Towards Effective Partnerships for

Sustainable Development of SIDSPresentation by Cletus I. Springer, Director, Department

of Sustainable Development, Organization of American States to Conference on Sustaining Development in

Small States in a Turbulent Global Economy Commonwealth Secretariat, London

July 6-7, 2009

Outline of Presentation

Notions of Partnerships Practical Issues in Participatory Governance at

national level Government, private sector and civil society

regional level Intergovernmental arrangements (CARICOM, PIF)

international levels Inter and intra regional partnerships and their impact

Challenges of managing development assistance Challenges of bridging the S&T divide Recommendations throughout

Notions of Partnership

Global recognition that the development challenges facing SIDS cannot be overcome in the absence of: a governance architecture that facilitates:

integrated and participatory development planning and management of their respective economic, social, infrastructural and environmental assets and spaces

a culture of sustained and enlightened cooperation, collaboration and partnership at local, national, regional and international levels.

Notions of Partnerships - 2

Partnerships are commonly defined as voluntary and collaborative relationships between State and non-State parties in which all participants agree to work together to achieve a common purpose or undertake a specific task and to share risks, responsibilities, resources, competencies and benefits."

Notions of Partnership - 3

Effective partnerships may enable development actors to: overcome challenges that are too difficult or

complex for one country, organization or sector to address alone;

increase the effectiveness and impact of policy interventions and resource inputs; and

better achieve their own individual objectives through leveraging, combining and capitalizing on complementary strengths and capabilities.

Notions of Partnership - 4

In core business partnerships: Collaboration aims to:

create employment and foster entrepreneurship contribute to economic growth, generate tax revenues implement social, environmental or ethical standards and provide appropriate and affordable goods and services.

In social investment and philanthropy partnerships the private sector: provides financial support contribute volunteers or expertise, or make in-kind contributions, including product donations.

In advocacy and awareness raising partnerships, partners assume agreed roles in championing, advocating for, and contributing to resolving different issues. Companies can partner with governments and regulatory bodies, and participate in legitimate dialogues and collective action with stakeholders from diverse sectors of the economy (UN).

Some Practical Issues

Myth that smallness makes governance easy and effective

NOT SO!! governance in SIDS just as challenging as in

large states. difficult for effective partnerships and sound

governance to emerge in a culture of dependency, fear, ignorance and mistrust

Practical Issues - 2

“ In a small island dominated by a single party, it is very difficult to prevent political abuse. Everybody depends on the Government for something, however small, so most are reluctant to offend it. The civil servants live in fear; the police avoid unpleasantness; the trade unions are tied to the party; the newspaper depends on Government advertisements; and so on. This is true even if the political leaders are absolutely honest. In cases where there are corrupt and play with public funds the situation becomes intolerable - Sir Arthur Lewis

Practical Issues - 3

Participatory governance is a complex, long-term process, whose successful outcome is dependent on inter alia:

the national political culture; the state of mind of the citizenry, in particular its capacity

for self-actualization, self-empowerment and innovation; the flexibility and responsiveness of the policy and the

institutional framework to internal and external stimuli; and

respect for human rights and for the rule of law

Practical Issues 4

resilience building and international competitiveness require that SIDS must: Set up development planning and governance

structures and processes that: are holistic, dynamic and fully participatory; and integrate and coordinate economic, social, cultural,

environmental, demographic, financial and spatial dimensions to ensure the effective use of scarce human, financial, and environmental assets

The BPOPA: asserts that economic imperatives must be

evaluated from the perspective of socio-environmental considerations if the natural resource base is to be preserved

advocates the adoption of interdisciplinary approaches to planning and decision-making, as well as the sustained public participation in the process.

Practical Issues - 5

Search for PG ongoing for past 2 decades Laws in place re statcorp Boards, Senate etc Barbados social compact Legitimacy/legitimacy politically determined Politicians reluctant to consult with non-

elected actors Partisanship Compartmentalized decision-making in public

sector

The BPOPA: asserts that economic imperatives must be

evaluated from the perspective of socio-environmental considerations if the natural resource base is to be preserved

advocates the adoption of interdisciplinary approaches to planning and decision-making, as well as the sustained public participation in the process.

Practical Issues -6

Civil society critical but weak Dependency on state affects legitimacy Heavily politicized Private sector have own governance

problems Not always supportive of labour and

environmental laws Some embrace of CSR …but long way to go

Recommendations – National Level Set up broad-based NSDC/consultative

councils to develop long-term integrated development plans

Set up local government structures Build adequate and effective decision-

support systems Build development planning capacity of

public sector using COMSEC TCDC and MTSD

Practical Issues – Regional Level

Partnership implied in and critical to success of regionalism

CSME –SPARTECA- PICTA OECS-CARICOM-PIF-AIMS Global dynamics re trade calling for larger role for

private sector Focus on labour and environment call for role by

trade unions …but civil society and opposition parties have minimal role

Case of ACCP and Charter of Civil Society in CARICCOM

Practical Issues – Regional 2

Lack of participation of PS tied to low level of public-private partnerships and PS investments in public sector projects

Lack of involvement in global environment issues – capacity, time, opportunity cost

BOLT, BOOT schemes most prevalent – led by banking and insurance sector

Low uptake of financing opportunities such as CDM, carbon trading

Recommendations – Regional

Strengthening PG at national level critical to success at regional level

set up annual outcomes-oriented exercises with private sector

CPA can help in exploring PG models CPA can set up Study Group on subject

Practical Issues – Global

Many emerging global partnerships Notion of “global public goods and services” – “global commons” Growing demands for strong global governance Little movement beyond conferences – still siloed SIDS unable to participate effectively Emergence of Inter-regional collaboration on climate change and

environment (AOSIS, SPREP, SOPAC, CCCCC) Challenges in implementing MEA/ISDAs Capacity building needed – UC-SIS and through EPAs Strengthening of AOSIS

Managing Development Assistance Many agreements but little progress in key areas of resilience

building Now sources of global funds but no “additional” funding – below

0.7% pledged Challenges for SIDS in accessing and using donor funding Paris and Rome Declarations on Aid Effectiveness and

Harmonization IEG Report finds:

bias to single country funding – regional projects command only 3%

WB-supported regional programmes just as effective as bilaterals due to good understanding of political economy of participating countries; clear roles of national and regional agencies; country commitment but…

Free rider problems

Development Partner Dialogues CGCED/CFD Dialogues on Jagdeo Initiatives, PANCAP, CREBAP, SEPA PIF annual dialogues with global partners Pacific Aid Effectiveness Principles Bridging the Technology Divide

Strong progress on ICTs but slow progress on RETs, Biotechnology

The ECTEL Model Jamaica has strong S&T capacity UT- SRC-ICENS CPTM, OAS S&T, UC-SIS can be asked to help with design of

regional strategies South-south TCDC, CARILEC/Pacific Power on energy; CEHI-

SOPAC on water SIDS Technology Funds Strengthening of SIDSnet

Recommendations - Global

Partnerships and PG weak at national level and so weak at regional level

Consultative/participatory governance should be institutionalized and actively practised

Civil society must be given a greater voice in regional governance arrangement

Sustained capacity building of social partners critical

Build S&T capacity

THE END

THANK YOU MERCI BEAUCOUP MUCHAS GRACIAS