Development and

Cooperation

Development and

Cooperation

Engaging strategically with CSOs

TUDC Working Group onEU poliy and Instruments

Brussels, 16 April 2012

DEVCO Unit D2 « Civil society, Local Authorities »Angelo Baglio

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EuropeAidEngaging strategically with CSO’s

TAKING STOCK

ANDWHAT NEXT?

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The past: selected recommendations from studies, 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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EuropeAidStructured Dialogue Objective

Increase the effectiveness of all stakeholders by finding a common understanding on the main issues linked to:

• 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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Involved stakeholders:• More than 700

organizations from 65

countries;

• 51 EU Delegations;

• Member States;

• 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

Structured Dialogue Process

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EuropeAidMain outcomes

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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EuropeAidOECD DAC Peer review 2011

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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EuropeAid Better recognition of roles and importance of

CSO’s in major EU policy documents:

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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EuropeAidCivil society in the Agenda for Change

• 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 o Political and policy dialogue with all stakeholders o 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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EuropeAidMore specifically: Civil Society in the Agenda

for Change

“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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future of Budget Support

Communication on Budget Support

Reaffirms strongly the role of CSOs:

o Focus on domestic accountability: parliaments, CSOs in their

monitoring/watchdog role

o Transparency / participatory and inclusive approach

o Budget Support schemes considered as Good Governance

Contract: linked to respect of fundamental values

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EuropeAid3. The international context: Busan

Busan Partnership Document

Article 22: CSOs play a vital role in:

o enabling people to claim their rights;o promoting rights-based approaches;o shaping development policies and partnerships;o overseeing their implementation. o they also provide services in areas that are complementary to

those provided by states.

Commitment of all actors to:

o Implement fully our respective commitments to enable CSOs to exercise their roles as independent development actors, with a particular focus on an enabling environment.

o 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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Identify and map CSOs with a context sensitive perspectivePromote a conducive environment CSO participation in (multi stakeholder) dialogues:

•Political dialogue with the Government•Policy formulation•Programme formulation and review •Implementation and monitoring

Promoting CSO role in budget and sector supportCapacity development e.g. for advocacy/oversight; Focus and strengthen representative structuresOpen up to an appropriate mix of selection and funding mechanismsImprove EU donor coordination

……………….. towards a “CSO country strategy”

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EuropeAidREGIONAL LEVEL

• Recognition of the importance of working at regional level

• Strenghtening membership based regional organisations mirroring regional institutions

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GLOBAL LEVEL

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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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.”

Communication on CSOs in development

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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

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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EuropeAidFor more information

Consult the Civil Society

Homepage CiSocH

https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/mwikis/aidco/index.php/Main_Page