Background: In COVID-19 management (CM) complex trade-offs are made between health, society, and economy. During the pandemic, parts of the public have mobilized themselves in civil-society engagement practices (CSEPs), to improve or suggest alternative CM-practices. This study explores the motivators to establish CSEPs aiming to influence CM and their perceived contributions to CM, with the main aim to study whether integrating views of CSEPs has added value in CM. Μethods: A systematic online search identified eligible CSEPs in the Netherlands. Their corresponding characteristics were mapped based on publicly available information, such as local/national scope, the topic of focus in CM, and the goals CSEPs aimed to achieve. Subsequently, CSEPs were interviewed to collect the motivators to establish and perceived contributions to CM. Results: Twenty-two CSEPs were identified, of which fourteen were interviewed. Interviewed CSEPs indicated several motivators for establishing; a perceived lack of governmental action, democratic values, and diversity of perspectives in CM, a shortage of equipment and means to help, solidarity to contribute to controlling COVID-19, and differences in views with the government regarding CM Aims. All CSEPs believed to have contributed to policy or society, such as influencing opinions of citizens and persons with decision-making authority, or occasionally altering CM. Moreover, CSEPs encountered obstacles in their attempts to contribute to CM such as not being able to establish contact with authorities, and feeling unheard or undermined during contact. Also, CSEPs indicated that the interplay of political interests complicated their ability to contribute. Conclusions: Overall, CSEPs have fulfilled various roles such as providing ideas, producing equipment and informing. The emergence of CSEPs uncover discrepancies between CM and public views. These insights, together with the identified perceived barriers of CSEPs, can be used to improve the connection between (future) management of pandemics and public priorities and interests.