[WSIS CS-Plenary] To engage or not to engage, a questionnaire for NGO's

[Tracey Naughton]

Perhaps right now is a good time to reflect on, and cast an opinion about,
civil society engagement with intergovernmental institutions....CIVICUS
would like your opinion.

Tracey Naughton

 Release Date: 14 February, 2005
>
> By Kumi Naidoo, CIVICUS Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer
>
> A matter that has raised much debate recently is whether civil society
> organisations should engage with local, national and global
> intergovernmental institutions such as the World Bank or the United
Nations.
>
>
> What really is engagement? Engagement can take various forms. These can
> include: submitting petitions, letters of appeal or correspondence which
> puts forward a case that runs counter to the policies and actions of such
> institutions; participating in meetings with these institutions when they
> seek to 'consult' with civil society organisations; participating at the
> micro level in a joint venture around project delivery; participating in
> policy shaping processes such as the Extractive Industries Review
undertaken
> last year by the World Bank; or simply participating in events of governing
> institutions whether it be the annual meetings of the World Bank and the
IMF
> or a conference of a department or ministry of a national government.
>
> Allow me to use the World Bank as an example of a powerful global
> institution, which is owned by member governments, albeit unevenly, with
> rich countries dominating control. Civil society organisations have long
> argued for a voice around the policies and actions of the World Bank.
>
> The old slogan: "Think Globally Act Locally" does not work on its own
> anymore, since real power, particular around fundamental economic issues
> that affect the lives of ordinary people all over the planet, is held at
the
> global level. For civil society organisations from developing countries to
> act solely locally means removing themselves from where, increasingly, real
> power resides.
>
> Civil society, as also reflected in CIVICUS membership, has three different
> approaches to engagement with an institution such as the World Bank. A
> growing number have adopted a Principle Non-Engagement Position. Those that
> hold this view believe that global institutions like the World Bank are
> stuck in the geopolitics of 1945 when many of these institutions came to
> life.
>
> Given that the World Bank is governed by a principle of "one dollar one
> vote" means that rich country governments, often without the express
> approval of their citizens, exercise a disproportionate degree of influence
> around the policy and practices of the institution. They argue that
> institutions such as the World Bank are part of the problem rather than
part
> of the solution and engagement is a waste of time, energy and resources.
>
> A second approach might be called a Selective Engagement Position, where
> civil society organisations make a choice on which of the opportunities of
> engagement that present themselves provide the possibility of pushing for
> meaningful change in policies or practices. Each opportunity is determined
> by a cost-benefit analysis of what might be achieved if civil society
> engages with the relevant part of an institution such as the World Bank.
>
> A third approach might be called a Comprehensive Engagement Approach, which
> is premised on the reality that, notwithstanding the shortcomings of
> institutions such as the World Bank, it is important for civil society's
> perspectives, views and participation to be pushed for and secured. This is
> to control the damage of any harmful policies and practices of the World
> Bank or to secure more meaningful development outcomes in projects that
have
> promise and potential.
>
> Clearly, civil society organisations have to make a controversial and
> complex set of strategic and tactical choices. Our challenge right now
is to
> agree to disagree on the different tactical approaches our colleagues
within
> civil society might adopt. While it is critical that we respect those
> organisations that adopt, for example, a Principle Non-Engagement Position,
> it is equally important that those that adopt alternative strategies are
not
> dismissed as "collaborators" when their overall work is clearly in support
> of social, economic, political and civic justice.
>
> CIVICUS member, as well as several other partners in civil society, have
> debated these issues rigorously over the last few years, given that CIVICUS
> is leading an initiative to develop a set of recommendations on how the
> World Bank could transform its engagement with civil society.
>
> This transformation is aimed at having greater accountability for previous
> engagements, as well as to ensure that such engagements are transparent,
> legitimate and subject to democratic accountability.
>
> This work will come to a climax with the delivery of a set of
> recommendations which has received several inputs ranging from those who
are
> highly critical of any form of engagement to those, particularly from
> developing countries, who have not had the opportunity to engage in the
> past.
>
> Given that many of our global public institutions are located in the
> developed world, it is not surprising that previous engagements with the
> World Bank, for example, have had a disproportionate level of participation
> by our colleagues in developed countries. Apart from a conscious political
> decision of non-engagement, as was the case with the South African NGO
> Coalition, where I previously served as Executive Director, the factors
that
> have prevented southern engagement include location, financial resources,
> access to information and the fact that the majority of civil society
> organisations in the South are currently heavily engaged in project
> delivery, rather than policy advocacy. Thankfully, many civil society
> organisations in developing countries are finding that putting all their
> eggs in a project delivery basket with tackling policy deficits, does not
> get us very far.
>
> In the light of the above, I would like to appeal to you, irrespective of
> which strategic position you hold with regard to engagement with the World
> Bank, to share your views with us via a survey that we are currently
> undertaking. The survey can be accessed on-line at at
> <http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=70812822283> World Bank-Civil Society
> engagement. The deadline has been extended to 9 March 2005.
>
> Please feel free to encourage your colleagues, members and partners to fill
> in the survey since we are keen to hear the perspectives of as many civil
> society organisations around the world. I thank you in advance for taking
> time to consider this and wish you well in the important work that you are
> doing to work for a more just world.
>
> Warmest regards,
>
> Kumi Naidoo
>
> Please send your comments and suggestions to e-mail
> <mailto:kumi at civicus.org> kumi at civicus.org
>

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-- 
Nyaka - Communication & Development
Tracey Naughton
Consultant
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Illovo  2196
South Africa

Phone/fax:    +27 (0) 11 880 5030
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Email:              tracey at traceynaughton.com