Civil Society and Aid Effectiveness Update and Conceptual Framework

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Civil Society and Aid Effectiveness Update and
Conceptual Framework
Research Roundtable on CS, AE and Education Réal
Lavergne April 30, 2007
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Outline

• Update on CS AE in CIDA
• Conceptual Framework
• Conclusions / Options for Involvement

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I. Update on CS AE in CIDA
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A Short History

• SAE, PBAs, untying
• Share of CS dropping, absolute funding flatlined
• Renewed interest in partnership programming
• AE perspective adopted (vs entitlement-based)
• Dialogue from AE perspective
• Ministers announcement at ICDs

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Three Major Thrusts

• Review and renewal of partnership programming
• Policy statement on civil society and development
• International leadership initiative on society
  and aid effectiveness (linked to Accra 2008

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Partnership Programming
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Partnership Renewal

• A more effective and efficient operational
  approach to partnership programming
• Reduced transaction costs for both the Agency and
  partners
• A more strategic approach at the country and
  sector level
• Increased Canadian interest and engagement in
  development.

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Policy on Civil Society

• Development of a CIDA policy on civil society and
  development
• Recognize the various roles of civil society
• As an integral part of democracy and accountable
  government
• In the delivery of development programs and
  operations
• As a mechanism of social empowerment
• Take an aid effectiveness lens to promoting
  development of civil society in the South, while
  making the best possible use of Canadian partners
• Complementary to the Partnership Renewal process
  by providing a policy umbrella

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International leadership role

• Chair of the DACs Advisory Group on Civil
  Society and Aid Effectiveness
• Feeds into the process leading up to the Accra
  High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness
• Will involve regional and international
  consultations, and the development of good
  practice papers
• Synergies between this process and the
  development of a CIDA policy on civil society and
  development

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Expected Results

• Recognition and Voice for CSOs
• Application and enrichment of the international
  aid effectiveness agenda
• Better understanding of good practice in four
  areas
• The roles of CSOs at country level and factors
  conditioning their effectiveness
• The roles of CSOs as donors and channels of aid
• The role of government in the funding chain and
  in establishing an enabling environment
• Donor models of support for CSOs.

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II. Conceptual Framework
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AE, Principles, and Agendas

• Aid Effectiveness shared objective and ultimate
  accountability having a development impact
• Not trite
• Helps stay the course
• Draws attention to the big picture
• AE principles selective lessons of what works
• AE Agenda lessons commitment / consensus
• One AE objective, but no single set of
  principles and agendas

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The Prevailing Agenda - Summary

• Increased attention to the situation of poor,
  aid dependent countries, including deep-seated
  problems of governance and institutional
  performance
• Focus of attention on the effectiveness of the
  state.
• A strong international consensus on a new,
  joined-up, way of engaging in development
  cooperation from projects to systems and
  programs
• A set of basic principles considered to be of
  universal value local ownership, alignment,
  donor coordination and harmonization, managing
  for results and mutual accountability
• A SPECIFIC agenda

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Implications for CS

• Application
• AE principles also apply to CSOs
• Threats
• Possible loss of independence and independent
  funding for CSOs
• Opportunities
• To engage at policy level
• To scale up in partnership with governments
• For high-level dialogue on CS development
• To engage in PBAs

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CS in the prevailing agenda

• Part of the dialogue
• Recognized role in promoting domestic
  accountability
• Drafters careful to not exclude CD and to avoid
  references to government where country would
  do as well
• However, core of IAEA is focused on the state, on
  core state functions improved planning and
  financial management at the centre

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CS AE Need for an agenda

• Roles of CS
• Pillar of democracy
• Effective delivery of programs and operations
• Social Empowerment
• CS as part of AE architecture
• As donors
• As channels
• As watchdogs

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Areas requiring attention

• Recognition of the various roles played by CSOs,
  including that of social empowerment
• Recognition of political realities
• Operationalizing partnership principles
• Taking performance into account
• Allowing for a range of delivery models
  (including responsive approaches)

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Playing in

• National consultations
• Sharing studies and cases feeding into the good
  practice papers
• Participation in the International conference
• http//web.acdi-cida.gc.ca/cs