PRAGUE CONFERENCE REPORT. TRIALOG, Vienna, July 2008

Transcription

1 PRAGUE CONFERENCE REPORT TRIALOG, Vienna, July 2008

2 Prague Conference discussed development paradigms and alternatives Do we follow the logic of economic growth or the logic of development? Do we want to have more or do we want to live happier? Is democracy a pre-condition for development? Are the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) a shame? What role do China, India, Brazil play globally? Do we fight the causes or symptoms of poverty? These and many other questions where raised at the conference Are we on the right track? Paradigm review by civil society organisations (CSOs) as development actors which took place in Prague from May 14-16, 2008 and was organised by TRIALOG and CONCORD in cooperation with the Ecumenical Academy Prague and the Czech NGDO platform FoRS. The conference offered the possibility for an open dialogue between CSOs from West, East and South and for reflecting together upon the principles which underlie the development work of civil society. Many of the 140 participants, coming from more than 50 different countries, stated that it was for the first time that CSO representatives from Africa, Asia, Latin America had the chance to talk in debth with their colleagues from the new EU member states and to get to know more about these relatively new donor countries. It was generally felt that there is a lot of experience which the East and South can share and that this dialogue should be intensified. In his introduction, Justin Kilcullen, president of CONCORD board, successfully kicked off the conference by raising several provocative questions about the tyranny of MDGs, the division of civil society in different blocs, the failure to mainstream gender in development work etc. The key speakers from Brazil (Chico Whitaker, World Social Forum), Kenya (Rebecca Tanui, BEACON), Malaysia (T. Rajamoorthy, Third World Network) and Russia (Olga Ponizova, Eco-Accord) challenged development paradigms from the perspective of South and East and laid the ground for a lot of further discussions during the conference. In response, CSO representatives from new and old EU member states reflected on the challenges which were identified by the colleagues from developing countries. In 6 thematic workshops a number of development approaches was tackled and alternatives to the prevailing models were presented and discussed. 2

3 Several outcomes were collected on the last conference day and personal commitments taken by the participants how to work further in their organisations on certain topics. There was a lot of agreement on the need to be political: work for change, deal with power and tackle structural causes of poverty! The MDGs are a shame since they took politics out and replaced it by numbers and targets which leave half of the world s poor in poverty. The need for common advocacy work between CSOs in the South and North was stressed several times as well as the need for global education promoting well-being and active citizenship. Burning issues such as climate change and the limits of growth need to be dealt with more actively; and many other issues... The results of the conference feed into the strategic plan of CONCORD and into the strategy for TRIALOG s future work. This year s conference was the basis for a second conference in 2009 which will focus on practical steps and the resources civil society needs in order to reach development aims. The 2009 conference will actively engage donors, government officials, multinational agencies and others, responsible for shaping EU and global development policies. In the meanwhile, CSO cooperation and the debate on development principles has to go on... Find the conference documentation (incl. presentations, video messages of the main speakers etc. ) at: Article: TRIALOG Information Service (TIS) from June This event was possible thanks to our cooperation partners and sponsors: RPP Regional Partnership Programme European Commission EU Permanent Representation in the Czech Republic 3

4 Key findings of the Prague conference This is a short summary of the conference findings. Each bullet point represents an individual outcome and individual discourse. Note that some points do not refer only to one of the categories there are overlaps between changes, challenges and responses. A full evaluation and wrap-up of ideas to prepare the follow up conference in 2009 will be done by the organisation committee. PARADIGM CHANGES Material wealth and power dominate and MDGs are not sufficient anymore as they focus on quantity instead of quality and accept that half of the poor stay poor. Free market and (in)security paradigms (demography planning) are growing. Change in geopolitics: old powers are loosing influence, new powers (BRIC) are gaining influence but the political inbalance in terms of the power of countries continue to matter. Poor public awareness for the necessity of global fairness and limits of growth Multilateralism is weakening but bilateralism and regionalism are growing. KEY CHALLENGES Consumerism and dependence in situation of resource crises (food and oil) and climate change (limits to growth). History affects the structure of civil society and its actions (South, East, West, globalnational-local). What role for development aid: effectiveness and volumes? Local empowerment, role of the state. What appropriate, democratic and effective forms of governance? Shift from work in the South to policy and advocacy in the North? How can development be reached with limited growth? How much are we locked in our language or terminology of others? NGO self-reflection and accountablity are needed. RESPONSES / PRACTICAL STEPS Shared wealth and power is to be encouraged. More focus on lobbying and advocacy, development awareness raising, focus on media to demonstrate crucial links between the economical and political European decisions and their impact on developing countries. Human rights based approach. Policy coherence for development. New partnerships are needed in the South and East, and across the sectors and actors. Renewed focus on nation State while continued support for creative forms of global governance. Make international trusts accountable for their actions. 4

5 Support critical thinking, redefine and rephrase key ideas in new vocabulary. Critical self-reflection of own values, approaches, policies and practise. INITIAL EVALUATION IDEAS FOR FOLLOW-UP (in preparation of the 2009 conference) Life in a resource-limited world versus the need to build viable local economies. European governments and citizens should question their own dependencies on the current dominant economic model: tackle climate justice; integrate limits of growth. Find new development objectives beyond the MDGs from CSO side and overcome MDGs; lobby for rights based approach. Civil Society Organisations own accountability: deeper reflections, more concrete, practical steps. Change of geopolitics: breaking the taboo of differentiatied treatments between developing countries. How to react to the impact of new emerging powers on developing countries? Catalogue the variety and concrete examples of existing local development alternatives: make a link to policy (eg. carbon neutral cities, Local Exchange Trading Schemes/LETS systems, participatory budgeting etc.). Practical steps and first experience of direct South-East cooperation. More involvement of post-soviet states (beyond the New Neighbourhood Policy). Promote diversity in and between NGOs and engage in coalition across sectors, actors and borders. Engage in more and new awareness raising for global fairness; promote well-being; strengthen global education. May 14, 2008: OVERVIEW OF PROGRAMME How do CSOs from the South and East see the prevailing paradigms for development and what kind of development are they hoping for? Welcome and introduction by the organizers Christine Bedoya, Director of TRIALOG: Opening and welcome christine_bedoya.pdf OBJECTIVES of the Conference To serve as a forum of civil society actors from the West, East and South: from the 15 old EU member states, from the 12 new EU member states, and from developing countries in the South (Africa, Latin America, Asia) and East (Eastern EU neighbourhood). To present an insight into the specific contexts and environments of CSOs in the field of development. To challenge current development approaches and paradigms. To find the most promising development approaches. Jirí Silný, Director of Ecumenical Academy Prague: Exchange on expectations, identification and understanding of development paradigms; Download the conference programme: Download information on the speakers: View the list of participants: 5

6 Justin Kilcullen, President of CONCORD: Introduction Are we on the right track? Šimon Pánek, Chairman of FoRS: Introduction Are we on the right track? Challenging paradigms from the South and the East Chair: Justin Kilcullen Chico Whitaker, Brazil member of the World Social Forum International Council: Minutes of his presentation; Rebecca Tanui, Kenya BEACON: Text of her presentation; T. Rajamoorthy, Malaysia Third World Network: Text of his presentation; Olga Ponizova, Russian Federation Eco Accord: Text of her presentation; Thematic working groups with the 4 speakers: deepened discussion and reflection on development paradigms. Minutes of the group discussions: Chico Whitaker, Rebecca Tanui, T.Rajamoorthy, Olga Ponizova; Full ONLINE DOCUMENTATION of the Prague Conference: Paradigms, Policies & Partnerships: Where does EU development policy leave NGOs? James Mackie, The Netherlands ECDPM: Text of his presentation; May 15, 2008: Read more... at: Responses from European NGOs to the challenges pointed out by CSOs from the South and East Panel discussion: How do Europeans answer the challenges that came up? Chair: George Ehusani, Nigeria, Misereor 2 representatives of Old Member States (EU-15) NGOs: Duncan Green, Great Britain, Oxfam GB: Minutes of his presentation; Hildegard Hagemann, Germany, VENRO, Justitia et Pax: Minutes of her presentation; 2 representatives of New Member States (EU-12) NGOs: Petr Lebeda, Czech Republic, Glopolis: Text of his presentation; Eva Marn, Slovenia, Humanitas: Minutes of her presentation; 6

7 Workshops, followed by group reports from the workshops. Workshop 1 LOCAL TO GLOBAL APPROACHES Workshop 2 RIGHTS-BASED DEVELOPMENT Workshop 3 SELF DETERMINATION Workshop 4 SOCIETAL (POLITICAL) MODELS Workshop 5 MIGRATION Workshop 6 EMPOWERMENT AND CHANGE For more information on the workshop speakers and topics, please refer to the conference programme: Read the thematic description of the 6 workshops: May 16, 2008: Key findings of the workshops and main conference outcomes See page 4-5 or Panel discussion on the key findings Chair: Ondrej Kopecný, Czech Rep. - Glopolis Panel with Hildegard Hagemann, Chico Whitaker, Rebecca Tanui and T. Rajamoorthy: Minutes; Open the floor to the plenary: New development paradigms? Which way forward? What steps should be taken before the Prague Conference II? Introduction by Mike Mathias, Luxembourg Cerle de Cooperation des ONG: Some right tracks - How do we engage? Summary of approaches; Followed by plenary discussion Minutes of the introduction and discussion; Closing of the conference: Christine Bedoya, Jirí Silný: Minutes; Read about the background of the conference in the invitation letter and the English and the Czech press-release: 7

8 For 15 Video-Statements of the key note speakers and organisers please visit: Visit the photo gallery from the event at: For further information please turn to 8