Implementing the Istanbul Principles in EuropePolicy Forum on Development

May 2012

CSO Effectiveness Globally

• CSOs worldwide engaging in a global and fully participatory process towards defining and introducing a framework of mutually shared development effectiveness principles and practices

• Process undertaken from 2009 to 2011

• 70+ countries, 6 thematics, thousands of CSOs consulted and engaged

International Framework

• Global statement by CSOs on our commitment to strengthen our effectiveness as development actors

• 3 Pillars:– Istanbul Principles– CSO Accountability– Enabling environment

Two functions…

• A political statement to other development actors on our own effectiveness (acknowledged at HLF4)

• A long-term reference for the civil society sector to guide our collective efforts to improve our work

But….

What did we do with the rest of the inputs, best-case examples and contributions from CSOs?

Toolkits

In Europe• 18 National Consultations

Funded by OF: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Macedonia, Russia

Funded by partners: Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Ukraine, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

• Consolidated messages from European CSOs also available in the Regional Report!

Europe meetings

FYR Macedonia National Consultation

Ireland Consultation report

Europe!

Spanish national consultation

Europe Regional Consultation 2011

European CSOs and the PrinciplesSome numbers from CONCORDs recent online survey:•56% of respondents already have a specific strategy to work with the IP•40% of respondents are already working with the toolkits•Focus of work includes: 80% working on transparency(5); 67% on equitable partnerships(6); and 68% on mutual learning (7)•79% of respondents have already seen some impact and results from the effectiveness work they have been doing with the Istanbul principles

Some national examples…

• Dóchas (Ireland): – Istanbul Principles endorsed by network. – Results Framework focusing on impact and

quality, strengthening capacity of sector. – Introduced two Codes of Conduct, and a number

of voluntary Guidelines. In 2012, are developing Guidelines for NGO Partnerships and on NGO Financial Reporting, as a direct Irish contribution to Istanbul Principles 5 & 6.

Examples cont…

• ACODEV (Belgium)– implementation at the Belgian level of the EFQM

quality reference system (since 2011) – In-house workshops on CSO DE topics (ie:

transparency, peer reviews, etc…) and trainings on CSO DE (eg. on impact-orientated monitoring and evaluation, ngo work in fragile states, etc.)

– awareness raising events on aspects of IP (eg. how to implement gender in CSO-work)

A final one…

• Civic Development and Partnership Foundation (Armenia): – Joint State-CSO Legal Working Group was

formed to review current legislation and draft concept of CSO development in Armenia.

– Concept include points on financial sustainability, transparency, as well as state and CSO accountability

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