Europe Aid Concluding Paper Synthesis Key Messages

Europe. Aid Concluding Paper Synthesis & Key Messages Final Conference of the Structured Dialogue Budapest 17 -19 May 2011

Europe. Aid 1. Promoting an Enabling Environment for CSOs & LAs 2. Political Multi-stakeholder Dialogues Joyce Hakmeh Arab Center for the Development of the rule of Law and Integrity (Lebanon)

1. Promoting an enabling environment for CSOs & LAs Europe. Aid • An enabling environment is a functioning democratic legal and judicial system that ensures the right to organize, to participate in public affairs, & the right to expression / information. • Conducive conditions remains the primary responsibility of partner governments • CSOs legitimacy and representativeness, accountability and collaboration equally fundamental • Positive developments: growing awareness of broadbased, democratic ownership, rights-based CSO recognition, freedom of association 3

1. Promoting an enabling environment for CSOs & LAs Europe. Aid • Challenges: Restrictive environments for CSOs and LAs to operate currently prevail; weak cooperation and coordination among CSO; weak LAs institutional & financial frameworks of LAs / limited political sustainability. • Enabling environment needs to be promoted as part of a joint and broader democratic governance agenda. • Efforts needed: • • • Improvement of CSO legislation & mainstreaming of human rights Deepening of policy dialogue & of political and administrative decentralisation efforts Development of a common understanding on the role of CSOs&LAs and strengthening of CSOs&LAs internal governance 4

2. Political multi-stakeholder dialogues Europe. Aid • Democratic tool that favours transparency, public participation and inclusion. • Decisive role in improving the quality, effectiveness and broad-based ownership of public policies. • Calls for a comprehensive involvement of CSOs and LAs throughout the development process & needs to be strengthened. • Conditions for effective and inclusive engagement often missing. • CSOs and LAs do not always have the capacity or the resources to invest in policy debate 5

2. Political multi-stakeholder dialogues Europe. Aid Governing principles essential to implement effective and inclusive dialogues: 1. Develop result-oriented dialogues, with clear objectives; 2. Ensure political will & leadership, and coherence throughout the different phases; 3. Ensure adequate understanding of contexts & interests; 4. Guarantee actors representativeness and inclusiveness; 5. Ensure sufficient capacity of all actors involved (capacity building support); 6. Allocate sufficient resources and ensure an adequate degree of institutionalisation of dialogues 6

Europe. Aid 3. Colaboraciones y complementariedades entre los actores 4. Enfoques de desarrollo territoriales Eugene Zapata Garesché Ciudad de México (México)

3. Colaboraciones y complementariedades entre los actores Europe. Aid • ONGs de desarrollo europeas han sido siempre los principales socios ejecutores de la CE y los EM de la UE, • Pero otras OSC y AL van reconociéndose como importantes motores de cambio en los procesos de desarrollo. Adopción progresiva de enfoques de desarrollo participativo de la CE y los EM. • La diversificación de los actores necesita adaptar sus métodos de trabajo y a un “uso” más estratégico del valor añadido de las distintas categoría de los actores. • Incluido revisar la división convencional entre Norte y Sur (con la creciente aparición de colaboraciones mundiales). 8

3. Colaboraciones y complementariedades entre los actores Europe. Aid Importancia de la consolidación de las redes con miembros OSC y AL internacionales, regionales y nacionales. • Pero el desequilibrio entre las OSC y las AL dirigidas por el norte y locales persiste, y las diferencias de capacidad son claras. Necesidad de redefinir el valor añadido específico de las OSC y las AL europeas en los partenariados multiactores. de promover los diálogos entre OSC del norte y locales. de reconocer la importancia política del apoyo a las OSC y las AL más allá de la dimensión financiera del respaldo. de fomentar partenariados impulsados por la demanda 9

4. Enfoques de desarrollo territoriales Europe. Aid • Un enfoque territorial sitúa el territorio en el centro de los esfuerzos de desarrollo y gobernanza. • Tiene el potencial de impulsar la apropiación de las estrategias de desarrollo locales y reforzar la coordinación de los esfuerzos de desarrollo. • los actores relevantes se movilizan en función de sus distintos mandatos, en torno a una estrategia de desarrollo local. • Las autoridades locales juegan un rol catalizador para la gobernanza local, derivado de su legitimidad democrática. • Las OSC permiten la movilización de recursos locales y capital social. 10

4. Enfoques de desarrollo territoriales Europe. Aid • Condiciones necesarias para una articulación eficaz de las AL y las OSC no suelen existir. • Problemas relevantes incluyen: • • Ausencia de un entorno propicio para la participación institucionalizada en el nivel local; El predominio de modelos de gobernanza descendentes; Confianza Insuficiente entre las OSC y las AL; Problemas de coordinación entre las OSC locales; Por parte de las AL, se corre el riesgo de descuidar a las OSC locales; Tensión inherente entre los niveles local y nacional de gobernanza; Visión a corto plazo de los donantes. 11

4. Enfoques de desarrollo territoriales Europe. Aid Necesidad de promover toda una serie de condiciones y mecanismos : o o o Voluntad por parte de las AL y de las OSC, con unas prioridades coordinadas de intereses comunes, facilitadas por un intercambio de información constante; Una aclaración de los roles respectivos de las AL y las OSC; Un profundo entendimiento de los actores y sus dinámicas; Más debates sobre las sinergias entre el trabajo de las AL y las OSC en el nivel local; Un marco institucionalizado de participación en el nivel local o regional; un enfoque coherente, orientado a los resultados, para evitar fragmentación. 12

Europe. Aid 5. Les principes d’appropriation et d’alignement 6. Le droit d’initiative des OSC et des AL Mamadou Faye Confédération nationale des travailleurs, Plate-forme des acteurs non étatiques pour le suivi de l'Accord de Cotonou (Sénégal)

5. Les principes d’appropriation & d’alignement Europe. Aid • Appropriation, dans la Déclaration de Paris : les pays partenaires exercent un leadership sur les politiques et les stratégies définies par leur gouvernement. • Appropriation, dans le Dialogue Structuré: élargi à la notion d’appropriation démocratique locale, où toutes les parties prenantes assument leur part de responsabilité dans le développement. ce qui favoriserait un environnement propice au déploiement de la valeur ajoutée des OSC et des AL et à la participation active de groupes généralement exclus des prises de décision. mais le plus souvent OSC & AL travaillent dans des environnements restrictifs. 14

5. Les principes d’appropriation & d’alignement Europe. Aid • Alignement: donateurs se sont employés à suivre des approches sectorielles et à utiliser des modalités d’appui budgétaire. • Alignement: pays partenaires ont redoublé d’efforts pour améliorer leurs systèmes de gestion des finances publiques et élaborer des stratégies axées sur les résultats. • Dialogue Structuré indique le risque de restreindre l’action complémentaire et innovante des OSC et des AL avec l’alignement, surtout par rapport aux des besoins & groupes cibles pas prioritaires pour le gouvernement. Conséquences possibles: recentralisation de l’aide, cooptation, politisation des financements? 15

5. Les principes d’appropriation & d’alignement Europe. Aid • Opportunités offertes par l’appropriation & l’alignement : • • Propice à l’instauration d’un dialogue multi-acteurs et inclusif au plan national; Participation accrue des OSC & LA à la gouvernance & au suivi de l’aide • Conditions préalables nécessaires: • Respect autonomie des AL; • Liberté d’agir des OSC. • Conditions propices : • • • Approche consensuelle des stratégies nationales et sectorielles avec les différentes parties prenantes; Cartographies plus systématiques (mapping); Investissement constant dans le renforcement des capacités des OSC et des AL. 16

6. Le droit d’initiative des OSC et des AL Europe. Aid • Le droit d’initiative reconnaît la diversité et l’autonomie des OSC en tant qu’acteurs de plein droit du développement. • Doit être garanti pour sauvegarder valeur ajoutée, efficacité, & espace de créativité des OSC. • ldentification des besoins de développement locaux = responsabilité première des OSC locales. • « Autogouvernement » pour les AL, selon le principe de subsidiarité. • Défis: conditions pas toujours réunies pour exercer le droit d’initiative; capacités limitées; risque d’affaiblir légitimité des acteurs étatiques. 17

6. Le droit d’initiative des OSC et des AL Europe. Aid Principes et conditions propices au droit d’initiative ? • Recherche de complémentarité entre les autorités publiques et les OSC; • Importance de la reddition des comptes et transparence envers les groupes-cibles, membres et administrés; • Equilibre dans engagement donateurs entre alignement & appropriation et flexibilité requise pour appuyer le droit d’initiative; • Reconnaissance & respect du droit d’initiative et du rôle distinct des OSC européennes & locales. 18

Europe. Aid 7. Accountability 8. Division of labour & Harmonisation among donors Donia Hammami Ministry of Foreign Affairs (The Netherlands)

7. Accountability Europe. Aid • Concept of Mutual Accountability in the Paris Declaration • Broaden to Multiple/social accountability in the SD: involve all development stakeholders & question the role of CSOs and LAs in this dynamic • Relies on civic engagement & aims at promoting a system of checks and balances among all relevant development stakeholders. • Acknowledges that joint actions between LAs and CSOs have the potential to make positive contributions to sustainable local development 20

7. Accountability Europe. Aid • Main challenge: restrictive focus on accountability. • Often relates to disbursement procedures and financial accounting and reporting, rather than impact and results on the ground. • Other challenges include: limited access to information for CSOs & LAs, & structural weaknesses that hampers their own accountability, even if progressed are noted. • Need for a vision of "accountability" that transcends accountancy with shared commitments for all stakeholders. • Need to give more room to CSOs and LAs-driven research and knowledge. 21

8. Division of labour & Harmonisation among donors Europe. Aid • Donors interests may influence the agenda of official development aid & causes imbalances in aid repartition • Positive developments on harmonisation expected, based on commitments taken with the Aid Effectiveness international agenda • including: reduced transaction costs, enhanced complementarity, joint initiatives & increased dialogue • Important to widen the scope of division of labour to all relevant development stakeholders engaged in specific sectors 22

8. Division of labour & Harmonisation among donors Europe. Aid • Main challenges: limited contextualisation & self-assessment of the individual comparative advantages; importance of visibility; fear to lose direct interaction. • Risks: result in less flexibility & limited space to support innovative approaches; concentration of funding results in higher competition between CSOs & LAs • Need to promote: • • A strong political articulation & coherence between donors; More systematic exchange of experiences; Institutionalised multistakeholder dialogue for programming; Partnership among actors to avoid fragmentation & duplication of efforts & flexibility 23

Europe. Aid 9. EU AID MODALITIES & DELIVERY MECHANISMS Hans Stausboll European Commission, DEVCO (Brussels) 24

9. EU AID MODALITIES & DELIVERY MECHANISMS Europe. Aid Problems identified • Insufficient long-term and strategic funding • Weak sustainability • Severe oversubscription and very low application success rates • Complex procedures (calls for proposal) and tools (PADOR) • Lack of actor differentiation and unbalanced playing field

9. EU AID MODALITIES & DELIVERY MECHANISMS Europe. Aid Needs identified • Shift from financing of shorter-term projects to support of longer-term programmes and processes • Strengthen flexibility and cost-effectiveness of implementation modalities • Facilitate the funding access for local organisations • Simplify EU calls for proposal mechanism

9. EU AID MODALITIES & DELIVERY MECHANISMS Possible solutions identified (I) • 12 technical briefs covering different aid modalities and mechanisms • General consensus on strengths and weaknesses of those modalities • Calls for proposals to be complemented by more diverse mix of aid modalities (operational toolbox) Europe. Aid

9. EU AID MODALITIES & DELIVERY MECHANISMS Possible solutions identified (II) Operational toolbox should focus on: • providing a flexible set of responses adaptable to different local situations; • incorporating sensible actor differentiation; • allowing for more strategic and effective pursuit of development objectives by both donors and partner organisations. Europe. Aid

9. EU AID MODALITIES & DELIVERY MECHANISMS Possible solutions identified (III) • Commission proposal for 2012 review of Financial Regulation globally welcomed as step in the right direction: - more flexible rules for regranting core funding for non-EU organisations possibility of EC-managed trust funds more flexible co-financing rules • Next update in the context of the new Financial Perspective • Financial Regulation offers sufficient flexibility (!!) Europe. Aid

9. EU AID MODALITIES & DELIVERY MECHANISMS Europe. Aid Possible solutions identified (IV) Concrete examples of possible tools: • Simplified calls for proposal application process • Regranting for improved access to funding by grass-roots organisations • EC-managed trust funds for strengthened aid effectiveness and donor harmonisation • Ringfencing and full financing to promote involvement of specific types of actors • Programme funding for better strategic focus and enhanced sustainability • Core funding for advocacy work and capacity-building

9. EU AID MODALITIES & DELIVERY MECHANISMS Europe. Aid Final Observations (I) • Decision on which modality to use should be based on a clear vision of the objectives to be achieved, and through which actors the effectiveness and sustainability of actions can be best promoted. To this end the choice should be made on the basis of : o o o a thorough mapping of the combination of development needs and skills available per country/region or sector the programming priorities and considerations of the likely cost-effectiveness of the different support model options the capacity required on the side of the EU to effectively manage a more complex aid delivery portfolio.

9. EU AID MODALITIES & DELIVERY MECHANISMS Europe. Aid Final Observations (II) • Partner organisations need to acknowledge that: o o o trade-offs will need to be made not every type of actor can expect to benefit from every modality included in the operational toolbox in the absence of a boost to the overall aid budget to support CSOs & LAs, the introduction or greater use of some modalities necessarily implies reductions to the funds that, for example, are available to finance project proposals.