Participants in the Fifth and final Plenary Session of the 16th Doha Forum have discussed the 'Role of Civil Society in Achieving Development Partnership.' In her speech at the beginning of the Session, CEO of Qatar Social Work Foundation, Amal Abdullatif Al Mannai, stressed the importance of involving civil society in the development agenda as a key partner for both the government and private sector. She praised the Qatari experience in dealing with civil society organizations and paying the way for them to serve various segments of society.

She listed the roles of civil society as the link in the relationship between the State and society, pointing out that the civil society is able to build social thoughts and comprehend changes with great flexibility.

The role of civil society as a partner to the government in serving various segments of society cannot be overlooked, she stressed.
Speakers in the Civil Society session included secretary general of Sultan Qaboos Centre for Culture and Sciences Habib bin Mohammed Al Rayami, who addressed the importance of involving civil society organizations in the process of building communities.

Dean of Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs Eric Schwartz also spoke about the relationship between civil society organizations and governments, pointing out that the well-being of communities is based mainly on the existence of an active and effective civil society able to push governments to re-examine economic, social and development policies.