To coordinate and enhance the Secretary of State's efforts to strengthen civil society and emerging democracies worldwide.
The Secretary appointed Tomicah Tillemann as Senior Advisor for Civil Society and Emerging Democracies in October 2010. In collaboration with department bureaus, Dr. Tillemann and his staff are responsible for helping to develop and operationalize the Secretary of State's civil society agenda and strengthen emerging democracies.
Engaging with actors beyond the state is a pillar of the Secretary’s Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review:
"Our efforts to engage beyond the state begin with outreach to civil society—the activists, organizations, congregations, and journalists who work through peaceful means to make their countries better. Civil society has helped Americans win their independence, abolish slavery, strengthen women’s rights, labor rights, and civil rights, and build a more perfect union. Civil society plays a similarly important role in countries around the world. And while civil society is as varied as the individuals who take part in its work, many civil society groups share common goals with the United States. Civic groups mobilize people and resources to help make governments more accountable. They work to protect vulnerable groups and the environment. And they expand access to healthcare and education. Working with civil society is not just a matter of good global citizenship, but also a more effective and efficient path to advancing key foreign policy objectives." – QDDR, p. 59
One of S/SACSED's key initiatives is the Secretary of State's Strategic Dialogue with Civil Society. The office also orchestrates the Secretary's engagement with the Community of Democracies and generates strategic partnerships to advance democracy abroad.
Goals
