In a nationwide consultation, Philippine CSOs reiterate commitment to the people; declare living by Istanbul Principles of CSO Development effectiveness.

“In the midst of grave dangers and attacks in our rights, our resolve to serve the marginalized sectors of the society will not wither away but will only grow stronger in time.”

That was the united statement of the 24 national and regional organizations who participated in the recent nationwide thematic consultation of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in situations of conflict held in General Santos City last April 1-2. 

Organized by KARAPATAN (alliance for the advancement of people’s rights), Council for People’s Development and Governance (CPDG), Asia Pacific Research Network (APRN) and the international organization World Alliance for Citizen Participation (CIVICUS), the said thematic consultation was conducted to provide venue for CSOs to put forward their best practices, struggles and challenges as development actors working in the midst of conflict situations.

The two-day consultation was also aimed at facilitating Philippine CSOs to identify and push for a common set of recommendations to governments and donors on minimum conditions for an enabling environment that are necessary for CSOs to work effectively in situations of conflict. It was part of an international consultation which started in 2009 and will be finished this year bringing together a unified civil society voice to the 4^th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, South Korea in November 2011.

The participants, composed mainly of human rights defenders, humanitarian workers and grassroots development workers from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao unanimously stated that they have been living by the values and principles of CSO development effectiveness long before the Istanbul Principles of CSO development effectiveness were formulated in September 2010.

The Istanbul Principles of CSO Development Effectiveness is a set of eight principles CSOs live by as development actors in their own right which were agreed upon by 170 CSOs from 82 countries in the 1^st Open Forum on CSO Development Effectiveness Global Assembly in Istanbul, Turkey in September 2010. These principles guide the work and practices of CSOs in both peaceful and conflict situations in different areas of work from grassroots to policy advocacy and in humanitarian emergencies to long-term development.

The eight principles are: 1. Respect and promote human rights and social justice 2. Embody gender equality and equity while promoting women and girls’ rights 3. Focus on people’s empowerment, democratic ownership and participation 4. Promote environmental sustainability 5. Practice transparency and accountability 6. Pursue equitable partnerships and solidarity 7. Create and share knowledge and commit to mutual learning and 8. Commit to realizing positive sustainable change.

The consultation participants emphasized that Philippine CSOs endeavour for genuine development for the people and the communities they work with. They perform various tasks as social services providers, campaigners and advocates, educators and trainers, etc – all these we do to build the capacities of people and communities towards empowerment and development. They also strongly registered that their mandates that come from their constituencies have made them uphold, assert and defend human rights and social justice even to the point of risking their own lives.

Amidst the decades-long armed conflict in the country, living the roles played by CSOs is not easy. Yes, most CSOs and their members who work in raising the people’s awareness and understanding on why they are poor, empowering them to assert their rights and building their capacities to improved their lives have experienced being harassed, arrested and detained, witch hunted and tagged as being either NPA or MILF members or supporters. Many still fell victim to extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearance.

The participants unanimously stated they have always been accountable and transparent to their constituency where their legitimacy emanates first and foremost. With this, the participants urged major development stakeholders, especially government and donors to do the same.

In the two-day consultation, the participants came up with recommendations for donors, governments and among themselves to achieve an enabling environment for them to practice development work more effectively.

For the donors, the participants recommend that systems and policies of CSOs that are already in place must be respected instead of imposing new systems and mechanisms. They also recommend for donors to channel their aids to CSOs that are working genuinely with and amongst the marginalized sectors of the society.

Furthermore, the participants urged the government to genuinely recognize CSOs as development actors and stop repressions and attacks against their rights. They also called for the government to respect and endorse the Istanbul Principles for CSO Development Effectiveness.

In conclusion, the participants reaffirmed and asserted their most basic guiding principle in working for genuine development and sustainable change: to serve the people.

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CPDG pushes for Busan 2011 HLF4 results

The November 2011 Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan (HLF4) will have the future of global development cooperation in a critical state, quite certainly. It is a chance for the development community to not only assess the progress it has made against the Paris and Accra aid reform commitments, but also to build upon them by agreeing to bolder and more comprehensive reform of development cooperation in order to maximize its support for the world’s poorest people.

For CPDG, being the country's front runner of the parallel process of development effectiveness, the HLF4 must result in the following as being pushed as well by BetterAid and supported too by AidWatch- Philippines:

Measurable, time-bound and monitored commitments: The Paris Declaration’s Annex of specific, time-bound, measurable and regularly monitored commitments – despite its flaws - has been critical to the progress it has helped to generate. Without such an Annex and an independent process for monitoring its implementation, a Busan agreement will likely be soon forgotten, like many international agreements that lack these unique elements.

Commitment to implement and build on the Paris and Accra reforms: The Paris and Accra reforms will not have been implemented in full by Busan. As these reforms are already contributing to critical improvements to aid delivery and partner countries are demanding further implementation, it is important they continue. HLF4 must therefore tackle obstacles to change and push forward these and further reforms. Future reform commitments may need to focus on areas of Paris and Accra that are delivering the most change (as judged by partner country experience and the Paris Declaration evaluation) and issues neglected by these frameworks.

Operationalization of a development effectiveness approach to aid through the management for results agenda: It is critical that aid reform efforts are increasingly approached from the perspective of development effectiveness. The evolving management for results agenda provides an opportunity to take steps in this direction by helping to focus aid more effectively on supporting the poorest people to satisfy their basic needs, escape from poverty, progressively realise their rights and hold their governments accountable.

Ensure that the process of preparing for HLF4 and the negotiation of its outcome is fully transparent and participatory:  Such an approach is vital to ensuring that Busan responds to the major challenges facing an evolving aid system and is legitimate and therefore has the best chance of being implemented.

Open Forum Global Assembly Final Report

The Summary Report of the proceedings of the 2010 Open Forum Global Assembly in Istanbul, Turkey has been finalized. Click here to download your copy.

AidWatch tackles DE process in CSO activities

AidWatch Philippines, a nationwide network of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the country tackle Development Effectiveness (DE) process in its activities.

Among its recent activities is the series of CSO consultation/workshops with National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) on the phase 2 of the Paris Declaration implementation in the country. The workshops were held separately in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

During these workshops, AidWatch, through one of its lead conveners, the Center for People's Development and Governance (CPDG), DE process was discussed.

The highlights of the discussions on the said workshops were the basics of the DE process, the participation of CSOs in the DE process since the 2008 Accra Agenda for Action and the Istanbul DE Principles.

Photos from the Open Forum Global Assembly

For more of the photos from the global assembly, please click here.

CSO Development Effectiveness Global Framework

Here is the most recent version of the drafte International Framework:

Where does the draft Open Forum Framework come from?
The draft International Framework for CSO Development Effectiveness is built on the content generated at the Open Forum National Consultations. The mandate for undertaking this process can be found here.
A first draft of the Open Forum International Framework was developed from the content generated at the over 60 national consultations undertaken between March and August 2010. This first version of the Draft Framework for CSO Development Effectiveness (now outdated!), which was made available in English, French and Spanish in September 2010, was discussed in detail at the first Global Assembly of the Open Forum. A longer Synthesis Report of the National Consultations was also compiled, and is available in English, French and Spanish.

READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE, HERE.

Istanbul CSO Development Effectiveness Principles

Civil society organizations are a vibrant and essential feature in the democratic life of countries across the globe. CSOs collaborate with the full diversity of people and promote their rights. The essential characteristics of CSOs as distinct development actors – that they are voluntary, diverse, non-partisan, autonomous, non-violent, working and collaborating for change – are the foundation for the Istanbul principles for CSO development effectiveness. These principles guide the work and practices of civil society organizations in both peaceful and conflict situations, in different areas of work from grassroots to policy advocacy, and in a continuum from humanitarian emergencies to long-term development. 

1. Respect and promote human rights and social justice

CSOs are effective as development actors when they … develop and implement strategies, activities and practices that promote individual and collective human rights, including the right to development, with dignity, decent work, social justice and equity for all people.

2. Embody gender equality and equity while promoting women and girl’s rights

CSOs are effective as development actors when they … promote and practice development cooperation embodying gender equity, reflecting women’s concerns and experience, while supporting women’s efforts to realize their individual and collective rights, participating as fully empowered actors in the development process.

3. Focus on people’s empowerment, democratic ownership and participation

CSOs are effective as development actors when they … support the empowerment and inclusive participation of people to expand their democratic ownership over policies and development initiatives that affect their lives, with an emphasis on the poor and marginalized.

4. Promote Environmental Sustainability

CSOs are effective as development actors when they … develop and implement priorities and approaches that promote environmental sustainability for present and future generations, including urgent responses to climate crises, with specific attention to the socio-economic, cultural and indigenous conditions for ecological integrity and justice.

5. Practice transparency and accountability

CSOs are effective as development actors when they … demonstrate a sustained organizational commitment to transparency, multiple accountability, and integrity in their internal operations.

6. Pursue equitable partnerships and solidarity

CSOs are effective as development actors when they … commit to transparent relationships with CSOs and other development actors, freely and as equals, based on shared development goals and values, mutual respect, trust, organizational autonomy, long-term accompaniment, solidarity and global citizenship.

7. Create and share knowledge and commit to mutual learning

CSOs are effective as development actors when they … enhance the ways they learn from their experience, from other CSOs and development actors, integrating evidence from development practice and results, including the knowledge and wisdom of local and indigenous communities, strengthening innovation and their vision for the future they would like to see.

8. Commit to realizing positive sustainable change

CSOs are effective as development actors when they … collaborate to realize sustainable outcomes and impacts of their development actions, focusing on results and conditions for lasting change for people, with special emphasis on poor and marginalized populations, ensuring an enduring legacy for present and future generations.

Guided by these Istanbul principles, CSOs are committed to take pro-active actions to improve and be fully accountable for their development practices. Equally important will be enabling policies and practices by all actors. Through actions consistent with these principles, donor and partner country governments demonstrate their Accra Agenda for Action pledge that they “share an interest in ensuring that CSO contributions to development reach their full potential”. All governments have an obligation to uphold basic human rights – among others, the right to association, the right to assembly, and the freedom of expression. Together these are pre-conditions for effective development.

Istanbul, Turkey

September 29, 2010

 Please note, the Istanbul Principles, as agreed at the Open Forum’s Global Assembly in Istanbul, September 28 -30, 2010, are the foundation of the Open Forum’s Draft International Framework on CSO Development Effectiveness. These principles are further elaborated in Version 2 of this Framework, which is being updated and will be found on the Open Forum’s web site, www.cso-effectiveness.org.

Excerpts from the Report on the Philippine Open Forum on CSO Development Effectiveness

The historical and political context where CSOs operate and the key challenges that they are facing.

 The civil society organizations (CSOs) in the Philippines are such broad, diverse, vibrant and continuously growing community. Ventures for Fundraising estimated the number of CSOs to have ranged up to 500,000.

In terms of roles, Philippine CSOs play important roles in enhancing democracy and development for the people. Philippine CSOs are effective in their various roles in democratization, service delivery, humanitarian relief, research, advocacy and public-awareness raising, and shaping social values. They organize among the mass organizations of peasants, urban poor, trade union, indigenous people, health professionals, migrants and women; build and run cooperatives, they are service providers to the grassroots ranging from health, information, social workers, media, social enterprise, livelihood or microfinance and social marketing; CSOs are advocates, campaigning around issues for policy change, and builders of democracy.

In terms of size and scope, Philippine CSOs come in various shapes and sizes – they can be mass organizations, service institutions, networks, foundation, alliance and federations; work at many levels – from the grassroots communities, national and international, and build different kinds of relationships – partnerships, networking, or coordination with governments. They can be as local as farmers’ people’s organization in remote rural communities or neighborhood organizations in urban poor communities; and they can be as national and broad as national federations of peasant organizations, women or even national networks of various organizations on special issues or concerns such as food security, climate change, good governance, etc.

The strength and dynamism of Philippine CSOs lies in its unique political activism, its commitment and resolve to fight against injustice and corruption; and also their strong conviction to work towards meaningful change for their constituencies in particular and the Philippine society in general.

This commitment and resolve has historical meaning as this contributed to the toppling of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986. Five years after, the same commitment led to CSOs protesting the ineptness in governance and corruption in the Estrada administration that eventually lead to his ouster in 2001.
 

To a very great degree, this commitment and resolve of Philippine CSOs resulted to expansion of space and formal government recognition of the CSOs in Philippine Development particularly in the period after the 1986 EDSA people power. The Philippine Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech, association and assembly, significantly however, three sections in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, namely, Articles II, Section 23; Article XIII, section 15 and 16 define and institutionalize the role of CSO in the country’s development. The Local Government Code enacted in 1991 has specific provisions “establishing the role of people power at the local level, the process of accreditation of people’s organizations and non-governmental organizations at the local level and at least a quarter’s representation from civil society or private sector in special bodies at the local level.

 There is no doubt that this official recognition enhances the legitimacy and to some extent institutionalizes the important roles CSOs play in nation and democracy building. HOWEVER, appreciation and actualization of this official recognition varies from one government administration to another. AND, CSOs’ enjoyment of this recognition depends greatly on the CSOs’ assertion of their legitimacy – their right to free association and organization.

To read the whole report, please click here.

From Aid Effectiveness to CSO Development Effectiveness

Sixty-five (65) Civil Society Organization (CS0) representatives gathered together for the Philippine Open Forum on CSO Development Effectiveness from July 27 to July 29, 2010 to share knowledge and experience and build consensus on a CSO development effectiveness framework and define an enabling environment to enhance CSO development effectiveness.  The Council for People’s Development and Governance (CPDG), Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA) Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA), Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) and the Caucus of Development NGOs (CODE-NGO) organized the holding of the Philippine CSO consultation.

The third day of the Philippine Open Forum is devoted for the multi-stakeholders’ dialogue.  Key issues discussed during the multi-stakeholders dialogue revolved around the purpose towards building understanding and support for an enabling environment critical to the effectiveness of CSOs as development actors.  CSO participants presented to the government and donor representatives their concerns and recommendations of CSOs on issues such as policies and laws that conflict with CSO principles, the lack of genuine participation or practically token role of CSOs in ODA and development programs, weak human rights protection and culture of impunity, the stringent registration and accreditation for CSOs and the donors’ voluminous requirements for CSO project engagement.  Participants were also able to raise more questions on the impact of ODA projects especially in many parts of Mindanao.