Development and Cooperation EU Structured Dialogue with Civil Society and Local Authorities Angelo Baglio Head of Unit D2 "Civil Society and Local Authorities" European Commission – DG DEVCO Regional Seminar with Local Authorities from the ENP South Tunis, November 2012

DEVCO 2 Evolution of the International and European development agendas towards a wider participation of LAs in Development

DEVCO 3 1. Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, 2005 Description Result of high level forum of the International Community organised by the OECD Main outcomes Aid 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)

DEVCO 4 2. Accra Agenda for Action, 2008 Description Adopted by representatives of developing and donor countries and development institutions to facilitate implementation of the Paris Declaration Main outcomes Progress 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

DEVCO 5 3. Structured Dialogue, Description Initiative 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

DEVCO 6 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. The EC Headquarters (AIDCO/RELEX/DG DEV) and Delegations of the European Union The European Parliament Members States Civil Society and LA representatives (European-based platforms and Southern actors) Focus on the Global South: Inclusion of partner countries CSOs &Local Authorities was a high priority of Structured Dialogue Participants

DEVCO Objective 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

DEVCO Objectives of the Structured Dialogue 8 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

DEVCO 9 4. Agenda for Change, 2011 Description Communication 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 is being prepared) Main outcomes Impact 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

DEVCO Busan partnership for Effective Development Co-operation, 2011 Description High level forum on aid effectiveness, with representatives of developing and developed countries, institutions, civil society, local and regional organisations, public and private actors Main outcomes Shared 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

DEVCO 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 ( ) 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

DEVCO 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: oTransfer powers, responsibilities and resources from central governments to local governments; oEmpower 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

DEVCO Cooperation modalities for LAs Bilateral cooperation EU & Member States Decentralised process with the partner government Regional cooperation EU Specific programms depending on the region (ex Ciudad, CBC) Decentralised Cooperation EU (30 M Eur/year) Via EU Delegations and Headquarters (Bxl) Direct or Call for proposals/tenders Call for proposals/tenders, Twinnings, CBC Call for proposals, Direct grants

DEVCO 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 (moving from a “instrumental” approach to a “strategic” one, reviewing funding modalities..).

DEVCO 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

DEVCO 16 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 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 development Issue Paper

Development and Cooperation شكرا THANKS MERCI