Strengthening the Accountability of the Civil Society Sector

The Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO), Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC) and CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation organized a workshop titled “Strengthening Accountability of the Civil Society Sector” last 14th December 2011 at The Sulo Riviera Hotel, Matalino Road, Diliman, Quezon City and 15th December 2011 at the Institute of Social Order, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City.  According to Katsuji Imata, Deputy Secretary General of CIVICUS, “(Self-regulation) is an area that needs a lot of exploration, which we can demonstrate with good practices”.

Katsuji Imata, Deputy Secretary General of CIVICUS	Workshop delegates from Pakistan, Canada, Zimbabwe, India, Nepal, Japan, Mexico, Korea and representatives from CODE-NGO, PCNC and Civicus	Patricia Sarenas, Chairperson of CODE-NGO

The workshop brought together 36 representatives from national umbrella organizations across the world, organizers of self-regulation initiatives, civil society organizations, development aid agencies, and government agencies that are working on accountability and governance issues within the civil society sector. “Our work for developing self-regulatory mechanisms appear daunting and burdensome, but can also be exciting and challenging especially when talking about self-regulatory mechanisms in our country” observed Pat Sarenas, Chair of CODE-NGO and MINCODE.  The Strengthening the Accountability of the Civil Society Sector workshop provided a venue to share experiences on CSO self-regulation, draw lessons from these, and identify ways to improve self-regulation both in the Philippines and in other countries. 

The following were the presentations shared by the participants in the workshop:

Different types of self-regulation initiative for umbrella organizations

1. Legitimacy, Transparency & Accountability of National Associations- Affinity Group of National Associations (AGNA)
   
2. Self-regulation Initiatives of CSOs in Mexico, by Centro Mexicano para la Filantropia (CEMEFI)
   
3. Strengthening the Accountability of the Civil Society Sector by Imagine Canada
4. Humanitarian Accountability Partnership: The CFSI Perspective
5. Increasing Legitimacy, Transparency and Accountability (LTA) by Self-Reporting,  Japanese Association of Charitable Organizations (JACO), Japan
6. Philippine Council for NGO Certification, Philippines

A Multi-stakeholder Approach to CSO Accountability

1. Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy, Pakistan
2. Transparency Initiative of CSOs in Korea, by Guidestar Korea
3. Summary of the presentation by World Bank Manila Office 
4. Benefits of Self-Regulation by Asissi Foundation, Philippines

Accountability and Enabling Environment for the Civil Society Sector

1. CSO Sector Self-Regulation in Zimbabwe, by National Associations of NGOs (NANGO) – Zimbabwe
   

In his closing statement, Luis Morales, Executive Director of PCNC shared that “It is not necessary to be certified to be a legitimate NGO; legitimacy is not confined to the legal aspects of being an NGO. It is related to ethical practices. You are more attractive to donors, partners and beneficiaries if you are certified.”

(See more photos of the event at the CODE-NGO facebook page).