From: ngls@unctad.org
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Subject: Civil Society Observer Volume 3, Issue 5, November-December 2006





Civil Society Observer Volume 3, Issue 5
November-December 2006


In the Press

The Myth of Civil Society
Guardian Unlimited, 16 November 2006, Jeremy Seabrook

In this commentary, the author argues that the rise of modern civil society was a direct response to the diminished presence of the government after the fall of socialism, and was meant to create greater transparency and accountability. The author suggests that civil society is a Western construct that is currently an integral part of development work, but is actually not effectively filling the void of government. While civil society groups intend to fight against capitalist interests, they are acting under those very same influences to compete for Western dollars. link

Small is Beautiful
The Times of India, November 2006, John Samuel

This article discusses the emergence of non-state actors in alleviating poverty and promoting sustainable development. Using Bangladesh as a model, the author comments on the recent Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohammad Yunus’ Grameen Bank model as a success story in the NGO sector. Criticisms against NGOs and their sources of funding are also addressed and defended in the article. link

Charities are no longer soft and fluffy
Weekly Guardian, 10-16 November 2006, John Plummer

This article examines the UK charity environment and notes a growing trend for non-profit organizations to recruit employees from the private sector. Charities are increasingly well-positioned to do this as pay scales have risen within the sector and they adapt to some “business-like” principals, the article says. link

Some way but not all way on UN reform
BBC News, 11 November 2006, Felix Dodds, Jennifer Peer and Richard Sherman

Following the release of the High-level Panel’s Report on UN system-wide coherence, this article assesses the recommendations. While the authors applaud many of the report’s recommendations, they fault it for what they deem to be its failure to properly address issues of the environment and sustainable development. link

Challenges of the African Peer Review Mechanism
Ohmy News, 27 November 2006, Zachary Ochieng

Noting what the author calls an “unprecedented experiment in reform” he also criticizes African governments for viewing APRM as threat rather than an opportunity. He argues that instead of trying to control every facet of APRMs, governments should embrace the challenge and seek to involve civil society as mush as possible in the process. Indeed, the author contends, this is the only way that APRM can help deliver on The New Partnership for Africa’s Development’s (NEPAD) promise to re-invigorate Africa economically, politically and socially. link

A much more competitive market as public/private lines blur
Financial Times, 16 November 2006, Sarah Murray

In this article, from the Financial Times, the author discusses the growing opportunities for those working in the public sector to move into positions within larger corporations. Due to the increased emphasis in the private sector on management of corporate responsibility, more public and non-profit employees are being persuaded to move into the for-profit world. This trend, in turn, is creating a more competitive recruiting environment between corporate and public organizations. link


Trends and Debates

Non-governmental organizations, power and legitimacy in international society
Review of International Studies, 2006, Vivien Collingwood

The issue of transnational NGOs’ legitimacy in international society is discussed in this article. It is suggested that accusations of NGOs’ “illegitimacy” often rest on a comparison between “legitimate” State power sanctioned by liberal democratic norms, and “illegitimate” non-state power. More pressing than the fact of non-governmental sector’s “non-state” character, however, is the question of how to put effective limits on power per se in international society. link

Restoring the Family to Civil Society: Lessons from Egypt
Journal of Middle East Women’s Studies, 2006, Diane Singerman

Notions of civil society that focus on voluntary associations, interest groups, and a communicative public realm lead to rather bleak prognoses of political autonomy and democratization in the Middle East and in Egypt, which serves as the empirical backdrop for this inquiry. link

Millions for Millions
The New Yorker, 23 October 2006, Connie Bruck

This article discusses the concept of microcredit and notes the emerging trends and debates within the movement. Muhammad Yunus, considered the “godfather” of microcredit, won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, along with the Grameen Bank, for his work done in the field. 2005 was declared by the UN as the International Year of Microcredit. Microcredit works to provide very small individual loans for the purpose of creating an opportunity for poor individuals to make money through entrepreneurship. As Yunus’s ideas have been become more popular, other entrepreneurs have experimented with different approaches, including some profit-motivated ones, to provide the impoverished with credit, calling it “microfinance.” link


CSOs and the Multilateral System

The Limits and Risks of Regulation
CivilSocietyBuilding.net, 17 October 2006, Patricia Armstrong

This paper gives an overview and critical look at the case of the World Bank supported Draft Handbook on Good Practices for Laws Relating to NGOs,a document that examines the use of law as a means of promoting accountability. The author discusses the creation and context in which the Handbook was published, as well as its implications on NGO accountability standards. The paper also raises questions on the role of international institutions in promoting these standards. link

Ending Extreme Poverty, A Road to Peace: A Call to Action
ATD Fourth World Movement, Oct17.org

This “Call to Action” issued by ATD Fourth World Movement asks all members of civil society, local and national authorities, and the United Nations to, among other things, “ensure that people living in poverty fully participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of policies and programmes that concern them and that are inspired by a commitment to a world without poverty - a world where the rights to family life, decent work, social, cultural and political participation are respected.” The statement places special significance on 17 October, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. link

Kyoto Moves Forward, Despite Slow Pace
Friends of the Earth International, 17 November 2006

In this statement, Friends of the Earth International (FoE) notes with concern that the postponement of many of the decisions that were to be taken at the recent Climate Change Conference in Nairobi ultimately means that strong leadership will be required at the next climate talks in 2007 in order to launch actual negotiations for the post 2012 commitments. In addition, International efforts on how to achieve the 50% greenhouse gas emission cuts needed by 2050 are still to be determined. FoE is calling on leaders to show more political will. link

A New Women’s Agency: Reforming the UN’s Gender Equality Architecture
Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) and Center for Women's Global Leadership (CWGL), 9 November 2006

WEDO and the Center for Women’s Global Leadership have submitted a statement, signed by over 90 organizations around the world, which welcomes the High-level Panel on UN System-Wide Coherence’s recommendations on UN Reform to the Secretary-General. The statement supports the Panel's proposal to establish an independent women-specific entity that will combine OSAGI, DAW and UNIFEM. They also urge that civil society be consulted during an open process to search for an Under-Secretary General to head this entity. It is available in both English and French. link

Position Document of the Secretariat of the Ad Hoc Secretariat of the World Forum of Civil Society Networks (UBUNTU) and of the World Campaign for in-depth Reform of the System of International Institutions on System-wide Coherence in the context of UN Reform Processes
UBUNTU/World Campaign for In-depth Reform of the System of International Institutions, 2006

The position document of UBUNTU with the World Campaign for In-Depth Reform of the System of International Institutions on System-wide Coherence to reform the UN encourages a series of reforms of international institutions towards a consistent, transparent, responsible and effective global system of democratic governance. This document offers both proposals and feedback to current reform processes and a small guide to these processes and their latest outcomes. link

World Bank-Civil Society Engagement: Review of Fiscal Years 2005-2006
World Bank, 2006

The World Bank publication entitled World Bank-Civil Society Engagement: Review of Fiscal Years 2005-2006. Collaboration and dialogue between the Bank and civil society occurred through meetings, consultations, financed projects and regional programmes. The review notes a growing trend of Bank-civil society relations and joint efforts toward poverty reduction. There are also recommendations on how to improve these relations in the coming years. link


CSO Research
Is a Green Revolution For Africa The Answer?
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, 27 October 2006, Sophia Murphy

With money flooding into Africa to encourage agricultural innovation, the author warns of repeating mistakes from the last Green Revolution, which benefited companies more than needy farmers. New developments in agriculture, such as seed patenting, will also pose challenges to development encouraged by foundations such as Gates and Rockefeller. Finally, the article also points out that increased productivity is not the only concern in poverty stricken areas, but that improved governance structures are needed for equal distribution and access. link

NGO Impact Initiative: An Assessment by the International Humanitarian NGO Community
InterAction, October 2006

Following the 2004 tsunami, NGOs played a large role in reconstruction, coordination and the handling of funds in disaster-affected areas. This report reflects key findings and states commitments made by international NGOs for future work. Five key areas of focus in the study are accountability to beneficiaries, enhancing efforts at local capacity building, professionalism, coordination, human rights and disaster recovery. link

Counting the Organisational Cost of HIV/AIDS to Civil Society Organisations: Pilot Research Study, Malawi
INTRAC, 8 November 2006, Rick James and Brenda Katundu

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has created numerous costs in society, and experience is showing that civil society organizations are also negatively impacted. The HIV/AIDS threat has led to increasing staff absenteeism, increased costs and reduced CSO output. While the disease is understood at an individual level, little is done on the organizational front. The research study includes suggestions for donors to target building capacity of CSOs to handle the effects of the disease. link

Let’s Launch an Enquiry into the Debt! ; A Manual on How to Organise Audits into Third World Debts
AAJ – ATTAC (Uruguay) – CADTM – CETIM - COTMEC – Auditoria Cidada da Divida (Brazil) Emmaus International - EURODAD – Jubilee South South Centre, October 2006

This publication is intended to serve as a support tool to better understand how Third World countries have become entangled in debt and as a tool of popular education intended for social movements, parliamentarians, jurists, economists and other interested stakeholders. This manual is the result of a joint initiative of CETIM and CADTM, with the support of the American Association of Jurists (AAJ) and the South Centre. It was written on the basis of two seminars that brought together Third World debt experts and activists. EURODAD, Emmaus International, Jubilee South, COTMEC, Attac Uruguay and Auditoria Cidadã da Dívida (Brazil) joined this initiative. The edition featured here is in English, but it is available in French and Spanish as well. link

Our Generation’s Choice
Oxfam, 16 November 2006

In the lead up to the G-20 Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Melbourne, this paper examines recent efforts to combat global poverty. It considers how effective these efforts have been and analyzes some of the criticisms that have been made about them. The paper looks to the future attempting to identify urgent action required at the G-20 meeting and beyond. The brief has a particular focus on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the current generation’s unique challenge to overcome world poverty. link

Brief Observations on the Mechanisms for NGO Participation in the WTO
Sur Journal, 2006 Issue 4, Michelle Ratton Sanchez

The structures of the multilateral trade system, redefined during the Uruguay Round (1986-1994), have advanced demands for participation by non-state actors, among them non-governmental organizations. This article analyzes World Trade Organization regulations on direct participation by these actors and their evolution in recent years, with brief critical observations on the topic. link

A Guide to Tax Work for NGOs
International Budget Project, October 2006

The guide is intended to help demystify revenue policy issues and give civil society budget groups the tools they need to influence revenue policy in the same way that they have been able to influence expenditure policy in some countries. The document discusses revenue issues, especially taxes such as the value-added tax and personal income tax. It provides a basic description of different tax types, discusses some of the key debates, gives examples from a range of countries, and provides ideas for revenue-related projects that groups might want to undertake. link

2006 Global Accountability Report
One World Trust, November 2006, Monica Blagiscu and Robert Lloyd

The 2006 Global Accountability Index assesses thirty of the world’s most powerful organisations from intergovernmental, corporate and non-governmental sectors. The Index analyses these organisations in the four dimensions of accountability as defined by the Global Accountability Framework: transparency, participation, evaluation, and complaint and response mechanisms. link


This Civil Society Observer was compiled by Zak Bleicher with contributions from Elisa Peter, Beth Peoc'h, and Tony Hill. The web work was done by Robert-Anthony Bunoan.

The views reflected in this publication are those of the authors and not those of the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service or the UN system.
See UN Link -- http://www.un.org/terms.htm#disclaimer