1. LESSONS ON FO/CSO ENGAGEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT: THE FO/CSO EXPERIENCE IN GAFSP

2. LESSONS ON 3 THEMES: 1. ON FO/CSO PLATFORM BUILDING/STRENGTHENING 2. ON FO/CSO ENGAGEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT 3. PROJECT MANAGEMENT

3. ON FO/CSO PLATFORM BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING +/Facilitating- / Hindering Maximize different initiative -MTCP and GAFSP -FAO PO Profiling and GAFSP Profiling Narrow-minded Project-focused vs broader objective (GAFSP vs Food sovereignty “Turfing” Respect and appreciation of different roles played by different FOs/CSOs -Advocacy -On-ground work Clarity of common Vision / basis of Unity Multiplicity of approaches Complementary roles / Partnership between FOs and NGOs United Front / Alliances improves negotiating position Least common denominator Disunity on many points ;Unity on few minimum points FOs vs NGOs -Both FOs and NGOs have “horns” -Roles and responsibilities vs -capacity -Competition over resources

4. FACTORS AFFECTING FO/CSO ENGAGEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT 1. PARADIGM AND ATTITUDE 2. SKILLS / CAPACITY 3. MECHANISMS 4. PROCESSES 5. RESOURCES

5. ON FO/CSO ENGAGEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT FACTORS+/Facilitating- / Hindering 1.Behavior / attitude / Paradigm / Orientation Invite GOs in various activities -Meetings /consultations/ workshops -Field visits Recognize positive side of government not only criticizing all the negative side of government Cynical attitude -Fear of engaging CSO due to past negative experience -Absence of experience in engaging CSO -Labelling / stereotyping on both side (CSO/Government)

6. ON FO/CSO ENGAGEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT FACTORS+/Facilitating- / Hindering 2. Skills / expertise / Capacity to engage Conduct training on constructive engagement as initial step to improve role: -proponent of change -Partners of reform -Voice of the people -Fiscalizers to stop corruption Skill /capacity to balance inside and outside strategy -Advocacy / rally/ march -Working with government on development projects Lack of skills on engaging government

7. ON FO/CSO ENGAGEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT FACTORS+/Facilitating- / Hindering 3. MechanismPresence of AFA in GAFSP Steering committee -Authority /official mandate recognized by GAFSP recipient government -Link of AFA with members and partners Access to information / open information flow - Information from GAFSP steering committee thru AFA Presence of platform among CSOs for: -Consensus building on common agenda -Strategizing on actions Absence of mechanism for transparency and accountability - Inaccessibility / insufficiency / no leakage of information

8. ON FO/CSO ENGAGEMENT FACTORS+/Facilitating- / Hindering 4. Processes Participatory planning -Getting real needs from farmers / people in the community -Increase responsiveness and acceptance -Increase involvement “Government participate in farmers project” ignored farmers in the process of planning and evaluation Bureaucratic process Political influence in the decision- making and implementation (choice of pilot areas) Declaration / Approval not always result in actual implementation Non-participation of farmers in defining criteria and indicators for monitoring and evaluation

9. ON FO/CSO ENGAGEMENT FACTORS+/Facilitating- / Hindering 5. ResourcesAvailability of different sources of fund to support participation - WB, Agricord/CSA Previous Linkages / Networks build e.g. Action- Aid etc. - Social Capital ignored farmers in the process of planning and evaluation Bureacratic process Political influence in the decision-making and implementation (choice of pilot areas)

11. Thank you!