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In fragile and conflict-affected settings, formal state institutions are often constrained and unable to deliver basic services. In such contexts, non-state actors – including civil society organisations, youth groups, customary, political, or religious leaders - play a critical role in service provision, including healthcare, justice, security, and education. Their engagement has contributed to the emergence of hybrid governance systems, in which state and non-state actors operate in interconnected ways to meet the needs of local populations.
Drawing on case studies from the Liptako Gourma region in the Sahel, Myanmar, Syria, and Ukraine, this report explores the political and normative implications of international engagement, with non-state actors, as well as the associated trade-offs and enabling factors. It proposes an analytical framework for understanding how engagement with non-state actors can support rights-based governance principles and contribute to strengthening or restoring the social contract. The report was developed through a partnership between UNDP and the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) Unit for Democracy and Governance.