civil society and development: global trends and their...
TRANSCRIPT
Civil Society and Development:
Global Trends and their Implications for the MDBs
Vinay Bhargava PTF Chief Technical Adviser , SDCC-NGOC Consultant
ADB Headquarters, 19 January 2015
1. Civil society is growing in size,
diversity and influence
●Millions registered
●Contributors to growth and poverty reduction
●Diversity in roles
●Transferring resources
●Network and connectivity
●World Vision, BRAC, Tata Trusts, Oxfam
2. Governments seeing civil
society as development partners
●Busan (2008)
●Agenda 2030
●Members in governing bodies of global funds
●Open Government Partnership
●Global Partnership for Social Accountability
3. Private aid sources growing
●18,000 INGOs secretariats: 70% funds from
private sources
●141 billionaires (10 Asian born)
●Addis Ababa welcomed philanthropic donors
●SDG Philanthropy Platform
4. New development financing
paradigm
●Multilateral financial mechanisms
●ADB partnerships with CSOs
●Gates Foundation and its partners
●Sir Ratan Tata trusts MOUs
●Addis Ababa – private philanthropy
●SDG 17: partnership target
5. Enabling environment for CSO
engagement
●94 countries open to citizen participation
(EIU,OGP, Civicus, Indicators)
●46 countries opted in GPSA (9 in Asia)
●Constructive engagement happening but..
o Some governments restricting CSO operating space
o Busan indicator on CSO enabling environment – mixed
o CSOs face funding, legitimacy and impact challenges
Implications of trends for
ADB/MDBs
①Improve responsiveness to beneficiary needs
②Improve implementation of projects
③Improve results
④Improve governance and reduce corruption
⑤Improve social inclusion
5 Reasons ADB Engages with the Civil Society Source: 1998 ADB Policy, BP/OP and 2016-2020 Strategic Priorities
Engaging more in consultations at design
Not much in implementation and monitoring
= missed opportunities and benefits Strategic priorities 2016 -2020 call for more
Global trends provide new opportunities
How well is ADB co-operating with the civil society?
What are the new
opportunities for ADB/MDBs?
Prioritize who to proactively
engage with and why
CSOs Type CSO Role
Dev.
NGOs
Foundations Faith
Based Org.
Community
Based Organizations
Philanthropists
Watchdog
Advocate
Service Provider
Expert
Capacity Builder
Representative
Adjust to changing civil society
engagement (CSE) landscape
●Many DMCs in Asia see value of CSE
●Civil society roles in SDG provide platform
●CSOs in all frontlines of each SDGs
2030: Deepen CSE at all levels
Take advantage of opportunities
for deepening CSE for results
●Move away from project to portfolio approaches
●Mainstream in sector and thematic group
●Support effective CSE in SDG processes
●Adequately fund CSE
●Monitor what you want done
Address internal constraints to CSE
●Simplify procurement processes for not-for-
profits and knowledge providers
● Improve incentives and management signals
●Reduce transaction costs involved in CSE
● Invest in staff and skills
Thanks