Mapping civil society

A tool for engaging with non state actors

Civil Society Facility seminar : Brussels, 9-10 February, 2012

Rationale Partnership

Communication on « A new response to a changing Neighbourhood »

• Mutual accountability

• Shared commitment to respecting universal values

Commitment to supporting a greater role for civil society

• Development of advocacy capacity

• Development of ability to monitor reform

• Role in implementing, monitoring and evaluating EU programmes

• More intense engagement with Civ soc in policy dialogue / forum

• Establishment of a Civ soc facility - CSF

Rationale CSF

Main objectives of the CSF

• Support civ soc initiatives

• Improve visibility of Civil society

• Improve structuring of CSOs / coherence of CSO initiatives

• Enhance engagement of State with Civil society

• Enhance civil society invlovement in policy dialogue

Obstacles

Overall policy commitment toward NSA involvement but practical obstacles

• Lack of knowledge on CSO

• Large number of actors at different levels

• Weak capacity to fulfil different potential roles, esp. In policy dialogue

• Lack of visibility of CSOs

• Lack of funding opportunities

• Restriction on fundemental rights

• Limited willingness to translate policy commitment into practical modalities (dialogue)

• Weak enabling environment

• Big differences between countries

Challenges

Information is needed to

• Improve knowledge on CSOs

• Assess CSO capacities to develop capacity development strategy

• Support enabling environment for civil societys

• Identify existing support (national and international support) to CS

• Optimise use on EU instrument for engaging with civil society

Mapping can help gathering this information

Mapping objectives

To have a global vision of the institutional actors acting in the country State, economic and civil society spheres.

To have a historical vision of the activities of these actors in connection with the main economic, social and political events of the country or region.

To have a vision of the social actors in the various sectors relating to cooperation with the European Union, their connections and respective weight.

To help decision-makers in identifying, formulating and implementing policies and strategies.

Different scopes of Mapping

Mapping is a tool that applies to different needs• Preparation of a capacity building programme for CSOs

or NSA support programme (grants)• Call for proposal on civil society• Sectorial programmes (SPSP)• Political dialogue on country strategy or mid term review• Preparation of a Poverty reduction strategic paper• Human Rights policy dialogue• Component of the « political economy » analysis

Position of mapping in the ppcm

About objectives

If there is a proper understanding of the objectives that originate the mapping of civil society actors, the mapping scope will be better defined and its findings will better meet the expectations

Well defined objectives will be translated in clear ToR

About objectives

Towards a new generation of mappings? From capacity building to thematic and strategic partnerships?

9th EDF: 1st generation of mappings

Mapping exercises fundamentally linked to the identification or implementation of a NSA support programme

10th EDF: 2nd generation of mappings

Mapping exercises will have to be linked to the identification of a global NSA inclusion strategy , with a view to mainstreaming participatory approaches into the EC cooperation strategy, policies and tools.

Mapping exercises should be conducted from a comprehensive governance perspective, (political approach to civil society), particularly in view of the new aid modalities foreseen (notably budget and sector support etc.) and the roles that CS is called to play.

Where the EC is involved in sectoral approaches, it may be particularly useful to have an in-depth mapping of civil society groups involved in that sector (sectoral mappings).

How to do a mapping?

Why and who to engage with? From one-single-interlocutor model of engagement (the State) towards a multi-stakeholder model of engagement (State + NSA + LA +…)

Mapping stepsPreparation => take stock of the existing studies (avoid “reinventing the wheel”) (ex. SIDA

Power analysis, DFID “Drivers for change”, CIVICS Index, etc

1. Clarify definition of NSAs / civil society

2. Assess CSO typology (individual organisations and networks)

• Formal / informal

• Nation wide / regional (within the country)

• Donor driven / NGO driven

• Thematic networks

3. Appraisal of CSO capacity

• Operational capacity (financial resources, technical resources, office, equipment,…)

• Human resources capacity

• Capacity to engage in policy dialogue

• Capacity to implement policies / provide services including CD

• Capacity to monitor and advocate

Mapping steps

4. Assess organisational development and governance structure-mechanisms

• Organisational set up (general assembly, management board, members,…)

• Election modalities and rotation of board members

• Financing structure (payment of membership, income generating activities, provision of services,…)

• Relationships to own members (kind of communication, exchange of information, provision of services, clarity of role between umbrella and individual organisations,…)

• Relationships to other networks (within same sector and accros sectors)

• Relationships to local authorities and state actors

• Most significant achievements sofar

• Human resources (thematic and methodological expertise and stability over time)

Mapping steps

5. Assess political context

• National legislation (procedures for registration, )

• Existing collaboration between NSAs and SA (policy formulation, dialogue,…)

• Existing national programmes involving /targeting NSAs

• View of CSOs on political context

6. Legal and institutional mechanisms to involve CSOs

• Access to public information

• Regulation on CSO involvement in policy formulation or implementation

• Role of advisory bodies

• Public consultation

Mapping steps

7. Assess donors and international NGOs

• Map relevant programmes

• List past and ongoing capacity development programmes

• Assess existing instruments

• Assess coordination mechanisms

Mapping steps

8. Identify potential entry points to engage with civil society

• Best practices and major mistakes

• Assess the mechanisms already in place or to be put in place in order for NSA to be involved in the programming, reviewing and evaluation of EC-financed development co-operation.

• Identify typology of context / entry points

• Identify most relevant approaches

• Set a time line / review mechanisms

Mapping tools

Matrix of types of Actors (state, economy, civil society) in general and per sector

Timelines and legal frameworks

Dynamics/Contradictions/tensions

4 levels of structuration of CSOs (represent different level of interest..)

Geographical map: (concentration/gaps)

Civil society Employers/Private Sector Unions/Economic and Social Partners

4th Level NSA Platforms

Coalitions of umbrella

organisations

International Union organisations/movements

3rd Level Networks, federations, unions,

etc

National Employer’s Organisation/Ombrella

Regional/National Union organisations

2nd Level NGOs, associations Sectoral employers' Organisations

Sectoral union organisations/mutuelles

1st Level Grassroots organisations Grassroots Union organisations

Tips for a succesfull mapping

• Clearly identify the objectives of the mapping (different contextes)

• Combine a qualitative and quantitative approach

• Find the balance between quick assessment and long term analysis

• Maintain the window open to new actors (so as to integrate dynamics of civil society)

• Focus on “drivers for change”

• Bring together the main actors involved (HQ and DEL, other donors)

• Hire consultants with an excellent command of civil society matters in the country

RECENT SURVEY ON MAPPING EXERCICES (1)

In the last 5 years, about 30 Civil Society / NSA mapping studies have been conducted or are ongoing:

ACP: 20 ASIA: 1 LA: 4 NEIGHBOURHOOD SOUTH: 3 NEIGHBOURHOOD EAST : 2

Ongoing work on capitalising on mapping studies (PPCM)

NSA invlovement

In terms of possible options regarding the inclusion of NSA in the mapping phase, the following examples may be considered:

• The creation of a Task Force or Working Group charged with monitoring the process (from the preparation of the ToRs to the validation of results), for example in Niger, Senegal etc.

• Creation of an informal group for consultation (e.g. Mali, Chad etc.);

• Workshops on a regional basis (Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Uganda, Somalia, Zambia, Malawi, etc.);

• A national review workshop (Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Zambia, Ethiopia, etc.);

• A public restitution workshop (Senegal, CAR, etc.).

Lessons learned

The advantages

Shared analysis and better understanding of the general context, and major stakes

Better understanding of the nature, expectations, strengths and weaknesses of NSA

Facilitation of contact with NSA

Logistical facilitation (e.g. workshops)

Useful tool in the diagnosis and in the preparation of action fiches (AAP) both for thematic and geographic programmes

In light of the 'budget support' (General BS or SPSP), the mapping studies could be extremely useful to engage NSA in the New Aid Modalities (NAM) [1];In some countries, the mapping is completed with a comprehensive data base, eventually made by other donors (CIVICUS).

[1] Reference Document n° 12 "Engaging Non-State Actors in New Aid Modalities“

Lessons learned

The disadvantages

Arbitrary choice of actors (who selects those with the right to participate?)

Risk of omitting key typological actors (ex. Risk of excluding grassroots NSA)

Risk of raising expectations

Quantitative data's of NSA involved in a particular sector, or in a geographical area, might influence the programming of activities;Regular update is required; turn over of EU staff makes continuity difficult (especially in fragile countries and in post conflict situations);

MAPPING, references and tools?

Guidelines on principles and good practices for the participation of NSAs in the development dialogue and consultation (2004)

Handbook on promoting governance in EC development and cooperation (2004)

Capitalisation study of 9th EDF (2009)

Toollit for capacity development (2009)

Methodological guide for implementing a mapping of civil society actors in Latin American countries (2008)

Evaluation of EC aid delivery through CSOs (2008)

CISOCH web site https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/mwikis/aidco/index.php/Main_Page

/www.cc.cec/dgintranet/europeaid/activities/thematic/e4/civil_society/key_tools_guidelines_en.htm

Capacity for development website

Thank you

for your attention !