Development and

Cooperation

Development and

Cooperation

EU Structured Dialogue with Civil Society and Local Authorities

Angelo BaglioHead of Unit D2 "Civil Society and Local Authorities"European Commission – DG DEVCO

Regional Seminar with Local Authorities from the ENP SouthTunis, 20-22 November 2012

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Evolution of the International and

European development agendas

towards

a wider participation of LAs in

Development

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1. Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, 2005

DescriptionResult of high level forum of the International Community organised by the OECD

Main outcomesAid effectiveness can be strengthened through

• Alignment of donors with partner countries’ priorities

• Adaptability to different country situations

• Partner countries’ ownership over national development strategies, through broad consultative processes (increasingly intended as ownership at the national but also local level)

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2. Accra Agenda for Action, 2008

DescriptionAdopted by representatives of developing and donor countries and development institutions to facilitate implementation of the Paris Declaration

Main outcomesProgress towards aid effectiveness can be accelerated through

• Involvement LAs in developing countries in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of national development policies and plans

• Capacity-building of all development actors, including LAs and CSOs

• Partnership among all development actors

• Donors’ engagement with CSOs

• Transparency and accountability

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3. Structured Dialogue, 2010-2011

DescriptionInitiative launched by the EC in the frame of the AAA, aiming at building consensus and understanding on the role of CSOs and LAs in cooperation, and at strengthening their effectiveness as development actors

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Involved stakeholders:

More than 700 organizations

from 65 countries together

with members from 51 EU

Delegations and

representatives of Member

States and of the European

Parliament.

Focus on the Global South:

Inclusion of partner countries CSOs

&Local Authorities was a high priority of

Structured Dialogue

Participants

DEVCOObjective

• Increasing the effectiveness of all stakeholders involved in EU development cooperation by finding a common understanding on the main issues related to CSOs and LAs involvement in EU development cooperation:

- their added value, mandates and the synergies of different categories of actors; the specificity of European (or International) actors and their partnership with local actors

- how to reconcile the Aid Effectiveness principles with the concept of

Democratic ownership and CSO and LAs right of initiative;

- how to better support CSO and LAs with the currently available multiplicity of aid delivery and selection modalities

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Objectives of the Structured Dialogue

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Working Group 1: Roles and added-value of CSO and LA in external cooperation

1. Better define the roles and added-value of various categories of CSOs & LAs in

cooperation

2. Better characterize the division of labour between

stakeholders and complementarity in

approaches & programmes

Working Group 2: Complementarity and

coherence within the AAA

3. Identify possible ways to adapt EC aid delivery

mechanisms

4. Explore options to improve future EC initiatives

Working Group 3: EC Aid Delivery mechanisms

Three supporting

initiatives

WG1&2 conclusions (reformulated as funding needs) form the basis of WG3 debates

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4. Agenda for Change, 2011

DescriptionCommunication adopted by the EC for a more effective development policy at a critical juncture (2015 target for achieving MDGs is approaching and Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 is being prepared)

Main outcomesImpact of EU development policy can be more effective thanks to

•Strengthened cooperation with CSOs and LAs with a view to Supporting the poor

•Stronger links with CSOs and LAs through regular dialogue, in line with the outcomes of the SD

•Support to emerging organised local civil society as a partner and watchdog for national governments

•Mobilisation of LAs' expertise, through networks of excellence and twinning exercises

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5. Busan partnership for Effective Development Co-operation, 2011

DescriptionHigh level forum on aid effectiveness, with representatives of developing and developed countries, institutions, civil society, local and regional organisations, public and private actors

Main outcomesShared principles:

•Ownership of priorities by developing countries and country-specific policies

•Inclusive development partnerships and complementarity of all development actors

Actions to be taken:

•Support local governments and enhance participation and accountability at sub-national level, with a view to linking citizens with governments and ensure broad-based and democratic ownership of development agendas

•Support CSOs' role as development actors, in order to enable people to claim rights, shape development policies and oversee their implementation

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Multi-actors process: The Central State is one of the

actors Multi-level accountability

EU commits to strenghening LAs to fully participate in domestic policy

process

Recognition of LAs as actors of

development

PARADIGM SHIFT(2005-2011)

LAs are not only implementing agencies but also promoters of democracy, justice and human

rights

What paradigm shift are we talking about?

Development assistance includes

support to and through LAs

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Which concrete support from the Commission to Local Authorities?

On going situation The EC supports partner countries (financially and at policy

level) in their processes of state reform and decentralisation to:

o Transfer powers, responsibilities and resources from central governments to local governments;

o Empower local citizens, increase democratic accountability and strengthen domestic accountability.

The Commission also provides direct financial support to activities promoted and implemented by e.g. Local

Authorities via the Thematic Programme “Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development” and/or regional

programmes (e.g. CIUDAD), period 2007-2013

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Direct or Call for proposals/tenders

Call for proposals/tenders,Twinnings, CBC

Call for proposals,Direct grants

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Elements of a policy response on EC engagement with Local Authorities

• The EC’s policy response on engaging with LAs will aim at:

Integrating new policy developments into a more political and multi-actor EC approach to LA;

Clarifying the role of LAs, and of LA Associations, in the development process, including contribution of EU LAs;

Exploring the articulation of LAs with CSOs, national authorities and other key actors to deliver development outcomes;

Providing elements for EC’ future operational support to LAs in 2014-2010 (moving from a “instrumental” approach to a “strategic” one, reviewing funding modalities..).

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Implement recommendations at all levels :

Follow up of the Structured Dialogue Keep momentum & consolidate the « acquis »

Focus on country level

Consider the relevance of regional discussion fora

Policy Forum on Development, Brussels-based:

dialogue on policy issues

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Conclusions: towards a new policy framework

Evolution of international development agenda•Paris Declaration•Accra Agenda for Action•Busan Partnership

Crucial juncture•2015 target for achieving MDGs•2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework

Evolution of European development agenda•Structured Dialogue with CS and LAs•Agenda for Change

• Strategic engagement with LAs and ALAs at all levels

• Support to LAs and ALAs in partner countries

• Promotion of enabling environment for LAs to maximise their participation in the development process

• Focus on local development, through multi-sector and multi-actor dialogue and partnership

Consultation for EC Communication in support to LAs in developmentIssue Paper

Development and

Cooperation

Development and

Cooperation

شكرا

THANKS MERCI