Civil Society and Development:

Global Trends and their Implications for the MDBs

Vinay Bhargava PTF Chief Technical Adviser , SDCC-NGOC Consultant

ADB Headquarters, 19 January 2015

1. Civil society is growing in size,

diversity and influence

●Millions registered

●Contributors to growth and poverty reduction

●Diversity in roles

●Transferring resources

●Network and connectivity

●World Vision, BRAC, Tata Trusts, Oxfam

2. Governments seeing civil

society as development partners

●Busan (2008)

●Agenda 2030

●Members in governing bodies of global funds

●Open Government Partnership

●Global Partnership for Social Accountability

3. Private aid sources growing

●18,000 INGOs secretariats: 70% funds from

private sources

●141 billionaires (10 Asian born)

●Addis Ababa welcomed philanthropic donors

●SDG Philanthropy Platform

4. New development financing

paradigm

●Multilateral financial mechanisms

●ADB partnerships with CSOs

●Gates Foundation and its partners

●Sir Ratan Tata trusts MOUs

●Addis Ababa – private philanthropy

●SDG 17: partnership target

5. Enabling environment for CSO

engagement

●94 countries open to citizen participation

(EIU,OGP, Civicus, Indicators)

●46 countries opted in GPSA (9 in Asia)

●Constructive engagement happening but..

o Some governments restricting CSO operating space

o Busan indicator on CSO enabling environment – mixed

o CSOs face funding, legitimacy and impact challenges

Implications of trends for

ADB/MDBs

①Improve responsiveness to beneficiary needs

②Improve implementation of projects

③Improve results

④Improve governance and reduce corruption

⑤Improve social inclusion

5 Reasons ADB Engages with the Civil Society Source: 1998 ADB Policy, BP/OP and 2016-2020 Strategic Priorities

Engaging more in consultations at design

Not much in implementation and monitoring

= missed opportunities and benefits Strategic priorities 2016 -2020 call for more

Global trends provide new opportunities

How well is ADB co-operating with the civil society?

What are the new

opportunities for ADB/MDBs?

Prioritize who to proactively

engage with and why

CSOs Type CSO Role

Dev.

NGOs

Foundations Faith

Based Org.

Community

Based Organizations

Philanthropists

Watchdog

Advocate

Service Provider

Expert

Capacity Builder

Representative

Adjust to changing civil society

engagement (CSE) landscape

●Many DMCs in Asia see value of CSE

●Civil society roles in SDG provide platform

●CSOs in all frontlines of each SDGs

2030: Deepen CSE at all levels

Take advantage of opportunities

for deepening CSE for results

●Move away from project to portfolio approaches

●Mainstream in sector and thematic group

●Support effective CSE in SDG processes

●Adequately fund CSE

●Monitor what you want done

Address internal constraints to CSE

●Simplify procurement processes for not-for-

profits and knowledge providers

● Improve incentives and management signals

●Reduce transaction costs involved in CSE

● Invest in staff and skills

Thanks