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Engaging strategically with CSOs
TUDC Working Group on
EU poliy and Instruments
Brussels, 16 April 2012
DEVCO Unit D2 « Civil society, Local Authorities »
Angelo Baglio
Development
and
Cooperation
Engaging strategically with CSO’s
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TAKING STOCK
AND
WHAT NEXT?
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The past: selected recommendations from studies,
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evaluations, audits…
The EU should:
• Invest more in understanding the civil society arena;
• Recognize diversity: added value of different CSO actors such as NGO’s, rade unions and
cooperatives;
• Enhance genuine CSO participation in the programming processes relating to EC
cooperation;
• Champion space for CSOs in the policy and political dialogue with partner governments;
• Improve modalities for selection and delivery modalities for support to CSOs.
To respond to this, the EC launched the Structured Dialogue
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Structured Dialogue Objective
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Increase the effectiveness of all stakeholders by finding a
common understanding on the main issues linked to:
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Added value, mandates of different actors; the specificity of European
(or International) actors and their partnership with local actors;
How to reconcile the Aid Effectiveness principles with democratic
ownership and CSOs and Local Authorities’ (LAs) right of initiative;
How to better support CSOs and LAs (aid delivery and selection
modalities).
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Structured Dialogue Process
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Involved stakeholders:
• More than 700 organizations
from 65 countries;
• 51 EU Delegations;
• Member States;
The EC
Headquarters
(AIDCO/RELEX/DG
DEV) and
Delegations of the
European Union
The European
Parliament
Members States
Civil Society and LA
representatives
(European-based
platforms and
Southern actors)
• European Parliament.
Focus on the Global South:
Inclusion of CSOs and LAs from partner
countries - high priority
15 months of progressive debates all over
the world
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Main outcomes
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A Consensus building mechanism
Better mutual understanding
Consensual conclusions
Joint recommendations to all stakeholders
The final statement of the SD, also known
as the
Budapest Declaration
calls upon all parties to take forward to a possible extent the
recommendations to the different actors elaborated in the
concluding document.
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OECD DAC Peer review 2011
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Looking at the recent EU developments in relation to CSOs; positive
trends and some areas for improvement
OECD DAC draft report (to be published 28 March):
• Progress in increasing & better structuring dialogue with CSOs (including from partner countries);
• EU Delegations’ increased dialogue with CSOs evidently: to become more strategic & systematic;
• Need to revise funding instruments to make it easier for local organisations to access funding
(encouraging steps already taken, ex. 12 technical fiches);
• Need to involve a broader range of CS stakeholders in strategic, structured dialogue;
• Welcome announcement Policy Forum on Development, forthcoming Communication, DEAR
study & new focus CSO capacity.
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Better recognition of roles and importance of
CSO’s in major EU policy documents:
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1. Agenda for Change
2. Communication on Budget Support
3. EU Common Position for the 4th HLF on Aid Effectiveness (positions
reflected also in the Busan Partnership for Effective Development)
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Civil society in the Agenda for Change
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• Importance of civil society organisations (CSOs) reaffirmed.
The EU should «work more closely » with these actors (part 1)
• Focus on human rights, democracy and good governance
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Political and policy dialogue with all stakeholders
In cases where a country loosen its commitment to human rights and
democracy, strengthened cooperation with Non State Actors and Local
Authorities
• Dialogue with civil society and local authorities : built on results of the structured
dialogue (for instance, importance of supporting an organised local civil society)
• Role of CSOs and LA in inclusive growth, agriculture and energy : there is a role
to play for CSOs and LAs in promoting innovative models/practises (forging new type
of partnerships promoting decent work, corporate social responsibility…), watchdog role
concerning sustainability of processes…
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More specifically: Civil Society in the Agenda
for Change
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“Building on the ‘Structured Dialogue’, the EU should strengthen its links with
civil society organisations, social partners and local authorities, through regular
dialogue and use of best practices.”
“It should support the emergence of an organised local civil society able to
act as a watchdog and partner in dialogue with national governments.”
In this two paragraphs the essence of our vision for an enhanced partnership with CSOs
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2. Civil society in the Communication on the
future of Budget Support
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Communication on Budget Support
 Reaffirms strongly the role of CSOs:
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Focus on domestic accountability: parliaments, CSOs in their
monitoring/watchdog role
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Transparency / participatory and inclusive approach
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Budget Support schemes considered as Good Governance Contract: linked to
respect of fundamental values
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3. The international context: Busan
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Busan Partnership Document
Article 22: CSOs play a vital role in:
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enabling people to claim their rights;
promoting rights-based approaches;
shaping development policies and partnerships;
overseeing their implementation.
they also provide services in areas that are complementary to those provided by
states.
Commitment of all actors to:
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Implement fully our respective commitments to enable CSOs to exercise their
roles as independent development actors, with a particular focus on an enabling
environment.
Encourage CSOs to implement practices that strengthen their accountability and
their contribution to development effectiveness.
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What comes next?
A path towards enhanced partnership at national,
regional and global levels
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COUNTRY LEVEL
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Identify and map CSOs with a context sensitive perspective
Promote a conducive environment
CSO participation in (multi stakeholder) dialogues:
Political dialogue with the Government
•Policy formulation
•Programme formulation and review
•Implementation and monitoring
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Promoting CSO role in budget and sector support
Capacity development e.g. for advocacy/oversight;
Focus and strengthen representative structures
Open up to an appropriate mix of selection and funding mechanisms
Improve EU donor coordination
……………….. towards a “CSO country strategy”
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REGIONAL LEVEL
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• Recognition of the importance of working at regional level
• Strenghtening membership based regional organisations
mirroring regional institutions
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GLOBAL LEVEL
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The Policy Forum on Development
Ensure effective involvement of CSOs and LAs in
EU development policies
• Connect and articulate country level with global level (HQ) policies and take
stock from SD at country/regional levels
• Provide a space to exchange views and collect opinions on global development
policy issues
• Provide a mechanism for ad hoc consultations linked to the launch of new
programmes and initiatives and high level events
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Communication on CSOs in
development
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Build upon
the Structured Dialogue conclusions,
the Agenda for Change and
the Busan Partnership Document
“the EU should support the emergence of an organised local
civil society able to act as a watchdog and partner in dialogue
with national governments.”
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Issues for consultation
7 themes and 19 questions
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1.
CSO’s and Development Effectiveness
Principles
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2.
Responding to a shrinking space
For
CSO action
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3.
Participation of CSOs
in public process and in
domestic accountability
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4.
Enhancing CSO internal capacity
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5.
CSO internal governance and
accountability
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6.
To wards a consistent EU
engagement with local CSOs at
country level
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7.
New areas for reflection
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Translate our principles into action
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MFF 2014-2020
• In the MFF proposal:
• Better define and ensure CSO’s involvement in all phases of the
programming and implementation cycles of EU development
instrument
• Geographic programmes complemented by Thematic Programmes and
instruments of which :
• A renewed EIDHR
• A public Goods and Global Challenges
• An enhanced CSO/LA Programme focussing on capacity development,
development education and awarness raising and networking
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For more information
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Consult
the Civil Society Homepage
CiSocH
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/mwikis/aidco/index.php/Main_Page
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