Note from Harsh Jaitli, CEO, VANI

Dear Members

Greetings from VANI!

Through this mail VANI is offering you an opportunity to be part of global debate on “Non- Government Diplomacy Initiative”. This initiative is being anchored by VANI and in collaboration with Coordination SUD. The details are given below. The six thematic issues are identified around which groups are going to be constituted. VANI will facilitate these groups and each group will have leader among the members of VANI. Similar groups are being constituted at global levels. The themes are;

1. Access to Water and Sanitation

2. Development Financing

3. Climate Change

4. Regulation of Agriculture Market

5. Conflict Prevention and Resolution

6. Fight against social exclusion and inequalities.

The details of the initiative is as follows:

Non Governmental Diplomacy:

Many Non-governmental organizations are increasingly playing critical roles in addressing global issues - a function that has traditionally been the prerogative and responsibility of nation-states. NGOs have combined conventional diplomatic approaches with new methods specific to their own operations to pressure governments and international bodies to acknowledge and address national and transnational issues.

It’s an initiative of various Non – Governmental organizations which include ABONG, ACCION, Coordination SUD, VANI and other civil society organizations which participated in numerous discussions and negotiations with states representatives. These discussions have permitted, for instance, that NGO representatives sit together with representatives of founding countries and of some beneficiary countries at the UNITAID administration Council, which manages the funds collected through the tax on airplane tickets.

VANI’s role: VANI is the secretariat of Asia chapter and also a member of international facilitator group. Its main work is to strengthen the network on Non Governmental Diplomacy in Asia. VANI also strives for linking Voluntary organizations working on the key issues with the global thematic groups formed under this initiative.

1. Access to Water and Sanitation

Access to water and sanitation is a necessary condition to lay the foundations for sustainable socio-economic development based on agriculture, which employs 70% of the world’s working population, and for human development taking into account the social determinants of health, which include access to sanitation. A mobilization of civil society therefore appears necessary for a greater synergy, for an efficient practice of the states’ missions and duties, to exercise the right to water and sanitation in Southern countries and to respect the corporate social responsibility.

2. Development financing

Despite the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by all United Nations member states in 2000, the international community has so far not been able to mobilize the necessary resources to attain these goals, among which are in particular halving extreme poverty, providing universal primary education and halting the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The volatility of traditional overseas aid, subjected to budgetary hazards of the donating countries, has not been able to produce sufficiently previsible funds to back social expenditures or national development strategies for beneficiary countries on the mid term.

In a new declaration, the Declaration on Innovative Sources of Financing for Development, published in September 2005, 79 states manifested their support to the launching of a first pilot mechanism in the form of a solidarity contribution on airplane tickets.

3. Climate change

The 13th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (3-15 December 2007, Bali), a new period of negotiations has been opened to enable the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention through long-term cooperative action, now, up to and beyond 2012, in order to reach an agreement and adopt a decision at its fifteenth session in Copenhagen (December 2009). This agreement will be based on five pillars: shared vision, mitigation, adaptation to climate change, financing and technology.

4. Regulation of agricultural markets

In an international economic order based on unequal trade and "unshared" wealth, it is urgent to integrate developing countries into the cycles of international trade negotiations in order to make sure they have a significant place in the world economy.

However, despite the needs, foreign aid for agriculture and rural development has been constantly diminishing. During the last twenty years, it has dropped sharply from 9 billion EU dollars per year in the early 80’s to less than 5 billion EU dollars in the late 90’s.

5. Conflicts prevention and resolution

Building peace in Africa and around the world remains a major challenge that none of the nation’s leaders (especially in Africa) can ignore, especially in light of the map of regions where violent conflicts still constitute a problem.

The UN Security Council’s resolution 1625 recognises the fundamental roles of a civil society in preventing conflict and stresses their undisputed contribution in this field (S/RES/1625, 2005). Although the violent conflicts will not cease to threaten human security, the prevention of conflicts is emerging as a core strategy designed to integrate the efforts of all the stakeholders working to promote peace and development.

6. Fight against social exclusion and inequalities

On November 18 was held in Brussels the first working session on the exercise of nongovernmental diplomacy "Fight against social exclusion and inequalities”, during the Assembly of CONCORD. MESA of National Associations and NGO networks in Latin America and the Caribbean and Chilean Association of NGOs ACCION are in charge of this exercise.

For ACCION and MESA, addressing the discussion about inequality dimension means to add a political component into the discussion about poverty and included issues such as tax justice, innovative mechanisms for development financing, financial crisis and the Millennium Development Objectives, among others aspects.

The meeting was the first instance to open a dialogue on these issues between NGOs from North and South and involve new platforms of networks.

The objectives of this workshop were:

• To introduce the document about non-governmental diplomacy "Action against inequalities and exclusion”. Actively involve organizations from different regions of the world which are interested in develop advocacy strategies together on this issue
  
  
• To agree a joint working agenda around the Inequalities

For details please visit website www.ong-ngo.org

Please fill the download form to help us identify your priority and send us.

Regards

Harsh Jaitli

VANI INITIATIVES @ February, 2010

6th March 2010: State meeting in Bhubneshwar, Orissa

53 organizations were represented by around 60 participants in the state level meeting, which was inaugurated by the Sh. Surya Narayan Patro, Minister, Revenue and Disaster Management, Government of Orissa. The focus of this meeting was to share the opportunities and challenges face by VOs in Orissa, the status and need of developing state policy and concrete action plan and modalities to take agenda forward. Read more...

13th March, 2010: State Meeting in Assam

A one day meeting was organised by VANI in association with its state partners in Guwahati, Assam on 13th March at Hotel Landmark. The focus of the meeting was to discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by the Voluntary organisations in the State of Assam and also initiate the formation of State level policy on Voluntary Sector and its way forward. Some of key contributors to the discussions were Ms. Anju Talukdar, Mr. Armaan Ali, Mr. Harsh Jaitli, Mr. Mrinal Gohain, Mr. Randeep Talukdar Download Report.

19th March 2010 : State meeting in Raipur, Chhattisgarh

A state level meeting on strengthening the voluntary sector in Chattisgarh was held in Raipur on 19th March. The meeting was organized by VANI and the main issues discussed were, ‘’the state specific challenges and opportunity."

Speaking at the meeting, Harsh Jaitli, CEO of VANI, discussed about the strategy of VANI and its history. He said that, ‘’ VANI has always been taking forward the cause of voluntary sector and has acted as a mediator between the Voluntary Sector as a whole and the government. The proposed Direct Tax Code is an attack on the Voluntary sector, said Mr. Jaitli. He said the development goals of the government cannot be achieved without the help of Voluntary sector. Discussing about the National Policy of Voluntary sector he said that that, there is a clause which mentions, ‘’ every state government will have to define it’s relation with the Voluntary Sector , but in Chhattisgarh there is no any policy like that till now. Download Report 

Coming up…..

Announcements :

1. TOT Training organized by SSK-
   
   Duration: Eight days (Residential) (23rd April to 30th April 2010)
   
   Venue : SSK Training Center, Lucknow In a societal and organizational development processes training have acquired the vanguard tools for proper percolation of concepts, approaches, techniques and general conduct of ways to the intended beneficiaries either be it staff of an organization, community; an individual or group. Training of Trainers is a powerful tool to enhance the capabilities of people who design and deliver trainings at different levels and context. The greatest inhibiting factor for organizations to outsource trainer is its high cost. Although it is wise to outsource training expertise in some areas, others requiring tight internal control are better handled in-house i.e. better use your own trainer. But it requires lot of skills to be a good trainer. Being good at subject does not signify you are a good trainer, and hence it does not ensure transfer of knowledge, skill etc. to the intended target. That's exactly what's needed to energize and inspire trainers' own work and personal development, and to widen their perspective. In order to address these issues, SSK has developed a comprehensive TOT program for new as well as experienced trainers based on participatory principles for effective learning. TOT is a curriculum tool to prepare master-level peer education trainers. Participatory techniques based on a variety of theoretical frameworks are utilized to ensure that future trainers are skilled and confident in their abilities to train others and serve as informed resources.
   
   SSK has been organizing TOT on Participatory Training For Trainers since 1991.
   For more Details, please visit : www.sahbhagi.org/ssktrainings.htm
   
   

Resources :

Member of the Month: