LESSONS ON 3 THEMES:

1. ON FO/CSO PLATFORM

BUILDING/STRENGTHENING

2. ON FO/CSO ENGAGEMENT WITH

GOVERNMENT

3. PROJECT MANAGEMENT

ON FO/CSO PLATFORM BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING

+/Facilitating - / Hindering

Maximize different initiative -MTCP and GAFSP -FAO PO Profiling and GAFSP Profiling

Narrow-minded Project-focused vs broader objective (GAFSP vs Food sovereignty “Turfing”

Respect and appreciation of different roles played by different FOs/CSOs-Advocacy-On-ground work

Clarity of common Vision / basis of Unity Multiplicity of approaches

Complementary roles / Partnership between FOs and NGOs

United Front / Alliances improves negotiating position

Least common denominator Disunity on many points ;Unity on few minimum points

FOs vs NGOs-Both FOs and NGOs have “horns”-Roles and responsibilities vs-capacity -Competition over resources

FACTORS AFFECTING FO/CSO ENGAGEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT

1. PARADIGM AND ATTITUDE

2. SKILLS / CAPACITY

3. MECHANISMS

4. PROCESSES

5. RESOURCES

ON FO/CSO ENGAGEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT

FACTORS +/Facilitating - / Hindering

1.Behavior / attitude / Paradigm / Orientation

Invite GOs in various activities-Meetings /consultations/ workshops-Field visits

Recognize positive side of government not only criticizing all the negative side of government

Cynical attitude -Fear of engaging CSO due to past negative experience-Absence of experience in engaging CSO-Labelling / stereotyping on both side (CSO/Government)

ON FO/CSO ENGAGEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT

FACTORS +/Facilitating - / Hindering

2. Skills / expertise / Capacity to engage

Conduct training on constructive engagement as initial step to improve role:-proponent of change-Partners of reform-Voice of the people-Fiscalizers to stop corruption

Skill /capacity to balance inside and outside strategy-Advocacy / rally/ march-Working with government on development projects

Lack of skills on engaging government

ON FO/CSO ENGAGEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT

FACTORS +/Facilitating - / Hindering

3. Mechanism

Presence of AFA in GAFSPSteering committee-Authority /official mandate recognized by GAFSP recipient government-Link of AFA with members and partners

Access to information / open information flow- Information from GAFSP steering committee thru AFA

Presence of platform among CSOs for:-Consensus building on common agenda-Strategizing on actions

Absence of mechanism for transparency and accountability- Inaccessibility / insufficiency / no leakage of information

ON FO/CSO ENGAGEMENT

FACTORS +/Facilitating - / Hindering

4. Processes

Participatory planning -Getting real needs from farmers / people in the community-Increase responsiveness and acceptance-Increase involvement

“Government participate in farmers project”

ignored farmers in the process of planning and evaluation

Bureaucratic process

Political influence in the decision-making and implementation (choice of pilot areas)

Declaration / Approval not always result in actual implementation

Non-participation of farmers in defining criteria and indicators for monitoring and evaluation

ON FO/CSO ENGAGEMENT

FACTORS +/Facilitating - / Hindering

5. Resources Availability of different sources of fund to support participation- WB, Agricord/CSA

Previous Linkages / Networks build e.g. Action-Aid etc.- Social Capital

ignored farmers in the process of planning and evaluation

Bureacratic process

Political influence in the decision-making and implementation (choice of pilot areas)