PHA-Exchange> The WHO Civil Society Initiative: Important you respond

[Aviva]

> The newly established WHO Civil Society Initiative herewith extends an
> invitation to your Organization to participate in an informal electronic
> consultation on the attached document "WHO Civil Society Initiative - work
> in progress."
>
> The document is the first outline of a possible WHO policy framework on
> relations with civil society.  It describes current plans for and thoughts
> about WHO interaction and collaboration with civil society organizations
> (CSOs), and proposes areas of work and activities that can lead to
improved
> mutually beneficial relations. We want to stress the draft character of
the
> document since many key partners are still to be consulted before
finalizing
> the framework.  Our plans are to develop a final version of the policy
> framework by September 2002.
>
> As part of the this process we have now chosen to consult with you and
other
> selected international CSO partners electronically.  It is important that
> the policy framework reflects the views not only of WHO, but also of a
broad
> range of different types of CSOs with whom WHO works and interacts.  Thus,
> we are very interested in your comments on the document and on the
process.
>
> In order to facilitate your comments a form is attached for your
electronic
> usage. We look forward to hearing from you and would be pleased to receive
> your responses by 8 February 2002.
>
> Please return the form  to Margareta Skold, CSI, email: skoldm at who.int.
> Yours sincerely
>
> Eva Wallstam
> Director, Civil Society Initiative
> External Relations and Governing Bodies
> World Health Organisation

> CIVIL SOCIETY INITIATIVE
> Informal Consultation Document
> (work in progress)
>  19 December 2001
>
> 1. Why this paper?
> This paper is one of several tools in the development of a renewed WHO
> policy on interaction with civil society. Its purpose is to inform
> stakeholders about the current stage of the WHO Civil Society Initiative
> (CSI), as a basis for consultations with and inputs from CSOs and other
> interested partners. The paper is a "work in progress", and will be
further
> developed on the basis of further consultations during the next 6 months.
>
> 2. What has CSI done so far?
> The CSI was launched by Dr Brundtland at WHA 2001, to review official and
> informal working relations between WHO and CSOs and to guide the policy
> discussion on how to further strengthen mutually beneficial relationships.
> This mandate was later broadened to include the involvement of civil
society
> in health and government/CSO relations. The objective is to develop a WHO
> policy framework for more effective collaboration, information exchange
and
> dialogue with CSOs, and to strengthen WHO's support to Member States in
> their work with CSOs in global and national health.
>
> Initial investigations have included consultations with a range of
> stakeholders at all levels within WHO, and with partners outside WHO,
> including CSOs. It has included:
> · mapping WHO experiences and relations with CSOs both at HQ and at the
> Regions offices;
> · identifying current forms of interaction between CSOs and WHO, and the
> opportunities and concerns to which they give rise;
> · exploring current thinking about civil society and CSO involvement in
> health;
> · gaining insights from other UN entities, donors and financial
institutions
> on their policies and processes for interaction with civil society;
> · listening to the expectations of CSOs and initiating dialogue with them;
> and
> · identifying specific areas of concern and issues that WHO needs to
> address.
>
> To date, about 50 WHO HQ staff have been interviewed, and this process
will
> continue with staff at WHO Regional and country offices.
>
> 3. Working definitions
> WHO has traditionally worked with health-specific non-governmental
> organizations and utilized the term "NGO", but the terminology of "civil
> society" and "civil society organizations" is increasingly preferred. This
> reflects the growing recognition by WHO of the importance of collaborating
> with and reaching out to a broad range of actors. The term 'Civil society
> organisations' (CSOs) generally refers to non state,  voluntary
> organisations, not formed for purposes of  making profit. These networks
and
> associations draw from community, neighbourhood, workplace, social and
other
> connections, and include formal and informal voluntary organisations, non
> government organisations, professional associations, social movements,
> community groups and so on.  WHO works CSOs that are health related,
whose
> interests are consistent with WHO values. Foundations, academia and media
> are not dealt with by CSI,  as they are covered by other WHO units.
>
> WHO's primary interest is in working with CSOs which share its values and
> offer the greatest opportunities and synergies for improving  health
> outcomes. As in relations with the private-for-profit sector, there are
> potential conflict of interest for the WHO. Relations with the for-profit
> and non-profit actors are therefore developed in parallel to ensure
> consistency.
> 4. WHO's past and current relations with CSOs
> Collaboration with NGOs is not new for WHO, and interaction, consultation
> and co-operation with them are clearly encouraged by its Constitution. The
> first World Health Assembly, in 1948, adopted a set of working principles
> governing admission of NGOs into Official Relations , which were amended
and
> expanded by later WHAs. The current principles have been in place since
1987
> .  Collaboration with NGOs is a standing agenda item at both the EB and
WHA.
> It was the theme of Technical Discussions 1985, and was highlighted in the
> Executive Board's 1997 and 1998 discussions and the consultations on the
> revised Health for All process 1997 . As such, the governing bodies of WHO
> have shown long-standing support and encouragement for strengthened WHO
> relations with NGOs, including those whose main area of competence lies
> outside the health field.
>
> WHO interactions with CSOs can be formal (official relations) or informal.
>
> There are now:
> - more than 190 NGOs in formal, official, relations with WHO. They have
> responsibilities and privileges that are outlined in the Principles
> governing relations between the World Health Organization and Non
> governmental organizations; and
>
> - an even larger number of CSOs/NGOs that have working relations or other
> interactions with WHO at different levels (at HQ, regions and countries),
> but are not in official relations.
>
> Both type of relations can include different types of activities such as:
>
> · joint action and research in service provision, programme and community
> outreach, technical and resource inputs in specific areas, and
co-ordinated
> fundraising and financial contributions;
> · advocacy and information sharing, building wider alliances for health
> goals and sharing information through existing networks; and
> · policy dialogue and development through round table discussions, issue
> management groups for policy development, policy strategy advisory
> committees, public hearings, commissions and consultations.
> 5. Issues and Challenges
> The CSI investigations have resulted in many findings of importance for a
> future WHO policy framework. The following issues and challenges are some
> examples of these findings, but do not represent an exhaustive list.
> 5.1 At global level
> During the last 20 years, there has been a dramatic growth of civil
society
> organizations (CSOs) and an increase in the political influence of civil
> society.  Global political, economic and social changes have had a
profound
> influence on the role of the nation state, notably in health, pressuring
> governments to align national policies with global and regional agreements
> within a more demanding and constraining environment. This has raised the
> profile and increased the participation of non-state actors in health
> service provision, both non-profit and for-profit.
>
> In addition, increasing CSO concern about the effects of globalization and
> global policies on health has led to a greater involvement in public
policy
> debates, eg on globalization, trade, development co-operation and health.
In
> this role, civil society can enhance the accountability and performance of
> national governments and global governance systems, adding a political
> dimension to civil society involvement in health.
>
> 5.2 At national level
> CSOs have become critical elements in the health domain at the national
> level. They contribute resources and skills to service outreach;
development
> aid is increasingly channelled through them; and global initiatives such
as
> Roll Back Malaria, the Global Fund to Fight HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria
> and the Tobacco Free Initiative, are involving CSOs as major actors at
> country level. New development processes such as PRSPs and SWAPs also
> require CSO participation. This situation has in some cases increased
> tensions between governments and NGOs regarding the handling of external
> funds to the health sector; and many Ministries of Health are reluctant or
> uncertain about how to handle the processes.  Another area of interest is
> the governments contracting out health services to CSOs.  Member States
will
> increasingly look to WHO for guidance and support in handling these
> relations.
>
> 5.3 At UN level
> ECOSOC revised its policy on CSO relations in 1996 (Resolution 1996/31).
In
> July 1998, a report to the Council by the Secretary General (Renewing The
> United Nations: A Programme For Reform) stressed the need to reach out to
> civil society in activities such as research and information outreach,
> policy dialogue and advocacy as well as fund-raising and programme
delivery,
> and to facilitate the emergence of CSOs in developing countries. Lack of
> financial means and inadequate access to relevant information have
prevented
> Southern NGOs from contributing as much as Northern NGOs in the policy
> dialogue conducted in UN forums.
>
> The Millennium Summit Declaration in September 2000 similarly reflected
the
> need for the United Nations to work in different types of partnerships
with
> civil society, including finding ways for UN leaders to hear the voices
and
> advice of CSOs.
>
> Collaboration with CSOs takes many forms. Most UN entities have a system
of
> official status establishing admission criteria, obligations and
privileges.
> With the notable exception of ECOSOC, the number of CSOs in official
status
> is typically limited to a few hundred at the most. However, there is
> informal collaboration on a wide range of activities with other CSOs,
often
> based on registers or rosters.
>
> The increased importance attached to the role of development CSOs  by the
UN
> has led to reviews of existing policies and strategies and the
introduction
> of new forms of communication and collaboration. A number of UN entities
> have "up-graded" headquarters units dealing with CSO issues and designated
> liaison officers at departmental level. Mechanisms are being established
at
> senior management level for involvement of CSOs, with and without official
> status, in policy making, such as "CSO Liaison Committees" and "Civil
> Society Advisory Committees".
>
> 5.4 At development partner level
> Among bilateral and multilateral donors the emphasis on enhancing
relations
> with CSOs is perhaps even stronger, work with CSOs being seen as closely
> linked to the overall aim of poverty reduction which features prominently
in
> donors' development programmes.
>
> Strategies aim to support Northern as well as Southern CSOs, support to
the
> latter often being channelled through the former. All the donors studied
> have specific funding instruments for which Northern CSOs can apply, some
> also funding Southern CSOs directly. Service delivery and capacity
> development are important components of CSO programmes, and there are
> various mechanisms to enable CSOs to participate in and influence policy
> formulation, programme development, etc, and to support CSO networking and
> strengthen their capacity.
>
> 5.5 At WHO level
> WHO's corporate strategy clearly outlines strategic directions that build
on
> contributions from a broad range of other partners including CSOs. It is
> recognised that the global changes described above and WHO's outreach to
new
> actors call for a review and renewal of the way the Organization itself
> interacts with civil society. There are many issues that need to be
> addressed.
>
> Technical departments' desire to work with CSOs is strong, and there is
> added value. However, there are also some perceived risks involved,
arising
> from the  North-South imbalance in current CSO relations; limited
> representativeness, unclear legitimacy of some CSOs; and possible
conflicts
> of interest associated with governance and financing arrangements. While
> many CSOs voice increasing concerns about the growing partnerships between
> WHO and the for-profit sector, others participate directly in such
> partnerships.
>
> Differences in current approaches to interaction with CSOs, between
clusters
> and between regional offices, cause some confusion to CSOs. Both within
and
> outside WHO, the present system of official relations is seen as being in
> need of revision and updating.
>
> One issue raised, at regional level, was the possibility of decentralising
> authority to Regional directors for the establishment of official
relations
> with national NGOs.
>
> There is a recognised need for improved knowledge, attitudes and practices
> relating to interactions with civil society among WHO staff at all levels,
> and particularly at the country level.  An internal institutional forum or
> network between HQ and ROs, for discussion on CSO relations, has been
> requested.  Policies and guidelines are in urgent demand.
>
> 6. Tentative workplan for CSI  in the next biennium.
> The above developments form the basis for CSI's work-plan for the next
> biennium, which will evolve as a result of continuing consultation. CSI
has
> set four main objectives for its first phase:
>
> · Coherence in WHO policy on CSO relations, to maximise synergies and
> opportunities for joint work towards WHO goals, while managing the risk of
> conflicts of interest.
>
> The planned activities aim at:
> - a renewed system of relations with CSOs that appropriately recognizes
the
> contribution of CSOs to the work of WHO and clearly outlines their
> privileges and responsibilities, based on a review and evaluation of the
> current official (formal) relations system and an assessment of other
> informal working relations; and
>
> - development of appropriate tools for screening, selecting and assessing
> prospective CSO partners (including identification and management of
> possible conflicts of interest), based on the experience of the official
> relations system and lessons learned.
>
> · A knowledge bank on civil society actors and issues, to inform WHO
> effectively on civil society involvement in public health.
>
> The planned activities aim at:
> - a knowledge base that covers policy analyses on civil society and
health,
> a research agenda and reports, practical and technical information on
areas
> of civil society contributions to health,  tools, guidelines, briefings to
> support WHO work with civil society and regularly updated inventory of
WHO/
> CSO relations.
>
> - collaborative projects between CSI and technical departments to develop
> knowledge relevant to civil society activities in health at the country
> level.
>
> · Improved communications and policy dialogue based on better informed
links
> within WHO and between WHO and CSOs.
>
> The planned activities aim at:
> - a communication strategy, using tools and mechanisms such as a CSI
website
> and information materials on WHO policies, and the knowledge base on CSOs
> and health.
>
> · Strengthened WHO capacity to support and facilitate mutually beneficial
> Government/CSO relations at the country level.
>
> The planned activities aim at:
> - WHO staff training and support in the form of tools, guidelines and
> seminars.
>
>
> Consultation form for CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS
> on the document entitled "WHO Civil Society Initiative-work in progress"
> dated 19 December 2001
>
> 1. Name of CSO:
> Primary function:
> HQ address:
> Website:
>
> Name of Respondent:
> Position:
> Address:
> Email:
>
> 2. Does the document cover your concerns about WHO relations with Civil
> Society?  YES/NO
> If no, are there gaps in the paper or other issues that could be included?
> Do you have specific comments on the workplan of CSI?
>
>
> 3. Do you think the current system for WHO relations with NGOs/CSOs is
> adequate? YES/NO
> If no, in what ways, if any, could the relations between CSOs and WHO be
> improved?
> How should the formal (official relations) system  for CSO relations be
> changed?
>
>
> 4. Do you currently collaborate with WHO in any area of your work?
> YES/NO
> If yes, what has been the most constructive way of collaborating with WHO?
> What have been some of the constraints or drawbacks?
>
>
> 5. Do you think the communication between WHO and CSOs is satisfactory?
> YES/NO
> If no, what information would you like to receive from WHO?
> What could CSI provide or do to strengthen communication between WHO and
> CSOs?
>
>
> 6. Do you produce and make publicly available any of the following in the
> area of
> civil society and health?
> If YES, please include a list of these documents.
>
> - research reports YES/NO - technical guidelines YES/NO
> - training materials YES/NO - policy papers YES/NO
>
> 7. Any other comments?
>
>
> Please return this form to:  Margareta Sköld, CSI, email : skoldm at who.int