Developmental
Local Government and
Participatory Governance
Commonwealth Foundation
16 May 2013
Presentation Contents
• Foundation’s Strategic Framework: 2012-16
• Why Participatory Governance
• Developmental Local Government and Participatory
Governance
• CSO Legitimacy and Development Effectiveness
• Civil Society and the Post 2015 Development
Agenda
Commonwealth Foundation
Strategic Framework
2012-16
CF Strategic Framework: 2012-16
1965 Established as a charity
1982 Reconstituted as an intergovernmental organisation
1999 Research on participatory governance and good
development outcomes - CHOGM in Durban
2011 CHOGM Perth
EPG recommended support to civil society
Mandate to re-launch in 2012
Re-launched on 1 November 2012
CF Strategic Framework: 2012-16
Ultimate Goal
More effective, responsive and
accountable governance with
Civil Society participation
Why Participatory
Governance?
Participatory Governance
•
Central concept in programming to fulfil the
Foundation’s mandate to strengthen and mobilize
Civil Society in the Commonwealth
•
Integral to the vision, mission and goal
•
Foundational piece to achieving development
outcomes
Participatory Governance
CSOs
•
Independent non-market and non-state
organisations
•
to pursue shared interests in the public domain
•
cover a wide range- includes membership-based
CSOs, cause-based CSOs and service-oriented
CSOs
Participatory Governance
•
Participatory governance is about how state, the
market and Civil Society collaborate to effect change
 inclusion of Civil Society in decision making processes
 enabling citizens to exercise voice and vote
 engaging in policy formation among others.
Participatory Governance
•
Civil society and the demand side for effective,
responsive and accountable governance
•
Meeting community needs, achieving sustainable
results, promoting genuine democracy
•
Dialogue - cornerstone of participatory governance
Developmental Local
Government and
Participatory Governance
Developmental Local Government and
Participatory Governance
• Professionalising and transforming local government to be
developmental must include enabling citizen participation
• Governance and Development are a shared responsibility
• Inclusive governance = Government and citizens partnering.
Not replacing government in delivering services
• Results experienced and owned by citizens
Developmental Local Government and
Participatory Governance
Enabling environment for inclusive, participatory
governance is imperative
 Policy support for collaboration
 Opportunities and spaces for legitimate civil society
participation
 Support to and counterpart by civil society
Developmental Local Government and
Participatory Governance
Demand side and accountable governance
 Genuine Public Consultation and Dialogue
 Third party monitoring
 Mechanisms for more transparent and
accountable government
Developmental Local Government and
Participatory Governance
Demand side and accountable governance – at different
levels, various methods
 Village assemblies, traditional leaders, elders councils
 Municipal / city development planning committees,
working groups, procurement bodies, watch dogs
Developmental Local Government and
Participatory Governance
Demand side and accountable governance – at different
levels, various methods
 National/representation of civil society in ministries
 Citizen report cards, participatory budgeting, social audits,
citizen charters, media for development
Developmental Local Government
and Participatory Governance
CSO Development Effectiveness
CSO Development Effectiveness
Istanbul CSO Development Effectiveness Principles:
 Busan Partnership for Effective Development
Cooperation
 Raise levels of CSO accountability and impact
CSO Development Effectiveness
Istanbul CSO Development Effectiveness Principles:
 Establishes standards for government to foster enabling
environment for CSOs to reach full potential
 Challenges government, CSO and other actors to re-
imagine development
CSO Development Effectiveness
Istanbul CSO Development Effectiveness Principles:
 Justice not charity
 Address root causes and symptoms of poverty
 People as subjects of their own development
CSO Development Effectiveness
Istanbul CSO Development Effectiveness Principles (Cont)
 Culture of Learning

South to south learning

Knowledge Sharing

Replication of good and fit practices
Developmental Local Government
and Participatory Governance
Civil Society and the Post 2015
Development Agenda
Civil Society and the Post 2015 Development
Agenda
•
Commonwealth Foundation and UN Millennium
Campaign partnership
•
National research and consultations: 18
Commonwealth and two non Commonwealth countries
•
Civil Society perspective on MDG attainment and Post
2015 Development Agenda
Civil Society and the Post 2015 Development
Agenda
Key Findings:
 Need for adaptable, localised goals
 Vagueness of MDG8
 Need to improve data
 Quality beyond numbers
 Enabling conditions for civil society underpins
development effectiveness
Civil Society and the Post 2015 Development
Agenda
Emerging Commonwealth Post 2015 Development
Agenda:
 Gender empowerment
 Youth and employment
 Small States and Vulnerabilities
 Non-communicable diseases
 Education
Civil Society and the Post 2015 Development
Agenda
Ways Forward for Commonwealth Foundation
 National to regional consultations
 Regional Post 2015 Development Agenda
 Policy Briefs
 Advocacy: National Governments, UN, CHOGM,
G20, MDG-SDG process, Regional Bodies, World
Economic Forum
THANK YOU