The UK government has published the Civil Society Covenant following nearly a year of consultation and negotiation with civil society. The Covenant serves as a formal agreement aiming to create a respectful and supportive environment where civil society is both engaged as a partner and empowered to hold government accountable. It sets the stage for a renewed relationship between the government and civil society, promising commitments in areas such as advocacy, protest rights, funding, engagement, and equity.
The Covenant outlines principles and expectations governing interactions between civil society and government entities across the UK, including central departments, local authorities in England, and public sector bodies. It also includes the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, though its implications for international or low- and middle-income country-focused civil society remain unclear. The Covenant is intended to complement existing frameworks in devolved governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
In a significant shift, the Covenant reaffirms civil society’s right to campaign, advocate, and protest without fear of exclusion from funding or policy dialogue. It promises to uphold peaceful protest rights, marking a contrast with recent government approaches. However, these commitments are undermined by existing and proposed anti-protest legislation, such as expanded policing powers and limitations on demonstrations near sensitive sites.
A core theme of the Covenant is fostering genuine partnerships. It commits the government to early and continuous engagement with civil society during policy development and service design. While no new funding was announced, the government emphasized its support for long-term funding models and collaborative procurement processes. Feedback loops and reduced administrative burdens were also highlighted. The Cabinet Office is reviewing grant and contract templates to align them with the Covenant’s principles, possibly phasing out clauses that restrict advocacy.
On equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), the Covenant emphasizes involving underrepresented communities in policymaking and programme co-design. It encourages working with people who have lived experience and ensuring civil society groups reflect the communities they serve. However, real progress depends on systemic changes, including resourcing permanent participatory structures and removing barriers that hinder marginalized communities from influencing policy decisions.
Finally, the Covenant touches on democratic participation, recognizing the importance of civil society in sustaining a healthy democracy. It acknowledges the need to remove barriers to civic engagement and hints at reforms to the Lobbying Act to ease restrictions on charitable campaigning. While the Covenant is a welcome starting point, its true impact will depend on how its principles are translated into practice through sustained engagement, policy change, and institutional reform.
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