dialogue within the NGO community, to research how to revitalize them and restore their positive, influential role in the development process, and to study ways to get rid of the distortions that have befallen this important and vital sector. The state has recently begun to reconsider the relationship between itself and civil society associations, as it is one of the parties interested in taking a positive step, which is to fulfill its constitutional commitment, which stipulates freedom of assembly, and the establishment of civil society associations by amending the law regulating civil society associations and institutions, and issuing Law No. 149 of 2019, in accordance with the Egyptian Constitution and with the Egyptian state’s obligations to international agreements and treaties that stipulate this, which is considered a step on the right path, and we hope that it will be followed by other steps on the path to building bridges of trust. And cooperation between them and the Egyptian state, and opening an internal dialogue between civil society organizations with each other, to come up with an acceptable formula for organizing Egyptian civil work, at the level of role, value system, and civil work ethics, and searching for ways to overcome the lack of funding sources, and activating volunteerism within them as one of the factors affecting the effectiveness of civil associations, and their gaining credibility within society, and investing in incentives, and the spaces provided by the new law for movement and constructive participation.