The main purpose of the study is to understand the factors that determine the organization of civil society under associative schemes within the framework of a local economic development paradigm in the Canal del Dique subregion. The research highlights the importance of civil society as key actors in the transformation of the territory. In the referred subregion, weaknesses were identified for the organization of civil society, associative schemes, which limits the possibility of obtaining common benefits based on the principles promoted by social capital; reciprocity, conflict management, solidarity, networking, among others. An analysis is carried out from the perspective of grassroots organizations, the local institutional, private sector and academia in order to establish the strategic objectives that guide the strengthening of associations in the subregion.