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Towards Effective Partnerships for
Sustainable Development of SIDSPresentation by Cletus I. Springer, Director, Department
of Sustainable Development, Organization of American States to Conference on Sustaining Development in
Small States in a Turbulent Global Economy Commonwealth Secretariat, London
July 6-7, 2009
Outline of Presentation
Notions of Partnerships Practical Issues in Participatory Governance at
national level Government, private sector and civil society
regional level Intergovernmental arrangements (CARICOM, PIF)
international levels Inter and intra regional partnerships and their impact
Challenges of managing development assistance Challenges of bridging the S&T divide Recommendations throughout
Notions of Partnership
Global recognition that the development challenges facing SIDS cannot be overcome in the absence of: a governance architecture that facilitates:
integrated and participatory development planning and management of their respective economic, social, infrastructural and environmental assets and spaces
a culture of sustained and enlightened cooperation, collaboration and partnership at local, national, regional and international levels.
Notions of Partnerships - 2
Partnerships are commonly defined as voluntary and collaborative relationships between State and non-State parties in which all participants agree to work together to achieve a common purpose or undertake a specific task and to share risks, responsibilities, resources, competencies and benefits."
Notions of Partnership - 3
Effective partnerships may enable development actors to: overcome challenges that are too difficult or
complex for one country, organization or sector to address alone;
increase the effectiveness and impact of policy interventions and resource inputs; and
better achieve their own individual objectives through leveraging, combining and capitalizing on complementary strengths and capabilities.
Notions of Partnership - 4
In core business partnerships: Collaboration aims to:
create employment and foster entrepreneurship contribute to economic growth, generate tax revenues implement social, environmental or ethical standards and provide appropriate and affordable goods and services.
In social investment and philanthropy partnerships the private sector: provides financial support contribute volunteers or expertise, or make in-kind contributions, including product donations.
In advocacy and awareness raising partnerships, partners assume agreed roles in championing, advocating for, and contributing to resolving different issues. Companies can partner with governments and regulatory bodies, and participate in legitimate dialogues and collective action with stakeholders from diverse sectors of the economy (UN).
Some Practical Issues
Myth that smallness makes governance easy and effective
NOT SO!! governance in SIDS just as challenging as in
large states. difficult for effective partnerships and sound
governance to emerge in a culture of dependency, fear, ignorance and mistrust
Practical Issues - 2
“ In a small island dominated by a single party, it is very difficult to prevent political abuse. Everybody depends on the Government for something, however small, so most are reluctant to offend it. The civil servants live in fear; the police avoid unpleasantness; the trade unions are tied to the party; the newspaper depends on Government advertisements; and so on. This is true even if the political leaders are absolutely honest. In cases where there are corrupt and play with public funds the situation becomes intolerable - Sir Arthur Lewis
Practical Issues - 3
Participatory governance is a complex, long-term process, whose successful outcome is dependent on inter alia:
the national political culture; the state of mind of the citizenry, in particular its capacity
for self-actualization, self-empowerment and innovation; the flexibility and responsiveness of the policy and the
institutional framework to internal and external stimuli; and
respect for human rights and for the rule of law
Practical Issues 4
resilience building and international competitiveness require that SIDS must: Set up development planning and governance
structures and processes that: are holistic, dynamic and fully participatory; and integrate and coordinate economic, social, cultural,
environmental, demographic, financial and spatial dimensions to ensure the effective use of scarce human, financial, and environmental assets
The BPOPA: asserts that economic imperatives must be
evaluated from the perspective of socio-environmental considerations if the natural resource base is to be preserved
advocates the adoption of interdisciplinary approaches to planning and decision-making, as well as the sustained public participation in the process.
Practical Issues - 5
Search for PG ongoing for past 2 decades Laws in place re statcorp Boards, Senate etc Barbados social compact Legitimacy/legitimacy politically determined Politicians reluctant to consult with non-
elected actors Partisanship Compartmentalized decision-making in public
sector
The BPOPA: asserts that economic imperatives must be
evaluated from the perspective of socio-environmental considerations if the natural resource base is to be preserved
advocates the adoption of interdisciplinary approaches to planning and decision-making, as well as the sustained public participation in the process.
Practical Issues -6
Civil society critical but weak Dependency on state affects legitimacy Heavily politicized Private sector have own governance
problems Not always supportive of labour and
environmental laws Some embrace of CSR …but long way to go
Recommendations – National Level Set up broad-based NSDC/consultative
councils to develop long-term integrated development plans
Set up local government structures Build adequate and effective decision-
support systems Build development planning capacity of
public sector using COMSEC TCDC and MTSD
Practical Issues – Regional Level
Partnership implied in and critical to success of regionalism
CSME –SPARTECA- PICTA OECS-CARICOM-PIF-AIMS Global dynamics re trade calling for larger role for
private sector Focus on labour and environment call for role by
trade unions …but civil society and opposition parties have minimal role
Case of ACCP and Charter of Civil Society in CARICCOM
Practical Issues – Regional 2
Lack of participation of PS tied to low level of public-private partnerships and PS investments in public sector projects
Lack of involvement in global environment issues – capacity, time, opportunity cost
BOLT, BOOT schemes most prevalent – led by banking and insurance sector
Low uptake of financing opportunities such as CDM, carbon trading
Recommendations – Regional
Strengthening PG at national level critical to success at regional level
set up annual outcomes-oriented exercises with private sector
CPA can help in exploring PG models CPA can set up Study Group on subject
Practical Issues – Global
Many emerging global partnerships Notion of “global public goods and services” – “global commons” Growing demands for strong global governance Little movement beyond conferences – still siloed SIDS unable to participate effectively Emergence of Inter-regional collaboration on climate change and
environment (AOSIS, SPREP, SOPAC, CCCCC) Challenges in implementing MEA/ISDAs Capacity building needed – UC-SIS and through EPAs Strengthening of AOSIS
Managing Development Assistance Many agreements but little progress in key areas of resilience
building Now sources of global funds but no “additional” funding – below
0.7% pledged Challenges for SIDS in accessing and using donor funding Paris and Rome Declarations on Aid Effectiveness and
Harmonization IEG Report finds:
bias to single country funding – regional projects command only 3%
WB-supported regional programmes just as effective as bilaterals due to good understanding of political economy of participating countries; clear roles of national and regional agencies; country commitment but…
Free rider problems
Development Partner Dialogues CGCED/CFD Dialogues on Jagdeo Initiatives, PANCAP, CREBAP, SEPA PIF annual dialogues with global partners Pacific Aid Effectiveness Principles Bridging the Technology Divide
Strong progress on ICTs but slow progress on RETs, Biotechnology
The ECTEL Model Jamaica has strong S&T capacity UT- SRC-ICENS CPTM, OAS S&T, UC-SIS can be asked to help with design of
regional strategies South-south TCDC, CARILEC/Pacific Power on energy; CEHI-
SOPAC on water SIDS Technology Funds Strengthening of SIDSnet
Recommendations - Global
Partnerships and PG weak at national level and so weak at regional level
Consultative/participatory governance should be institutionalized and actively practised
Civil society must be given a greater voice in regional governance arrangement
Sustained capacity building of social partners critical
Build S&T capacity
THE END
THANK YOU MERCI BEAUCOUP MUCHAS GRACIAS
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