This literature review was conducted in the context of the research programme ‘New roles of CSOs for Inclusive Development’; Supporting the political role of CSOs for inclusive development. This research programme aims to strengthen the evidence-base of the core assumptions of the Theory of Change underlying the civil society policy framework ‘Dialogue and Dissent’ of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.It is the result of collaboration between Wageningen University & Research, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and Lehigh University.