BUSINESS SCHOOLS DEVELOPMENT SUSTAINABILITY THROUGHOUT STRENGTHENING THE THIRD SECTOR AND CIVIL SOCIETY CAPACITY

The purpose of this contribution is to discuss how business schools can facilitate Community Based Research processes to make more effective citizens’ participation in decision-making processes and strengthen third sector and civil society capacity. Research findings have found that business schools have the potential to strengthen the third sector and the capacity of civil society to play a key role developing sustainability (Mayo et al 2013, 2019). Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim at tackling important social challenges of our times, among them peace, justice and strong institutions [SDG 16], making clear that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is focused on decision-making with particular emphasis in the participation of vulnerable and marginalized communities. SDG target 16.7 aims to “Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels”; and that the Rio+20 Conference outcome the “Future We Want”- , recognizes that “opportunities for people to influence their lives and future, in decision-making are fundamental for sustainable development”Citizens are constantly balancing their power and are increasingly concerned to understand the structures and processes that enable them to participate effectively in decision-making processes. Strengthening civil society through the review of the structures, processes to enable effective and respectful attitudes is recognized. It offers means to improve citizenship competences for their effective participation in the construction of the public domain. Finally, it proposes attention on the organizational learning of the third sector and civil society organizations.