Momade Saide, Ministery of Planning & Development Hanoi, February 2007

1. Consultative process of engaging civil society in Mozambique: The case of the “Poverty observatory” Momade Saide, Ministery of Planning & Development Hanoi, February 2007

2. Issues to address • What is Poverty Observatory? • Functioning mechanism • Who is representing civil society? • Who is representing International partners? • specific role of the partners in the PO (CS&IP) • key lessons & advantages in engaging partners in policy dialogue • Main messages • Work in progress • Questions for discussion

3. What is “Poverty Observatory”? The idea behind: - Build an inclusive and participatory policy dialogue & strength the country young democracy; • the op is a consultative forum (at central level), joining the government and its domestic and external partners. this forum is part of the monitoring and evaluation system. Implementation: • the Government of Mozambique (GoM) create in 2003 the PO as a tool for both Government and its partners to follow-up the implementation of the PRSP, monitoring and evaluation • In 2004 the GoM expand the initiative to all country provinces; • The PO includes representatives of GoM, civil society and international partners; • Is organized around the following principles: (i) mutual transparency; (ii) reciprocal accountability; and (iii) democratic dialogue

4. Functioning mechanism • The PO meet at least twice a year during the planning cycle; • A Technical Secretariat is established at the Ministry of Planning & Development with task of prepare jointly with the CS the meetings and report back to GoM of issues discussed and disseminate information; • The Technical Secretariat secure that the PO deliberations are taken into account in policy-making and planning at provincial and national level; • At the national level the President or Prime-minister, members of the cabinet, the Governor of the Central Bank, Provincial Governors, attend regularly the PO sessions;

5. Who is representing civil society The selection of the representatives of the civil society is carried out by the civil society itself; • The process is coordinated by the G-20 a national forum of CSO; • The following institutions were identified to participate regularly in the PO sessions by the G-20: • Religious institutions, • Workers’ unions, • Private sector associations (trade& industry); • NGOs networks, and • Universities;

6. Who is representing International partners • International partners are represented in the PO by: • The G-18 (countries and international agencies providing budget and balance of payments support to Mozambique); • The World Bank, the IMF and UNDP.

7. specific role of the partners in the PO (CS&IP) • Establish an open dialogue about poverty issues and ways to overcome it, trough: • Evaluation of the government annual plan, progress report and budget execution; • Presentation the Annual Poverty Report (RAP) (Which identify the perception and priorities of the poor); • Evaluate the impact of the PRSP closer to the communities; and • Revise jointly with the GoM the PRSP.

8. key lessons & advantages in engaging partners in policy dialogue • The PO not only constitutes the pillars for the participation, but also strengthens the territorial axis in the implementation of the M&E system of the PRSP as a tool to measure results and policy dialogue; • National “ownership” of the poverty reduction strategy by democratizing the decision-making process; • The Poverty Observatory as a consultative forum gives an opportunity to civil society stakeholders to influence the course of policy implementation - it gives them a voice in public policy.

9. Main messages • CS must be organized in a forum which will facilitate the selection of their representatives; • CS must be encouraged to present their assessment of poverty situation and clear ideas do overcome it, • The Government must be engaged in high level in order to underline its commitment; • Two session at least must be held to assess government performance: • On Planning; and • On Planning execution report

10. Work in progress • Build the capacity of civil society around the main planning instrument of the GoM in order to improve the quality of participation in the sessions not just increase the quantity of NGOs attending; • Ensure that the PO activities is included in the budget; • Ensure that the recommendation of the PO is take in account in the joint Review with donors; • Improve information dissemination.

11. Questions for discussion • How to improve stakeholders participation (e.g CS) ?; • ………. …………. • THANK YOU !