the eu development policy and the role of csos in the region

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DG EXTERNAL RELATIONS

The EU Development Policy and

The Role of CSOs in the Region

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EU Development Policy : Overview and Context

• EU Development policy – aim at poverty eradication in MDG context

• EU action on the ground is based on : – the European Consensus on Development (2005) : a

common EU (Commission and MS) vision of development, first time in 50 years.

– EU partnerships and dialogue with developing countries.

• The EU - the world's largest donor has committed to improving Aid Effectiveness and thereby Development effectiveness. Paris Declaration (2005) and Accra Agenda for Action/AAA (2008) – a central role of the EU.

• Policy Coherence for Development - to better articulate Development Policy with other elements of EU action, thereby reinforcing the EU contribution to developing countries progress towards the MDGs.

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EU Development Policy : Approaches – guiding principles -

• Differentiated approach (mix of objectives and modalities, depending on context and needs – LDCs, LICs-MICs, fragile states) and concentration at country/regional level

• A variety of modalities based on needs and performance. i.e. grants, project aid, budget support, micro-finance approach, EIB investments.

• Promotion of CSOs participation in the definition, implementation and evaluation of EC development strategies

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EU Development Policy : Approaches and Modalities (2)

• The Community's contribution is focused on a number of areas of intervention (trade, environment and energy, water, infrastructure, rural development, governance, conflict prevention, human development, cohesion and employment), responding to the needs, as identified by partner countries.

• These are complemented by attention to issues, cutting across all above sectors: democracy and good governance, the rights of children and indigenous peoples, gender equality, environmental sustainability and the fight agains HIV/AIDS

• EU development programmes - geographically-based, supplemented by a range of thematic instruments and programmes, complementary and subsidiary to the above

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The Role of CSOs in the Region and Support to CSOs

Role of CSOs in the Region

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The Role of CSOs in the Region and Support to CSOs (2)

Role of CSOs in Region – Common Characteristics

• Substantial growth in numbers and influence of CSOs (with important levels of qualifications and skills) in recent years, however:

• Still important focus on service delivery vs the “more political” advocacy

• No determining role in public policy making – interaction with government exists, though failing to translate into policy (issues of inconsistent level of direct involvement of CSOs, representation of CS at large, etc)

• Donor-dependent, hence operating in a competitive environment, creating constraints for the development of locally owned strategies

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EC Support to CSOs as implementers and dialogue partners - Types

• 9th and 10th EDF geographic programmes (under focal and non-focal sectors) on institutional reinforcement and capacity building for both advocacy and service delivery (ex. CSCBP Uganda 8 M EUR 2005-2008, followed up by DGAP 12 M 2009-2013).

• Thematic Programmes (DCI) – CSO initiative based, pilot actions to address sensitive issues, partnership in difficult contexts (NSA/LA, Investing in People…) and other Thematic Instruments - EIDHR, Instrument for Stability

• In specific cases, support to CSOs can be integrated in a GBS or a sector policy support programme (SPSP) (ex Zambia’s PRBS-II and South Africa’s Access to Justice and Promotion of Constitutional Rights programme)

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Trends in CSOs’ participation - 10th EDF CSP programming and current MTR

• Well organised and timely involvement of CSOs in the drafting of CSP, with CSOs input and feedback incorporated in strategy documents (Botswana and Malawi best examples).

• Consultation/information sharing type on programming in the cases of Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Lesotho

• Ad-hoc consultation of CSOs in Namibia (delays, priority setting NDP3)

• Special cases : Zimbabwe (Cotonou Art 96 Consultations closed with, since 2002 EC assistance limited to direct support under B envelope) and Tanzania (10th EDF programming in context of JAS)

• MTR of 10th EDF : in-country phase June-Oct 2009, with MTR guidelines to be shared with CSOs in country, involving them from onset

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STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL SOCIETY:

Co-operation with civil society in the region from the perspective of the EU’s human rights policy

Davide Zaru DG Relex

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EU human rights policy in the third countries: ID card

• Monitoring of the situation and action on specific cases

• Political dialogue: 1) EU to country; 2) regional dialogue (e.g. African Union)

• Co-operation in multilateral fora, notably the United Nations

• Support to the international human right5s institutions, to human rights NGOs and to human rights defenders

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Principles and priorities

• Principles: universality - interdependence

• Specific priorities:

o Death penalty

o Torture

o Children and armed conflict

o Violence against children

o Human Rights defenders

o Violence and discrimination against women

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Results of political dialogue should feed into EU assistance

• Human rights relevance of Country Strategy Papers

• Capacity building activities through thematic instruments

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How does Civil Society slot in the picture?

• Civil Society supports the monitoring role of the EU

• EU supports and protects human rights defenders

• Civil Society organisations are associated in political dialogues:

o Article 8 dialogues

o African Union

• Civil Society organisations are associated in the development and review of Country Strategy Papers

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In the framework of the co-operation between the EU and the African Union

• Partnership on democratic governance and human rights

• AU-EU human rights dialogue

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HR dialogue with the African Union

• Objectives

o Open up official human rights dialogue to the European and African academic and NGO communities and create a space for non-confrontational discussion;

o Encourage academics and members of civil society to feed the agenda of the official dialogue with their views; and

o Encourage the effective implementation of shared human rights commitments.

the eu development policy and the role of csos in the region

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