Main conclusions and implications for EU Delegations Training Seminar – 7th of July Maxime Montagner DEVCO Unit D2 « Civil society, local authorities »

INDEX Rationale and methodology of the SD Outputs & institutional Follow-up Selected recommendations & implications for EU Delegations

The Structured Dialogue: Why? Internal & external incentives Important changes after the Palermo Process Evaluation of EC aid delivery through CSOs European Court of Auditors Report Mid-term review of the NSA&LA thematic Programme Capitalisation of support programmes to NSAs&LAs (9th EDF) The principles of the Paris Declaration & the Accra Agenda for Action claim for a broad-based ownership of development strategies. Conducive for EC effort to enhance its partnership with CSO & LAs

Sequencing of discussions Policy-informing debates WG1: Role of CSO&LA in EU external cooperation (from programming to evaluation) WG2: Complementarity and coherence within the Aid Effectiveness Agenda April 2010/ March 2011 April 2010/ March 2011 WG3: EU aid delivery mechanisms November 2010/ March 2011 Operational debates 4 Based on topics agreed-upon during preparatory phase

Extensive consultation & exchanges and unprecedented support Participation of CSO and LA from EU Partner countries has been systematically promoted. More than 700 representatives from over 65 Partners countries have been gathered during SD events; At European and global level: 10 main European Platforms of Civil Society Organizations have been involved, representing the different sections of CS as well as Platforma. Member States and Members of the European Parliament have been actively involved as well as EC and 51 EU Delegations. The EC Headquarters (DEVCO) and Delegations of the European Union The European Parliament Members States Civil Society and LA representatives (European-based platforms and Southern actors) 5 5

Events: 13 Workshops & Regional Seminars

Intermediary Outputs & Main Results Reports drafted after each event (in Brussels & regional seminars) Final Declaration & Concluding Paper with key messages and recommendations 12 Technical fiches on funding & selection mechanisms

Announcement in Budapest: which institutional follow-up? Communication of the EC on Engaging with CSO & LA in development cooperation (2012) DEVCO Unit D2: Stable institutional interface for CSO and LA Thematic programme NSA&LA to be reshaped to support more particularly CSO&LA platforms at different levels Integration of Structured Dialogue conclusions in EU position on Aid Effectiveness Update of methodological tools for EU Delegations, including on aid delivery and selection mechanisms

Selected recommendations: which implications for EUD? On enabling environment for CSO: The EU should commit to and promote an enabling environment for CSOs as independent development actors in line with internationally agreed commitments The EU is called on to base budget support decisions upon assessments of government commitment to respect and promote democratic values and practices, human rights, accountability and CSOs and LAs involvement

Selected recommendations: which implications for EUD? The EU should promote and support regular, structured and inclusive multi-stakeholder dialogues to increase trust, complementarity and mutual accountability across stakeholders: long-term, predictable and independent funding (for research, advocacy and networking) should be envisaged to empower CSO and LAs (particularly representative organizations) EC guidelines on dialogue and consultation should be followed and possibly redefined more efforts should be made, including around consultations, to improve the accessibility and quality of information.

Selected recommendations: which implications for EUD? On CSO right of initiative & accountability: The EU should respect and actively promote the right of initiative of CSOs avoiding unwarranted governmental interference. Adequate political and financial support (free from State control) should be provided to CSOs, including defending civil society’s space when necessary. European CSOs are called on to (i) acknowledge that the initiative of the identification of local development needs relies primarily on local CSOs, (i) enhance their understanding of the mandate and priorities of local counterparts through research and dialogue, (iii) be responsible to their local partners' priorities and accountable towards them.

Selected recommendations: which implications for EUD? On territorial approach to development: The EU is prompted to attach a fundamental importance to decentralization (e.g. by including indicators linked to local governance in the set of conditionalities to donors’ partnerships with national governments). Local governments and the associations representing local governments should be recognised as legitimate development partners and should be systematically invited to engage in policy dialogues.

Selected recommendations: which implications for EUD? On knowledge management: Strategic mappings should be regularly conducted and updated to identify the most relevant actors, yet going beyond the known beneficiaries Sufficient resources and guidance should be made available so as to develop, apply and monitor CSO and LA engagement strategies and practices. In particular, networks of both CSO & LA focal points in EUD should be strengthened and developed.

EU aid delivery and selection 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)

EU aid delivery and selection 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.

EU aid delivery and selection 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 (!!)

EU aid delivery and selection mechanisms 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

Main challenge: how to operationalize recommendations? Which specific support would EUD need from HQ so as to improve their strategic engagement with CSO&LA? Tools, guidelines, toolkit are already existing…Are they effectively disseminated and used by colleagues in EU Delegations? Which content for a potential forthcoming EU Staff working paper which would build on results of the SD?

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