National and Regional Preparations for MEA Meetings Session Three Felix Dodds

What you need to address Learn about national and regional preparations for UN meetings. Learn about national and regional preparations for UN meetings. Explore possible roles for NGOs and civil society. Explore possible roles for NGOs and civil society. National and regional reporting processes National and regional reporting processes Coordinating networks - are you in the club or outside? How to get information and onto list-serves etc Coordinating networks - are you in the club or outside? How to get information and onto list-serves etc Advice for effective NGO contributions Advice for effective NGO contributions

Diary for MEA January:Contact the international NGO coalition January:Contact the international NGO coalition February: Arrange a meeting of the country’s NGOs or stakeholders February: Arrange a meeting of the country’s NGOs or stakeholders March and April: More national meetings March and April: More national meetings May-July: Input to regional / global coalition positions May-July: Input to regional / global coalition positions August:Informal meetings with national government August:Informal meetings with national government September: Formal meeting with national government September: Formal meeting with national government October: Initiate a debate in parliament on the issue October: Initiate a debate in parliament on the issue November: Meetings with government November: Meetings with government December: Meeting of the MEA December: Meeting of the MEA

What are the possible roles and input of civil society at these levels? By having fluid relationships with national executive administration as well as with regional administrative bodies; By having fluid relationships with national executive administration as well as with regional administrative bodies; By participating in national and regional official or non-official committees; By participating in national and regional official or non-official committees; By providing individual input of an organization into national and regional preparations; By providing individual input of an organization into national and regional preparations;

What are the possible roles and input of civil society at these levels? By furnishing technical information to national authorities and regional bodies on subjects of a particular MEA; By furnishing technical information to national authorities and regional bodies on subjects of a particular MEA; By providing specific input into drafting of national reports and regional inputs; and/or By providing specific input into drafting of national reports and regional inputs; and/or By contracting with national governments and regional bodies to generate national or regional reporting or preparations. By contracting with national governments and regional bodies to generate national or regional reporting or preparations.

Guidelines on effective NGO contributions Be focused and targeted Be focused and targeted Offer specific language and proposals Offer specific language and proposals Be clear Be clear Time is of the essence Time is of the essence Build your information and knowledge Build your information and knowledge

National and regional reporting processes Know the timelines Know the timelines Know the officials Know the officials Contact the UN relevant official to find out if you can submit independently Contact the UN relevant official to find out if you can submit independently Consider a shadow report Consider a shadow report If it is a regional report eg UNECE then cooperate with other stakeholders in the region If it is a regional report eg UNECE then cooperate with other stakeholders in the region

Guidelines on effective NGO contributions Coalesce within civil society Coalesce within civil society Coordinate at the national level Coordinate at the national level Ensure that national instructional structure permits civil society groups’ participation Ensure that national instructional structure permits civil society groups’ participation Work with different strata and sectors of government's Work with different strata and sectors of government's Build a relationship with sub-national areas of government Build a relationship with sub-national areas of government

Summary Participation by, and consultation with, non- state actors in national preparations for MEAs is an issue of rights under Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. Participation by, and consultation with, non- state actors in national preparations for MEAs is an issue of rights under Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. Contributions by civil society can provide information, points of view, research input, and sub-national contributions to the MEA national reporting process. Contributions by civil society can provide information, points of view, research input, and sub-national contributions to the MEA national reporting process. To be effective, ensure your contributions are targeted, timely, and well grounded by evidence and experience. To be effective, ensure your contributions are targeted, timely, and well grounded by evidence and experience.

Summary Working in coalition with other civil society stakeholders, and with a wide range of government departments can advance the uptake of your positions. Working in coalition with other civil society stakeholders, and with a wide range of government departments can advance the uptake of your positions. Even if divergences in opinion arise (e.g. between government and civil society), the process of participation should be considered constructive. Even if divergences in opinion arise (e.g. between government and civil society), the process of participation should be considered constructive. Civil society input to national preparations can result in more fluid and improved processes of MEA negotiation and application. Civil society input to national preparations can result in more fluid and improved processes of MEA negotiation and application.

Exercise: Insider vs. outsider roles Outsider: Marches in the streets to protest a certain issue or official position. Pros? Cons? Outsider: Marches in the streets to protest a certain issue or official position. Pros? Cons? Insider: Engaging in policy dialogues with decision-makers. Pros? Cons? Insider: Engaging in policy dialogues with decision-makers. Pros? Cons? Outsider: Presenting an alternative/shadow report to an MEA meeting. Pros? Cons? Outsider: Presenting an alternative/shadow report to an MEA meeting. Pros? Cons? Insider: Lobbying for the insertion of text in declaration/report or other such documents. Pros? Cons? Insider: Lobbying for the insertion of text in declaration/report or other such documents. Pros? Cons?