Toward Norms of Good Regional Governance

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Toward Norms of Good Regional Governance

• First Inter-Regional Forum
• Regional Governance and Development (RGD) Project
• Session One Prospects of European Regional
  Policy for Ukraine
• Introductory remarks by session chair Andrew
  Farncombe

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What is governance?

• The exercise of political, economic and
  administrative authority in the management of a
  countrys affairs at all levels. It comprises
  the mechanisms, processes and institutions
  through which citizens and groups articulate
  their interests, exercise their legal rights,
  meet their obligations and mediate their
  differences. (UNDP)

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Governance versus government

• Governance is not government. Governance as a
  concept recognizes that power exists inside and
  outside the formal authority and institutions of
  government. Governance includes government, the
  private sector and civil society.
• Governance emphasizes process. It recognizes
  that decisions are made based on complex
  relationships between many actors with different
  priorities.

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Defining good governance

• Once the adjective good is added, a normative
  debate begins.
• Different people, organizations, governments and
  local authorities will define good governance
  according to their own experience and
  perspective.
• UN-Habitat has defined desired standards of
  practice for local governance.

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UN-Habitat Norms of Good Local Governance

• sustainability in all dimensions of local
  development
• subsidiarity of authority and resources to the
  closest appropriate level
• equity of access to decision-making processes and
  the basic necessities of life (includes gender
  equity)
• efficiency in the delivery of public services and
  in promoting local economic development

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UN-Habitat Norms of Good Local Governance

• transparency and accountability of
  decision-makers and all stakeholders
• civic engagement and citizenship
• security of individuals and their living
  environment

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The path forward

• The Inclusive Region
• Leadership
• Capacity
• Renewing the public realm (those resources shared
  by society at large and accessible to them)

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Panel presentations

• Experiences of Ukraine, Canada and Central and
  Eastern Europe in regional governance and
  development