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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Events: 13 Workshops & Regional Seminars

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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)

15. 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.

16. 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 (!!)

17. 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

18. 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?

19. Please consult the Civil Society Helpdesk CISOCH
For more information…
Please consult the Civil Society Helpdesk CISOCH
Maxime Montagner
DEVCO D2 « Civil society, local authorities »