EU CSOs ROADMAPS ADDED VALUE AND LOOKING FORWARD

EU CSOs ROADMAPS: ADDED VALUE AND LOOKING FORWARD Jacques PERROT DEVCO Civil Society / Local Authorities Unit

1. The Roadmap process– State of play • Roadmaps translate the political shift of the 3 ambitions of the Communication “The Roots of democracy” to the reality of each country: • Enabling environment for Civil Society • CSOs participation in domestic policies • Capacity Development of CSOs • Key principles guiding the process to achieve a common vision: • Involvement of local CSOs • Coordination inside the EUD • Division of labour with MS (and other donors)

105 Roadmaps being implemented

2. EMERGING LESSONS AND GOOD PRACTICES IN THE REGION

The RM ADDED VALUE: deepening the EU engagement with CSOs in the Neighbourhood region (i) • Enhanced consultation and more structured EU/CS dialogue with CSOs (i. e. more regular, more comprehensive, more institutionalised) • Better understanding of the EE (and challenges for CSOs) and promoting a collective EU response (e. g. Tunisia, Israel, Palestine…) • The RM as a platform to promote CS involvement in domestic policy dialogue : use of available windows of opportunity to promote dialogue between CS actors and authorities (e. g. Lebanon, Tunisia, Morocco) • Improved Donor coordination in several countries (e. g. Palestine, Israel) • The RM as a platform to deepen mainstreaming efforts, in relevant sectors of EU cooperation and external relations (e. g. Jordan, Algeria)

The RM ADDED VALUE: deepening the EU engagement with CSOs in the Neighbourhood region (ii) • Strengthening of CSOs’ own voices and agendas (beyond service provision) (e. g. Algeria, Lebanon) and inclusion of “free and critical” individuals and CSOs (i. e. new movements, actors outside of the traditional CSO form) • Enhanced and even scaled-up support to capacity development (e. g. Algeria, Lebanon, Tunisia, Ukraine) with a particular focus on: • Networking/collective action • Evidence based research advocacy and policy skills • Managerial and organisational skills • Outreach to constituencies and to local and peripheral organisations • New alliances with media • More strategic and long term approach to support CSOs

3. THE WAY FORWARD: EMERGING QUESTIONS AND POINTS OF ATTENTION

Emerging questions/points of attention (i) • Need to shift from an often ad-hoc project-based approach to a long-term process approach of supporting CSOs in a context-sensitive way. • Some common points of attention in the region are : ² Space for CSOs is shrinking in several countries are new actors are emerging (more fluid forms of civic engagement), requiring for more innovation in the ways of engaging and promoting the Enabling Environment. ² Fragile and sensitive/restrictive environments require a tailored approach (i. e. How to cope with shrinking spaces, especially in highly restrictive environments (e. g. Egypt)? ² Need to better understand support the entry points for dialogue between the CS and the Public sector (“invited spaces") while supporting also advocacy and watchdog roles (“claimed spaces”)? (e. g. Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon. ) ² Support CS networking efforts & collective action.

Emerging questions/points of attention (ii) • Need to improve the communication around the process and enhance “the quality and inclusiveness” of consultations and dialogue. Need for shift to more regular and institutionalised forms of dialogue. • More attention is needed to the links between RM priorities & actions and bilateral and thematic programmes and to ensure that CS support is mainstreamed in the EU focal areas. • Need to continue to regularly assess the context and deepen the knowledge base (mappings, CS assessments, etc. ) • Deepen collaboration and engagement with MS engagement • Establish results-oriented follow-up systems: Ø Institutionalised mechanisms to follow up on EU engagement with CS (e. g. reference group in Tunisia, donor working group in Israel, etc. ) Ø Such mechanisms are also meant to give inputs to national dialogue with Civil society.

For more info Public Group on Civil Society on Capacity http: //capacity 4 dev. ec. europa. eu/public-governance-civilsociety/ EEAS Group on Civil Society http: //capacity 4 dev. ec. europa. eu/ec-eeas-civil-society #EUCountry. Roadmapsfor. Civil. Society