Civil Society Civil Society Excellence: A Excellence: A Framework for Framework for AnalysisAnalysis

Dr. Susan PhillipsDr. Susan Phillips

School of Public Policy & School of Public Policy & AdministrationAdministration

Carleton UniversityCarleton University

Ottawa, CanadaOttawa, Canada

How do we compare How do we compare such diverse such diverse experiences?experiences? Consider Why Now?Consider Why Now? Considerations for:Considerations for:

– ProcessProcess– DocumentDocument– ImplementationImplementation– Looking BeyondLooking Beyond

What is success?What is success?

Why Now?Why Now?

Policy Transfer (copied each Policy Transfer (copied each other)other)

True, but more than that:True, but more than that:

Relates to a new vision of Relates to a new vision of citizenshipcitizenship

CitizenshipCitizenship

Mix of ResponsibilitiesMix of Responsibilities– State, market, civil society, familyState, market, civil society, family

Rights & ResponsibilitiesRights & Responsibilities Representation/Access to Political Representation/Access to Political

ProcessProcess Sense of BelongingSense of Belonging

Civil Society Family

Market

StateResponsibilityMix

Role of Civil Role of Civil Society/Voluntary Society/Voluntary SectorSector Enable claims to be madeEnable claims to be made

Sites of democracySites of democracy

Help determine responsibility mixHelp determine responsibility mix

Expand (contract) inclusionExpand (contract) inclusion

Bottom-up & Top-downBottom-up & Top-down

Civil society:Civil society:– Change from charity to empowered civil Change from charity to empowered civil

societysociety– Greater mix of service & political rolesGreater mix of service & political roles

GovernmentGovernment– Shift from government to ‘governance’Shift from government to ‘governance’

Need for real partnershipNeed for real partnership

Embracing CitizenshipEmbracing Citizenship

To be effective, agreements need To be effective, agreements need to embody a concept/vision of a to embody a concept/vision of a new citizenshipnew citizenship

Agreements / Agreements / Strategies are:Strategies are: State of mindState of mind

DocumentDocument

Process – before and afterProcess – before and after

ConsiderationsConsiderations

Does it matter who participates?Does it matter who participates?– YES, as it shapes the visionYES, as it shapes the vision

Does it matter who signs?Does it matter who signs?– Depends on need for legitimacy and Depends on need for legitimacy and

durabilitydurability

Document: Key Document: Key ElementsElements Autonomy / RecognitionAutonomy / Recognition

Participation / Right to AdvocacyParticipation / Right to Advocacy

Sustainability (funding)Sustainability (funding)

InclusionInclusion

ImplementationImplementation

CommunicateCommunicate Monitor and EvaluateMonitor and Evaluate

– AdherenceAdherence– State of the RelationshipState of the Relationship

Requires:Requires:– Joint mechanismsJoint mechanisms– Unit in government with cloutUnit in government with clout– Infrastructure organizationsInfrastructure organizations

ImplementationImplementation

Accountability – Give an AccountAccountability – Give an Account– Public ReportingPublic Reporting

Repair Problems – Hold to Repair Problems – Hold to AccountAccount– Vest AccountabilityVest Accountability– Dispute ResolutionDispute Resolution

Mechanisms to Move Mechanisms to Move ForwardForward Capacity to develop and carry out Capacity to develop and carry out

an action plan for improving the an action plan for improving the relationship and addressing relationship and addressing outstanding issuesoutstanding issues

Necessarily a joint processNecessarily a joint process

Affect Positive Affect Positive SpilloversSpillovers To Other LevelsTo Other Levels

– By requirement or by learningBy requirement or by learning

To Deal with Related IssuesTo Deal with Related Issues– E.g. contracting, citizen engagementE.g. contracting, citizen engagement

What is Success?What is Success?

Changed practices of citizenship & Changed practices of citizenship & stronger relationshipstronger relationship

Process & machinery to keep reviewing Process & machinery to keep reviewing the relationshipthe relationship

Stronger more inclusive, active civil Stronger more inclusive, active civil society and legitimate, participatory society and legitimate, participatory governmentgovernment

Not one way to get there, but we have Not one way to get there, but we have much to learn from each othermuch to learn from each other

Contact InformationContact Information

Dr. Susan PhillipsDr. Susan Phillips

School of Public Policy & School of Public Policy & AdministrationAdministration

Carleton UniversityCarleton University

Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaOttawa, Ontario, Canada

Susan_phillips@carleton.caSusan_phillips@carleton.ca

www.cvsrd.orgwww.cvsrd.org