140 likes | 232 Views
Module 8: Working with Civil Society on Child Rights. Question:. Question : How many CSOs working in your country have an impact on children? Answer: All of them.
E N D
Question: • Question: • How many CSOs working in your country have an impact on children? • Answer: • All of them. • Whether or not they work in a traditionally child-focused area, all CSOs affect children and can incorporate a focus on child rights into their work.
Why work with CSOs? • Recognised as critical development actors • International (legal & political) commitments • e.g. Paris Declaration, Accra Agenda for Action • e.g Engagement with Civil Society in External Relations (EC, 2012) • Promote a conducive environment for CSOs • Promote meaningful and structured participation of CSOs • Increase local CSO’s capacity
Why work with CSOs on child rights ? • promote and protect the best interests of the child • Raising public awareness on issues related to child rights • Advocating for legal improvements & child rights legislation • Engaging with governments in policy-making • Influencing national budgets • monitor implementation of child rights • Monitoring and assessing public performance • CRC ‘shadow reports’ • Providing qualitative data • ‘fulfilling’ child rights • Delivering essential services and provisions • Reaching communities that might otherwise be excluded
Why work with CSOs? • Unique access & outreach • Access & knowledge of the local culture • Ability to mobilize communities • Ability to reach & engage vulnerable/marginalized groups • ‘Opinion-makers’ - influence over public actors (local parliaments, local authorities, ministries, media)
Challenges CSOs are as diverse as the people and causes they represent’ • Representativeness, transparency • Internal governance and capacity • Donor dependency, resource competition • Challenging environment • Varying commitment to child rights
Questions • Examples of ‘strategic & meaningful engagement with CSOs on child rights programming? • ‘What works’ best to support an enabling environment for child-focused CSOs? • What are your experiences of ‘quality partnerships’ with CSOs?
Practical guidance • Promote a conducive environment for CSOs • Understand the operational environment: • Institutional context • Political climate • Political economy of CSOs • Credibility/accountability Tool 8.1: Quick assessment of the enabling environment • Promote meaningful and structured participation of CSOs on child rights • Identify potential partners Tool 8.2: Mapping of child-rights focused CSOs Tool 8.3: Assessing the capacity of CSOs in child rights promotion Tool 8.4: Checklist for CSO’s integrity and core values from child rights perspective
Practical steps • Ensure meaningful participation of CSOs in political and policy dialogue (e.g. lead by example, peer pressure, diplomacy) • Ensure development programming is participatory and inclusive • Promote CSO participation in domestic policies • Legislative reform • Social budgeting • Public service delivery • Create enabling financing for CSO (core funding, long-term, local resources) • Build and invest in CSO capacities & ‘quality partnership’
Tools for implementation Tool 8.1: Quick assessment of the enabling environment Tool 8.2: Mapping of child-rights focused CSOs Tool 8.3: Assessing the capacity of CSOs in child rights promotion Tool 8.4: Checklist for CSO’s integrity and core values from child rights perspective