Part of the Faculty of Community and Development Disciplines of the University of Natal, founded in 1991. Aims to promote the study of civil society as a legitimate and flourishing area of scholarly activity in South Africa and to develop and promote partnerships aimed at knowledge sharing and capacity-building in the civil society sector. Activities include:
- conducting research programmes, including projects on philanthropy in South Africa; economic marginalisation and contemporary social movements; and civil society and African integration
- providing research grants to academics, research institutes, independent scholars and civil society organisations; research priorities include new social movements, the size and shape of the civil society sector, the role of civil society in development, civil society and the democratic transition, and international civil society in the era of globalisation
- offering post-doctoral fellowships for researchers to work within the Centre
- undertaking post-graduate teaching and in-service training
- acting as an information agency via its website, library and research publications
- hosting a seminar series on civil society and a more general series together with the University’s School of Development Studies.
The CCS website includes views and analysis of relevant news; an online discussion forum; details of seminars and workshops; details of research; a directory of related organisations; and an online library with downloadable research reports.