Walk before you run

1. Walk before you run A WBI Brown-Bag Lunch Presentation November 18, 2004

2. Governance relationships Traditions Civil Society Private Sector media Cultures Values Government History Institute On Governance

3. Walk before you run • Government to Citizen Communications • Latvia & 6 Eastern European countries • CIDA & UNDP • Strengthening Social Policy Partnerships • Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand & Canada • CIDA Institute On Governance

4. Government to Citizen Communications Institute On Governance

5. Principle • Sound communication between government and citizens is fundamental to democracy Institute On Governance

6. Project objectives • Support healthy two-way flow of information between government & citizens by: • assessing current status • identifying challenges & opportunities • making recommendations to governments Institute On Governance

7. Approach • national and international experts selected • preparation of research • literature review • interviews with stakeholders • consultations or focus groups • reports & recommendations • sharing of findings among experts • reports submitted to governments Institute On Governance

8. Estonia Hungary Lithuania Latvia Poland Slovakia Slovenia Others... Participating countries Institute On Governance

9. Common challenges • Democracy is young • Political structure • Citizen distrust/alienation • Civil service evolving • Role of civil society unclear • Constrained resources • Influence of media Institute On Governance

10. Common opportunities • Priorities require coordination • Desire to improve government/citizen communications • Outside support • Commitment to change • Youth & energy Institute On Governance

11. Overview of common recommendations • Separate political and administrative roles • Create awareness at political & administrative levels • See communications as a policy tool • Provide adequate resources • Foster central coordination • Encourage networking • Promote direct contact with citizens • Use plain language Institute On Governance

12. Selected effective practices Estonia • Government press workers code of ethics • Electronic communications e.g. Public Internet Access Points Hungary • Civic initiative: Tele-cottages • Cross-government coordination in early stages Institute On Governance

13. Selected effective practices Latvia • Workshops for Cabinet & senior officials • Approved communications policy • Coordination mechanisms established • Communications integrated into policy development • Legislation on consultation Institute On Governance

14. Selected effective practices Lithuania • Existing communications directives • Communications efforts by Foreign Affairs re NATO Poland • Bulletin of Public Information (BIP) • ‘Friendly Administration’ program Institute On Governance

15. Selected effective practices Slovakia • Regular media analysis • High quality government internet information Slovenia • Political will & operational readiness • Signs of increased resourcing Institute On Governance

16. What next? • Share results and value added • Introduce program elsewhere • Research effective practices • Promote diagnostiques & professional development on: • importance of government communications • strategic planning & coordination • communications internal to government • for elected and appointed officials Institute On Governance

17. Walk before you run • Government to Citizen Communications • Latvia & 6 Eastern European countries • CIDA & UNDP • Strengthening Social Policy Partnerships • Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand & Canada • CIDA Institute On Governance

18. Strengthening Social Policy: Lessons on Forging Government - Civil Society Policy Partnerships Institute On Governance

19. Principle • Policies are stronger, more responsive and more successful when civil society is engaged in their development Institute On Governance

20. Goals, Objectives and Approach of Project • The Case Studies • Overall Results • Key Lessons Learned Institute On Governance

21. Goal • More effective government - civil society policy partnerships • Social policy • Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Canada Institute On Governance

22. Key objectives • Build a network linking civil society organizations to key policy officials • Learn how civil society organizations can affect government decisions, and • Build more effective state-society policy partnerships Institute On Governance

23. Our approach • Local researchers [Jan 2003] • Draft case studies completed [Sept 2003] • Researchers meeting: Bangkok [Oct 2003] • Case studies completed [March 2004] • Regional meeting of government and civil society representatives: Kuala Lumpur [June 2004] • Dissemination Institute On Governance

24. Project partners • Canadian International Development Agency • Indonesia: Dr. Joe Fernandez • Malaysia:Dr. Denison Jayasooria • Philippines: Dr. Francisco Magno • Thailand: Dr. Juree Vichit-Vadakan; Dr. Kanokkan Anukansai • Canada: Mel Gill, Synergy Associates • Institute On Governance: project leader & facilitator Institute On Governance

25. Case study topics • Thailand - prostitution, maternity leave • Indonesia - participation of women in local government, trafficking of women • Malaysia - children’s rights, women’s rights, consumer rights • Philippines - indigenous people’s rights, children’s rights • Canada - children’s rights Institute On Governance

26. Overall results • Network emerging • Case studies on successful “partnership” between government and civil society • Common social issues, common lessons Institute On Governance

27. Lessons learned (1) Understanding partner’s context critical • government context: policy-making process, decision-making and accountabilities • civil society context: representation, governance and decision-making • different time-frames and time horizons Institute On Governance

28. Lessons learned (2) Importance of leaders and champions • key individuals and relationships crucial to moving an issue ahead • the right champion can be found or converted to the cause Institute On Governance

29. Lessons learned (3) Structures and processes help • lobbying, public education, advocacy, and participation in consultations and demonstrations • role of informal mechanisms • times for collaboration & times for working separately Institute On Governance

30. Lessons learned (4) Progress slow and incremental • Relationships, context can change over time • Know when to push (and not to push) for more Institute On Governance

31. Lessons learned (5) Gap between policy formulation and implementation • policy impact can be weak because of poor monitoring, enforcement and implementation • government needs to create a space to engage civil society post policy-development Institute On Governance

32. Other lessons • Timing • Role of media • Influence of international agreements, organizations • Challenges of collaboration between civil society organizations • Impact of public attitudes and beliefs Institute On Governance

33. What next? • Further dissemination • Possible future work: • research on policy implementation, monitoring and evaluation • building governance capacity of civil society organizations • exploring representation in civil society organizations Institute On Governance

34. Concluding thoughts • Democracy depends on citizens and governments respecting each other • citizens must understand their role and hold governments accountable • governments must explain their actions • both have a role in policy development and implementation Institute On Governance

35. For More Information www.iog.ca Institute On Governance

36. Questions? Institute On Governance