Objective of Presentation: To demonstrate that “good enough governance” works.

1. Importance of Civil Society Engagement in Environmental Decision-MakingCalabash Governance Project - Peter Croal, Environment Division, Policy Branch, CIDA Joint CID Graduate Student Lunch Seminar and Research on Sustainable Development Seminar, 10 March 2006, Center for International Development, Harvard University

2. Objective of Presentation:To demonstrate that “good enough governance” works.

3. Governance is focus of much work today – 45 governance reform elements in early 90’s and about 150 today.How do we get it right??

4. “If leadership is at the heart of good public policy, accountability is at its soul. You owe an account of your stewardship. You exercise power not in your name, but in the name of citizens”. Michael Ignatieff

5. Governance Issues • The water crisis is often a crisis of governance (2000, World Water Forum) • Not all sustainable development issues can be solved by governments • Governance encompasses laws, regulations and institutions, but it also relates to government policies and actions, to domestic activities, and to networks of influence, including international market forces, the private sector and civil society (Global Water Partnership, 2003)

6. Why do Projects “Fail”?? • “insufficient public involvement” Benguela and Black Sea • “Underdeveloped civil society and inadequate awareness” Caspian Sea • “insufficient involvement of stakeholders” Mediterranean • “poor governance is a major issue in many African countries, and one that has serious repercussions for long-term food security” International Research Institute

7. Status of Stakeholder Groups • Government • Fewer resources • Many competing interests • Under siege – jobs, debt, HIVAIDS,unrest • Governance challenges • May have conflict of interest (judge, proponent, policeman) • Huge range of governance capacity • Small progress can make big difference for trust

8. Status of Stakeholder Groups • Civil Society • Sometimes better organized and funded • Sophisticated responses possible • Can operate at global level • Watch govt and industry closely • Can be useful partner • Must know rights and have info to be able to address govt accountability issues • Political influence critical

9. Status of Stakeholder Groups • Public • Willing to act??? • Mobilized??? • Expect more from govt and industry • Knows rights under policy and law??? • Can make or break a project • Key point..public is variable! • Poor seek voice around specific issues, not poverty in general

10. Status of Stakeholder Groups • Industry • Under pressure to supply resources • Can no longer ignore public concerns • Env policy and law more stringent • Peer pressure growing • Costs lower for those who engage public in meaningful way early in process

11. Civil Society from Now On • Battle of Seattle (1999) proved civil society now global force • Where social capital and civil society strong one sees better schools, lower crime, higher employment and wages, more respect for govt and industry • Civil society now on World Economic Forum agenda • But: Who owns the media?? $US 10 billion spent by industry on public relations

12. And, what if……? • You do a great public participation program • Local community fully engaged, respected and supports project • Everything seems a go… • BUT..a powerful NGO takes charge of the agenda and sways public opinion perhaps thousands of kms away • There is possibility project could be blocked because of ill-informed publics not directly affected by the project!!! • Is this good governance?

13. And Consider these Quotes: “Fundamental to the success of all our efforts at reconstruction and development is community action and participation” Nelson Mandela (1998)

14. Quotes continued: “The African Union Southern Africa Regional Office agrees (with Calabash) that the participation or involvement of the public and civil society in government projects and programmes is important as it enhances the commitment and will to see the successful completion of the same” Ambassador Susan Sikaneta, African Union (2003)

15. Compliance Requirements for States • Agenda 21 – 80 references to PP • NEPAD Environmental Action Plan • Biodiversity Convention • SADC Policies • ISO standards • Millennium Development Goals • EIAs Law, Constitutions • Africa Charter on Public Participation • IFI requirements “Governments cannot do the job alone, and civil society groups have a critical role to play, along with commercial enterprises” Kofi Annan

16. Objectives for Participation • Take account of views and concerns of key stakeholders • Ensure important impacts are not overlooked • Reduce conflicts • Increase transparency, trust and confidence • Obtain local knowledge • Establish basis for long-term collaborative relationship (critical!!!)

17. Who are participants in PP? • IAP which can include: local people, NGOs, government agencies, other industry, academics, specialists, media, women, children.

18. Factors affecting Effectiveness of Engagement • Poverty • Remoteness • Literacy level • Cultural and local values • Language • Legal vs trad systems • Dominance of groups • Proponent credibility

19. How are Benefits Achieved? • Clarity • Respect • Commitment • Timeliness • Communication • Champions • Responsiveness • Accountability • Others???

20. Specific Issues from Public • What about the San cultural site? • Will clearing of veg endanger rare species? • The view from my home will be lousy! • Will access roads bring in unwanted campers etc? • Can I cross the river to visit my relatives? • Can I get a job on the project? • Will I be able to fish?

21. Public Issues Cont’: • Where will I graze my cattle? • Will I have to move my home? • Will workers upset my village? • Can I supply raw materials to the project? • Not in my back yard!! (NIMBY) • Will my house/land value decrease? • What about tracks on the veld? • Will you cut my locks? • Do you respect us?

22. Where is the line to go? What are the possible issues?

23. What about issues for this area? Hint: a wealthy lawyer lurks here! Where is the line to go? What are the possible issues?

24. PP is really all about this: • At a recent public hearing for a power project, a local farmer said this: “All we want from the company is respect. Just tell us when you are going to be on our land, please don’t cut locks without permission and tell us when you are doing surveys so we can move our livestock”

25. “Every River Has its People” (Okavango River Basin) – What Worked??? • Legitimacy and trust • Open-ended process • Information flow • Equitable involvement of basin states • Understand community perspectives • Community capacity building • Community involvement • Policy review and reform

26. AND:A local Induna in South Africa has authorized Africa Minerals to mine in the community without consulting them. The result: “we demand that we be consulted adequately, so that we can make our inputs and suggestions to the the entire process!!”Conclusion: Much work remains to be done on engagement in the SADC region

27. Calabash has completed: • Situation Assessment • Project TeamDevelopment • Planning Workshopand Proceedings • Communication Plan • Newsletters • Development of Contact Group • Public relations with Contact Group • Development of partnerships in the region • 2005 PP calendar

28. Calabash Outputs Continued • 6 EIA/PP case studies • Development of Public Participation TORS templates (point, linear, SEA) • Development of PP rights to participation • Development of procedural handbook (incorporates TORS templates and PP rights) as well as key PP/EIA learning points generated over the last year with Calabash • Web Site with Electronic Library and Chat Forum etc (250 sites) • Pilot EIA/PP Training Programme

29. From African Union, Feb 2005 “They say great ideas and hard work of a few people can impact the entire world. This seems to be the case with SAIEA. The inclusion in the CFA Report on what you are doing not only underlies the importance of the subject you are dealing with, but the impact it is having as well as the appreciation of the international community of your commitment. We feel encouraged to be associated in any way with SAIEA.” Ambassador Susan Sikaneta(2005)

30. Summary • “Good enough governance” works • Good public participation is a way for companies and governments to secure future business opportunities and establish partnerships, including civil society. • Engagement provides many forms of capacity building for the poor.

31. Calabash Success Factors • Started from what is working in a sector and build from there • Linked as much as possible to issues of poor (e.g. rights to participation) • Prioritised governance efforts • Got buy in from top and bottom • Civil society was (is) a very strategic capacity building catalyst • Network, network, network

32. Roles for Donors • Governance research concerning sectors • Building capacity in all governance stakeholder groups (do not forget media) • Assist in prioritising governance interventions since donors have a global view on what works and doesn’t • Knowledge broker and facilitator • Build on national capacity in governance, e.g. (whole of government principle) • Role of Cities??

33. From the history books: “ Go to the people, learn from them, love them. Start with what they know, build with what they have. But with the best leaders, when the work is done, the task accomplished, the people will say: “We have done this ourselves” • Lao Tsu, 700BC

34. Where to Get More Information?? • Go to http://www.saiea.com and click on Calabash

35. Many thanks from SAIEA/Calabash!Peter_croal@acdi-cida.gc.caPeter.croal@saiea.com