Comments on the Presented Papers by Mr. Bertucci

Mr. Guido Bertucci,
Director Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations

November 2002

Somehow in all these presentations it has logical census obviously that NGOs have an important role to play in governance. But somehow also there is the need to differentiate in shape in what are myths, and what are realities. And that sometimes, we tend to glorify NGOs that could have seen, instead we should look at more concretely what are less modalities for their participation in governance, and what are maybe sometimes are the problems therefore to maximize the benefits of their participation and minimize their problems. Looking at these two categories, namely the contributions to progress, we can differentiate what Mr. Iriyama said in his initial presentation two main categories. Namely those NGOs which are involved in advocacy, obviously NGOs made revolt but in terms of their specific role and functions. We could divide them into categories: those who are involved in advocacy, or in policy, participation, policy development; and those who are involved in policy implementation, therefore in service delivery or in capacity building. Now when it comes to advocacy obviously the positive contribution is that they represent people’s voice. They can mobilize people; they can mobilize interests; they can actually strengthen democracy. None to say because they deal with the issue of democracy for a set, but in a cultural institution it was demonstrated by a book written by Professor Button of Harvard concerning the Italian cultural NGO, sending society, tourist society.

These types of NGOs which may not have advocacy role for a say, but have been together for different reasons, a cement social public, which indirectly, they strengthen democracy. Then, they also have the role of control as it has emerged during representation, an evaluation of policies and they constitute a complementary type of representation. These we obviously have to be very careful by the word mentioned by our main speaker because they represent different interests. Different NGOs represent different interests and that is how we include them in the centromatic process. Some of the problems of the NGOs are shown in the area of advocacy. Issue of control and influence present in the United States, the National Rifle Association is an NGO but it is somehow promoted and protected by the companies that produce weapons and so on. This is an important issue, the issue of partial representation, which was raised in some of our discussions and presentations. Particularly the issue of control influence also is very much, and the differentiation was made between local NGOs and global NGOs. When we are talking about global NGOs, who maneuver the global NGOs? Do they pursue interests which are particularly at the interest of their particular countries, and not, therefore an influence of the internal policy?

The issue of legitimacy is a possible problem, and obviously the issue of accountability. Accountability was again to whom are they accountable whenever there is an action to pursue. Therefore, how can we look at some modalities, which can maximize their contribution to governance? First, I hope, to create a neck face to participation in policy making, consultation mechanisms, and spaces in which they can meet with those who are often responsible for making the decision, whether at the local, national, or global level as it was done for example in the global conferences. To try to utilize them as best as possible to monitor evaluation, great mechanism through which they can be the watchdogs of the action. For example, the public figures or politicians of the government. And obviously this has to be taken into account the need to insure collective or non-partial representation. And this is the problem we have at present at the UN conferences; because obviously when you have comfortable environment, it doesn’t mean those NGOs that are joined there are those who are pushing for protection of the environment.

There are some others that are against. When we come to the policy implementation of certain policies of service delivery or capacity, obviously the benefits are enormous. They provide systems in its implementation or the policy development, capacity building, services for humanitarian nature, in health education, poverty alleviation, and it was said to promote innovation, and obviously they can deliver services which are less at cost. They utilize people that are much more committed than their traditional public officials, and obviously they feel together, which is left by the public organization, the public sector. Also, I wonder, if I go into the topics now, this issue of fill in the gaps also could be a drawback because it could be analyble. Look at the NGOs who ask the government for retreats, there it does not provide services. It can also create problems of lack of coordination; different NGOs can usually play lack, put together they may not work in a synergetic manner and will go in different directions. They can also stop priorities, particularly as mentioned before, at the level of policy making. This is particularly at the level of implementation where you have global NGOs or international NGOs develop chartable nature to a particular agenda. They may restore the national, local priorities of a country. And obviously the issue of accountability, particularly at the level of implementation, accountability for more financial, and accountability in terms of the bookkeeping, you notice that many NGOs have this when it comes to implementation. And also, which was mentioned in the issue of preservation, NGOs then work more to preserve themselves when it goes into work.

Therefore, some of the modalities which we can maximize their contribution to make them partners in implementation so that their work is not as isolated by the distorting cooperation of the public sector. To have clear-cut arrangement for this cooperation, particularly when it comes to contractual arrangements, such as for example the subcontracting of particular services that are there such as education, etc. And clear distinction or definition of the subsidiarity element, which can extend the variety to different levels of government, different type of literacy for their government needs to be made. And an importance in this case is policy and guidelines for the public sector. It should be rather essential to NGOs when working within clear context policy and directly which would make them work most.

In conclusion, I would like to stress what was stressed by the presenter, that it is very important that NGOs cooperate within the rule, but at the same time, as it was mentioned, it should not over regulate. If you over-regulate NGOs, revolution can start reactively. Clear mechanism for involvement at a global level, for example global conference, at a national level public participate in policy setting and development and the local level of policy development, also particularly implementation, there are roles of accountability. And finally, realistic assessment of contributions and their benefits, without not necessarily glorifying, or certifying their contribution.

Thank you