1. CSO Development Effectiveness and Promotion of an Enabling Environment www.cso-effectiveness.org

2. Main Objectives The Open Forum is a CSO-led global initiative to: –Define and promote a framework for CSO development effectiveness, including principles, guidelines, and accountability mechanisms –Engage in a political dialogue with donors, governments and other stakeholders to build understanding and to create an enabling environment for CSOs work

3. The Accra Agenda for Action (paragraph 20) We will deepen our engagement with CSOs as independent development actors in their own right whose efforts complement those of governments and the private sector. We share an interest in ensuring that CSO contributions to development reach their full potential. To this end: a)We invite CSOs to reflect on how they can apply the Paris principles of aid effectiveness from a CSO perspective. b)We welcome the CSOs’ proposal to engage with them in a CSO-led multistakeholder process to promote CSO development effectiveness. As part of that process, we will seek to i) improve coordination of CSO efforts with government programs, ii) enhance CSO accountability for results, and iii) improve information on CSO activities. c) We will work with CSOs to provide an enabling environment that maximizes their contributions to development.

4. Elements of an Effectiveness Framework

5. Istanbul Principles Respect and promote human rights and social justice. Embody gender equality and equity while promoting women and girls’ rights. Focus on people’s empowerment, democratic ownership and participation. Promote environmental sustainability.

6. Istanbul Principles (cont’d) Practice transparency and accountability. Pursue equitable partnerships and solidarity. Create and share knowledge and commit to mutual learning. Commit to realizing positive sustainable change.

7. Categories of an Enabling Environment 1) Elements provided by any government in keeping with existing commitments in international & regional legal instruments that guarantee fundamental rights (freedom of association, expression, right to operate free from unwarranted state interference, right to communicate & cooperate, right to seek and secure funding, and the state’s duty to protect)

8. Categories of an Enabling Environment 2) Elements provided by donor governments to CSOs in the donor country & CSOs in recipient countries (through funding mechanisms). Includes policies, relationship with CSOs, policy dialogue. 3) Elements provided by recipient governments to CSOs in the development context, i.e. true participation in formulation of national development strategy, policy dialogue, etc. = COUNTRY OWNERSHIP

9. Enabling Environment Last decade especially hard on CSOs & human rights defenders, particularly since 2009. Documentation: “Civil Society: The Clampdown is Real”, Civicus (www.civicus.org)www.civicus.org and “Changing political spaces of Civil Society Organizations”, Act Alliance (www.actalliance.org)www.actalliance.org

10. Enabling Environment Asks Agree on minimum standards for government, donor policies, laws, regulations for an enabling environment for CSO development effectiveness Assure Paris Declaration principles not interpreted to narrow enabling environment for CSOs Incorporate indicators for progress on enabling environment into formal monitoring mechanisms agreed upon at HLF4 in Busan

11. www.cso-effectiveness.org info@cso-effectiveness.org For More information