This manual is designed as a blueprint for CSOs to:

• Integrate and use technology to promote democracy, human rights and governance;

• Utilize social media to support greater citizen participation and transparent political processes; and

• Strengthen mutual accountability among CSOs, government institutions and citizens by creating real-time and direct interaction and organizing.

Social media operations are most effective when they are strategically incorporated as part of an organization’s outreach, program design and implementation, and monitoring and evaluation efforts. With this in mind, the guide is intended as a local capacity building tool to strengthen the ability of entire organizations, their staff and members to deliver greater impact. This guide (Version 1, 2014), presents an overview of the most widely-used and accessible social media tools. Future manuals will capture developments in the social media.