Good Governance Zones: Elements of an Approach for Mobilizing Civil Society

1. Good Governance Zones:Elements of an Approach for Mobilizing Civil Society Presentation to LCG/E March 24th, 2005 By Six USAID Implementing Partners Including Winrock, ARD, Pathfinder, NRECA, Save the Children-USA, and IRG

2. Starting Point • Projects assume that some permanent change to social systems will result. And yet, we all face: • Rampant corruption at police, courts, lands, health, education, energy, UPs, etc • Pervasive lack of confidence – lack of power -- to participate in local governing processes • So, what is the likelihood of sustaining project impacts?

3. Purpose of the Presentation • Trace reflection process of this “Group of Six” • Identify elements of a cross-sectoral program to address the issues of • “confidence”, • “empowerment” and • “active democratic involvement” • Identify actions that we (the Group of 6) can take right away to work better vis-à-vis good governance

4. What are We Already Doing? • “Health Bill of Rights” (NSDP) • Scorecards on teacher/student attendance (SCF-USA) • UP Health/Education Standing Committees (LGI) • Rights of Wetland RMOs on leasing issues (MACH) • Co-management rights on forests/Parks (NSP) • Rights on access to the rural power grid (RPPR II)

5. Question and Challenge: • Is it possible to create a synergy between these rights and empowerment activities that will help increase likelihood of sector-specific project sustainability?

6. Project “Stove pipe” as Constraint National / Policy Level • Projects are: • Focused in their own sectors • Constrained to tight work plans, budgets, contracts • Unaware of rights info from other sectors • Unable to deliver full empowerment package that clients need Project in Sector 2 Project in Sector 1 Project in Sector 3 Local / Field Level

7. Project as Opportunity (1/4) National / Policy Level • At the national level: • Access to policy info. about rights, laws, regulations • Access to decision-makers Project in Sector 2 Policy Access Project in Sector 1 Project in Sector 3 Local / Field Level

8. Project as Opportunity (2/4) National / Policy Level Local knowledge Project in Sector 2 • At the local level: • Work directly with local stakeholders, often disadvantaged ones • Obtain practical field knowledge Project in Sector 1 Project in Sector 3 Local / Field Level

9. Project as Opportunity (3/4) National / Policy Level Vertical integration Rapid and efficient national-to-local knowledge transfer and feedback. Project in Sector 2 Project in Sector 1 Project in Sector 3 Local / Field Level

10. Project as Opportunity (4/4) National / Policy Level Project in Sector 2 Spatial linkages May be in geographic proximity Project in Sector 1 Project in Sector 3 Local / Field Level

11. The Challenge: Redefined • Find a way within a geographic region to • Better serve our target population interest in rights or empowerment • Share our policy access, local knowledge and vertical integration So as to ensure greater likelihood of sustained impact of project-induced change

12. Good Governance Zone • Moulavibazar selected • 5 of the 6 of us are in the Zone • A single District considered to be • Small enough not to be a threat • Large enough to be a significant pilot • There are enough activities in the zone to suppose there could be multiplier effect

13. Objective of Comprehensive Effort to Support Civil Society • Support a broad movement for social change and active, even conflictual, local governance • Emphasize and ensure transparency in all local governing processes To the end of stimulating a more vibrant and open civil society within the Zone. • “Mobilize intransigence”

14. What Might be Done in the Zone (1/2) • Access to knowledge about rights, laws and regulations • Behavioral change approaches for empowerment • Facilitate access to decision-makers • Synchronize approaches to good governance efforts • Common advocacy campaigns • Common approach to transparency, “shaming” and other governance tools

15. What Might be Done in the Zone (2/2) • Build synergy with local efforts already under way • Build on IT tools and resources to improve access to empowering information • E.g., village computer “nodes” as in e-choupal

16. Institutional Elements • National-level need • Knowledge clearing house • Help gain access • Advise National / Policy Level Project in Sector • Local-level need • Ensure common approaches to empowerment • Ensure common messages for behavioral change • Share info between projects/sites Project in Sector Project in Sector Local / Field Level

17. Moving Forward Immediately • March 22 -- Extended internal teams of six partners reviewed approach. Agreed to • March 31st meeting to set content for “Relevant Rights Package” for rights in health, education, electricity, wetlands, land leasing, forests, Parks • April – Development & Refinement of “Relevant Rights Toolkit” for use with communities • May -- Extended review and orientation in the Toolkit use by project teams

18. Closing Question • What might be done to support the broader Good Governance Zone objectives? • Some ideas: • Replicate District/Zone approach • Obtain declaration of support from high level (Prime Minister?) • Designate facilitation role within USAID • Push back governance “rules” towards “extra” good governance • Assess opportunities for coordination with other donors