April 18 th , 2011 Governance and role of NGOs/INGOs

1. April 18th, 2011Governance and role of NGOs/INGOs Stephanie de Chassy Oxfam GB Social Policy & Governance Programme Policy Team

2. Observations from experience... • Mid size ‘capacity building’ NGOs often started by focusing on demand side (R4D, PTF, Global Partners...) – now starting to explore integration with supply side • Support grassroots NGOs: grants, technical assistance • Work on specific issues: corruption, democracy building, social accountability • Across regions but struggle to ensure scale, develop strong local coalitions and find legitimate CSOs • Global think tank and policy advocacy entities tend to be very specialised (Global Financial Integrity, Global Integrity, IBP...) • Lobbying and networking, research and indexes • Difficult to attract funding and get public attention • Not always able to connect with large INGOs

3. Local NGOs • Starting with specific programmatic focus: livelihood, education, humanitarian • Then added research and advocacy based on ground reality & conduct analysis (budget...) • Attempt to build relationships with local government and MPs • Struggle with connecting local to national and influencing central government • Limited ability to reach out to international institutions and donors

4. Accountability & Transparency • Awareness about rights now accompanied by social accountability approaches and tools • Example of RTI ‘movement’ in India demonstrating power of popular movement on transparency and accountability • Political champions enabled progressive Act and commitment to implement (unlike Nepal, Bangladesh) • Together with social audit/CSC potential to balance power relations

5. NGOs accountability • Credibility and legitimacy towards people and donors • Financial transparency • Social impact demonstration • Norms and standards recognised and supported by donors and governments

6. Oxfam ‘Right to be Heard’ • Introduced as part of Rights Based Approach in early 2000 as ‘stand alone’ • Focus on political voice, active citizens, inclusion • Power analysis as fundamental first step • Attitudes and beliefs change critical to power shift • Create and maintain ‘enabling’ environment for poor people to raise voice and participate/influence public policy • ‘Women at the heart of everything we do’ – gender lens • Flagship programme: ‘Raising Her Voice’ • Constant analysis of local context and power plays • Ensuring laws and regulations are passed and implemented (ex VAW law in Bangladesh – action plan) • Working in coalition – national level feeding evidence to global advocacy • Document, learn, share – South South exchange and solidarity

7. Current focus • Inequality as multi-dimensional issue • Root causes analysis (power) • Access to essential services and accountability • Emerging urban poverty and youth vulnerability • Solutions: taxation – redistribution – aid quality • Private sector responsibilities (land, environment) • Fragile states • Agile approach: local communities and ‘soft’ programming • Importance of building civil society

8. Challenges in INGOs • Organisational silos limiting thematic linkages and local-national-global programme & advocacy work • Working in fragile states means stretching comfort zones and working with invisible forms of power • Working with Social Movements requires flexibility and risk taking (political engagement) • Forming Alliances and connecting with think tanks and research & advocacy institutions not always prioritized • Working with IFIs and influencing donors • M&E, knowledge management often challenging