Together we can make a difference Mobilzing European citizens for global development Bruxelles, 30./31. January 2014 Workshop Enabling environment for CIs

One World Network NRW – who we are… …a network of networks …committed to DEAR …some of our objectives: Contribute to social, economical and ecological justice, also on a global scale, and to global solidarity Encourage and support voluntary committment for one-world issues Enhance One-World-Politics as an important task for politicians and civil society … together we can make a difference

What are we talking about? CIVICUS´ working definition of civil society: “the arena, outside of the family, the state, and the market, which is created by individual and collective actions, organisations and institutions to advance shared interests.”

What are we talking about? What does actually enable, support and foster this work?

CIVICUS: key aspects of the enabling environment CSOs’ legitimacy, transparency and accountability Building connections, coalitions and solidarity The legal and regulatory environment Political environment Public attitudes and perception Corruption Communications and technology H. Resources A. CSOs’ legitimacy, transparency and accountability: Civil society groups should make efforts to be transparent and accountable to their stakeholders, to derive their legitimacy from endorsement by their stakeholders; B. Building connections, coalitions and solidarity: There should be multiple connections and collaborations between different civil society groups and individuals, and collaborative platforms and coalitions at different levels; C. The legal and regulatory environment: CSO laws should be clear and well-defined. The registration process should be quick, easy and inexpensive. The state’s laws, regulations and policies on civil society should make it easy for civil society groups to form, operate free from interference, express their views, communicate, convene, cooperate and seek resources; D. Political environment: Governments and politicians should recognise civil society as a legitimate social and political actor and provide systematic opportunities for state and civil society institutions to work together; E. Public attitudes and perception: There should be tolerance of people and groups who have different viewpoints and identities; and it should be easy for all people to participate in civil society; F. Corruption: There should be no tolerance of corruption amongst state officials, political actors, people in business and civil society personnel; G. Communications and technology: There should be reliable, cheap and widespread access to communications platforms and technologies; H. Resources: Civil society groups should be able to access resources from a range of sustainable sources, including domestically, and to define their own activities, rather than have these defined by funding opportunities.

Civil society contributes to a vivid democracy! Therefore it needs… Autonomy Right to initiative Global Learning (DEAR) Partnership on eye-level Human Rights as the relevant point of reference Autonomy of CIs – Cis are autonomous, independent and self-organized. The state has to guarantee their independence! The state should support it i.e. financially The state should not try to govern or manage Cis Cis have the right to initiative – they set their own agenda, they get active where they identify a problem. Cis analyse it and work on possible solutions. They propose projects in order to tackle the problem and need a support by the states´ budget lines. They do not want to execute states´ programmes or being regarded as states´agencies. They do not (only) want to react to calls for proposals. They do not want to be marionets of the executive. Education – Global Learning – is one condition for transforming even Cis themselves! Partnership on eye-level – if there is a cooperation with states´ institutions it has to be on an equal footing!

The rationale behind it: The Subsidiarity Principle is an organising principle of decentralisation, stating that a matter ought to be handled by the smallest, lowest, or least centralised authority capable of addressing that matter effectively. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsidiarity_principle) The Oxford English Dictionary defines subsidiarity as the idea that a central authority should have a subsidiary function, performing only those tasks which cannot be performed effectively at a more immediate or local level. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsidiarity_principle) The notion subsidiarity derives from the Catholic Social Doctrine and has been first used in Germany around 1930 - Having decentralisation at ist core (> ideas about decentralization already in Alexis de Tocqueville Democracy in America in early 19th century) Important principle of European law and established in 1992 in the treaty of Maastricht States should only do what only states have to or do better – as the sovereign with sovereign acts Very important: the smaller entities have to be enabled to fulfil their respective tasks i.e. by financing them

Some Threats CIVICUS´ criteria not realised State takes over – „socialisation“ of civil society Dialogue between civil society and government does not work out Burocracy hampers CI´s activities …others

The particular case of DEAR Development Education and Awareness Raising Is at the core of global transformation Nevertheless often marignalized - within NCDOs - within CI platforms - within politics Fosters … - citizens´ engagement for global justice, - new development paradigms Needs structural support!

Promotors´ Program for DEAR in NRW/Germany Structural support for DEAR Funded by the governments of 9 Bundesländer and the BMZ They cooperate closely in these fields: - Global Learning - Fair Trade and Procurement - Migration, Diaspora, Development - Climate and Development‘ - Civil Society and Participation - International Cooperation The example NRW: 15 regional promotors foster engagement for global development, network and realise DEAR-projects 12 specialists for the topics above give support

Some conclusions Coming from very different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives it is important to find a common language Enabling environment for small CSOs: they can benefit very much from structural support Education can make a change Global Solidarity is needed also with regard to an enabling environment for civil society

Questions for the discussion What´s the biggest problem in your context? What do you consider the greatest challenges with regard to an enabling environment for CIs? Implementation – how to put the principles into practice effectively?

Monika.duelge@eine-welt-netz-nrw.de (Int. Cooperation) Thank you! Contact: One World network NRW e.V. Kasernenstrasse 6, D-40213 Düsseldorf www.eine-welt-netz-nrw.de Monika.duelge@eine-welt-netz-nrw.de (Int. Cooperation)