CSO Engagement in Governance and the MDG Framework Geoffrey D. Prewitt Poverty Reduction and Civil Society Advisor CoP Event Bishkek - November, 2006

Outline of Presentation  Trends  State/Citizen Relations – Manifestations  Contributions of CSO to Democratic Governance  Contributions of CSOs to the MDGs  Challenges to Overcome  Recommendations  Remaining Questions

Discernable Trends  Growth in numbers For examples, a recent study of 26 countries (undertaken by John Hopkins University), nonprofit organizations as of the mid-1990s accounted for: 1.2 trillion in expenditures and 31 million full-time equivalent workers. GONGOs and BONGOs?  Donor Frenzy and Aid Dependent Massive influx of resources Survival of the Fittest?

Discernable Trends (cont.)  Changing Political and Social Landscape Public sector has shrunk in size and more frugal spending in social services Global movements of solidarity (i.e. – Jubilee 2000) Shaping national and local agenda (i.e. – National Development Strategies)  Inconsistent and Heterogeneous Very uneven playing field from the Netherlands to Belarus

State/Citizen Interaction (Manor, James. Civil Society and Governance: A Concept Paper. IDS. 1999)  Laissez-faire approach  Combinations of conflictive and harmonic relationships  Repression of all manifestations of citizen’s organized interest  Co-optation approach  Patronage approach  Proactive engagement

Contributions of CSOs to Democratic Governance  Empirical Evidence Robert Putnam’s work Freedom House Study – a strong and cohesive nonviolent civic coalition is the most important factor contributing to freedom  Selected Examples of Universal Engagement Contribute to public policy and decision-making Transparency and information dissemination Shaping, financing, and delivering social (and other) services Advocacy and protective role

Benefits of CSO involvement to national development/MDGs  Adapting the MDGs to the local context and issues of ownership  Poverty focused initiatives and policies  Calling for additional resources  Information, data disaggregated, and analysis  Improved service delivery  Promotion of Tolerance and Legitimacy

Benefits (continued)  Awareness raising and media involvement  Local-Global linkages  Improving the quality and effectiveness  A touch of realism

Challenges to Overcome  Capacity  Representation and Public Image  Lack of Coalitions or Networks  Non-conducive Environments  Financial (and other forms of) Viability

Recommendations for UNDP COs Promote New Strategies for Relations between the State and CSOs  Recommendation One – Develop New Strategies for Interaction  Recommendation Two – Establish Policy Documents on Cooperation  Recommendation Three - Improve the Legal Environment

Recommendations for Government Officials (continued) Stronger Investment in Social Welfare and Delivery  Recommendation One – Demonstrate the Benefit  Recommendation Two – Establish Contractual Arrangements  Recommendation Three – Support Citizens to Assess the Benefits

Recommendations for Government Officials (continued) Financial Sustainability, Improved Governance, Managerial Capacity and Other Pre-requisites for a Healthy CSO community  Recommendation One – Encourage CSOs to start at home  Recommendation Two – Consider Alternative Financing Strategies  Recommendation Three – Strengthen Capacity and Encourage Networking

Remaining Questions  Consultation, Implementation, and Monitoring Are MDG consultative processes ensured to be inclusive and representative? Are Government officials willing to allow CSOs to monitor the effects of social and economic policies, including poverty reduction policies? Will maximum use be made of CSO inputs to MDG consultation processes and implementation activities by permitting their influence on a number of policy processes?  State/Citizen Relations What might be the reaction of national and local authorities to efforts to promote CSO engagement in the socio-economic and MDG processes? Are the institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks in place? What are the social, political, and cultural factors within the country or region which could influence people’s participation? What are the political orientations and activities of different CSOs? Are they adversarial or cooperative?  Civil Society Capacity and Involvement What kinds of strategies appear to be most effective at promoting high rates and standards of civic engagement in achieving the MDGs? Do CSOs have the appropriate skill-sets (i.e. – economic literacy) to make for suitable partners in the policy process and to contribute to the MDGs?

“No shift in the way we think or act can be more critical than this: we must put people at the centre of everything we do.” Kofi Annan, Millennium Report