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EUcountryroadmapsforengagementwithcivilsociety:statusupdateandwayforward

CONCORDmembershipbriefing,December2015

This briefing aims to inform CONCORDmembers and their partners about the status and next stepsconcerningEUcountryroadmapsforengagementwithcivilsociety.Itfollowsuponabriefingpublishedby CONCORD at the beginning of the roadmaps process in early 2014, which contains furtherinformationonbackground,purposeandstructureoftheroadmaps.11. EUcountryroadmappreparation,implementationandreview:wherearewenow?

Preparation:Withaviewof implementingtheEU’sCSOpolicyinexternalrelationsfrom2012((COM(2012) 492)), the EU country roadmap process has been launched at the beginning of 2014 by theEuropean Commission (DG DEVCO - Directorate-General for International Cooperation andDevelopment) in Brussels. Based on guidance and a template, EUDelegations (often in cooperationwith EU member state or other donor country embassies) in developing, neighbourhood andenlargement countries held consultations with civil society organisations (CSOs). The aim was todiscussprioritiesthatwerethentranslatedintoEUcountryroadmapsforengagementwithcivilsocietyfor a period of 6 years, from 2014-2020. Roadmap finalization and sign-off happened between July2014 and December 2015; around 100 out of 119 country roadmaps are now ready forimplementation.Implementation: Implementationof the roadmapshas started and is guidedby the roadmapactionplanthatisaspecificpart/sectionofeachroadmap.Firstexperiencewithroadmapimplementationisdocumented on the European Commission’s capacity4dev website2. Notably civil society mappingstudies, which are a part of many of the roadmap action plans, have already been finalized, forexample inMozambique3andLebanon4. InCambodia5, theEUcountry roadmapprocesshas ledtoastructured dialogue between CSOs and the EUDelegation,which is listed as a good practice on thewebsite.Roadmap implementation is supported by a roadmap facility, which is a team of consultants that1Seehttp://concordeurope.org/2014/04/07/concord-briefing-paper-on-the-eu-country-cso-road-maps-march-2014(availableinEnglish,French,andSpanish)2Seehttp://capacity4dev.ec.europa.eu/public-governance-civilsociety/minisite/eu-country-roadmaps-engagement-civil-society-introduction3Seehttp://capacity4dev.ec.europa.eu/public-governance-civilsociety/document/mapping-study-civil-society-organisations-mozambique4Seehttp://capacity4dev.ec.europa.eu/public-governance-civilsociety/document/mapping-civil-society-organisations-lebanon5Seehttp://capacity4dev.ec.europa.eu/public-governance-civilsociety/blog/cambodia-experience-establishing-consultation-mechanism

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supportsEUDelegationsinimplementationandfacilitatesknowledgesharingbetweenthedifferentEUDelegations,forexampleviacommunicationactivitiesonthecapacity4devwebsite.TheEuropeanCommission’svision for roadmap implementation isadynamic,pragmaticand flexibleapproach that allows for country based solutions and best possible alignment with other EU ormember states’ processes that concern civil society in the different countries. In light of this, theroadmaptoolmightalsobesimplifiedtohaveanimplementationorienteddashboardathandthatwillbeactionoriented,whereprogresscaneasilybemonitoredandresponsibilitiesareclearlyallocatedonatimeline.AlsocontinuedcoordinationwithEUmemberstatesandbuy-inofthepoliticalsectionsofEUDelegationsintoroadmapimplementationisaprioritythatEUDelegationsarefurtherpursuing.Monitoring of implementation and Review: Themonitoring, reporting and review process will belighter and less frequent than initially foreseen. A first review of the roadmaps is foreseen incombinationwiththemid-termreviewofmulti-annualindicativeprogrammesforEUthematicfundingprogrammes(MIPs)atEUDelegationsin2016/2017.Incountrieswheresubstantialchangesaffecttheroadmapactionplanandimplementation,anupdateoftheroadmapcanbedoneatanytime.2. Accessibilityofroadmaps:wheretofindthem?AllEUcountryroadmapsthatarepubliclyavailableare listedonthecapacity4devwebsite. Incertaincases, they can alsobe found in the civil society sectionof EUDelegationwebsites and also furtherdisseminationchannelsareusedsuchassocialmedia.PublicationofEUcountryroadmapsisattheEUDelegation’s discretion. In countries where human rights country strategies are referenced in theroadmaps or in particularly difficult country contexts, EU Delegations chose not to publish theroadmapsatalloronlysummariesareavailable.Summariesusuallylisttheactionplansectionoftheroadmapandarethereforealsoausefulreference.3. CONCORDanalysisofroadmapsandrecommendationsforthefuture:whatdoesCONCORDsay? CONCORDhasbeenactively involved in theEUCountryRoadmapprocesssince thebeginningand ispleased to see increasing institutionalised dialogue between EU Delegations and civil society. EUDelegations’andCSOs’effortsinthisregardareverymuchwelcomed.BuildingonthefindingsofCONCORD’sMutualEngagementReport,CONCORDdecidedtoanalysesixroadmapsindetail(Honduras,Kenya,Kyrgyzstan,Philippines,Palestine,Senegal)6.Theroadmapswereselectedandanalysedaccordingtoaspecificsetofcriteria,viaadeskanalysisfollowedbyconsultationwith a selected number of local NGO offices and partnerswho have been involved in the roadmapprocess.During the analysis period (April-June 2015), the implementation of the roadmaps was in its early6Leadofanalysisperorganization:ACTAllianceEU;AVSI;SOSChildren’sVillagesInternational;PlanInternational;CareInternational;WorldVision.Foranyquestions,pleasecontact:KarineSohet(ConcordEUDelegationssubgroupco-chair):karine.sohet@actalliance.eu

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stagesorhadnotyetstarted.Theanalysisthereforefocusedontheroadmapdocumentanditsactionplan,andtheroleofcivilsocietyinitselaboration,ratherthanprogressinitsimplementation.AseminargatheringallCivilSocietyFocalPointsofEUDelegationsinBrusselsattheendofJune2015wasthefirstopportunityforCONCORDtopresenttheoutcomeofitsassessmentanddiscussitwithEUDelegations.EUDelegationswelcomedCONCORD’sworkandwereinterestedtodiscussabouthowtobestimplementtheroadmaps.The aims of the recommendations are to make suggestions as to how the roadmaps can bestrengthenedasatoolforengagingwithcivilsociety.Theycanbesummarized7asfollowing:Regardingtheprocess

- The roadmap as a tool is very promising and the process needs to be kept alive. It isimportant to ensure a regular dialogue with civil society on the implementation of theroadmapandondevelopmentsregardinganenablingenvironmentatnationallevel.

- The spectrum of CSOs involved in the roadmap process could be enlarged and an effortshould be made to better involve small local CSOs, including addressing their needs andexpectations.Mechanismsthatprovedusefulincertaincountriescouldbereplicatedinothers,forexampleinrelationtoonlineconsultations.

- InclusivenessandparticipationofCSOsisalsodirectlyconnectedtoaccessibilityandthelevelofinformationprovidedontheroadmaps'process,whichwasoftenstructuredaroundadhocconsultations. Simple and user friendly information about EU strategies and engagementwith civil society should be made available, for example via the EU Delegation website.Posting a calendar for CSOs' consultations and related information on the EU Delegations'websites, includingspecificagendas,would favour inclusiveness,andmaketheprocessmoreeffectiveandconcrete.

- The linkwith both national and thematic programming needs to be strengthened and the2017mid-termreviewoffersanoccasiontodoso.

- Greater engagement and involvement of the EU Delegations Political section, differentCooperation Sections and Head of Delegation and Missions from Member States in theroadmapprocess isneeded inordertomaximisetheimpactoftheroadmapandcivilsocietyengagement.

Regardingthecontent:

− WhileroadmapsareusefulinhighlightingexistingprocessesandtoolsregardingEUsupporttocivilsociety,theirstrategicvaluecouldbeenhancedbyintegratingmoreconcreteandcountryspecificobjectives,indicatorsandactions.

7ThefullsetofrecommendationsandalsothecountryanalysisisavailableviaconcordnetoronrequestfromCONCORD;secretariat@concordeurope.org;Tel:+3227438760

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− Implementationneedstobeprocessandcontextorientedwhichmeansthattheroadmapactionplan,whilebeingasspecificaspossible,alsoneedsflexibilityandregularreviewandadaptation.

− TheactionplansshouldbemoreexplicitabouttherolesandresponsibilitiesofdifferentactorsincludingCSOs,localandgovernmentalauthoritiesandotherdonors.

− Integratingasectiononrisksandassumptions,atimelinefortheimplementationoftheactionplanandinformationonthefinancialmeansandtoolsatdisposalwouldgreatlyimprovethemonitoringatimplementationstageoftheroadmap.

− CSOconsultationmechanisms(bothexistingand/ornew)shouldbespecificallyintroducedinallroadmapactionplanpriorityareas.Thiswouldsupportinstitutionalisation,strategicdirectionandstrongerCSOparticipationinthedifferentpriorityareas.

Regardingimplementation:− Implementation should be subject to regular dialogue and joint decisions with CSOs and

otheractorsinvolvedintheprocess.− Theactionplanshouldbesubjecttoajointrealitycheckoncapacities,interestandon-going

initiatives fromall sides–EUDelegation,CSOs,EUmemberstatesnationalgovernmentandlocalauthorities–andrisksandassumptionsshouldbediscussedandaddressed.

− Ajointmonitoringprocessshouldbeestablished.− Activities in the areaof capacitybuilding should also address theneedsof local and small

CSOs and should takeplaceatdifferent levelsand indifferent formsaccording to theneedsandcontext

− Ingeneral,EUDelegationsshouldexplorewaysoffacilitatingcivilsocietyspacesfordialoguebetweenCSOsandpublicauthoritiesthroughtheimplementationoftheroadmap.

4. Continuedengagementintheprocess:why,how,when?

CONCORD’s Mutual Engagement report and the analysis of country roadmaps show that theelaborationofcountryroadmapsforEUDelegationengagementwithcivilsocietyrepresentsamajorstepintherightdirection.Ifwellimplementedandconceivedtheroadmapsbearalotofpotential.Atthis stage, it is therefore very important that all actors involved, whether on EU Delegation, EUmember state embassy or CSO side continue a committed cooperation to implement the roadmapsandreviewasnecessaryandappropriate.Whatyoucando!

• Findoutabouttheprocessinyourcountryandmakesureyoucontributetothedialogue.• Accesspublicroadmapsoncapacity4devoryourEUDelegationwebsiteandidentifytheareas

whereyouthinkyoucancontribute.• Get in touch with your CSO network or other CSOs to see if they are already working on

roadmapimplementation.• Engageinthemid-termreviewofthefundingprogrammingprocess in2016/2017,whichwill

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alsobetheoccasiontotakestockoftheroadmap.• Mention, refer to and ask about the roadmap inmeetings that you are havingwith the EU

Delegation but also EU member state and other embassies as well as your nationalgovernment.You’llfindoutwhohassignedofftheroadmapinyourcountryontheroadmapcoverpage.Responsibilitiestodifferentactorsareassignedintheactionplan.

• Share your feedback and experiences regarding roadmap implementation: you can do soanytimebycontactingtheConcordsecretariatorat laterstageviaaCONCORDsurveythat iscomingoutin2016.

5. Referencesandfurtherreading:

OfficialEUmaterialOverviewofpublishedEUcountryroadmaps,someonlyavailableassummaries,http://capacity4dev.ec.europa.eu/public-governance-civilsociety/minisite/roadmaps

‘Keepingtrack’,newsletteronEURoadmapsforengagementwithCivilSocietyproducedbytheEuropeanCommission,availableinEnglish,French,andSpanish,http://capacity4dev.ec.europa.eu/public-governance-civilsociety/minisite/brochures-roadmaps/keeping-track-newsletters

‘BrochureonEUcountryroadmaps’,fourpage-briefingproducedbytheEuropeanCommission,availableinEnglish,Spanish,French,andPortuguese,http://capacity4dev.ec.europa.eu/public-governance-civilsociety/minisite/brochures-roadmaps

CONCORDmaterialCONCORDbriefingpaperontheEUcountryCSOroadmaps,March2014,availableinEnglish,FrenchandSpanish,http://concordeurope.org/2014/04/07/concord-briefing-paper-on-the-eu-country-cso-road-maps-march-2014

Accompanyingthebriefingnote,CONCORDorganisedwebinarstoinformonthebackgroundandprocessoftheroadmaps,thewebinarswererecordedandcanbeaccessedinthreelanguages-English,FrenchandSpanish.

CONCORDEUDelegationsReport2015,‘MutualengagementbetweenEUDelegationsandcivilsocietyorganisations’,availableinEnglish,FrenchandSpanish,

http://concordeurope.org/2015/01/26/the-eu-delegations-watch-report-2015/

BriefingnoteonhowtousetheCONCORDEUDreport,availableinEnglish,FrenchandSpanish,http://concordeurope.org/2015/03/05/how-can-you-use-concord-s-report-on-euds-and-csos

WebinarspresentingtheCONCORDEUDreportandmainfindingswererecordedandcanbeaccessedinthreelanguages–English,French,andSpanish.