Catalog

ADB-NGO Relations: Fresh Start
NGOs express interest in good governance and stronger participation.

By Bart W. Édes (bedes@adb.org)
External Relations Officer

The 34th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was marked by the most extensive consultations with nongovernment organizations (NGOs) ever at this yearly event. About 85 representatives of international development and advocacy organizations, community-based groups, activist networks, charitable institutions, foundations, and trade unions participated in the NGO program.

This was the first Annual Meeting held since the launch of ADB's NGO Center and Network in February 2001.

At past Annual Meetings, the main opportunity for NGOs to exchange views with ADB staff was during the Open Forum. In Honolulu, however, this four-hour activity served as a springboard into a day-and-a-half of topic-specific consultation forums beginning the next morning.

Good Governance and NGO Financing

The Open Forum program began with an orientation briefing by ADB staff. This was followed by discussions on topics of mutual interest and cooperation between ADB and civil society actors. The list of topics for discussion had been compiled based on completed questionnaires submitted by NGOs in the weeks before the meeting. At the beginning of the Open Forum, NGO representatives whittled this list to three topics: good governance, sustainable financing of NGOs, and civil society.

In the case of good governance, participants deliberated the meaning of the term, obstacles to good governance, and the role of stakeholders in nurturing it. They also identified priority steps that they would like ADB to take. NGO representatives expressed the wish that ADB do the following:

• Listen to people who work "on the ground"
• Simplify its language and procedures
• Take account of issues raised at past forums
• End conditionality in policy lending
• Cease to provide public money for privatization
• Ensure compliance with its policies
• Institutionalize meaningful participation by civil society in its operations
• Give no loans to military governments
• Develop participatory monitoring mechanisms
• Regularly meet with civil society and persons affected by projects through ADB Resident Missions

On the topic of NGO financing, participants discussed different mechanisms to provide for the sustainable financing of NGOs and the potential contribution of ADB toward this goal. The consensus view was that ADB should not become directly involved in sustainable fi- nancing but should instead encourage foundations to support NGOs that have reliable records in terms of results, transparency, accountability, and other criteria. Participants also asked ADB to defend the rights of civil society organizations with client governments, including freedom of association. Finally, it was proposed that part of each project preparatory technical assistance/program loan be allocated to NGOs.

ADB will consider the feasibility and appropriateness of adopting the NGOs' recommendations in the coming months.

One Subject at a Time

OPINIONS COUNT: D. Chantarahassadee of Klong Daan, Thailand, shares her concerns about the Samut Prakarn Wastewater Project with ADB’s Arjun Thapan.

This year's experiment with consultation forums was intended to give NGO representatives the chance to present their positions on development-related subjects, learn about ADB operating procedures and guidelines in particular areas, and discuss specific issues with ADB officials.

During the months leading up to the meeting, NGOs informed ADB of subjects that they thought merited the focused attention of an individual consultation forum. Drawing upon this input, ADB's NGO Center organized forums on the following subjects: accountability of ADB operations, the NGO Center, anticorruption policy, draft environmental policy, hydropower and dams, indigenous peoples policy, inspection function, policy and sector reform, and privatization.

Professional facilitators kept each forum session flowing smoothly and ensured that everyone with opinions or questions on a topic had the opportunity to voice them. Participants' comments were recorded and projected onto a large video screen so everyone could track the discussion and see that their views were taken into account in the meeting record. Summaries of each forum discussion were sent to participants a few weeks after the Annual Meeting. Suggestions made in each forum were shared with the relevant ADB departments for their consideration and action, where appropriate.

Many NGO representatives spoke favorably of the consultation forums. Arumugam Sivananthan, Financial Secretary of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress, rated the topic-specific sessions "as the most useful aspect" of the Annual Meeting. Bob Dobias, ADB's NGO Network Coordinator, also expressed satisfaction, noting that "through these structured forums and other meetings between NGO representatives and ADB staff, we received substantial input from a variety of nongovernment groups on ADB policies, projects, and objectives."

STRONG COMMITMENT: President Tadao Chino met with NGO representatives on the day before the Open Forum.

President Meets with NGOs

Exhibiting a high-level commitment to boosting collaboration with NGOs, ADB President Tadao Chino met with NGO representatives on the day before the Open Forum. NGO representatives recommended to the President that ADB adopt a procurement policy that makes it easier for NGOs to take part in projects, improve impact analysis at the country level, and be on the look- out for "fake NGOs" when choosing partners.

Participants' questions covered a broad range of issues, including how ADB addresses human resource development, assists disabled people, and works with community service organizations when the government is reluctant to do so. ADB staff members at the meeting attempted to address all the queries, took note of recommendations and concerns, and indicated contact persons at ADB for follow-up. In closing, President Chino thanked participants for their comments and stated his desire to see ADB work more closely with them.

Seizing Opportunities

SPEAKING OUT: Participants' questions covered a broad range of issues, including how ADB addresses resettlement issues.

ADB Annual Meetings have traditionally provided a special occasion to review the relationship between ADB and NGOs, and to engage in an open exchange on development issues. Yet NGO participants reported additional benefits from this year's meeting. When asked why he came to Honolulu, Tran Anh Vinh, Vice Director of the Hanoi-based Center for Reproductive and Family Health, responded, "to exchange experiences and learn lessons from (many countries)." Shizu Upadhya, Senior Policy Research Officer, Action Aid Nepal, saw this Annual Meeting "as an opportunity to learn more about ADB." She added that the meeting "was a nice place to start" to get to know ADB staff members, as well as "to learn from each other and recognize each other's strengths".

During the week of the Annual Meeting, several NGO representatives scheduled appointments with ADB subject specialists, managers, directors, and members of the ADB Board of Directors. Held outside the formal consultation process, these meetings allowed representatives of civil society groups to discuss in greater depth issues of special concern to them, typically issues focusing on certain countries or projects.

In addition, many NGO representatives attended seminars and social functions open to all registered participants in the Annual Meeting. Those arriving in Honolulu before the structured program of NGO events began were able to participate in seminars such as “NGO and Donor Cooperation in the Pacific". Several also attended presentations, debates, and rallies organized outside the Annual Meeting venue by ADB Watch, an NGO based in Hawaii. These events focused on development issues, indigenous peoples' rights, and the impact of ADB projects.

Looking Forward

With the conclusion of the 34th Annual Meeting, staff members of the NGO Center are following up on the issues raised in Honolulu and considering improvements to the processes through which ADB consults and partners with NGOs. As a start, the NGO Center is conferring with NGOs active in Asia and the Pacific at regional events to learn more about their concerns, seek ways in which ADB can support their efforts, and identify modes of future collaboration in ADB's developing member countries.

"The Annual Meeting will always be an important occasion in the ADB-NGO relationship, but we can no longer put such emphasis on that single event when it comes to engaging civil society," said Mr. Dobias, assessing the meeting's outcome. "ADB must be more proactive year-round in getting NGOs involved in our operations. With the NGO Network up and running, we now have the potential to build even more fruitful partnerships with NGOs in our joint fight against poverty."

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