DEVCO

Towards a new Strategy for the Thematic Programme on Civil society Organisations and Local Authorities

Preliminary core messages from the 3 working groups

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3Are there any common trends?

DEVCOOverall appreciation of the draft strategy; in particular:

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• It builds on the momentum (gained both at EU and

international level): CSOs and LAs recognised as

development actors in their own right

• Comprehensive approach to CSOs and LAs

• Multi-level approach (national, regional, global)

• Emphasis on lesson sharing & focus on capacity

development

• Focus on the Enabling Environment and links

between the EE and policy making

• Relevance of DEAR both in Europe an partner

countries

• CSOs and LAs role in economic growth

DEVCO

6 + 1 core messages

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DEVCO1. Relevant notions require further clarification and/or elaboration

• Capacity development:o What is meant by capacity development?

o Where should the focus be?

o How should it be supported?

• Inclusive growth: o What is meant by the concept?

o Why only certain types of CSOs are mentioned?

o What about cooperation with the private for-profit sector?

o What about the use of blending mechanisms?

• Territorial approaches to development:o What is exactly meant? How is the territory understood?

• Guiding principles: who & what are they for?

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DEVCO2. The programme does not evolve in a vacuum

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•What about other relevant domains of action (HR, democracy, gender,

culture, etc) not specifically addressed? Why the focus on inclusive

growth and service delivery?

•What about the interaction with other EU programmes, particularly at

country level (i.e. other thematic programmes and instruments; other

geographical programmes; etc)? How will complementarity be ensured

as regards “the CS channel”?

•What about relevant on-going processes (e.g. Post 2015 agenda;

Busan; etc) ?

• What about the links to on-going efforts by CSOs and LAs (e.g.

Istambul principles on the side of CSOs; decentralised cooperation efforts

on the side of LAs; South-South cooperation; etc)

DEVCO3. More emphasis is needed on the human- rights based approach to development

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•Proposed priorities and objectives do not reflect the central role of

Human Rights, governance and the Rule of Law.

•Governance should be mainstreamed across sectors (e.g. a human

rights based approach to pro-poor service delivery)

•Complementarities and coherence vis-à-vis HR country strategies and

EIDHR are to be further developed (e.g. for the promotion of an EE, etc)

•Risk of creating “artificial walls” (mainly due to internal EC division of

labour across units)

DEVCO4. The “centre of gravity”’ shifts to the country level

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A global framework is needed, BUT the programme needs to be

tailored to the country context . Some challenges ahead:

•Key role played by EUD (i.e. to asses and understand the context)

to be further developed and supported.

•Need to translate PF ambitions to the country level and link them

to the programming cycle.

•Key role of Road maps to be further developed, including:

cooperation with MS; coherence with HR strategies; degree of

involvement of CSOs & LAs; etc

•Complementarity across instruments and programmes.

•Necessary feedback mechanisms to de developed.

DEVCO5. Cautionary words on the use and implementation of the differentiation principle

Participants warn against labelling countries & adopting

restrictive & prescriptive approaches:

•The gross domestic product (GDP) cannot be the only indicator used

to cluster countries. Other relevant dimensions (e.g. inequality; internal

cohesion, etc) need to be factored in. (Indicators already exist (e.g.

Gini)

•There are risks in adopting a “black-and-white” position on service

delivery based on countries’ categories:o In Fragile countries State institution building is essential, also when

providing services

o In MICs some groups are de jure or de facto left out by the State when

providing services (socially excluded groups)

o etc

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DEVCO6. Connections and linkages need to better acknowledged and deepened

• Connections & synergies between CSOs and LAs should be deepened

(why only in the realm of territorial approaches? What about the other

components & objectives?)

• The role of European actors needs to be better acknowledged and further

developed (i.e. in networking; capacity development; knowledge provision &

TA; advocacy; etc)

• Support to networking is essential at all levels, starting from the national and

sub-regional levels. National platforms cannot be left out.

• Reinforced links are needed with Policy Forum & policy dialogue

processes at country level

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DEVCO6 + 1 : Other relevant issues to be further developed

• Right of Initiative

• Decentralisation

• Gender

• Role of CSOs in rural areas

• Bottom-up approach

• Role of LAs in developing conducive legislation

• Role of State

• Capacity development of citizens

• Influence in EU policy making

• Etc

• And last but not least: more information regarding the

allocation of funds & funding modalities

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Development and

Cooperation

Development and

Cooperation

THANK YOU